UPDATED: The council packet is now attached.

The December 13 meeting of the Bluffton village council was the first since acoustic panels were installed in their third floor chamber. Echoes were noticeably muted and made following the discussion much easier. As always, Mayor Richard Johnson led the proceedings.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Finance (Dave Steiner, Phill Talavinia) recommended applying for a zero-interest loan of nearly $150,000 from the state, to be applied to the approximately $250,000 cost of realigning Bentley Road at Main Street, which is scheduled to take place in 2022.

Personnel (Mitch Kinglsey, Phil Talavinia) met jointly with Finance to hear several requests from Village safety services. EMS Chief Jan Basinger has requested a pay increase for EMTs, and Fire Chief Jon Kinn did the same for firefighters. A survey had found that Bluffton pay was lower than surrounding communities. The committees were favorably inclined. Pending future Council action, hourly pay would climb to $16-18 based on training. Police Chief Ryan Burkholder has requested the committees clarify a policy allowing police officers to be hired by private entities in the Village who need security services. Fiscal Office Kevin Nickel will be asked to help navigate payroll questions.

LEGISLATION

Council advanced two pieces of legislation:

• Third reading by emergency to accept the rate charged by the Ottawa for bulk water beginning january 1, 2022.

• Second reading authorizing temporary appropriations for the year 2022.

ADMINISTRATION

Reporting for the Village Administrator, Assistant Bryan Lloyd announced that the last leaf pickup day this year would be Monday, Dec. 20. He also noted that water billing will shift in February. Meters will be read at the end of the month rather than on the 15th, so residents should note that a higher bill in March is NOT the result of a rate increase but a slightly longer billing period.

Lloyd explained why some Bluffton residents noticed discolored water beginning on Friday, December 10. (Social media was abuzz when some residents noticed a discoloration.) Lloyd detailed that the main 16" plastic water pipe from Ottawa had been hit by a utility crew on Road M around 11 a.m. that day.  Following EPA guidelines and under the agency's supervision, the break was immediately isolated with shutoff valves and a repair was made. The line was reopened after flushing. Village crews flushed at numerous other locations as well. As a result, a boil water advisory was not needed.

SAFETY SERVICES

EMS Chief Jan Basinger reported that the EMS Department has been experiencing record call levels this year, having broken the annual record several weeks ago. Even though the Department is strained in terms of available volunteers, almost all calls have been covered without resorting to mutual aid from out-of-town agencies. Basinger stated he was proud of his crews for this achievement and their dedication. Council members echoed his sentiments and a discussion ensued about how the Village should properly recognize the EMS and Fire volunteers.

Police Chief Ryan Burkholder reported that at the department's recent Christmas dinner, Eric Rayle was chosen by his peers for the 2021 Officer of the Year Award. The Chief's Leadership Award went to Dominic Francis for his dedicated work, including technology support for the department. Burkholder admitted to council that he has appeared in TikTok videos to promote the “Crusin’ with a Claus” Christmas toy drive in conjunction with Jazzercize Bluffton. Most present, including this reporter, didn't quite know what that meant but the toy drive has been a huge success, with the last dropoff scheduled this Friday at Southgate Lanes.

Chief Burkholder also made limited comments on the overnight shooting incident last Friday and Saturday. He explained that because the Bluffton Police Department returned fire on the shooter, the Allen County Sheriff's Department became the agency reponsible for any alerts and reports to the community. He noted that he and Lieutenant Matt Oglesbee were in the field within eight minutes providing rifle cover and thermal camera support. Ten of fourteen Bluffton officers were egaged or on call in the incident.

The Icon's December 14 report includes the full press release account issued by the Allen County Sheriff's department.