By Paula Pyzik Scott

The November 10 regular meeting of Bluffton Council was one of the final sessions for outgoing members of council Jerry Cupples, Mitch Kingsley and Dave Steiner. In gallery seating were incoming council members Tom Downey and Liz Gordon-Hancock. Who will fill the remaining seat that opens on January 1? After consulting with Village legal counsel, it was decided that action needs to wait until the new year.

The documentation packet provided at the meeting is HERE.

COMMITTEES

Parks and Recreation
Council Member Ben Stahl updated Council on progress at Legacy Park. While planning and fundraising is going smoothly, summer drought resulted in slow establishment of grass. Youth League play at the facility is expected to be postponed until Fall 2026.

Planning Commission
Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn reported on a busy Planning Commission meeting. He noted that Swiss Country Estates Phase II was discussed and a preliminary plan reviewed (Phase I is a residential development east of County Line Road across from College Ave.) Blackburn said the project as taking time to deal with a pipeline. Some 33 houses as well as a condo complex and retention pond are under consideration. An item on the Planning Commission's to-do list is recommendations for new parcels in the recent Hancock County annex along State Route 103.

LEGISLATION

Council passed three items of legislation concerning water and sanitary sewer fees (2nd reading), establishing an application and fees for working in the road right of way (2nd reading), and an agreement for dispatch service with the Allen County Sheriff (3rd reading by emergency).

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Administration
Assistant Administrator Bryan Lloyd confirmed that stainless steel welding to repair leaks under the zero entrance to the pool had been completed and tested successfully. He noted that the welding work was 

Lloyd said that the Village parks have been winterized and that leaf pickup will likely run until early December.

Blackburn reported that City Tax software has been installed. Income Tax Administrator Rhonda Hohenbrink has been trained on the new system and is already feeling the impact of some of its conveniences.

EMS
Chief Noah Babcock announced that work on the EMS building kitchen had been completed, with a final walk through done that day. He reported 59 runs during the month of October.