By Paula Scott

The Village of Bluffton held a regular Council meeting on June 13 with all members present. The meeting was conducted by Mayor Richard Johnson. The minutes of May 23 and bill payment were passed unanimously, as were all other actions.

The following summary includes committee and department reports, as well as the scheduling of upcoming meetings. The full agenda and packet is attached HERE.

COMMITTEES
Insurance Committee

• The village property insurance policy was renewed for 1 year.
• Council approved an agreement for a new 2-year Employee Assistance Program with ENI that provides a variety of services to all village employees and their families.

Pathway Board

• New board members David Smith and Travis Music were appointed by the major and  approved by council.

Airport Committee

• The village received one response from the 5-year airport consultant/engineer solicitation; will renew agreement with Richland Engineering.
• $11K remains in CARES funding for the airport.

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATION REPORT

Disc Golf Course

• Weather permitting, tee pads will be poured in the next two weeks.

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee

• A community survey has been released to gain local input for the Bluffton Beyond Tomorrow project.
• Survey can be completed online HERE and in person at Town Hall, 154 N. Main St.
• Created in partnership with Lima Allen Co. Regional Planning.

Complete Streets Task Force

• Walk audit of Elm St to be made on June 22.

Community Cleanup

• Program filled eight 40-yard dumpsters; materials were taken to the landfill with the goal of limiting roadside dumping and property clutter.
• 437 tons of recyclable materials were collected in Bluffton last year.

Water Leak Audit

• A system-wide leak survey found 86,400 gallons of estimated leakage per day and three locations to be addressed.

Zoning Board of Appeals

• Residents at 301 Jared Circle were granted a variance in the height of a fence to allow a 6-foot privacy fence.
• Owner of 721 N. Main was granted conditional use of an existing storage building for commercial facilities.
• A June 28 meeting has been scheduled to hear a request for conditional use at 152 W. Riley St. The owner seeks to remodel the existing building into a duplex. Plans to add fill to bring property up to 100-year flood level.

Sidewalk Survey and Malings

• Survey looked for trip hazards of 1/2” or more. Notices will be mailed to affected property owners, who may use the services of Precision Cutting while they are working in town.

SAFETY SERVICES REPORTS

EMS
Chief Jan Basinger made a brief comment that there have already been 25 calls for service in the first 13 days of June.

Fire Department
Chief Jon Kinn noted that it had been a busy two weeks including the explosion and fire on SR 103. He explained that an investigation is still in progress (two deaths resulted).

Police Department
Lt. Matt Oglesbee reported on police department activties, filling in for Chief Ryan Burkholder. 

• The resignation of part-time office Cody Cansen was approved; he has taken a job elsewhere.
• Council approved free pool admission for National Night Out on August 2 (rain date August 3) and a fireworks insurance rider.
• Oglesbee noted that volunteers are always welcome and hands went up for several veteran hot dog grillers.