By JONATHAN SNYDER
The Bluffton Police Department welcomed a new member to their ranks as Officer Trevor Werst was sworn in on Nov. 21 by the Bluffton Common Council.
In front of his peers from the Bluffton Police Department, including Chief of Police Kyle Randall, Werst took the oath from Bluffton Mayor John Whicker. After the oath was read, Werst was greeted with a round of applause from all the members of the Common Council — Chandler Gerber, Josh Hunt, Janella Stronczek, Scott Mentzer and Rick Elwell — along with others in attendance.
Furthermore, the council approved an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement, establishing an emergency communication dispatch center in the Bluffton Police-Fire Building. The agreement runs all county emergency communications through Bluffton’s dispatch center. Mentzer needed time before the meeting to review the agreement, saying it appears that the city will bear a larger financial burden in the coming years. Mentzer did join the other council members in approving the amendment, however.
Also on Tuesday, the council approved a transfer of funds within the Bluffton Parks and Recreation Department’s budget. This transfer will move funds from the programs, travel, communication, concessions and garage and motor line items to the equipment line item. The $14,450 transfer will help pay for a new Grasshopper riding lawn mower approved earlier in the day by the Bluffton Board of Public Works and Safety.
The purchase request to the Board of Works totaled $20,290 for a mower that was described by the council members — Mayor John Whicker, Hunt and Mentzer — as one of the more competitive mowers on the market.
The board also approved a raise for Adryan Chacon of the Wastewater Collection Department. Chacon completed the first Commercial Driver’s License training performed in-house by Brad Penrod, the city’s CDL trainer. He will receive a $3.50 per hour raise for his efforts.
In addition, the board approved a $1 per hour merit raise for Dave Hendricks of the Water Distribution Department for his skill as a supervisor.
“His knowledge of the water distribution plant and its systems is invaluable to us,” said Jon Oman, the city’s utility superintendent.
A State Revolving Fund claim involving a pay application for the Bluffton Timber Ridge Sanitary Sewer project was tabled. The application was deferred by the board due to a lack of clarity with the itemized bill and the amount of money owed. The amount to be paid tallies to $294,865.48.
jonathan@news-banner.com
