Mayor proposes doubling of parks budget

The population decline in Bucyrus isn't just a decades-long phenomenon, it can appear at times inexorable.

It's a trend that Crawford County's county seat shares with most of its neighboring county seats, and it may be more demographic in nature than anything else. But in his first state-of-the-city address Tuesday night to Bucyrus City Council, Mayor Jeff Reser proposed an initiative intended to stem that decline, as well as attract new people to the city and surrounding county.

"I would like to challenge City Council to work with the administration to find new ways to improve the quality of life in Bucyrus. We have many things of which to be proud, but we need to make our community even more attractive to the families who will live in Bucyrus and who desire not only great schools but also shopping choices, restaurants and an excellent park system," Reser said.

"Many of you know that we are working with county officials to develop a plan to have a countywide bike path. Just think of the possibilities — being able to ride from Sears Woods through Bucyrus, along the Sandusky River to Lowe-Volk Park and then to Crestline or Galion and back," the mayor said.

"This is a dream of mine and many others, but it can be reality if we work together to find funding for such a project in the form of grants, community and city support."

Reser proposed to Council a doubling of the city's parks budget, including enough funding to hire a full-time parks and recreation director responsible for all of the city's parks, which will eventually include the new Schines Art Park once the abandoned theater at South Sandusky Avenue and Warren Street is torn down.

On the tourism front, the mayor noted that 57 tours came through Crawford County last year, with the help of the Bucyrus Tourism and Visitors Bureau under the direction of Barb Glowalski, with visitors spending nearly $100,000 at local businesses, including the 1,800 bicyclists who came to Bucyrus with the Greater Ohio Bike Association tour in June.

"I believe the city of Bucyrus to be on a strong path of economic recovery as evidenced by our historically low unemployment level," Reser said. "We currently have many businesses with job openings and we would extend an invitation to those who are looking for a good job and also a fine place to live, work and raise a family to give Bucyrus a strong look."

The mayor thanked Deb Pinion and the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce for overseeing ribbon cuttings for 12 new businesses in Bucyrus last year.

Looking ahead, Reser said the city anticipates an agreement with the U.S. EPA in a matter of weeks so that work can begin on a three-phase stormwater separation project in the city, to alleviate pressure on sewage overflows from the Buffalo Run sewer that runs under the center of town.

In addition, groundbreaking is expected this spring on a new water treatment plant at Outhwaite Reservoir, after years of planning.

"Unfortunately, we had to raise water rates in 2014 for the first time in 12 years to help pay for the project," Reser said. "Our water is high-quality and cheap, just over a penny a gallon. What can you buy for a penny?"

Not all the news in Bucyrus last year was good, the mayor acknowledged. The city saw four murders over Labor Day weekend, the worst such crime spree here in 20 years. But Reser noted that the city's police department is back to full staff following five new hires and three promotions. In addition, two new community organizations, Positive Seekers and the Michael Taylor Foundation, were formed here after the murders.

And in May of last year, the former mayor, Roger Moore, died unexpectedly at the age of 50.

"Roger never complained about his job. He loved the city too much to complain, and his leadership and jovial spirit are sorely missed," Reser said.

After Council President Sis Love served as interim mayor for a few weeks, Reser, 60, a Republican, was appointed to the position in late June. He will be running for mayor in the November election, when he will be up against one of two Democrats, Daniel Ross or Michael Jacobs. Both Ross and Jacobs have held the office in the past and will face each other in the May 5 primary.

thill3@nncogannett.com

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Twitter: @ToddHillMNJ