BUCYRUS―Despite the community’s overwhelming support and a new ordinance to guarantee a minimum staff of six firefighters on duty at all times, Mayor Jeff Reser ordered the reduction implemented today.
Bucyrus Fire Chief Chad Schwemley confirmed the staff reductions are in force.
Schwemley told Crawford County Now that Reser canceled a meeting this morning. The city cited their desire to seek outside legal counsel as the cause of the postponement. Currently, there is no new meeting scheduled.
In a special city council meeting held last Thursday evening, emergency legislation passed that requires a minimum of six staff on duty at all times in the Fire Department.
Mayor Reser and Safety Service Director Jeff Wagner did not attend the meeting. Reser did send a letter to the council explaining his position.
Interim Law Director Brian Gernert addressed the council and a packed room, warning them that the legislation could face challenges.
That challenge came to fruition Monday when Reser reduced personnel to a staff of four.
Chief Schwemley told Crawford County Now that the station has received call after call and came close to having double calls on the first day of reduced staffing due to a potential heart attack. Patients must be transported directly to the heart cath lab at Galion Community Hospital in heart attack emergencies.
The Bucyrus City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday at 7 pm in Council chambers.
Crawford County Now will continue to follow this developing news story.