August 12 Council Packet HERE

By Paula Pyzik Scott

The Village of Bluffton Council held a regular meeting on Monday, August 12 on the third floor of Town Hall. The meeting was chaired by Mayor Rich Johnson, council member Dave Steiner was absent and all voting items were passed unanimously.

PARK PLANNING FORUM, AUG. 22
The Parks and Recreation committee encourages residents to attend a public forum on Bluffton parks development. All are invited to provide input, receive updates and help determine the future of the Bluffton Soccer Complex planned for Snider Rd., pedestrian pathways, Bluffton Community Dog Park planned for Lake St. and current Bluffton parks: Village Park and Buckeye Park.

The event will take place at the large shelter house at Buckeye Park from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on August 22. If the weather is poor, the meeting will move to the Sportsmen’s Club. For those unable to attend, information will be distributed at Town Hall.

A resident at the meeting objected to the planned location of the dog park on Lake St., citing concerns that it would decrease his property value.

SR 103 STONE ENTRANCE MARKERS
Reporting on a late July meeting of the Bluffton in Bloom committee, Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn noted that two large limestone Bluffton entrance markers are the group’s primary focus at this time. Locations on both sides of State Route 103 have been identified that don’t interfere with sight lines or infringe on the right of way. The committee will meet again on August 28.

PATHWAY DEDICATIONS
The newest additions to the Bluffton bike and pedestrian pathways–a.k.a. Lions Way– will be dedicated next month:

County Line Pathway - September 3 at 4:00 p.m.  in front of the Bluffton Child Development Center.

S.R. 103 Pathway - September 17 at 3:00 p.m. at the intersection of Dave’s Way and S.R. 103. 

LEGISLATION
Council passed a second reading of Ordinance No. 07-2024 to provide two handicap accessible parking spaces in the downtown area of Bluffton, OH.

Council passed the first reading of Resolution -2024, adopting an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan for the Village of Bluffton, Ohio (pages 8-37 of the attached packet).

Council passed the first reading of Resolution No. 20-2024 by emergency, authorizing the advertisement for public bid on installation of stormwater infrastructure to serve the Bluffton Soccer Complex. 

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATION
On behalf of the Zoning Department, Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn recommended that council update the Village Code to deal with the nuisance being created by roosters for village residents and for the village staff and legal counsel. Blackburn would like to see specific details for “abatement” of nuisance roosters, such as hiring a service to remove the rooster and assess the cost to the owner. The Ordinance committee will follow up with the issue.

In a show and tell moment, Asst. Village Administrator Bryan Lloyd displayed a hunk of iron from the interurban railroad/trolley that had been removed from under paving on Main St. near Kibler. (See a 2021 Icon article on the Western Ohio Railroad) The old rail buckled and snapped during a recent heat wave, creating a big bump in the road that is now repaired.

MAYOR
Mayor Rich Johnson presented three event permit requests: 

Council approved a request by the English Lutheran church at Grove and Jackson streets to close a portion of the adjacent alley during a September 8 event. 

Council also approved the Bluffton University request to close a section of Bentley Road for Homecoming celebrations on October 5. A tent will be erected over the road.

Council approved closure of College Ave. from the bridge to Harmon Field for painting the street by Bluffton High School football players. The closure is from 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. on August 18.

SAFETY SERVICES
Police Chief Ryan Burkholder submitted July 2024 department activity reports (pages 43-46 in the attachment) and shared photos of a Back Heroes Rumble in Mt. Carmel, Ohio, that he attended in honor of Officer Dominic Francis. The event raised $2,350 for the Dominic Francis Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Noting that Lieutenant Matt Oglesbee, who coordinates annual National Night Out celebrations, was enjoying his first evening off in nearly three weeks, Burkholder gave council a NNO report by the numbers: among the refreshments provided, 1,340 hot dogs were served and 1,800 bottles of water were consumed.

On a more somber note, Burkholder reported that a council member’s bicycle was stolen at National Night out. He is seeking information on the theft. A $750 reward from the Crimestoppers Fund has been created to help solve this crime. If you have information about this incident, please contact Burkholder at 419-358-2961 x 109 or [email protected].

NEW BUSINESS
Mayor Johnson invited Shana Philips, a studio art student from Ada to address the council. She offered to create a new mural honoring Bluffton native and Olympic athlete Trevor Bassitt. The mayor invited Phillips to meet with him to discuss potential locations and the design process.

The meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m.

UPCOMING MEETING DATES

• Council Meeting - Monday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m.
• Bluffton Safety Services - Wednesday, August 14 at 2:00 p.m. - An informational meeting at Bluffton Sr. Citizens Center on the proposed 0.4% Income Tax Increase on the November 5 general election ballot.
• Council Meeting - Monday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m.
• Airport Commission Meeting - Wednesday, August 28 at 3:00 p.m. at Bluffton Airport
• Bluffton In Bloom Committee Meeting - Wednesday, August 28 at 7:00 p.m.