The inevitable question: "What can the village do about flooding in Bluffton?" was posed to Bluffton council on Monday.

Although it's on everyone's mind, Morgan and Patsy Davies, who have lived on the corner of Cherry and Vance for over 30 years and have experienced lots of high water in their time there, asked council if anything that can be done to fix the problem.

Fred Rodabaugh, Bluffton mayor, answered by stating that nothing is going to happen very quickly.

"We've done everything can do. There is very little debris in the creek. We've cleaned out the rough spots in the creek," he said. "I think the problem is upstream."

Rodabaugh added, "I don't have the answer. I'd like to tell you it will be solved in a year, but I don't have much confidence in that. We wish we could fix it. We sympathize with you."

Mrs. Davies praised the many volunteers and village safety personnel who assisted on Feb. 28, and added that there must be a way to fix the flooding problem.

Jamie Mehaffie, village administrator, said that only two of the five dumpsters that the village set out remain. Those two will be picked up this week.

In other business, Jerry Cupples of the council utilities committee reported that 100 feet of the 108-year-old water line near Triplett Drive will be replaced as soon as possible.

In addition, the village will add a new 10-inch line off Elm Street, which will loop around the university. The line's installation will be timed with the construction of the building project at the university.

Nancy Kindle, village fiscal officer, informed council that the village has not budgeted for the recent hikes in gas prices. Mayor Rodabaugh asked Mehaffie and Rick Skilliter, police chief, to put plans together for the village to try to keep within budget for gasoline expenses.