Gone are those large village projects:

• the $1 million Main Street waterline
• the Main Street streetscape project
• the $2.5 million town hall renovation
• the multi-million water tower projects
• the Ottawa waterline project

It appears 2010 is a "breather" year for the Village of Blfufton budget. Bluffton council okayed its 2010 budget on Dec. 28. The general fund total is $2,138,316. That's lower than the 2009 general fund budget of $2,331,215.

Not that 2010 is an unimportant year for the village, it's simply that the village has no huge project looming.

Although the final meeting of the year was brief, several other siginificant actions were approved.

Jon Kinn was appointed fire chief. He replaces Dan Bowden who retires at the end of the year. Kinn joins an elite group of Bluffton residents who have served the community well, protecting residents from fires.

Council set a zoning hearing for 8:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 25, during its regular session. The hearing's focus is the Bluffton Hospital's expansion project.

Some action from the Dec. council sesstion not reported earlier includes:

Amy Gearing, Tim McKinley and Chad Cupples were approved as regular EMT's deu to their successful completion of their probationary period.

Council January calendar

Jan. 11 - reorganization meeting, 8 p.m.

Jan. 25 - meeting, 8 p.m.; zoning hearing 8:30 p.m.