Bluffton appears to be seeing the light of day following a 12-month-plus period of covid-related cancellations.

The following events received special permits by the Bluffton council on Monday, and ,please note that several specific details are being worked out on each of these:

• Not yet set – Bluffton Community Swimming Pool opening date
• May 1 - Opening of Bluffton farmers market
• May 2 – Bluffton Sportsmen’s Club trout derby
• May 14 – Bluffton HS seniors, street painting
• May 24-27 – Spring community clean-up, Spring Street recycling center
• May 31 – Memorial Day observation
• June 18 – Lions Club festival of wheels

In addition, council granted permission to Chase Eikenbary to hold Jazzercise classes, free of charge to residents, each Saturday morning on Vine Street from May 1 through Aug. 28. A section of Vine will be closed from Main to the Vine alley from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on those Saturday.

Council is also working through requirements to allow Greenhorn Restaurant on Vine Street to allow outdoor dining. This would allow food and wine on the menu.

In other outdoor-related action, council approved placing additional bike racks downtown. The racks are provided from a $5,000 grant from the Allen county Health Department’s Creating Healthy Communities program.

Ten additional bike racks will be set up with four at Et Cetera Shop, four between Citizens National Bank parking lot and the post office and two at Twisted Whisk.

And for walkers, the council approved the placement of a memorial bench, in memory of Taylor Steele, to be placed at the front corner of the Triplett Bike Path as it exists onto Jefferson Street.

The following committee meetings were announced on Monday, to take place in the town hall:

Bluffton in Bloom, Tuesday, April 13, 7 p.m.
Tree Commission – Thursday, April 15, 7 p.m.
Council Meeting – Monday, April 26, 7 p.m. 

Several addition items were on Monday’s agenda. Council’s packet is attached.