BUCYRUS —Bucyrus City Council’s joint committees met via Go to Meeting on Thursday evening to consider several topics for legislation.

Per a request by Mayor Jeff Reser, members of a newly formed ad hoc committee met to attempt to create with an emergency plan for city workers and safety forces during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bucyrus Fire Department Lt. Greg Hershey, representing IAFF Local No. 1120 and Bucyrus Police Department Lt. Tom Walker, representing the Fraternal Order of Police No. 68, along with Kevin Teynor from the city’s union, AFSCME, were part of the discussion.

Walker said the police department already has an emergency plan in place that was implemented when the country, state and city went under emergency status.

“We had two officers out for five days, actually one for only two days, that may have been indirectly exposed to the virus but neither had it and are already back to work,” Walker said.

He said the department is not responding to non-emergency calls and practice social distancing whenever possible.

Both Hershey and Walker said mutual aid agreements are in place if cases of the coronavirus ramp up and several officers or firefighters are affected with the virus. Teynor also said plans are already in place in case of an unusual situation with city workers.

Hershey said the fire department is utilizing phases one and two of four phases that are already in place for emergency situations.

Council president Kurt Fankhauser said the committee needs to have more information as to what exactly the mayor wants in an emergency plan from them and will meet as needed.

Also during the meeting, the economic development committee approved legislation to be voted on by council for the city to participate in the Community Home Investment Program (CHIP) grant program.

The public lands and building committee approved emergency legislation to acquire land on West Mary Street that has no address and no parcel listed. According to city law director Rob Ratliff, the city may then have Makeever and Associates survey and create the legal description. The committee also approved legislation for a new generator at Bucyrus City Hall since the current one from 1970 is outdated and in need of repairs with no parts available. The cost will be less than $50,000 and the city will do as much of the installation work in house as possible.

The next regular council meeting is May 5 at 7 p.m.