Fred Rodabaugh, Bluffton mayor, announced that he will not seek re-election in 2011. His announcement was made at the first council meeting of the year.

"I will not run - my position is open," he said. Rodabaugh has served the village for over a quarter of a century as a council member or mayor. Four years ago he ran unopposed for the mayoral spot.

Persons interested in being on a Democrat or Republican party mayoral ballot in the May Ohio primary have until Feb. 2 to file petitions. Rodabaugh had served as mayor as a Republican.

In addition to the mayor, two council seats will be up for re-election in 2011.

Persons interested in seeking mayoral or council offices as independents have until early May to file petitions.

In other council business on Jan. l0, council picked Eric Fulcomer to serve again as council president. Council kept its meeting schedule the same as 2010. Council meets at 8 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month.

Rodabaugh announced council committees for 2011. Those committees follow:

Finance:
Dave Steiner and Dennis Gallant
Safety/police:
Dave Steiner and Eric Fulcomer
Utilities:
Jerry Cupples and Dave Steiner
Recreation:
Mitch Kingsley and Dennis Gallant
Streets, alleys and light:
Jerry Cupples and Dennis Gallant
Personnel:
Richard McGarrity and Eric Fulcomer
Insurance:
Dave Steiner and Eric Fulcomer
Ordinance:
Mitch Kingsley and Richard McGarrity
Fire and rescue:
Dennis Gallant and Jerry Cupples
Tree commission:
Mitch Kingsley
Cultural affairs:
Richard McGarrity
Planning commission:
Jerry Cupples
Allen County Health Board:
Eric Fulcomer and Fred Rodabaugh
Regional planning; Uptown visioning committee, airport commission:
Richard McGarrity

Nancy Kindle, village fiscal officer, told council that the village general fund revenues are about 5 percent above budget. "We did a good job of controlling expenses and meeting our needs at the same time," she said, concerning 2010 village spending.

She also estimated that the town hall should be paid off by June of 2012, which would be ahead of the original projected schedule. If that occurred the one-quarter income tax would remain in effect through 2012 and then be taken off.

Council accepted the resignation of Teresa Pinks from the EMS. She served on the squad for four years.

Jon Kinn, fire chief, announced that the fire department will remove the Christmas garlands from Main Street business, weather permitting, on Saturday.

Attachments at the bottom of this story include council bills from Jan. 1, 2011, and Resolution 1, 2011. Passed on Monday, it accepts bids on stone and related material from Bluffton Stone Company/Bluffton Paving, Inc.