By DAVE SCHULTZ
The alleyways project, led by the Bluffton NOW! downtown revitalization group, took another step forward Tuesday night when the Bluffton Common Council agreed with the group on maintenance of the five sites involved in the project.
Bluffton NOW! will scale back the amount of money it requests from the city for the Community Reinvestment Program from $150,000 to $100,000 and the city will pick up half the costs for maintenance of the sites.
The decision came after a discussion between Mike Lautzenheiser, Jr., in his capacity as the Bluffton NOW! president, and the five members of the council..
Lautzenheiser brought questions to the council for consideration. They were:
• The range of responsibility — Was this going to be an agreement for just the alleyways or for all of downtown?
• How should the project’s maintenance costs be funded?
• Should the work be done by a city employee, a Bluffton NOW! employee, or a separate contractor?
As to how the work would be done, Lautzenheiser noted that there were trade offs to using an employee or a contractor. Using an employee of the city or the organization would allow for flexible use of the individual or individuals that may be involved, but hiring a contractor would mean a guaranteed rate for the work that is done.
Ultimately, a recommendation would be made on the “how” but there was agreement on the “what,” even though one of the five council member once again made his concerns known.
“Last summer, I said that if this was just one or two (alleyways), I’d say let’s just give it a try,” Roger Thornton said, “but I have great trepidation. I see some sidewalks in neighborhoods that are in great need of repair. I wonder where those folks’ interests are represented.
“As I said earlier, I appreciate all the work. That doesn’t mean I can support all the projects,” he said. “Again, that’s one view.”
His fellow council member, as he had when Thornton brought up his concerns earlier this year, said the work should go forward.
“As we add these sorts of assets, it shouldn’t be a mystery” that more money will be needed to take care of them, Mentzer said. Looking at the overall scope of the project, he said the alleyways would provide a space “for our community to congregate and commune.”
Also, he said, “the bulk of the cost to implement the project isn’t even being borne by the city.”
The council members — Josh Hunt and Rick Elwell in particular — wondered if downtown merchants near the alleyways could be approached to help fund the project. Lautzenheiser said he would ask.
When it came time to move the proposal forward, all five council members — Hunt, Elwell, Mentzer, Janella Stronczek, and also Thornton — voted in favor of it. Before the vote was taken, Thornton reiterated that he had reservations but would vote in favor anyway.
daves@news-banner.com
