Meet Dan and His Plans for Bucyrus

 

I had worked at the former Swan Hose for nearly 30 years, the majority in the Maintenance Department. I have 20 years of Management experience, managing million-dollar projects, contractors and vendors. I have attended North Central Technical College, Marion Technical College and The Ohio State University, studying Mechanical Engineering and Real Estate, I am a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor and along with my wife, of 21 years, Barbara, are small business owners operating Affinity HealthWorks here in Bucyrus and Galion. I have six children, nine grandchildren and have been a lifelong resident of Bucyrus and Crawford County. I believe all my life’s experiences have led me to this day. I have served the citizens of Bucyrus as an At Large Councilman since 2010 and believe, since I have been there for the past decade, that there are so many ways to improve our community. Not that prior Administrations and Councilpersons didn’t have the best intentions for Bucyrus, I am sure they did. I feel I have the experience, drive, passion, and good ideas to move our community forward. I will continue to support our Safety Forces just as I have since before the passage of our Safety Forces levy. Currently ¼ of all income tax is targeted for Fire and Police there is no reason why we shouldn’t have one of the best supported Safety Forces in Ohio. We will continue to work toward expanding ambulance service that will not only serve Bucyrus but will also serve the people outside of the city limits. The ones that spend their money and work in our community, our grandparents, aunts and uncles, family members and friends.

Bucyrus needs to be the leader for the Crawford County Public Health District, Economic Development and Crawford Success Center, and education in general, in Crawford County.

These are the top items we need to address for the City of Bucyrus. Many of these can be accomplished with little or no additional funding. 

 Increase our tax base.

There is most likely $12 million of taxable income from companies that are not within the city limits but use several of our city services. These are monies that the city is just giving up on. These companies use city utilities and services yet do not pay into our tax base. Each company must be looked at individually as to how it will impact the local economy. Initial thoughts is that it would cost homeowner of $60,000 CAUV home who made $50,000 annually about $500 a year/$42 a month, this would not affect an owner that was retired or that worked in another municipality. There is also the Ambulance assessment and Health District assessment that should come off if they annex, and reduction in their water rate that will offset the income tax.

Reduce utility bills.

Investigate ways to reduce utility bills: Different ways of billing? Quarterly, standard charge plus actual usage? Currently you are charged two units if you use nothing. Only read meters every other month? Recycling to reduce landfill costs. Should the Buffalo charge have been done as a property assessment? Can we change this?  Staff being utilized optimally? I brought list to council and administration in June 2018. The reply from the administration was basically we can’t do any of these things or even consider them.

Address recycling and renewable energy for Bucyrus.

Create an area off of Bland Ave. at the ODOT site for large recycling containers, open this area several times a week, keeping it locked and under surveillance, cardboard and newspaper could be kept in an empty building or in a carport structure. Coordinate with county. Once a week pickup for glass, plastic, newspaper, cardboard, cans following the garbage route. Other communities our size have done it. It can be done.

I have been asking for recycling trash container at our parks. This isn’t difficult, it could be a community service project or Eagle Scout project and cost the City absolutely nothing.

Promote and support renewable energy initiatives throughout the city. 

Wind turbines or solar could be considered at the water and sewage treatment plants or the former ODOT facility. Why did we build a $30 million water filtration plant and not consider solar? Wynford and Bucyrus Schools are benefiting from these now. We need to be the leader not the follower. Last month I brought a solar project to Council that could essentially pay the electric bill for the City.

Improve Public Transportation within the city.

Expand Public Transportation. We need to have a way for people to get to work, shop, appointments and so forth. Ideas are running a loop through town and stopping at high traffic locations. This would also address bike paths and walking trails throughout the city.

Address lowering or removing Fluoride, TTHMs, and HAA5s from city water.

Initiate the removal of fluoride from the city’s drinking water. In 2008, Ohio ranked #1 out of 48 states for Hydrogen Fluoride releases (9,115,568 pounds) into the environment. The following data comes from EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). “Total releases” includes both water and air pollution. It’s important to note, however, that not all industries or sources that release fluoride into the environment are included in the TRI.  Who would move to a community with poison in their water?

Intensify the sale of water from Bucyrus to other communities through grants and county wide initiatives. Goal would be to supply water to the entire county. This should have been developed and initiated before and during the water plants construction.

Economic Development

The economic well-being of our community is paramount. Economic Development should include focusing more on bringing businesses to the area. Working closely with CCEEDP, tourism, Land Bank and Chamber of Commerce among others. Direct our own Economic Development Department or pressure the CCEEDP to perform to a higher level than in the past to support existing and attract new businesses. For several years the City has been funding CCEEDP in the amount of $50,000 annually. Investigate the need of an Engineering Tech. The 2019 city budget calls for over $500,000 in engineering fees.

Develop, maintain and procure a legally established sustainable plan for the next generation. The city needs to develop a 5, 10 and 20-year plan. Every 4 years a new Administration has ideas and agendas and the previous Administration’s plans are thrown to the wayside.  A prime example of this is when the Outhwaite Reservoir was paid off the funds were originally planned to be set aside for a new water filtration plant. This didn’t happen and when we did need a plant we needed to borrow $30 million and pass the cost on to the taxpayer. There is a continual “spinning of wheels” at City Hall and this lack of productivity in our community is apparent. This plan will be reassessed at each budget cycle and managed through the Economic Development Committee and Planning Commission as a joint committee.  This plan will need to be a city ordinance that cannot be circumvented by a new administration, it will be similar to the budget ordinance that is passed every year, and can only be changed or updated though council’s approval.