2021's Top 10, numbers 8-10: Union fights to save jobs, grocery stores open, water lines expanded
This week, we're counting down Crawford County's Top 10 stories of 2021. On Thursday, our final edition of 2021, we'll reveal what our staff picked as the top story of the year.
10. Bucyrus water line expansions
On Nov. 8, a plan developed by Bucyrus city officials for years became reality as workers from BK Layer of Perrysville began installation of a new water line along Stetzer Road.
Work began at Beechgrove Road, extending to near Locust Grove Road, Mayor Jeff Reser said in November. BK Layer was awarded the project in late July after bidding $492,464.
"This is a big project for us; we've been talking about it for years," he said. "There's a lot of people to thank on this, especially Jeff Wagner, service director, who spearheaded the effort. We're just very excited ... this is going to be a major project, and it's the first phase since I've been mayor."
The city made progress on other water line expansions, too, including the takeover of county-owned lines.
After several years of negotiations and planning, the Nevada Village Council gave its final approval in March to an agreement to purchase water from the city of Bucyrus.
The plan, which was approved by Bucyrus City Council days earlier, will involve construction of a waterline between the two communities. A $180,000 grant by the Ohio Public Works Commission to help fund installation of the line was announced earlier this month.
Also, a new 16-inch water line that will serve as a backup for the main connection between the city and the Bucyrus Water Treatment Plant was completed in May.
9. Buehler’s and Aldi come to the county
Local residents welcomed two highly anticipated grocery shopping options this year.
In January, discount grocery chain Aldi has confirmed it planned to open a store in Bucyrus. Aldi purchased the site of the former Al Smith's Place at 1885 E. Mansfield St. for $199,000 in November 2020, according to records obtained through the Crawford County Auditor's Office website.
The store opened in early September.
"With the opening of Aldi, Bucyrus now has three of the largest grocery retailers in the country," Reser said. "Citizens of Bucyrus and Crawford County have exceptional choices when it comes to grocery stores. We welcome Aldi to the Bucyrus business community."
But even before Aldi opened its doors, the east side of the county had some good news, too: In August, Buehler's Fresh Foods announced it planned to open a store in Galion West Shopping Center. Shoppers in Galion and Crestline had been without a full-service grocery since Geyer's Fresh Market closed in the summer of 2018 after 44 years in the area.
The local, independent, employee-owned grocery store at 200 Portland Way North is the 14th Buehler’s location in Ohio.
8. Union fights to save jobs at GE-Savant
Efforts to prevent the layoff of 81 workers at the GE-Savant Lighting Plant in Bucyrus early this year were unsuccessful — but IUE-CWA Local 84704 is still fighting to save local jobs.
On Jan. 6. a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act letter was sent to local officials, notifying them of the company's intent to transfer the A-19 LED bulb production line out of the plant at 1250 S. Walnut St. The plant was the only U.S. manufacturer of the bulbs, which were sold exclusively at Walmart stores.
A 30-day decision bargaining period followed, during which union officials proposed bringing in an outside expert from Michigan State University "to seek ways to improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability through a joint labor management review of all of the current work processes." The cost would have been split three ways, with the company, union and the city each kicking in a share.
"We've got to keep these jobs here," Mayor Jeff Reser said during a council meeting in early February. "I know the union is laying it all out on the line; they're working hard. They want these jobs here. ... It's a tradition that goes way, way back, and we just need to keep them."
The line was shut down March 6; production was moved to China.
But the union's fight continued, with ongoing support from city leaders and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.
On March 16, Will Evans, president of IUE-CWA Local 84704, asked members of Bucyrus City Council to pass a resolution in support of the ongoing efforts.
"We have not given up on bringing the jobs back and bringing further investment to the plant," Evans said. "We want to keep this product line going."
Earlier that day, Brown continued to push for action and advocated on behalf of workers at the plant during a Senate Finance Committee hearing.
In May, Brown visited the union hall at the back of 113 N. Sandusky Ave. Tuesday to meet with union leaders, Gary Frankhouse of the Crawford Partnership, and Reser. They discussed possible next steps as efforts continue to try to save jobs at the plant.
In October, a new national advertising campaign starring local GE/Savant Lighting employees called on the local employer to increase the number of manufacturing jobs in the community.
According to a union news release, workers at the plant had joined a national coalition calling on GE and GE Lighting to bring back a range of manufacturing jobs that have been offshored or outsourced.
ggoble@gannett.com
419-559-7263
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Top 10 stories of 2021: GE-Savant jobs, grocery stores, water lines
