Watch for a familiar logo being painted on the east Bluffton water tower this spring

The Bluffton Interstate 75 water tower gets a paint job this spring.

Watch for a familiar purple logo to be part of the projec. On Monday night Bluffton council approved a motion to allow the Bluffton University logo to be placed on the water tower.

The University will pay $2,000 a year over the next 10 years to enable the logo to be on the water tower.

Also during the otherwise quiet meeting, council to table for 60 days the reading of legislation to vacant an alley in the 360 block of South Jackson Street.

Deb Weihrauch, who asked for a delay on the legislation, objected to the alley vacation, requested by Steve and Allison Mittendorf and neighbors Andy and Danielle Althaus. Weihrauch told council that she and her husband have retained an attorney in the matter.

Weihrauch told council: “You are famous for passing things in an emergency. We have to protect our property.” Weihrauch used more colorful language when referring to the persons who requested the alley vacation.

Weihrauch asked a six-month delay. Council tabled the action for 60 days. The 4-2 vote to table the motion received no votes from Everett Collier and Joe Sehlhorst.

2015 street program
Council okayed a $250,000 2015 street repair program. The program addresses the following projects:

• College Avenue – concrete section replaced with asphalt
• Spring Street – College to Elm – 2-inch grind and overlay
• Augsburger Road – Bentley to corporation limit – 2-inch grind and overlay
• Public library alley – 2-inch grind and overlay
• South Bentley Road – State Route 103 (Main Street) to corporation limit – 2-inch grind and overlay
• Municipal parking lot sealing
• Jackson Street – Elm to Riley – 2-inch grind and overlay
• Augsburger Road culvert replacement by Allen County Engineer’s Office
• Berm work on County Line Road
• Painting striping by Allen County Engineer’s Office

Council also set aside $50,000 for sidewalk repair in 2015. The list of sidewalks to repair and replace is extensive. Viewers may access the list on the council agenda, which is an attachment at the bottom of this story.