The Village of Bluffton council meets on the third floor of town hall, 154 N. Main St., at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month.

By Paula Pyzik Scott

The February 26 regular meeting of the Village of Bluffton Council included reports on downtown municipal parking lot planning, an AARP grant application and dealing with a “pinhole” leak on the north water tower.

For a complete listing of items, see the attached packet. It includes the February 26 list of bills for council approval (page 3). These ranged from $58,288.23 for water from the Village of Ottawa to $54.54 in supplies from Sam's Club.

LEGISLATION 
Two items received their third and final reading and were approved by council: 

• A restricted parking zone will be established next to town hall along E. Elm.
• Swimming pool rates for 2024 as well as staffing and wages were established (page 8).

Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would authorize the Village of Bluffton to enter into an agreement with Orange Township, Hancock County, Ohio, for a master revenue sharing agreement for annexed property from the township. The agreement would apply to five parcels of land on the north side of SR 103 east of I-75 and to future land annexed by the Village. This is a “non-withdrawal” annexation. The parcels remain part of the township (page 10).

COMMITTEES
Parks and Recreation: Committee member Ben Stahl recommended that the Village apply for an AARP grant to install a flashing beacon at the pedestrian crosswalk on Main St. near the Bluffton Senior Center.

Streets and Alleys: Committee member Joe Sehlhorst reported that the village is working with the Lima/Allen County Regional Planning Commission to create an (Americans with Disabilities Act) ADA Transition Plan. The purpose of this plan is to ensure that the Village of Bluffton creates reasonable, accessible paths of travel in the public right-of-way for everyone, including people with disabilities.

Sehlhorst also reported on planning to improve the downtown municipal parking lot with updated perimeter lighting that would remove center poles and provide additional parking spaces.

Airport Committee: Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn reported that the Village is considering building new hangars, which is an income opportunity. Currently, the Village does not receive any airport income; the mechanic shop and flight school proceeds go solely to the operator, Bluffton Flying Service.

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATION
Blackburn reported on numerous projects (page 14). One of the more unusual items was a water tower leak repair completed through a maintenance contract. The Village discovered one pinhole leak about 25’ above ground level in the north water tower. Utility Service Co. has installed a repair clamp and will also scan the wall thickness of the riser pipe.

Two AEP projects will be impacting the Bluffton area, the Rockhill-Woodcock transmission line removal and the Fostoria-East Lima transmission line rebuild. The second project will widen the easement and install solid poles. Lines with scaffold supports have been a liability in storms and have resulted in power outages. There will be tree removals and all affected property owners should have already received notice from AEP.

The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.

The next regular meeting of the Village of Bluffton council is Monday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m.

Council members and their committee assignments can be found on the Village website HERE.

PHOTO of Bluffton Council by Bluffton Icon