By Logan Andrew
May 23, 2025
A week of escalating tension within Bucyrus City Council reached a boiling point Thursday evening, culminating in a failed executive session attempt, public accusations, and calls for formal investigation into Council President Kurt Fankhauser’s conduct.
At the center of the controversy is Fankhauser’s attempt to call a closed-door executive session without stating a lawful reason, his disputed claims about the city’s firefighter union contract, and an inflammatory press release accusing Law Director Brandon Gobrecht of gross negligence.
The Lawsuit Push
It began Monday, May 19, when Fankhauser met privately with Law Director Brandon Gobrecht, with Councilwoman Clarissa Slater also present. During the meeting, Fankhauser allegedly pressured Gobrecht to sue the Bucyrus Tourism & Visitors Bureau, an organization he has been at odds with over access to records and oversight.
Gobrecht declined, stating such a lawsuit lacked merit and would be legally untenable.
Executive Session Collapse
At the regular council meeting on Tuesday, May 20, council passed Ordinance 30-2025 approving a labor agreement with the city’s firefighter union.
During an executive session that night, Fankhauser again brought up the lawsuit against the tourism bureau. Reportedly, Gobrecht and Council refused, at which point Fankhauser allegedly threatened to include all of the members in the suit.
After Gobrecht’s refusal, Fankhauser began spreading a rumor that he had walked in on Gobrecht and Slater engaged in a sexual act, going so far as to claim the room "smelled like it."
He then contacted council members Chris Mauritz, Jim Mee, and Kevin Myers to help call a special meeting for Thursday, May 22, in an attempt to force an executive session to discuss his allegations.
That session never happened. When the meeting convened, Councilwoman Vicki Dishon refused to take her seat, instead citing Ohio’s Sunshine Law at the podium as a private citizen. She noted the meeting notice failed to include a legally valid reason for the executive session.
Gobrecht, Slater, and Councilman Aaron Sharrock publicly agreed. Fankhauser, growing increasingly confrontational, made cryptic statements suggesting that the session would be damaging if held publicly: “You’re really going to want to have this session,” he said. “You don’t want this to be in the public.”
Gobrecht responded that if the discussion concerned his job performance, he had a right to have it publicly.
The meeting was ultimately adjourned without the session taking place.
Later that evening, Fankhauser released a press statement accusing Gobrecht of dereliction in handling the firefighter contract. The press release was widely criticized as misleading and retaliatory.
Clarissa Slater Responds
On Friday, Councilwoman Clarissa Slater issued a strongly worded public statement calling out Fankhauser’s actions as unethical and coercive.
“Enough is enough. Kurt Fankhauser’s misuse of power and public misinformation campaign threaten the integrity of the Bucyrus City Council and undermine public trust.”
Slater detailed previous instances where Fankhauser had acted without authority, including an incident in September 2024 when he used city letterhead to demand the resignation of another council member. She accused him of threatening lawsuits, misrepresenting council positions, and attempting to weaponize legal arguments for political purposes.
“This is not a disagreement. This is coercion.”
She also called on Council to form an ad hoc investigative committee and consider filing formal charges under R.C. §§ 3.07 and 3.08 for misfeasance, malfeasance, and misconduct in office.
The Union Pushes Back
Fankhauser’s legal argument—that the firefighter contract was invalid—was flatly rejected by IAFF Local 1120 President Jeremy Gillam. In a statement provided to FreeWire, Gillam confirmed that the union and city administration had reached a tentative agreement on April 4, and the union ratified the contract on April 8.
"As of May 4, the contract became valid and binding under ORC 4117.10(B). One person’s opinion does not undo state law or legal legislation that has been passed."
Gillam added that the contract was legally adopted by council on May 20 and that the passage of Ordinance 30-2025 was proper.
Fankhauser Elaborates on Tourism Bureau Concerns
Fankhauser’s scrutiny of the Bucyrus Tourism & Visitors Bureau mirrors his campaign last year against the Bratwurst Festival Committee, in which he similarly alleged a lack of transparency and mismanagement of public funds. In both cases, he has argued that entities receiving public money must comply with Ohio's Sunshine Laws and be subject to oversight.
When asked for context as to why he believes the city should sue the Bucyrus Tourism & Visitors Bureau and why he suspects a cover-up, Council President Kurt Fankhauser responded:
"I am hoping to see the Bucyrus Tourism and Visitors Bureau comply with Ohio Laws, an Ohio Attorney's General Opinion, Ohio Case Law, and their own contract that they themselves have signed between them and the City of Bucyrus which itself mentions they agree to complying with Public Records. City Council and other elected officials have a duty to be accountable with public tax dollars in which the Bucyrus Tourism and Visitors Bureau receives substantial public tax money. They have received almost $200,000 just since 2018 alone. I don't want to see them lose funding over non-compliance with public records but the very fact that they for months have been avoiding releasing records is throwing some serious red flags. Where is all the money going that they receive from the City of Bucyrus? You can't take public tax dollars for financial assistance and not follow the Ohio Sunshine Laws. I highly encourage the Tourism Bureau to comply with public records laws to avoid any potential legal issues for them."
The Tourism Bureau Speaks
Casie Grau, Director of the Bucyrus Tourism & Visitors Bureau, also weighed in:
"The Bucyrus Tourism & Visitors Bureau is a private organization not subject to public records requests or open meeting laws. We will continue to provide quarterly updates to Bucyrus City Council and remain open to speaking at Economic Development Committee meetings."
Grau encouraged Council President Fankhauser to work constructively with city officials and focus on shared goals for the community.
Police Report Filed
After the May 22 meeting, multiple council members provided statements to Bucyrus Police regarding alleged threats and intimidation. Due to the conflict of interest, a Crawford County Sheriff’s deputy was brought in to take over the case.
Among the allegations: that Fankhauser told Councilwoman Sharrock to "watch her back"—a comment allegedly made May 5, the day before the primary election—and that he threatened to sue every council member who didn’t comply with his demands.
What Happens Next?
As calls grow for an official investigation, all eyes are now on Bucyrus City Council. Will they follow through on Slater’s request to convene an ad hoc committee? And if so, will it result in formal charges for misconduct?
What’s certain is that the dysfunction, division, and drama gripping Bucyrus politics isn’t going away quietly.
