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
Thursday, July 2, 2026
- 4th of July events celebrating American 250 in Bluffton
- Watercolor Workshop scheduled at Bluffton Public Library
- Mobile Health Clinic coming on July 9
- T-Rex Tea Party at the Bluffton Public Library
- Critters, Flitters, and Gallinippers: SCHS 2nd Saturday, July 11
- Surveyor James Riley will time travel on July 4
- The Air That I Breathe: Air Pollution and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, July 1
- June School Board: Bernal resigns as elementary principal, lunch prices increase
- WOAL League Champs in Kenton July 10 and 11
- 2026 Swiss Day celebration focuses on past and future
- Senior Center offers Bus Trips with Debbie
- Senior Center's July Dinner meeting topic: The history of Dixie Highway
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Monday, June 29, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, Jun 29
- Lima Meijer closed on June 29 following shots fired
- Ohio EMA tips for extreme heat conditions this week
- Scavenger hunt at Senior Center
- Bluffton University streamlines MBA program for working professionals
- July 2026: What brings you to Bluffton?
- America 250 Quilt Raffle is underway
- More than a car show: 58th annual Festival of Wheels
- Allen County residents invited to provide feedback on Hazard Mitigation Plan