Bluffton council learned on Feb. 8 that the village and school representatives have met with Eric Pfenning of Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to discuss the school zone flashers and the College-Main intersection.

Jamie Mehaffie, village administrator, told council that he and Rick Skilliter, police chief, and Greg Denecker, school superintendent met with ODOT.

Bluffton officials asked ODOT to have school zone flashers activated from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. The flashers are property of ODOT and under their control.

Mehaffie said that the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices restricts the hours of operation of the flashers.

"These restrictions do not allow for the flashers to be operated as we had requested," said Mehaffie. "Mr. Pfenning will be verifying with the schools what hours the flashers may be in operation."

In addition, Pfenning will request a video study of the intersection. That study will take place in the spring.

Mehaffie also told council that another item discussed with ODOT was the visual hazard existing due to the parking spaces directly north of the Main-College intersection.

"This may be evaluated and addressed by the street, alley and lights committee," said Mehaffie. "When vehicles are parked in those spots (in front of the library and in front of the high school), it's difficult to see oncoming traffic from College Avenue."

In his other report to council, Mehaffie said that the Sunset Drive neighborhood continues to have discoloration issues in its water.

"While we have long had water discoloration issues at the end of Sunset due to it being a dead-end ling, the problem seems to be getting worst," he said.

Mehaffie said that he has scheduled a meeting with Del Gratz. The meeting is to discuss the possibility of acquiring as easement to install a waterline to loop the Sunset Drive waterline with a line that dead-ends behind the Bluffton University building and grounds complex.