The Bluffton village park pond isn’t dead yet – nor is it filled in yet.
Last fall Bluffton council, on the recommendation of the parks and recreation committee, voted to fill in the pond. The area would be used for either additional parking or another ball diamond.
The pond discussion came up at Monday’s council meeting and some new information has the council re-thinking filling in the pond.
The village learned it would be required to develop a storm water pollution plan covering 16 pages of requirements before the pond could be filled in.
Also needed is a permit from the Ohio EPA for a Storm Water Discharges Associated with Construction Activities.
Wessler Engineering provided an estimate to complete all the EPA requirements. The estimate is between $3,000 and $4,000.
Several residents attending the meeting questioned the reasons for filling in the pond.
Council member Roger Warren said, “I think we were duped. Why not just do it (fill it in)? Who called the EPA?”
Jesse Blackburn, village employee, said that he called the EPA because, “It is my job to follow the rules.”
Council member Ralph Miller said that council needs to rethink filling in the pond. “It is costly and in the long-term it will look like a dump,” he said. Council member Phill Talavinia agreed, stating: "Maybe it takes some thinking. I appreciate that you (Jesse Blackburn) looked at the EPA process.”
Following the discussion on Monday no action was taken on the pond. In December when legislation to fill in the pond was passed, Joe Sehlhorst was the lone “no” vote.
Also in December the Icon posted a poll asking “Should the village keep the pond or fill it in?”
Sixty-eight persons responded with 75 percent stating to keep it as a pond, 22 percent said to fill it in and 2 percent had no opinion.
The pond was built in the 1960s when the County Line Road overpass was constructed over Interstate 75.
