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A packet for the January 9 regular meeting of the Bluffton Council has been issued. The meeting will take place at 7:00 p.m. on the third floor of Bluffton Town Hall, 154 N. Main.

The 33-page document includes:

- Agenda

- Voucher Report

- Covid- 19 Report from Allen County Health Department (community risk level high)

- Proposed Ordinance No. 01-2023 regarding publishing changes to the Code of Ordinances

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The Village of Bluffton has announced the following meeting at Bluffton Town Hall, 154 N. Main.

Safety Committee - Monday, January 9 at 6:30 p.m.

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The Board of Trustees of Bluffton Public Library has announced its meeting schedule for 2023. 

Meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the library's Board Room at 145 South Main St., Bluffton. No meetings will take place in July or December.

Board meetings are open to the public. Board members are:

Bob Beer, president

Nancy Yeager, vice president

Carrie Phillips, secretary

Amy Lehman Mikesell

Robert Scott

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End of year comments from departments; Equipment replacement; financial wrapping up; council meeting packet

By Andy Chappell-Dick

Bluffton Council met on Tuesday, December 27, for its final meeting of 2022. The agenda was light on reports but heavy on emergency legislation, most presented by Fiscal Officer Kevin Nickel.  Five of six items dealt with year-end procedural accounting matters, and the sixth was renewing the Village's annual retainer contract with Findlay attorney Elliot Werth. All six passed 5-0. Councillor Phil Talavinia was absent.  

COMMITTEES
In the only committee report, Councilor Dave Steiner reported on Finance.  The committee had met to review various budgetary matters, and also put together recommendations for equipment purchases. This includes a new $60,000 F-250 pickup truck for the public works department. Village trucks are on a 15-year cycle, so this vehicle would replace a worn out 2008 model.  Also discussed was a new leaf vacuum machine for $95,000. These recommendations were both were approved 5-0.

ADMINISTRATION
Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn reported that work progressed rapidly in the week before Christmas on the Lawn Avenue waterline replacement.  With the stone quarry closed this week, there won't be much happening on this project until the new year.

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Applicants Ryan and Jessica Meyer are asking the Village of Bluffton for permissions to convert the former True Word Tabernacle church at 104 East Elm St. into a multiple apartment facility. Allen County Assessor's records show the 9,844 square foot building was constructed in 1920 and renovated in 2004.

Notice is hereby given of a Public Hearing before the Bluffton Board of Zoning and Building Appeals on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at 7:00 pm in the third-floor Community Room at the Bluffton Town Hall located at 154 North Main Street, Bluffton, Ohio. The purpose of the meeting is to consider the following:

The property owner of 104 East Elm St. located in a C-I Commercial District, is requesting to convert the existing building into 8 apartment units.  The hearing is to consider both the approval of a conditional use for this property along with approved variance from the following Chapters and Sections of Village Code:

Chapter 153.142 Conditional Uses with Approval by the Village Board of Zoning and Building Appeals after a Public Hearing. (A). Single-, two-, three- and multi-family residential structures.  

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On December 12 Bluffton Council member Joe Sehlhorst provided the following highlights for Village of Bluffton activities in 2022. He notes that these are highlights rather than a comprehensive list. His goal was to keep it to two printed pages.

November

Ottawa water rate for 2023: $3.02 per CCF; (2022: $2.62, 2021: $2.44, 2020: $2.06)

Year 2021 - Top 15 water users for 2021: SumiRiko (10x higher), GROB (2, 9 Caf.), Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton U. (4,8,11,13,14), Riley View Apt., Bluffton Hospital, Vance St. apts., Comfort Inn, A&B Car Wash, Alpine Village. (Jan. Council Report).

Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce-Jim Enneking thanks council, safety services, and cultural affairs for a successful Blaze of Lights. New entertainment zone on Vine St. (Beer and Bourbon, food, and tent) called Blaze after Lighting.

Village enters 3-year Allen County dispatch service for Police, Fire, and EMS. Cost is $55,600 Yr. 1, (1 ½% increase) Yr. 2 $56,442; Yr. 3 $57,289. 

Officer Rayle to participate in Police Unity Bicycle Ride from NJ to Washington DC and meet up with officers to honor fallen officers. Bluffton Police Force to represent Officer Dominic Francis. 

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