By Betsi Werling

Mayor Richard Johnson conducted the December 8 regular meeting of the Bluffton Council, which included a report from a team of ONU Engineering students and the approval of several ordinances and resolutions by emergency to meet year-end deadlines.

See the full meeting packet HERE.

PUBLIC COMMENT
An Ohio Northern University Capstone Team presented their findings on downtown Bluffton traffic, a project that began in August. The group includes Ian Phillips, Nathan Wion, Chase Werling, Jacob Marjak and their professor Fan Ye.

The team presented their initial findings with traffic patterns, observations on parking in front of Bluffton Schools, the effect of closing part of Vine Street and concerns for the intersection of College Ave and Main Street. They created surveys and used drones to observe traffic flow.

Suggestions were 

• Reconfiguring some of the parking on Main Street to address the closing of Vine.
• Consider designating a line for school drop-off and pick-up. 
• Revisit the intersection of College and Main with ODOT. 

In the spring, they will look at designs to address some challenges. 

HORSE AND WAGON RIDES RESCHEDULED
Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce director Jim Enneking reported that the Blaze of Lights went well. Free horse-drawn wagon rides were cancelled because of snowy roads. The Chamber has rescheduled the rides for Saturday, December 13, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Riders will load in front of the 1861 Wine Lounge. Council granted permission for this event.

PATHWAY BOARD
The Bike and Pedestrian Pathway Board reported on a discussion about the use of bicycles on sidewalks. Options include passing an ordinance and painting messages on downtown sidewalks; no resolution was reached. The Riley Street topographical survey was discussed. Work under consideration is close to $8M, so the board will look for ways to pare down the project.

LEGISLATION
There are currently five members on Bluffton Council. All legislation at this meeting passed 5-0; eight of the nine items passed by emergency and were effective immediately. 

ORDINANCES
Ordinance no. 13-2025 - Council passed the second reading of an ordinance to assign zoning district classification to certain annexed properties (which are east of I-75 near SR 103).

Ordinance no. 14-2025 - Acting by emergency, Council passed the annual appropriations ordinance on the first reading 

Ordinance no. 15-2025 - Acting by emergency, Council passed an ordinance transferring the balances in old debt service funds to capital project funds.

RESOLUTIONS
Resolution no. 27-2025 - Acting by emergency, Council approved a resolution authorizing temporary appropriations for 2026.

Resolution no. 28-2025 - Acting by emergency, Council accepted the new rate charged by the Village of Ottawa for bulk water beginning January 1.

Resolution no. 29-2025 - Acting by emergency, Council approved renewing the current contract with Hackenberg, Werth & Vajs Kop LLC, with Attorney Elliott T. Werth as the Village Solicitor for the Village of Bluffton for one year.

Resolution no. 30-2025 and RESOLUTION NO. 31-2025 - Acting by emergency, Council approved two items for making fund transfers.

Resolution no. 32-2025 - Acting by emergency, Council authorized the Village to make an application to the Ohio Dept. of Transportation for an Ohio Airport Improvement grant.

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATION
Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn reported that Bluffton was recognized by the Allen County Bike-Pedestrian Task Force for being ranked as #4 in Ohio for the quality and connectedness of its bike network by People for Bikes.

Blackburn said that the Village will seek consulting services for the Bluffton Airport improvement project, which will allow the Village to apply for federal funding. He showed recent failed inspections of the concrete apron around the large hangar.

Bluffton is among six jurisdictions that have submitted funding requests to the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District. Applicants are being asked to make reductions so that the eligible projects won’t exceed the $150,000 that is available. A Bluffton request for $25K for the Legacy Park shelter house has been made.

Assistant Village Administrator Bryan Lloyd reported that work has been done to get through the winter months on College Avenue. In the spring, they will repair the concrete and replace it with asphalt. A short discussion took place on the brush dump and how best to control dumping by non-residents.