Bentley & Main detours begin Feb. 27 - Repairs underway on pathway underpass - Pay increase study continues - Austin Probst sworn in as full-time officer

By Paula Scott

The Village of Bluffton Council held a regular meeting on Monday, February 13. There were approximately nine people in attendance and all council members were present. Mayor Richard Johnson conducted the meeting, beginning with the hiring of Police Office Austin Probst. Council approved the terms of his employment followed by a swearing-in ceremony.

The meeting agenda is attached with supporting documents. Minutes of prior meetings and bills were approved unanimously without discussion.

COMMITTEES

Personnel - Councilor Mitch Kingsley reported on the February 1 committee meeting:

Chief Burkholder recommended 1) a financial agreement with officers taking expensive training courses, with the officer covering costs if they leave the department within a designated number of years, 2) review of hiring and advancement practices to prepare for leadership changes.

Wage survey and annual wage review. The committee is getting more information from other municipalities; a wage adjustment will be considered at the next council meeting.

Parks and Recreation - Councilor Ben Stahl reported on the February 1 committee meeting: 

A portion of the original Triplett Pathway under I-75 along Riley Creek has a large bump of heaved concrete. The Village has begun repairs that will use road plating.

The Bike and Pedestrian Pathway Commission is exploring the possibility of a residential pathway in the area of Clay St. in the Parkview subdivision.

Logos and designs to be used at the Village Park ball diamonds will be approved/rejected  by the administration. Bluffton Diamond Sports volunteered to coordinate the scheduling of games and practices at the fields.

Finance - Councilor Dave Steiner reported on the February 3 committee meeting:

Permanent appropriations must be made by the end of March, when a third reading of the Appropriations Ordinance will have to be made by emergency.

While EMS staffing changes are being considered, the committee will use standard increases in the interim, which could be changed in future meetings. Council will have to decide on the final amount at the next meeting.

Committee of the Whole - Council President Jerry Cupplies reported on the February 6 meeting:

The council reviewed the 2023 budget as presented by Fiscal Officer Kevin Nickel. As noted above, pay increases are yet to be determined. The cost of the Jackson St. curb replacement project is expected to increase.

Streets, Lights and Alleys - Councilor Joe Sehlhorst reported on the February 8 meeting:

The Main St. at College Ave. crosswalk was discussed with two residents. The committee noted that Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn is working towards another traffic-pedestrian count.

SR 103 curb project has been authorized to go out for bids. Once a bid is accepted, letters will go out to affected residents.

A school area curb project on Jackson St. is being discussed that could include work such as widening the sidewalk, taking out overgrown trees, adding a mid-block crosswalk at the middle school and improving drainage. The scope and timeframe of the project will be determined by the parties involved, including the schools, Citizens National Bank and First Mennonite Church.

Bentley Rd. Realignment work at Main St. will begin this month but the sidewalk project in the area is on hold.

ORDINANCES
Council unanimously approved the first reading of the 2023 annual budget appropriations ordinance. The fiscal officer noted that placeholders have been put in the packet and can be adjusted before the final reading.

Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to amend rules and regulations for Maple Grove Cemetery. However, Councilor Mitch Kingsley notes that he couldn’t tell what rules are being changed and requested a red line copy from Jon Kinn. (Draft copy pages 19-26 of attached packet.)

RESOLUTIONS
Council approved the third and final reading of a resolution to adopt a Complete Streets Policy (pages 27-35 of attached packet.)

Council approved the second reading of a resolution to accept revised versions of sections in the personnel policy and procedure manual: Sick Leave, Vacation, Holidays and Uniforms. (pages 36-46 of the attached packet.)

Declaring an emergency, council approved the first reading of a resolution to authorize advertising for public bid on the S.R. 103 curb replacement project.

REPORTS

Village Administrator - Jesse Blackburn reported on several construction projects:

Waterline work on Lawn and Jackson streets would be done that week.

Bentley Rd. and Main intersection improvements would begin with detour signs going up on February 24 and work commencing on February 27.

Assistant Village Administrator Bryan Lloyd reported on landscaping topics:

Mulch grinding has been completed and has resulted in a pretty nice material.

Requested and council approved advertising for 2 seasonal mowing jobs.

Requested that the highly troublesome leaf machine be declared as surplus. This leaf machine must be scrapped to fulfill the terms of its replacement.

Police Department - Chief Ryan Burkholder reported:

There were 703 calls for service in the month of January including business checks and special events. A presentation was made to Bluffton Girl Scouts by Sergeant Tyler Hochstetler and K-9 Unit Kato.

The Chief will be testifying in a Detroit homicide trial. The defendant was apprehended at the Fairway Inn on SR 103 on March 25, 2021.

The next regular meeting of the Bluffton Council takes place at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 27.