I wanted to advise the public, council, and city officials of ongoing occurrences regarding the recent court filings in the Ohio Court of Claims which has officially recommended judgment in favor of the City of Bucyrus and City Council, dismissing both public-records complaints filed by Mr. Elmer Copp of Galion and assessing him responsible for court costs.
That decision should close this chapter and allow our community to move forward. Unfortunately, continued filings by a small group of individuals have kept the City engaged in unnecessary legal distractions that drain time, energy, and taxpayer dollars — resources that should be dedicated to serving our residents.
Every hour our Law Director and staff spend compiling documents or responding to baseless claims is an hour not spent advancing legislation, securing grants, or investing in infrastructure. These repeated, unsubstantiated complaints have created a costly cycle that benefits no one and burdens everyone.
Even now, additional complaints naming the Law Director personally have required the City to hire outside counsel at public expense. One such case centers on something as trivial as a photo of a shoe tag — clearly not a public record. This is not governance; it’s a sideshow.
Importantly, the Special Master of the Ohio Court of Claims personally reviewed all of my communications and confirmed that no undisclosed records exist. The facts are clear, and the record speaks for itself.
Bucyrus deserves leadership focused on solutions, not spectacle. Our citizens deserve to see their tax dollars at work improving roads, revitalizing neighborhoods, and growing our economy — not funding needless disputes.
To those who have continued to support my work and the city’s mission, thank you. Your faith in the process and in the pursuit of progress means more than you know. I didn’t get it right 100% of the time, but even a year ago, I didn’t see myself sitting on council, and that left me unprepared for the arena I was launched in to, so for those who have extended grace, thank you.
As I step back from council, I do so with pride in what we have accomplished despite our numerous and painful set backs. I hope that the spirit of advocacy continues. Though much more needs done, we have set the groundwork for much needed projects.
Since my time in office, I’ve had the honor to engage in the following endeavors:
1. Engaged in conversations regarding JEDD/CEDA, as a source of revenue
2. Focused on restructuring the water system, and finding ways to improve billing and account for lost meterage, and advocated for a study to bring Bucyrus to standard with other municipalities.
3. Reignited the CIC which has laid dormant for numerous years. Laying the foundation for property revitalization.
4. Expanded and established the Community Reinvestment Area program and extended its reach to include residential home owners, landlords and commercial residential properties.
5. Opened the door for ongoing conversations regarding economic enterprise zones in areas of blight.
6. Researching blighted property options and collaborating with other municipalities on how they handle these situations.
There are many more examples, but just a few projects I have high hopes for in the coming years.
I am a proponent of constructive disagreement that can drive progress but its only effective when rooted in truth and a shared commitment to Bucyrus’s future. Not fabricated outrage to distract and deflect from the issues.
It’s time to close this chapter and return our collective focus to what truly matters: building a stronger, more united community. Though I will not be behind the railings I intend and shall be a presence in that room for the advocacy of a better Bucyrus, for the collective legacy of our city. I hope to engage in meaningful dialogue and I hope to see an end of antics for personal gain, or turning others into political fodder. Bucyrus deserves better.
Respectfully,
Clarissa Scheffler-Slater
Bucyrus City Council At-Large
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