Bluffton school board initiated the bid process for an 84-passenger transit school bus during its Feb. 8 board meeting. The board will open bids for the bus at 9 a.m., Wednesday, March 8, in the superintendent’s office.
The board also accepted a contract totally $199,500 for materials and installation of bleachers in the high school gym. The contract is with Hussey Seating Co., and Farnham Equipment Co.
The current bleachers are the original bleachers and are nearly 30 years old. The project could begin as soon as April and should be completed later in the spring.
NOTE: Bluffton school board moved this month’s meeting from Feb. 20 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8.
Bluffton school board is notifying the public through a resolution that Tim Closson, elementary principal, will retire and seek re-employment in the same position this spring.
The notice, from the board’s Feb. 8, agenda follows:
Bluffton council reversed course on Monday and voted 6-0 by emergency to approve Bluffton being on the U.S. and State Bike Route network.
This means that Bike Route 25 between Lima and Findlay will pass down Bluffton’s Main Street.
The program is part of an Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) long-range plan, Access Ohio 2040. It’s a coordinated effort with local jurisdictions like Bluffton to get the bike route network in place.
Bluffton council voted to give $5,000 to the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce this year.
Gen Akroyd, chamber director, made the request at the Jan. 23 council meeting. She said that the village collects hotel-motel taxes to promote the village and that the chamber would like $5,000 for promotional purposes.
Phill Talavinia asked if there is enough to also support Bluffton Center For Entreprenuers, which has also asked and received $5,000 annually for the past three years.
BCE has not yet asked for its village hotel-motel tax allotment.
In surprise action, Bluffton council voted 4-2 on Monday evening to terminate Jamie Mehaffie as village administrator. He has held the position for the past 13 years.
The vote came following two executive sessions, which followed the regularly scheduled council meeting.
The first executive session was to discuss contracts, which involved discussion with two Ottawa officials involving water.
The second session discussed personnel performance.
Following that session, at approximately 11 p.m. council went back into open session.
Bluffton council will act on four pieces of legislation at Monday evening meeting.
Council will:
• consider the second reading of a resolution allow a state bike route through Bluffton.
• consider the first reading of a resolution entering an agreement with Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District for 2017 cooperative park improvement grant funds.
