Frustration Over Finances, Fairness, and Firefighting: Bucyrus Council Meeting Recap

by Logan Andrew, Editor-in-Chief | FreeWire Magazine

Monday’s Bucyrus City Council meeting stretched over two and a half hours, featuring tense public comments, multiple challenges to legislation, and a last-minute reconsideration of a previously failed pay raise ordinance that left emotions raw and tempers flaring.

Robert Taylor Sounds Off Again

Robert Taylor, who won the Republican primary for an at-large council seat on Tuesday, opened public comment by criticizing excessive fire department overtime and benefits. While reaffirming his support for safety forces, Taylor took issue with firefighters shopping on the clock, claiming it amounted to “getting paid to shop.” He dismissed the use of PTSD as a bargaining chip during union negotiations and urged the city to operate with more financial restraint.

We reached out to Bucyrus Fire Local 1120 Union President Jeremy Gillam who declined to comment.

Taylor concluded by warning that this would be the last levy he supports if nothing changes. He also said he no longer supports eliminating the out-of-town tax credit, stating, “We better make do with what we got.”

Kasey Frustrated Over Land Bank Confusion

James Kasey, a former Bucyrus resident who recently returned, voiced frustration with what he described as the city’s inactive land bank. Kasey, who once tried to sell his father's home to the city, said he’s now trying to buy property through the land bank but was told there were no available homes. He compared the program to Sandusky’s thriving land bank and offered to help Bucyrus restart its own, citing experience remodeling houses.

Councilman Kevin Myers, who previously served on the Crawford County Land Bank committee, later clarified:

“As for the gentleman who spoke at the meeting Monday, he seemed upset that the Crawford County Land Bank does not provide more housing. While other larger counties may use their land banks for such endeavors, it has never been a focal point of the Crawford County Land Bank. Our county Land Bank should be praised for the work they do to clean up blighted properties in our communities.”

Council President Kurt Fankhauser attempted to direct Kasey to Mayor Bruce Truka, who currently serves on the Land Bank board. Kasey declined, stating he was unavailable during the week due to his trucking job and had no interest in speaking with the mayor.

Greg White Criticizes Council in Absentia

During Communications and Petitions, Council Clerk Miranda Wise read a letter from Greg White, who was absent from the meeting. In it, White accused council members of withholding public information, giving unfair pay raises, and participating in what he described as backroom dealings. He also criticized the behavior of certain members during recent council sessions and raised concerns about the Bucyrus First political action committee (PAC) — though notably, White himself is a member of the “Just Say No” PAC, which actively campaigns against city tax increases and has pushed to influence policy in its own right.

White further claimed that Mayor Bruce Truka had made derogatory remarks about Councilwoman Clarissa Slater and Councilman Kevin Myers. When Myers later asked for clarification, Truka responded tersely: “Consider the source.”

Later in the meeting, City Auditor Kali Lewis directly addressed the recurring narrative that her office was failing to fulfill public records requests — a charge implied in White’s letter and repeated in recent council sessions. Citing the Ohio Attorney General and Auditor of State, Lewis clarified that public records are defined as documents already in existence. She emphasized, “We do not have to create records in response to a request,” noting that her office would not complete handwritten forms or custom worksheets simply because someone asks for them. “That would be creating a new record — which we would then be required to maintain,” she explained.

Things Unravel in the Final Hour

As the meeting moved into old and new business, Councilwoman Vicki Dishon requested that previous council minutes be amended to accurately reflect votes cast during the April 1 meeting—pointing out that her "no" vote was listed as "yes," and that a councilmember who wasn’t present was recorded as voting. The request was approved after some discussion, with Councilman Myers confirming the issue.

Dishon then added that she wanted the record to reflect why she had walked out of a previous executive session, citing concerns over how documents were handled and alleging that Law Director Brandon Gobrecht made an unproven accusation against her during the session. Gobrecht objected, calling it unfair to bring up the matter publicly due to executive session confidentiality rules. Tensions flared, but the matter was not pursued further.

Attempt to Censure Fankhauser Fails

Councilman Zyon Hickman attempted to censure Council President Kurt Fankhauser for allegedly accusing an audience member of being on drugs during an April 23 committee meeting. Hickman said Fankhauser’s remarks were inappropriate and unsubstantiated. However, the motion failed to receive a second and died on the floor.

Previously Defeated Pay Raise Reconsidered—and Passed

Hickman then made a motion to reconsider Ordinance 12-2025, the so-called "manpower ordinance" that would provide $4.25/hour raises to certain non-union city employees. The measure had previously failed, but Hickman succeeded in bringing it back for reconsideration, sparking another round of heated debate.

Councilman Chris Mauritz proposed an amendment to delay the start of the raises until the first pay period after the meeting, instead of retroactively applying them to January 1. The amendment passed, but because the ordinance was now altered, council had to vote to suspend the rules and pass it by emergency—a move requiring a two-thirds majority.

Despite vocal opposition from Fankhauser, the amended ordinance passed with a 5–2 vote. Fankhauser, who had earlier warned that those supporting the raises might be voted out in November, again lashed out at Councilmembers Aaron Sharrock and Kevin Myers, suggesting their votes were politically motivated. His comments drew a point of order from Councilwoman Clarissa Slater, who said the remarks were retaliatory and inappropriate. Myers, for his part, voted no on the manpower raises, along with Dishon.

Final Thoughts

The meeting adjourned shortly before 10 PM, leaving behind a trail of raised voices, procedural disputes, and lingering resentment. Law Director Gobrecht urged council to avoid potential legal pitfalls and warned that further retaliation or speculation about lawsuits could expose the city to risk. For a city still trying to pass levies and shore up public trust, Monday's meeting highlighted just how fragile both efforts remain.