Village will pay Sportmen's Club $13,174 in sewer backup damages
Bluffton council on Monday agreed to pay the Bluffton Sportsmen’s Club $13,174 for damages caused on Dec. 22 when sewage backed up and overflowed into the club’s depot on Spring Street.
Tom Augsburger, club president, asked council for financial help in the matter, after the village’s insurance carrier refused to pay for an insurance claim on the overflow. Augsburger said that the club did not carry sewer back up insurance at the time, “but we do now.”
The overflow, which Augsburger said, was “class 3 water,” or raw sewage.
In other council action, members discussed an ongoing water rate dispute with the Village of Ottawa, Bluffton’s water supplier. Council voted on Monday to pay the most recent water bill from Ottawa at the 2013 rate, which is $2.24 per 100 cubic foot rate. That is the rate prior to a recent Ottawa water hike. Ottawa’s recent bill to the village totaled $2.60 per 100 cubic feet.
According to Steven Chamberlain, village solicitor, the new rate charged to Bluffton has to do with “interpreting the water contract.” Bluffton does not agree with Ottawa’s interpretation. The water rate discussion between Bluffton and Ottawa officials has gone on for over four months old.
Council passed a policy that would close the town hall during snow emergencies. Roger Warren voted against the policy.
Council also agreed to Bluffton Center for Entrepreneur’s request for $5,000 funding for 2014.
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, October 30, 2026
- Main St. runway for Trick or Treaters
- October 30 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- What Kind of Paradise author joins book club by Zoom, Nov. 4
- Check out November 2026 events at Bluffton Public Library
- Scarecrow voting ends at midnight, Oct. 31
- Annual meeting and dinner for Senior Center members, November 9
- November 2026 Community Meals at the Senior Center
- Pirate girls soccer edged in shootout by Big Green in district final
Thursday, October 29, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 29
- Bluffton chamber welcomes six new members in October 2026
- Scam talk with Chief Ryan Burkholder
- Apollo Career Center honored as Gold Star Institution
- Peanut brittle time at the Senior Center begins Nov. 9
- Bluffton University Forum explores faith, hope and care for creation
- Business Collective networking night, Nov. 5
- Radio play staging of It's a Wonderful Life on Nov. 29
- Test-to-Treat not Trick-or-Treat
- If only we could put these fall days on pause
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Monday, October 26, 2026
- Beavers sports roundup, October 19-25
- Ada Icon headlines, October 26
- November 13 fish fry at Emmanuel UCC
- Citizens National Bank customer appreciation day, October 30
- Bluffton University offers free agricultural and environmental field trips
- Trinity Trunk or Treat, October 31
- Public invited to Bluffton Lions program with President Sider