By JONATHAN SNYDER
After multiple meetings surrounding the 2025 budget in August and September, the finalized document was read for the first time during the Bluffton Common Council’s Tuesday meeting.
The next reading and official adoption of the budget occurs during the council’s Oct. 15 meeting.
The amounts approved for major funds are as follows: general fund, $5,583,488; Street Department, $1,398,685; and Parks Department, $1,040,600. No member of the public commented about the budget.
Before the budget’s presentation, Street Commissioner Tim Simpson and USI’s Beth Johnson both presented a grant opportunity for new sidewalks downtown. Simpson stated that the Indiana Department of Transportation put out a special call, where 90% of the cost of new sidewalks and ADA ramps will be covered by the state.
Simpson stated that, should funding be given, they will replace sidewalks in various locations along East Spring Street, then north on Mulberry Street, and turning west on Washington Street to the splash pad. Afterwards, the plan is to go down South Main Street to the library. Johnson reported that all these planned sidewalks are graded “D” or “F” by INDOT.
Johnson further estimated that the project will cost a total of $1 million which the city will only pay 10% of. An official notification of the grant’s awarding is estimated in February of next year. Designing, engineering and building the sidewalks will be necessary after the grant’s awarding. The council approved a financial commitment letter of funds, putting Bluffton in the grant race.
“That is a good deal considering where we placed sidewalks on our wishlist,” council member Rick Elwell said.
“It’s great connectivity,” Mentzer said. “It basically taking us by five parks, and connecting the sidewalks to the Rivergreenway and the library, so it’s well thought out.”
The council earmarked $70,000 for sidewalk related repairs that could be used to help fund the grant match. INDOT will hire out the contractor for the project, should the city be awarded the funding.
The council also approved Almco Steel’s partial lot rezoning petition for 34.5 acres of agricultural land west of its facility off Lancaster Street for use as light industrial land. Additionally, the council approved an amendment to Wells County Area Plan Commission zoning ordinance law that strikes a clause about facilities with punch presses regarded as heavy manufacturing. The APC will investigate and discuss noise levels and enforcement at a later date.
The council also approved a transfer of $8,674 from the Parks Department’s concessions line item to its trees/diamond/fence/paving line item. Parks Department Superintendent Brandy Fiechter stated some additional expenses regarding Lancaster Park’s parking lot improvements forced the need for the transfer. Additionally, $60,000 was appropriated from the CEDIT budget to help pay for the C.R. 200 S project. Another $45,000 was appropriated from the Midland TIF district to help cover the cost as a bond payment.
Additionally, the council set up an interlocal agreement between Harrison Township and the city for potential assistance in parks related projects. Mentzer stated that the township can choose to invest some of its cash reserves into the parks systems. Kehoe Park, Lions Park and the swimming pool are the facilities supported by the new agreement. Any money committed by the township could also be attached for READI 2.0 grant opportunities.
“There was an opportunity to create some collaboration with the townships,” Mentzer said. “In order for them to be able to do that, an interlocal agreement has to be created and signed by the departments. This has gone through the townships, they have approved … now it’s coming to us to approve it as well.”
The council also signed an equipment lease for new airpacks purchased by the fire territory. City Attorney Tony Crowell stated that the financing structure is essentially a lease-purchase agreement, and wanted a formal written resolution before moving forward. Mentzer stated that the lease agreement is the one missing piece before they can finance the equipment purchase.
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