By Andy Chappell-Dick
Even faithful readers of the Council Summary may not recall that the last meeting ended with an Executive Session. This often means that all Councilors and Administrators troop off to the small adjoining conference room, and those of us not invited to join them head home. Ohio law provides six reasons for legislatures to meet behind closed doors and they are obligated to state which one they're invoking. This time, it was "ongoing litigation." This reporter learned only this week, upon reading the April 10 official minutes, that Council had some time later returned to regular session and voted to enter mediation in a dispute. It's a legal matter with a property owner along the S.R. 103 Pathway project and, when asked, Administrator Jesse Blackburn assured me that it would not delay the project.
To begin this meeting, Mayor Johnson asked for approval of those minutes and payment of bills received by the Village. (Meeting packet)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Next up, during the item allotted for public comment was a presentation from the Bluffton Senior Citizens Center. They were asking Council's permission to add an outdoor ADA wheelchair lift at the back of their building, which would project two feet onto Village property. A potentially thorny issue, Council instead approved it quickly with this approach: a license to build the lift that could be revoked at any time.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilor Joe Sehlhorst then reported for the Streets, Lights, Alleys, and Sidewalks Committee which had met to formulate the Senior Citizens' license and make sure that the alley still had plenty of clearance. In addition, the group continued discussions on a possible reconfiguration of the municipal parking lot. The new owner of the former Family Dollar property, which includes a large parcel at the south end, has initiated this process. Some shifting of parcels and parking spots may be coming, but it's expected that basic traffic patterns will remain the same. The latest drawings can be seen at Town Hall.
Councilor Ben Stahl reported for the Tree Commision. "These are good times for the Commission," he said, referencing the funds coming from AEP as compensation for taking out so many trees on public property. Ongoing work includes planting projects with the Riley Creek Village Homeowners' Association, the new SRK-donated soccer fields, several memorial trees and an Arbor Day celebration of the life and work of Joanne Antibus.
LEGISLATION
Council approved four Resolutions. Two authorized bids for more watermain replacement on Geiger and Garau Streets. Airport improvements were the subject of the other two. When available, a federal program covers 95% of the cost of this work. So this year, an already-approved $660,000 job to fix the taxiways will take place, and the Village's share is only $32,000. Another grant application for new lights and runway markers will be submitted.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT
Jesse Blackburn and Bryan Lloyd updated Council on the progress of numerous infrastructure improvements across town. Grumpy drivers would do well to congratulate themselves on a Village in good repair. The coup-de-grace is the final paving of SR 103 and Main Street coming this summer; that's the state of Oho's gift to us every fifteen years.
Unfortunately, AEP will need to keep closing Jefferson Street every weekday through May 12.
Bryan Lloyd would like to remind residents of the 7" rule for grass. Residents who don't mow will receive a door hanger reminding them of this solemn responsibility.
With no Safety Services chiefs on hand to report, the meeting was adjourned at about 7:45 p.m.
The next regular session of the council is at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 8, on the third floor of Bluffton Town Hall, 154 N. Main.
