By Paula Pyzik Scott

The Village of Bluffton Council held its regular meeting on Monday, September 28, with Mayor Rich Johnson presiding. (See Council Packet for supporting materials)

ADMINISTRATION REPORT
Progress reports from Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn and Assistant Administrator Bryan Lloyd included the following items.

Purchase of acres along Marsh Run
Blackburn presented a strategic land purchase of 2.65 acres along Marsh Run, which the council unanimously approved. The land is located east of Main St. and north of Board and Brush. It is entirely in the flood plain and cannot be developed.

The Village already mows the property. It could be naturalized as a grantable project similar to the prairie to be established near the Sommer Center on the Bluffton University campus.

No leaf pickup until announced
Leaves should not be put at the curb until pickup dates are announced. Council member Joe Sehlhorst asked if there are any limits on brush pickup. Lloyd said that this service is part of the greens fee on water bills; he noted that the Village does not pick up branches cut by contractors.

Hydrant flushing
Village crews are tentatively scheduled to do hydrant flushing the week of October 5.

Airport taxilane reconstruction
Dry weather has finally allowed the completion of taxilane reconstruction this week. Blackburn noted that stone prices got more expensive during the course of the project. The Village had to pay the difference of $19.6K.

SR 103 roundabout
A final OPWC payout has been approved for the Bluffton roundabout construction. Lloyd noted that $65K in landscaping and roadwork milling was added during the course of the project.

LEGISLATION
Seven items of legislation were approved unanimously, including the third and final reading of an ordinance establishing procedures for the right of re-entry and reclamation of plots in Maple Grove Cemetery. The legislation follows discussions regarding the difficulty of expanding the cemetery (See 2024 article Council considers dwindling cemetery plots)

The first reading was made of a resolution regarding funding for a $300K Spring St.-Bluffton University water main replacement project  

STREETS & PATHWAYS OPEN HOUSE
A November 2 Open House from 5-7:00 p.m. has been scheduled to solicit feedback on the location of a connecting pathway on Riley St. Two options will be presented.

SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATIONS
Council approved the following special event permits:

Oct. 2, BHS Homecoming parade, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Oct 24, Starlight Cider & S’Mores, 6-7:30. Request to close Cherry next to Twisted Whisk for fire pits to roast marshmallows, music.

Oct 29, Trick or Treat. Chamber member food trucks on Main St. from 5-8:00 p.m. No road closure.

SAFETY SERVICES

EMS
EMS Chief Noah Babcock reported that the department's “out the door time” has improved dramatically since the department has gone to full-time, in-house staffing. The prior response time averaged 9:00-9:57 minutes. Bluffton out-the-door time now averages 48 seconds. The industry standard is 1:20 seconds.