Detective work by Village crew finds likely source of Community Pool leak

By Paula Pyzik Scott

The Bluffton Council held a regular meeting on Monday, October 13 (packet attached HERE). The meeting included a report from Assistant Village Administrator Bryan Lloyd, who is hopeful that the long, difficult search for a water leak at the Community Pool is over.

The opening of the pool at 205 Snider Rd. was delayed in Spring 2025 by contracted maintenance work that was expected to solve water leak problems. But the swim season revealed that water was still being lost. This month Village crews used a sewer camera to navigate a 90-degree bend in the pool gutter and revealed an unexpected length of pipe under the zero-entrance to the pool--which had been unknowingly been cut some two years ago.

Welding and concrete work will be done to repair the pipe and a partial filling of the pool will test the success of the repair.

LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
Bluffton residents Jennifer Hawkes and Beau Baez spoke to Council regarding their request to install a Little Free Library on their lawn on 554 S. Main St. Council approved a limited personal and revocable license allowing the installation. 

Hawkes said she had maintained a Little Free Library at a prior residence, where she found it took on "a life of its own." She has ordered books to stock the new library. People are invited to take a book or leave a book. 

OTTAWA WATER PRICE DECREASE IN 2026
Council member Dave Steiner reported that the annual water rate for 2026 from the Village of Ottawa will decrease by about 9 cents per unit due to some debt going off. (This is the price paid by the Village, not the price paid by Bluffton customers.)

BCE AND CHAMBER FUNDING
Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn reminded Council of $5K each budgeted for support of the Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs and Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce. A motion was passed continuing these contributions.

TRAFFIC SURVEY
Blackburn announced that an online survey by Ohio Northern Engineering students is live and will generate data about areas that Village residents and businesses feel need improving. The survey can be accessed HERE.

FARM CASH LEASES
A farm cash lease adjacent to the Village Airport was approved by Council. Acreage by the Community Gardens near the 9000 block of N. Dixie Hwy. has not found a lessee. Blackburn noted that narrower access to the acreage limits what equipment can be used there. Discussion touched on widening a nearby culvert.

SAFETY SERVICES

Fire Chief Jon Kinn reported on upcoming repairs to the department's aerial truck. Kinn noted that he talked to 600 local students during Fire Prevention Week and gave rides on the 1920s Studebaker fire truck.

EMS Chief Noah Babcock introduced two new EMTS, Brendan Fry (part-time) and Matthew Stock (full-time). 

Police Chief Ryan Burkholder provided Council with data from August and September 2025. He noted that provisional certification for body-worn cameras has been granted by the Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Agency. 

NEXT MEETING
The next regular meeting of the Village of Bluffton Council is Monday, October 27.

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