NOTE: A summary of the 2011 Bluffton village budget is available as an attachment at the bottom of this story.

It was announced at the Oct. 25 Bluffton council meeting that the number of signatures on the annexation of the North Dixie Highway area currently stands at 19 (not including the village). That means that a majority of property owners in that area want to annex their property to the village.

Council passes several measures on the 25th, which begin the annexation process. Included was a resolution setting forth the services to be provided to the territory proposed to be annexed and a letter setting forth the village's intention to proceed with a contract for installing a sanitary sewer project in that area.

Bluffton council passed a 2011 budget of $3,396,460 on Oct. 25. The budget has anticipated revenues of $4.8 million, anticipated expenses of 5.6 million. According to Dave Steiner, the budget has a projected unexpended fund balance of $1.5 million and a six-month reserve of 50 percent totaling $738,914.

Council is preparing for major water capital projects in 2012 and 2013. Those include:

• Engineering for Sunset Drive looping $10,000
• Sunset Drive looping $100,000
• Grove, Lawn, Jackson water line $640,778
• Cherry St. water line $553,674
• Total $1,304,452

Spring Street bridge

Jamie Mehaffie, village administrator, informed council that on Oct. 15 U.S. Bridge installed the trusses for the Spring Street bridge.

"They have spent this past week installing the cross-members and the steel decking," he added. "I spoke with Brion Rhodes this week. He is peased with the modification that were made to the trusses. The owner of U.S. Bridge was also present to review the bridge. If the weather cooperates, it is possible that the concrete for the decking will be poured this week."

Leaf pick-up

The village service department has started the annual leaf pick-up in the village. Until the mowing season ends, the part-time service department will alternate between mowing and leaf work.

Hydrant flushing

The semi-annual hydrant flushing is completed. "We still have discolored water returning to the South Lawn, South Jackson and Grove Street areas," said Mehaffie.

"The service department replaced a leaking hydrant on Kibler Street last week."

Mehaffie said that the hydrant was leaking enough to keep water in the area stirred up, but not enough to flush it through.

"It is possible that this is part of the problem, but we will have to wait and see," he said. "Whenever the service department flushes the lines in the area where the discolored water is reported, the flow clears up very quickly, further compounding our frustration."

Street maintenance program

Bluffton Paving is in the process of completing the village street maintenance program for 2010. Huber Street has been paved and Cherry and Grove have been milled.

"I have added the alley between the parking areas for Vance Street Apartments and the doctor's office to the list of repairs," Mehaffie told the council. "The pavement is deteriorating beyond matching and, with the amount and type of traffic that uses that alley (wheel chairs and scooter devices) it is presenting a hazard."