By Paula Pyzik Scott

The Village of Bluffton council held its first regular meeting on January 13 accompanied by a hefty meeting packet of 59 pages (attached).

Sometimes all or most items are referenced in the meeting and in the Icon's report--and sometimes they're not. Packet items for January 13 that were not part of council discussion include the full text of sections in the Village Code of Ordinances that differ from Ohio Basic Code, an announcement made each year.

• 72.018 Nuisance Operation of Motor Vehicle
• 72.019 Regulations on Golf Carts, Utility Vehicles and Other Under Speed Vehicles
• 76.13 Parking during Snow Emergency
• 76.04 (A)(17) Maximum Distance from Curb or Edge of Roadway (Parking prohibitions)
• 76.04 (A)(18) Parking/Storage of an Inoperative Vehicle
• 96.20 Regulation of Use of Loud Sound Amplification Systems
• 132.15 Intoxication
• 129.01 Curfew
• 139.02 Reward for Information leading to conviction of Vandals

Police Department documents (see pages 35-59) include an accounting of some 50 types of incidents covered from "accident property" to "warrant service." Police Chief Burkholder also shares information that is helpful to the public. In this instance he provides the Ohio Attorney General's Consumer Advocate Newsletter for December 2024 and the OAG report on Officer-Involved Critical Incidents “Bolstering Public Trust.”

Standard items in these packets are an agenda, minutes from the prior meeting, a voucher report of bills paid, the text of all legislation, minutes from committee meetings and reports from the Village administration as well as any supporting documents provided by police, fire and EMS departments.