Fred Rodabaugh presided over his final complete Bluffton council meeting as mayor on Dec. 19. Although he will convene the first meeting in January he will pass the reigns of village government to Eric Fulcomer, mayor-elect, once the bills are paid.

Rodabaugh's involvement in Bluffton village government as a council member and mayor goes back to the 1970s. The first meeting of 2012 is Monday, Jan. 9. At that time Fulcomer will resign as a council member and will be sworn in as mayor.

Joe Sehlhorst will join council on Jan. 9. He takes the seat of Jerry Cupples, who did not seek reelection.

Because Fulcomer was in the middle of his four-year council term, his seat will become vacant. Council will have 30 days to select a replacement for Fulcomer. If council fails to make an appointment, the mayor may appoint his council replacement.

Dec. 19 council action

Council approved the hiring of Valerie Rogers as part-time utility clerk. She will begin her new position on Jan. 3, 2012. She will replace Carole Bradley who will retire in the spring of 2012.

The village office hours will change on Jan. 3. The new hours will be 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Jamie Mehaffie, village administrator, informed council that the replacement of the Poplar Street water main in now in process. Once the bacteriological tests come back satisfactorily, services connections to the new line will be reestablished.

Two items not reported from the Dec. 12 council session follow:

Jan Basinger and Bryan Lloyd received wage increases because both obtained wastewater licenses. Basinger was moved to $19.22 per hour; Lloyd to $18.18 per hour.

Council also approved a 3 percent pay increase for all full-time and part-time eligible employees, effective the first pay ending in 2012.