Mayor John Whicker, at left, swears in the four present members of the Bluffton Common Council — from left, Roger Thornton, Rick Elwell, Scott Mentzer, and Janella Stronczek — as members of the Bluffton Redevelopment Commission during Tuesday night’s meeting. The city’s mayor appoints three members to the commission and the council appoints two others. By tradition, the Common Council members have also served on the Redevelopment Commission. Whicker appointed Elwell, Mentzer, and Stronczek, and the council appointed Thornton and Josh Hunt. Clerk-Treasurer Tami Runyon is seated at center. (Photo by Dave Schultz)
By DAVE SCHULTZ
The city of Bluffton has agreed to pay the company developing Parlor Bluff — the subdivision formerly known as the Estates of Parlor City — to do work that will benefit the city as other housing developments are planned and constructed.
Parlor Development Inc. will extend Willowbrook Trail to Parlor Bluff’s boundary line, improve drainage in areas bordering its land, extend a sanitary sewer line, increase the size of water mains, install storm drainage improvements, and reconfigure the subdivision’s cul-de-sacs — all in accordance with the city’s development requirements.
The price tags included so far in the agreement are $35,420.78 for the oversizing of the water mains, $58,859.38 for the cul-de-sacs, and another $6,809.87 for its half of the cost of stone backfill for the stormwater sewers.
The cul-de-sac improvements were necessary because the developers’ original request for smaller turnarounds was approved by the city — only to be told by Fire Chief Don Craig that the smaller design violates state fire code. That led the developer to charge the city for the changes.
The remainder of the costs have yet to be figured. When council member Roger Thornton asked for a timeline as to when the total amount would be known, he was told the plans are still being made and costs would be available as the project gets nearer to completion.
The four council members present — Roger Thornton, Rick Elwell, Scott Mentzer, and Janella Stronczek — all approved the agreement. The fifth council member, Josh Hunt, was not present due to illness.
Mayor John Whicker told the council that, according to the agreement, the money would not be due until the costs had been fully documented. He also said the agreement should not be considered a precedent.
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