By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser gave his State of the City address at Tuesday’s City Council meeting and put the focus on Bucyrus safety forces. Reser said, in part, “A strong community begins with strong safety services.”
Reser’s speech recounted successes from 2014 and looked forward to targets in 2015, but the respect and gratitude directed toward the Safety Service Forces was especially appropriate.
The meeting actually began with Joe Graham of the Positive Seekers giving a speech also thanking the city’s safety forces for their steadfast devotion. Graham’s presentation also served to announce the beginning of the Inaugural Bucyrus Safety Services Month. There will be flowers and blue ribbons decorating Sandusky Ave and on sale around town. The proceeds of these sales will be set aside in a fund for family members of the safety service workers.
It was fitting that Safety Service Month was kicked off by Police Chief Dave Koepke handing out special citations to officers who had gone beyond the call of duty in 2014. Five commendations were awarded: Sam Caldwell was awarded the Medal of Valor for evading a deadly attack and securing a non-lethal arrest; Kevin Worth was awarded the Community Policing Medal, for his work over the years with Bucyrus Area Youth Soccer, transforming that group from a handful of kids to an impressive group with enrollments over 400; and detectives Tracy Kegan, John Seif and Joe Greathouse were recognized for their work in last fall’s quadruple murder investigation.
Koepke said of his officers, “Awesome work, incredible work.”
Reser began his State of the City speech by echoing his predecessor’s words from the 2014 State of the City speech: “What a difference a year makes.”
Former Mayor Roger Moore’s words carried with them a newfound, somber irony; but nonetheless still rang true.
“This year these words have special meaning to us,” Reser said.
In recapping 2014, Reser cited as successes 12 ribbon cuttings for new businesses in town, 57 tours of the city bringing in over $100,000 to local businesses, 1,800 bike participants for the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure event, and perhaps the best Bratwurst Festival ever. The Fire Department was able to be kept at full staff, and the administration is working toward restoring the police department to full staff.
There were some heavy moments in 2014 as well. Mayor Moore passed away in May. Later in the meeting, Fire Chief Jay Keller added that a number of other safety service personnel from around the county had passed on as well, among them retired Bucyrus Firefighter Paul Robinson and New Washington Police Chief Scott Robertson. Labor Day bore witness to the first murders in Bucyrus in over 20 years.
Looking forward to 2015, Reser spoke of improving quality of life in city. He called for a doubling of the Parks Department budget, including enough for a full time Director of Parks and Recreation. There is also work being done at the county level for a county-wide bike path. This could potentially link Bucyrus, Galion, and Crestline with bike trails for fitness and pleasure; including a trail along the Sandusky River.
“I’m grateful for having grown up in this community,” Reser stated.
First time legislation, which was later adopted via the emergency clause, included increasing appropriations for a new city dump truck, funds to provide for indigent burials, and funds for transportation/airport electric bills.
Indigent burial funds were for $6,000, and the transportation funds were for $3,000. The final bill for the new dump truck is $158,900.