Unsafe buildings to come down faster
BUCYRUS – With at least two building demolitions in the short-term future for Bucyrus, City Council passed an ordinance Monday evening halving the time landlords will have to repair or demolish unsafe structures.
In order to bring the city into compliance with the International Property Maintenance Code, Council members voted to require such structures be repaired or demolished within 30 days after notice has been rendered, a change from 60 days.
Last week, a three-story brick structure at 209 W. Mansfield St. was roped off after a utility worked discovered the building, which was vacant, caving in on itself.
“The roof has collapsed into the structure and the walls are bowing, inward on two sides and outward on another. On the southwest corner of the foundation, the brick is starting to sag,” John Rostash, code enforcement for the city, said.
Meanwhile, the old Bucyrus Theater building at the corner of South Sandusky Avenue and Warren Street should be down before the Bratwurst Festival in August, to make way for an arts park.
On Monday, Council members passed a resolution amending a $1 lease the city is entering into with the state that will allow the city to receive grant funds for the theater demolition. The lease has been amended from two to 17 years, at the request of the state.
In other business, Council failed to pass an ordinance by a unanimous vote, a rare occasion, after Councilman John Walker voted against raising installation and tapping fees, incurred by residents when a water meter needs to be replaced. The ordinance passed by a vote of 5-1.
Abnormally cold temperatures over the past two winters have caused about 30 meters to freeze and crack. Jerry Daiber, utility superintendent for the city, said the fee increases are necessary to allow the city to break even when it buys replacement parts, but Walker spoke against raising the rates at a Council committee last week, and voted against doing so Monday.
The fee for a new water meter bottom will go from $40 to $56.50, for a complete unit from $150 to $197.50, and for a new radio read unit from $118 to $121.
In a discussion on the timing of traffic signals in downtown, Mayor Jeff Reser said the timing of the red light on South Sandusky Avenue at Renssalaer Street has been lengthened from eight to 15 seconds to allow pedestrians more time to cross South Sandusky.
“There has been no issue with traffic backup at all,” he said, although in response to a question from Councilman William O’Rourke the mayor agreed that the 40-second timing for red lights at East Renssalaer and South Walnut streets may be too long.
“It needs some work, and we are addressing it,” Reser said.
Service-safety director Jeff Wagner told Council that bids were opened last week for this year’s mill-and-pave project for the city’s streets, with Bucyrus Road Materials making the sole bid of $650,743, $3,000 under projected cost.
Bids will be opened at 2 p.m. Wednesday for water line and force main work, and at 3 p.m. Wednesday for construction on the city’s new water plant.
Donald Scheerer, secretary for the Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame, briefed Council on plans for a new veterans’ monument off the southeast corner of the county courthouse.
Consisting of a pillar in the center surrounded by five wings, with several paving stones encircling the area, the granite monument is expected to cost anywhere from $80,000 to $100,000, with the granite taking up the lion’s share of that cost at $60,000. The landscaping will cost about $20,000, with lighting accounting for the rest.
The Hall of Fame has started selling paving stones to raise money for the project. It’s also reaching out to community businesses for donations and is looking for grants.
“It’s a good cause and I think you’ll like what you see in the end,” Scheerer said.
The Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame can be reached through president Chuck Christman, at 419-562-4740 and cchristman@earthlink.net, via its website at www.crawfordcountyveteranshof.org, or by regular mail at Post Office Box 324, Bucyrus, Ohio 44820. Every veterans group in the county also has forms on hand to purchase a paving stone.
Scheerer told Council that the veterans’ hall of fame has yet to have a female inductee.
“The greatest generation wasn’t just men. Women had a lot to do with winning World War II,” Scheerer said.
Finally, city auditor Joyce Schifer thanked the volunteers who helped residents pay their city taxes last week in Council chambers.
“Thanks to them, and the drop box we had in the lobby, the line was a little bit shorter this year, but it was still chaos,” she said.
thill3@nncogannett.com
419-563-9225
Twitter: @ToddHillMNJ