By Paula Scott

Election Day is Tuesday, May 2, 2023 and Bluffton voters have several local ballot items to consider. In Village of Bluffton voting precincts A, B and C, the following questions and issues will appear on ballots:

• Two proposed tax levy renewals for Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District
• A proposed Gas Aggregation resolution

Precinct B ballots will include

• Local Liquor Option (a D-6 permit for alcohol sales on Sunday for the restaurant at 133 N. Main St., Luke’s Bar and Grill a.k.a. Kira’s Flipside Grill).

No candidates will appear on the May 2 primary ballot. Valid filers for mayor and council will be nominated to the general election in November. 

AT THE POLLS
Polls are open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.. The postmark deadline for absentee ballots in May 1 and the deadline to return absentee ballots in person to the county board of elections is 7:30 p.m. on May 2. (Note: 601 N. Main St. is still a Bluffton polling place.)

Voters are now required to show an Ohio or federally-issued photo ID when voting in person. If you do not have a state-issued photo ID, you can now get a free state ID from your local BMV.

CONTINUES

Early voting continues on Saturday, April 29 from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 30 from 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.. For information on voting at the Allen County Board of Elections office, visit https://www.allen.boe.ohio.gov/

PROPOSED TAX LEVY 1
Proposed Tax Levy (Renewal) Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District for the purpose of maintaining, conserving, developing, improving, acquiring, and protecting lands and waters for the purposes of parks, parkways, and forest reservations, including the existing Parks and Facilities within the jurisdiction of the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District, and to continue the Cooperative Park Improvement Grant Program to benefit community parks throughout Allen County, Ohio that the county auditor estimates will collect $1,514,000 annually, at a rate not exceeding 0.75 mill for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $21 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for 10 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.

PROPOSED TAX LEVY 2
Proposed Tax Levy (Renewal) Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District for the purpose of maintaining, conserving, developing, improving, acquiring, and protecting lands and waters for the purposes of parks, parkways, and forest reservations, including the existing Parks and Facilities within the jurisdiction of the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District, and to continue the Cooperative Park Improvement Grant Program to benefit community parks throughout Allen County, Ohio that the county auditor estimates will collect $1,514,000 annually, at a rate not exceeding 0.75 mill for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $21 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for 8 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.

PROPOSED GAS AGGREGATION (VILLAGE OF BLUFFTON)
Proposed (Resolution) Gas Aggregation Village of Bluffton A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage Shall the Village of Bluffton have the authority to aggregate the retail natural gas loads located in the Village of Bluffton, and for that purpose, enter into service agreements to facilitate for those loads the sale and purchase of natural gas, such aggregation to occur automatically except where any person elects to opt out?

LOCAL LIQUOR OPTION (BLUFFTON PRECINCT B)

Local Liquor Option for Particular Use at Business Location (By Petition) Bluffton B A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage Shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages be permitted for sale on Sunday by Luke’s Bar and Grill LLC, an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit, who is engaged in the business of restaurant at 133 N. Main St. in this precinct?

(Editor’s note: This business currently operates as Kira’s Flipside Grill.)