by Logan Andrew | FreeWire Magazine
BUCYRUS — Thursday night at City Hall packed in more than its share of tension, starting with an ad hoc committee meeting, rolling into a combative special council session, and ending with a round of committee meetings that saw more disputes flare.
Ad Hoc Committee Meeting: Lawsuit & Recommendation
The night opened with the ad hoc committee tasked with hiring a new council clerk. Council President Kurt Fankhauser handed members a copy of his lawsuit alleging the city violated executive session laws by previously meeting without him or Law Director Brandon Gobrecht present.
Despite the looming legal challenge, the committee went ahead and made a recommendation for a candidate.
Special Council Meeting: Clerk Hiring Restart & Sharp Exchanges
When the special session began, that recommendation was almost immediately overtaken by debate over how the process had been handled from the start.
Fankhauser — who has taken unilateral control of the council’s Facebook page — had posted the job opening without listing a closing date. During the discussion, Gobrecht asked him several times if he had purposely “Shanghai’d” the posting in order to get his way by securing himself a spot on the ad hoc committee and ultimately secure the clerk position for an ally.
The exchange marked the first of many between the two with at one point Gobrecht telling Fankhauser he wasn’t appointed to the original ad hoc because “Nobody likes you… nobody wants to work with you.” The remark became a flashpoint online, with commenters split — some applauding someone finally saying it, others arguing it lowered the already low bar of professionalism in chambers, and still others defending Gobrecht by pointing to Fankhauser’s history of clashes.
Council ultimately voted to restart the hiring process, this time with Fankhauser included on the ad hoc committee from the outset.
BZA Appointment Controversy
Also on the agenda was the appointment of Adam Frizzell to the Bucyrus Board of Zoning Appeals. Fankhauser asked whether he could “emulate Nancy Pelosi” in handling the matter, essentially fillibustering the appointment, prompting another pointed back-and-forth with Gobrecht over the limits of the council president’s authority and whether council could remove him, at least temporarily.
The appointment went forward despite Fankhauser’s objections, which were stricken from the record after a point of order was raised.
Attendance & Committee Impact
After the special meeting, council moved into its regular committee schedule. Finance and Health & Safety could not meet due to lack of quorum after Council Members Vicki Dishon and Kevin Myers were absent, saying the meetings hadn’t been properly announced to the public.
Platting, Public Lands & Buildings, Service, and Economic Development all proceeded as scheduled.
Public Lands & Buildings: Keys & Cabinet Dispute
Public Lands & Buildings spent considerable time on a dispute over filing cabinets from the council office that had been moved into the civil service office, creating space issues. The committee agreed to move the cabinets and restrict access to the office.
The meeting also saw Fankhauser boldly acknowledge he had obtained the council clerk’s office keys — despite ordinance 13-2021 assigning them to Public Lands & Buildings.
Public Comment: EPA Violation Letter
During public comment, residents pressed council about an EPA violation letter concerning the city’s wastewater treatment plant, questioning when officials learned of it and why it hadn’t been made public. Fankhauser suggested a private legal briefing on the matter.
Service Committee: Wastewater Oversight
The Service Committee focused on open legislation and continued monitoring of wastewater operations. Safety-Service Director Tommy Starner provided operational updates.
Economic Development: Bed Tax & Tourism Transition
Economic Development discussion centered on delayed bed tax collections and community frustration over funds owed to the city. The upcoming leadership change at the Chamber/Tourism office was also noted, with members expressing concern over its potential impact on promotions and fund use.
Conclusion
What began as a routine night of council business quickly turned into a showcase of the divisions that have come to define Bucyrus politics. Between lawsuits, sharp words, disputed appointments, and lingering questions about transparency, the evening offered little sign that tensions will ease any time soon.
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