Summary of August 8 Council Meeting
By Andy Chappell-Dick
Public complete streets workshop, August 12 / Celebration for Officer Lonny Kent, August 27
On Monday, Agust 8, Village of Bluffton council members were presented with a very light agenda on the dog-days of summer meeting. There were no committee reports or legislative action on the table.
ADMINISTRATION
Village administrator Jesse Blackburn reported on progress of two special committees. The Complete Streets Task Force culminates their work this Friday, August 12 with a full-day workshop, open to the public, to distill their surveys and findings into a policy to guide how the Village builds streets to accommodate more varied forms of getting around.
The Comrehensive Plan Steering Committee will meet later this month to consider over 600 responses to the Bluffton Beyond Tomorrow survey. A public input forum will be held soon.
Bryan Lloyd, Assistant Administrator, reported that the public works department continues sleuthing for water leaks throughout the Village's main and meters. Engineers have been brought in with their high-tech talents to locate some significant leak points that remain elusive.
SAFETY SERVICES
In reports from Safety Services, Fire Chief Jon Kinn and Police Chief Ryan Burkholder both thanked Council and the broader community for all the help and sponsorships that made last week's National Night Out a great success. Ricki Francis, widow of Dominic Francis, pressed the button to start the fireworks show. She and many Bluffton first responders signed their names on the first three shells that went up: blue for police, red for fire, and white for EMS.
The public is invited to celebrate the career of Lonny Kent, retiring from the police department this month, with a drop-in time at Buckeye Park on August 27 from 3-6 p.m.
The meeting packet is attached including the August 8 voucher report and minutes of the July 25 council meeting.
Stories Posted This Week
Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 24
- Are you a friend of the Bluffton Public Library?
- Weekend Doctor: What you need to know about flu season
- Courtney Linke joins CNB as VP Business Banking Officer
- Blanchard Valley Health System Announces Updates to Board of Trustees
- Blanchard Valley Health Foundation Announces Changes to Board of Directors
Friday, October 23, 2026
- Village of Bluffton announces late afternoon drill at Bluffton Schools, October 23
- October 23 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Pirate volleyball eliminated in sectionals by Archbold
- Pirate boys soccer knocked off by Bath
- Main St. closure rescheduled; parapet work to take place Oct. 27
- Bluffton student to reflect on diabetes research experience
- Bluffton University receives $8,000 Stinner Summit award for youth agricultural and environmental education
- Elections matter, including midterms
Thursday, October 22, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 22
- ICAPP study: Ohioans strongly oppose data center expansion and tax breaks
- Pirate girls soccer ousts rival Allen East in sectionals
- Strawberry Fields Forever: Fruit polyphenols and brain health
- Last call for Bluffton Cars & Coffee for 2026
- Icon calendar gets a little more elbow room
- Bluffton Board of Education recap: Contracts for coaches and new bus driver
- Bluffton Lions Club update for October 2026
- Bluffton chamber photo competition display and reception announced
- Bluejays and buzzards catch the eye of this Accounting prof
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 21
- Village of Beaverdam requests suggestions for park grant application
- Charles “Chuck” Wendall Collins, 63, owned Eagle Press Repairs
- Dwain L. Leiber, 87, owned Leiber Garage
- Kimberly Dawn Murphy, 55, taught at Findlay City Schools
- Kaleidoscope Farms honoring veterans, thanking current troops, Nov. 8
- Filmmaker to preview documentary exploring life beyond incarceration
- ONU mobile health clinic at Senior Center on Oct. 28
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
- Columbus Grove-Bluffton Rd. closure planned for up to three weeks
- Two Pirate volleyball players make 1st team All-NWC
- 3 Pirate girls 1st team All-NWC soccer
- Pirates dominate All-NWC boys soccer awards
- Local filmmaker focuses on memories made by people and places
- Bluffton Public Library: Medicare 101
- BHS artists prepare Yankee Doodle Christmas Trees for Jingle Bell Stroll