By Fred Steiner
Bluffton council discussed, but did not act upon a proposal on Oct. 26 that would mean no pay increases in 2010 for village employees. Generally the village has had annual salary increased close to the rate of inflation.

Since the village is experiencing lower revenue from its village income tax all village spending has slowed this year.

Council passed a resolution that supports a study of the Lima 458 postal plant. The United States Postal Service is considering closing the Lima plant and moving those operations to Toledo. If that occurred, it could mean a delay in some mail service in the 70 post offices with 458 zip codes.

Should the Lima plant close it would mean, for example, that mail intended for someone in Bluffton that was placed in the Franklin Street drive-by mailbox would travel to Toledo to be sorted and then returned to Bluffton to be delivered.

Park district
Council became aware that the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District is pursing a grant to purchase a 50-acre parcel of land on the Motter farm along Columbus Grove Road. Presently the park district owns 55 acres along Riley Creek. If successful, that yet-to-be-developed park would include 105 acres. Presently there is no Metropolitan park in the northern tier of Allen County.

Mitch Kingsley encouraged council to support the park district in this project. Following his suggestion, council passed a motion in support of the project. Although none of the 50 acres is inside the corporation limits, Kingsley said that the project would greatly benefit the village.

The park district is negotiating the purchase the property and is submitting an application to the State of Ohio's Clean Ohio Fund for a 75 percent matching grant. The park district purchased the original 55 acres in 2006.

EMS ambulance sold
The village's 1989 EMS ambulance will be sold to the Beaverdam-Richland Township EMS for $500. Council okayed the sale on Oct. 26. According to Jan Basinger, EMS chief, the township EMS hopes to use the ambulance for HAZMAT and rescue gear. Council approved placing Scott Phillips on the Bluffton EMS unit in a six-month probationary period.

Employee appreciation dinner
A village employee appreciation dinner will take place this fall, however it will be a scaled down version of previous dinners. Last year's dinner cost an estimated $2,000. This year, council decided to hold the dinner in the town hall and to have a simpler menu. It is expected that up to 80 persons attend the dinner.

Streetscape
Jamie Mehaffie, village administrator, informed council that the lights on the east side of Main Street are now installed and are working. He said that Miller Cable expects to remove the temporary lights and poles this week.

The work that remains to be completed includes:
o completion of the paver system installation on both sides of the street
o installation and activation of the "school zone" signs and lights
o installation of the in-pavement loop detectors
o activation of the traffic signals and pedestrian signals
o installation of the poles and mast-arms with signage at Main Street and Jefferson

Leaf pick
Leaf pick-up in Bluffton will kick into high gear now that leaves are falling. No schedule is established, but Mehaffie said that village employees are "juggling left pick-up with mowing until the growing season is over."
Leaves raked to resident's curbs will be picked up by the village.

It was announced that Trisco Systems will perform cleaning, tuck pointing and waterproofing of the Spring Street bridge abutments during the first week of November.

Council committee meetings
Nov. 9 -- Ordinance committee, 7 p.m.
Nov. 9 - Finance committee, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 9 - Council, 8 p.m.