Bluffton drivers will start paying an additional $10 per license plate for each plate renewal starting this fall.
Bluffton council passed the first of three readings of legislation to create a levy on annual license taxes. Two separate ordinances of $5 each are passing through council.
Brought to council by its streets, alleys, lights and sidewalks committee, the taxes collected will be used for maintaining, constructing and improvement roadways and bridges in the village.
Bluffton council heard updates on several summer projects in the village during Monday’s council meeting.
• The Bluffton in Bloom committee continues working on the yet-to-be named public space in the former Presbyterian Church alley.
An assortment of seats, tables and planters are now in place. Several donations are making the project possible. Those donors include J&D Snyder Excavating, Bluffton Stone Co., Patriot Concrete and Bluffton Presbyterian Church.
• Within the next two weeks Hohenbrink Excavating will finish the West Elm Street project.
At the year’s mid-point, Bluffton council reviewed its 2019 capital improvement budget.
The review took place during the July 8 council meeting. A copy of the budget is at the bottom of this story.
New projects on this year’s budget total $2.6 million. The major projects include:
• $827,341 East Jefferson Street reconstructions
• $113,200 East Jefferson Street water/sewer improvements (from Main to Vance)
• $137,000 Village communications update
• $353,2723 East Jefferson Street water/sewer improvements (from Huber to County Line)
Bluffton school board will act on its 2019-20 appropriations at the July 15 school board meeting. The appropriations total $19,952,960. Also, on the agenda is action on two teacher hirings and one teacher registration.
Amanda Temple resigned as middle school science teacher. She joined the teaching staff last year.
Amanda Markley will be offered a one-year teaching contract (master’s, step 13) at $62,848; and Natalie Townsend will be offered a one-year teaching contract (master’s, step 1) at $41,789.
Responding to the June 24 Bluffton council meeting discussion of what type of animals are permitted in the village, Nina Koontz of 180 Garmatter addressed the council on the subject.
At issue is whether the village has an ordinance prohibiting certain animals within the village limits. Village official state that they are not aware of any such ordinance.
She and her husband, Dan, own two mini-pigs that she says are household pets and also live outdoors.
