By JONATHAN SNYDER
The Board of Public Works and Safety ensured the ability to pay any outstanding bills in 2024, while the Bluffton Common Council approved the Wells County Area Plan Commission’s ordinance amendments on Tuesday.
The Board of Works made sure that any purchase orders created and approved in 2023 can still be paid in 2024. These remaining expenses total out to $236,620.46. Over $55,000 of these funds are coming from the American Rescue Plan Act, a pool of funds given out in 2021 to help cities recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over $43,500 is yet to come out of the general fund, over $1,500 from the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund, approximately $56,500 from the Parks and Recreation Department, and just under $76,800 from the County Economic Development Income Tax Fund. Just under $3,000 is coming out of the Rainy Day fund to help pay these leftover bills.
The board also approved the Electric Distribution Department’s request to spend $37,135 on a 2020 Chevrolet Colorado truck. Last month, the board allowed the department to look for a new vehicle to replace its aging 1996 GMC Sonoma.
The new truck only has 22,000 miles on it, which was an attractive selling point for board members Mayor John Whicker, Josh Hunt and Scott Mentzer, who joined the meeting via Zoom. Hunt mentioned that other similarly capable trucks being sold today have about 50,000 more miles on them.
“I think it fits the bill for the long term,” said Hunt.
In addition, the board approved a merit raise for Bri Lautzenheiser of the Clerk’s Office. She will be receiving a $1.50 per hour raise due to her reclassification as chief deputy, a role that she has taken the duties of for the past three months.
While the Board of Works looked after personnel and department changes, the Common Council took a wider view of changes involving the city.
The council approved amendments to the Wells County zoning and subdivision control ordinances. These amendments were discussed and given a do pass recommendation on Dec. 8.
Executive Director of the Area Plan Commission Mike Lautzenheiser presented the amendments, which include a redefinition of what junk is, the requirement for any violation reports to be signed by the person with the complaint, and new processes for how divisions of minor subdivisions are approved.
Although the amendments were unanimously approved by council members Hunt, Mentzer, Rick Elwell, Janella Stronczek, Sarah Reed, Blake Fiechter and Chandler Gerber, clarification was needed for the complaint process.
Lautzenheiser assured the board that no personal information would be collected aside from the name of the person making the complaint, and that officials submitting complaints on behalf of citizens would leave the official to sign the document.
The council also approved investing any extra money into Bluffton’s local banks. This is a yearly recurrence and states that the city will invest in First Bank of Berne, First Merchants Bank, Farmers and Merchants Bank, and Flagstar Bank alongside any other institution deemed eligible.
jonathan@news-banner.com
