The August 20 meeting of the Bluffton Lions Club featured a presentation by Dave Stratton, President and CEO of Greater Lima Region, Inc. (GLR) on what’s new in the world of regional planning and promotion. The public was invited to this program.
Two Bluffton families have forged a new business partnership on Vine Street. Liz and Bob Gordon-Hancock have become partners with Jonah Agner, chef-owner of Greenhorn restaurant at 112 Vine St.
In this series, the Icon presents the Bluffton Beyond Tomorrow comprehensive plan in eight segments, which can be found in full on the Village of Bluffton website HERE. The Bluffton Public Library has two print copies.
Housing
Municipalities across the nation are reviewing housing supply data as societal evolutions change requirements. The number of occupants per home is decreasing and the average home is growing in square footage. Our earliest pertinent data for Bluffton was collected in 1970. Just over 50 years ago, each resident averaged 325 square feet of living space with the mean home spanning 1,500 square feet. The most recent decennial census in 2020 identified the average home size in Bluffton as 2,465 square feet, raising the living space to resident ratio to 431 square feet to one resident (Allen County Auditor data).
Similar statistics could be tracked in most American municipalities. Denser populations are the goal because they are more efficient. Running utilities 2,000 feet to 10 homes returns less revenue than the same distance for 20 homes. Income tax on 20 homes returns far more capital to the municipality than property taxes on large lots with proportional homes.
Citizens National Bank (CNB) has welcomed Tim Sprague as a Mortgage Loan Originator in their Bluffton Office. In this role, he will facilitate mortgage, home equity, and other retail loan applications.
Tim previously worked at CNB from 1994 to 2004 in several roles to start his banking career. “I have always had an appreciation for CNB for giving me an opportunity to begin and build my career within the mortgage industry. I enjoy putting the ‘puzzle’ together for my customers and building trust with personal relationships.”
Dave Stratton, the new president of Greater Lima Region Inc. will be speaking at the Bluffton Lions Club meeting on Tuesday, August 20 at noon.
Stratton will talk about his new role, provide business updates for the community, Allen County and the eight-county region which he represents as well as entertain
questions.
The meeting, which takes place on the third floor of Bluffton Town Hall, is free and open to the public.
The following ten land transfers took place in the Bluffton Exempted Village School District for the month of July 2024 as reported on the websites of Allen County Auditor Rachael S. Gilroy and Hancock County Auditor Charity A. Rauschenberg.
