Bluffton Council/School Board

Bluffton council removed its “vacancy” sign Monday evening. Bluffton’s recently retired postmaster, Everett Collier was sworn in to fill the vacant council seat left when Eric Fulcomer resigned to become mayor.

Collier was appointed by council and was one of six persons interviewed for the opening last week, according to Dennis Gallant, council president. Because Collier fills a vacancy, his council term will be for two years instead of four.

Village of Bluffton Tax Forms for 2011 are available on the village website at www.bluffton-ohio.com under the Income Tax Tab.

Forms are also available in the front lobby of the town hall building at 154 N Main St. Effective beginning with the 2010 tax year, tax forms are no longer mailed out to each taxpayer unless specifically requested.

Bluffton council will hold a special meeting at 8 p.m., Monday, Jan. 30, in council chambers in the town hall, according to Jamie Mehaffie, village administrator. 

"The meeting has been scheduled for the following purposes: To appoint a new member to the village council, to consider legislation regarding an annexation, and to consider legislation pertaining to the adoption of the 2012 edition of the Ohio Basic Code," he said.

The council member appointment will fill the vacancy left when Eric Fulcomer resigned as a council member to become mayor.

Unlike previous winters, Main Street retail property owners will need to handle their own snow removal from their retail storefronts this winter.

Jamie Mehaffie, village administrator, told Bluffton council on Monday that he has received some requests from downtown property owners involving snow removal that the village contracts out.

Brad Fruchey will lead the Bluffton school board in 2012. Fruchey was elected president of the board at its reorganization meeting held Jan. 11. Several other board appointments were made at the meeting.

Renee Smith was appointed to a vacant board seat for a two-year term.

Bluffton's school board reorganizes for 2012 at its meeting on Jan. 11. A printer-friendly board agenda is provided in the attachment at the bottom of this story.

It was the end of an era. It was the beginning of an era.

Monday’s council meeting saw the departure of Fred Rodabaugh, who served as Bluffton mayor for the past 10 years and as a council member for 22 years. The meeting saw the swearing in of Eric Fulcomer as Bluffton’s new mayor and of new council member, Joe Sehlhorst. Dennis Gallant was also sworn in to his reelected council term.

The Apollo Career Center  board of education will hold its 2012 reorganization meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 9, at the Career Center. Brad Fruchey represents Bluffton on the board.

School districts and their board representatives follow:

Dennis Fricke Elida Local
Brad Fruchey Bluffton Exempted Village
Penny Kill Spencerville Local
Jackie Place Bath Local
Michael Purdy Hardin Northern Local
Ned Stechschulte Columbus Grove Local

Position available, immediate opening, must be resident of Village of Bluffton. Must have the village's interest as a high priority. 

Bluffton council will soon seek to fill a vacancy on the council. The vacancy will occur in January when Eric Fulcomer resigns his seat to become mayor. Two years remain on Fulcomer's term.

Fred Rodabaugh presided over his final complete Bluffton council meeting as mayor on Dec. 19. Although he will convene the first meeting in January he will pass the reigns of village government to Eric Fulcomer, mayor-elect, once the bills are paid.

Rodabaugh’s involvement in Bluffton village government as a council member and mayor goes back to the 1970s. The first meeting of 2012 is Monday, Jan. 9. At that time Fulcomer will resign as a council member and will be sworn in as mayor.