By Jordan Studer
Tuesday afternoon, Bucyrus Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) met to discuss a few pressing agenda items. Subject one involved the consideration by Wise Funeral Service of the installation of a cremation facility within their current building on 129 West Warren Street.
David Wise, fifth-generation funeral director and embalmer of Wise Funeral Service (WFS), was present at the meeting. Wise also brought two representatives from Facultatieve Technologies USA (FTUSA), a company in Medina, Ohio selling cremation and incineration equipment. The FTUSA representatives were brought along to help answer any questions that the board, or public, may have.
Wise explained that the request of WFS is that the BZA consider the cremation facility permitted to be used within the General Business District. According to Wise, cremation rates are growing and are approximately thirty-six percent of WFS business. By installing a cremation facility into their current facility, WFS believed they would be able to improve their service abilities to families.
It was explained that the cremation facility would be installed in the North bay area of their garage on the East side of WFS property. FTUSA representatives were more than willing to answer any questions brought up regarding the cremation facility.
Mayor Jeff Reser questioned how bad the stench would be coming from the cremation machine chimney, especially with two restaurants near the site. One FTUSA representative, Tom Clayton, assured that the smell is so minute due to the process in which individuals are cremated.
“You’ll smell Wendy’s before you’ll smell the cremation. That’s the honest truth,” Clayton explained.
After careful consideration and discussion, the BZA granted WFS permission to continue to move forward with the process necessary to install the cremation facility.
According to Clayton, the next step is for plans for the cremation facility to be made by FTUSA and WFS, then they must be approved by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
When looking at the time frame, Clayton explained that upon the signing of the contract, the process to get the cremation facility up and running is around fourteen to sixteen weeks.
Another topic of concern regarded Bucyrus Mobile Home Village (BMHV) wanting an allowance to use the mobile home park as a campground as well. According to Law Director, Rob Ratliff, the state has already given permission to BMHV to use their site as a campground as well, but it is the city that has the final say.
“Our zoning prohibits it. But they do have a license from the state of Ohio to operate a campground there,” Ratliff explained.
Russell Long, attorney for BMHV, was not able to attend the meeting and asked that the topic be tabled until the August 8 BZA meeting. The topic was then tabled and the meeting adjourned.