By Betsi Werling

The Village of Bluffton Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, February 23 at 7 p.m. Cub Scout Pack 3256 attended the Council meeting after spending time with Police Chief Ryan Burkholder earlier in the evening. While they did not ask questions, they were definitely paying attention. Pictured above is Mayor Johnson and Council Member Ben Stahl with the pack members.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS 

PARKS AND RECREATION
Committee member Ben Stahl reported that during the last committee meeting, Masterpiece Signs shared sign proposals for Legacy Park. There was some discussion of making a large entrance sign. The current goal is to host youth soccer games in Fall 2026 with the shelterhouse and playground coming in 2027. 

STREETS, ALLEYS, LIGHTS & SIDEWALKS
Committee member Liz Gordon-Hancock reported that a group of Senior Engineering students from ONU will continue their work on traffic flow and solutions for a few areas of congestion in Bluffton. This group has used surveys to assess Bluffton's traffic needs. They will focus their efforts in the following order: Drop off and Pick Up on Jackson Street in front of the school; solution for College Ave and Main Street; and the potential closure of VIne Street. They will be back in May with final recommendations. 

UTILITIES
Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn reported that a second group of Senior ONU Engineering students would be looking at flooding patterns within the Village. This project is called “The Design of Flood Control & Nutrient Reduction in Bluffton, Ohio.” This group will study the feasibility of the Village acquiring 13 acres of land to build a detention pond and assess how it would mitigate flooding in the Village. The group has software to run simulations of what happens with flooding in various areas and how a 13-acre detention pond might help. This group will be back to present to the Village Council on April 27. 

AIRPORT COMMISSION
Council member Tom Downey reported on a meeting to discuss airport capital improvements. This included work that needs to be done that is currently not part of a Capital Improvement Project. Blackburn said that to get funding to assist the Village with Improvement Projects at the airport, the FAA requires that capital improvements be built out at least 10 years. Downey said it was decided to seek additional bids and interview BF & S Civil Engineers. The Village is currently working with Richland Engineering. There will be a follow-up meeting in March. As reported previously, Blackburn said the concrete apron needs repairs, and grant funding has been sought for this project.

LEGISLATION
Resolution No. 04-2026, Council passed the 2nd Reading, which establishes positions and wages for swimming pool staff and rates for 2026. During this reading, it was indicated that deposits are refundable only in cases of weather-related pool closures. 

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Blackburn reported that Village residents can now e-file their village taxes. The Village will confirm if payments can also be made online.

Assistant Village Administrator Bryan Lloyd reported on the S.R. 103 Roundabout Project. The detour route is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 2 and last for 130 days (until Friday, July 10). 

Council member Joe Sehlhorst reported that the GROB Apprentice Program is working to modernize the power distribution panels for all the lighting of the Blaze of Lights Ream display. Special thanks were made to Tyler Bricker, Mark Reed and Evan Steiner. This project will be a Village donation from GROB. 

Blackburn reported that the Main St. bridge will get replaced in 2027 and the Grove St. bridge will be replaced in 2026. There is a gas main at the Grove St. bridge, so until that main can be moved, the work will not begin. A potential start time is July. 

SAFETY SERVICES
EMS Chief Noah Babock reported that the EMS Car 100, an old police cruiser, will have Fire and EMS decals applied. EMS crews responded to 62 calls in January.

Fire Chief Jon Kinn reported that on Wednesday, March 4, the department will be looking at options for new gear. Current equipment is no longer available for purchase. This is in the budget to happen this year.