By JONATHAN SNYDER
The Bluffton Board of Public Works and Safety ratified two bids for Parks Department projects following review and approval from the parks board on Nov. 9.
The bid for new pickleball courts and parking lot improvements for Lancaster Park was accepted at just over $284,321. A bid from Brooks Construction for the Interurban Trail, running from the Wabash River in downtown Bluffton to Lancaster Park, was also accepted at a $670,504 price tag. Both offers were the low bids for each project.
These bids were a welcome sight for the Board of Works, as the original bidding process in the summer of 2023 for the Interurban Trail was offered at $900,148.
Street Commissioner Tim Simpson also took a moment during the Board of Works meeting to note that the city has received a $1 million grant from the state’s Community Crossings program for next years potential projects. The money will be matched by an additional $1 million contribution from the city.
In other business:
• The board discussed an issue surrounding a leak of unknown placement in the water line on 420 S. Johnson Street. The leak is somewhere between the meter tap and the house itself.
The house was built around 1900, according to the Wells County GIS, when it was common practice to have two meter taps built for the same property. The leak is underground and a recent utility bill was about $700 a month. The water line has been shut off.
“This is going to be a reoccurring problem,” said Dave Hendricks, Bluffton’s water distribution superintendent. While there was no official motion or decision on the matter, the Board of Works agreed that it is the homeowner’s responsibility to repair the water line after which the city may provide relief for the water.
“I’d have a real hard time justifying the city taking care of this leak,” said board member Scott Mentzer. “Historically our policy has been that the resident has responsibility for the pipe between the house and the meter set.”
• The board approved a $28,334.96 purchase of chemicals for use in the Wells Community pool for next summer. Board members — Mayor John Whicker, Mentzer, and Josh Hunt — described the price as a pretty good deal.
• The board also approved new rates for medical and dental insurance for city employees.
“We’ve got a good product,” said Mentzer, who was involved in the insurance review. “We did not take a hit as bad as I thought we would.”
He said that, depending on the plan being used, city employees would find between a 1 percent and 6 percent increase in their rates.
• Simpson came before the board to set up fees and fines for commercial operators using the city’s compost site.
• The board also approved the transfer of funds from the Parks Department’s utilities, pavilion, and land line items. The transfer will put $30,000 into the repair and maintenance line item and $4,000 into the equipment line item. Those funds will cover siding of the park building behind Hardee’s, removal of old foam insulation and installation of new foam insulation, and fixing the bed of a truck that has been rusted through.
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