by Logan Andrew, Editor-in-Chief | FreeWire — Your New, Your Voice
The Bucyrus City Council meeting Tuesday night began routinely enough. Minutes were reviewed, wreaths were funded, legislation passed — and then came the part everyone expected: the theater.
Public Participation: Same Shirts, Same Script
Before we get to the legislative business, let’s talk about what most attendees will remember. Public input featured several of Council President Kurt Fankhauser’s most vocal allies, who took to the podium wearing matching shirts — a visual that mirrored the near-identical cadence and content of their speeches. Their unified message? Everything in the city is failing — except, of course, council president Kurt Fankhauser.
Gary Daiber, who runs the Kiddy Pedal Tractor Pull, lamented the removal of Wavelinc-donated surveillance cameras from city parks, sarcastically thanking the “troublemakers” who spoke out. But his statement raised eyebrows: for someone who runs children’s events, it was striking how quickly he dismissed community concerns about the safety of children — concerns that had less to do with the cameras themselves and more to do with who was controlling them.
As many commenters have since pointed out, the opposition was never to cameras themselves — it was about who had access to the footage. The public didn’t want Fankhauser, who has a well-documented history of using surveillance footage for political and personal purposes, to be the gatekeeper. It wasn’t distrust of technology — it was distrust of the president. That nuance, of course, was conveniently left out of Daiber’s tirade.
In regards to Daiber’s opinion that points of order are used discriminately against Fankhauser, Councilwoman Aaron Sharrock told FreeWire that in fact, the opposite is true:
“I wonder why Mr. Fankhauser freaks out and even has people removed when they say anything negative about him but allows his friends to come in and personally attack everyone else.”
Her point wasn’t just about decorum — it was about consistency. Sharrock was referring to an incident where Galion resident Keith French had been removed from a meeting for disparaging Fankhauser, while Greg White, a frequent critic of others on council, has never been asked to leave. The double standard, in her view, is part of a larger problem: selective enforcement, enabled dysfunction, and a council president more interested in control than cooperation.
Wreaths Across America: Community Pride Still Shines
In a much-needed reprieve from the mudslinging, Tami Tima-Burk presented a heartfelt update on the Wreaths Across America initiative. With support from AMVETS and VFW auxiliaries, the goal is to raise $39,000 to place more than 3,000 wreaths on veterans’ graves in Oakwood, Holy Trinity, and Broken Sword cemeteries. Last year’s ceremony drew hundreds and touched many hearts, and this year’s event — set for December 13 at noon — aims to be even bigger.
FreeWire first spoke with Tima-Burk at the Memorial Day parade, where she shared her hope that every single veteran’s grave would be honored this year.
“Everybody loved it so much last year,” she said. “We had about 700 wreaths and only two months to raise the money. This year, we want to cover every one — going back all the way to the Civil War. We don’t want to miss anybody.”
Locally, the event is powered by volunteers and supported by organizations like the Ladies Auxiliary. Donations can be made at any First Federal Community Bank branch by asking for the Tammy Tima – Wreaths Across America account. A progress tracker is also planned for the city square, giving residents a visual update as the community moves closer to its goal.
“The donated wreaths go on the graves that nobody specifically buys for,” Tima-Burk added. “That way no one is left out.”
Legislative Business: Grants and Parcels Move Forward
Among the legislative items passed:
- Resolution 219-2025 approved a grant from ODNR to fund the Almiller walking path.
- Resolution 220-2025 transferred multiple city-owned properties to the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC), following a brief recess to correct parcel ID formatting.
- Ordinance 29-2025 repealed outdated snow emergency parking rules.
The mayor’s office also announced several appointments, including Melinda Tubbs to the Planning Commission and both Tubbs and Lyn McKeever to the CIC. A proposed annexation of the county recycling center was referred to the Platting and Finance Committees.
The Chair That Wasn’t: Fankhauser’s Manufactured Drama
As the meeting neared its end, things still seemed unusually tame. This despite the fact that the night before, Fankhauser posted a YouTube video comparing himself to Donald Trump, warning that law director Brandon Gobrecht and councilwoman Clarissa Slater were “coming after him.” In true Trumpian fashion, when the anticipated drama didn’t materialize, Fankhauser created it.
The issue? The Economic Development Committee still lacked a chair.
The position had been vacant since Zyan Hickman’s resignation. His replacement, councilman Terry Spiegel, was the first in line but declined due to his newcomer status. councilwoman Vicki Dishon and councilman Chris Mauritz both declined as well, leaving Slater as the only remaining member of the committee.
Instead of appointing her — the clear procedural next step — Fankhauser refused, saying she wasn’t voted in by the community. He also claimed she wasn’t qualified. But earlier in the same discussion, he said he would appoint her if she apologized to him publicly.
That contradiction wasn’t lost on anyone.
Multiple members pointed out the glaring hypocrisy: if Slater’s qualifications were in question, an apology shouldn’t change that. Others reminded him that Spiegel himself was appointed by the Republican Central Committee, just like Slater, and that hadn’t stopped Fankhauser from supporting Spiegel’s chairmanship earlier.
Dishon, exhausted by the circular logic, joked that she might start counting to three — as she would with a grandchild — to see if Fankhauser would finally do his job.
He didn’t.
As the exchange dragged on, Slater remained composed and professional — a fact not lost on viewers. In the final portion of the meeting, she calmly introduced a slate of well-researched referrals, including the deteriorating Swan Building on East Mansfield, a lease renewal for the Air Scouts, and a fire-damaged property on Fremont. After the meeting, several council members remarked that Slater “sure sounded qualified to me,” a sentiment echoed in the comment section of the city’s livestream.
Closing Commentary
In the end, what played out wasn’t just political friction — it was a familiar pattern: dysfunction dressed as principle, grudges masquerading as governance. While much of the city’s business moved forward, it did so in spite of its leadership, not because of it. And once again, council members and residents alike were forced to parse the rules, the roles, and the real reasons behind the latest manufactured controversy.
If there’s one thing Bucyrus seems to have more of than committee vacancies, it’s patience. Whether it’s raising $39,000 for veterans’ wreaths or navigating another week of council chaos, the community keeps showing up — even when its leadership doesn’t always do the same.
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