By JONATHAN SNYDER
During Tuesday’s Bluffton Common Council meeting, Wells County Area Plan Commission Executive Director Mike Lautzenheiser reported that a second section of homes at Parlor Bluffs has been completed.
The secondary plat was approved by the council, which allows fully built homes to be sold. Lautzenheiser stated that the city has inspected and reviewed the houses, and has sent a list of completion items left for the contractors. Lautzenheiser stated that the punch list will cover some concerns regarding storm drainage and erosion control.
“I drove out there the other day into that development,” Council member Chandler Gerber said. “It’s exciting, there’s lots of activity there.”
Furthermore, the council approved a maintenance bond for the utilities for those homes. The bond is valued at 25% of the cost of the insulation of public utilities and the road inside Parlor Bluffs. Lautzenheiser stated that this bond will give additional protections in regards to insulating the utilities and fixing any potential product defects. The houses in the second stage include a mix of similar homes to phase one of the project and single family villa style houses.
An official collaboration fund between Harrison Township and the city of Bluffton for park initiatives was also approved by the council. This fund is the byproduct of an interlocal agreement signed between Harrison Township and Bluffton, with a major focus on funds for a potential new pool. Council member Scott Mentzer stated that Harrison Township is ready to commit $250,000 towards the new pool, and that this document will give them the legal means to do so.
The council also approved a temporary loan resolution for the Bluffton Fire Protection Territory. The city will loan the territory $750,000 to keep the territory operational. Mentzer mentioned that the council will probably have to go through the process of loaning money for several years until the territory can start generating savings itself. Mentzer said that the territory does not get revenue until property taxes get paid, so the loans are needed until the territory has enough cash flow to cover six months of operating costs. Mentzer added that the loan amount is expected to drop over the years.
“Until the fire territory has $1 million in cash at the start of a year, we’re going to need some loan from the city to bridge until they get to the first property tax payment,” Mentzer said.
The council also approved a $20,000 appropriation from the Capital Cumulative Development fund to police cars. Chief Kyle Randall said that recent insurance payouts from accidents are not enough to cover the cost of replacing police cars, causing the need for additional funds.
An additional transfer resolution will send $119,900 from various line items in the miscellaneous general fund to the other services line item. Mentzer stated that future software payments for the utility and financial department, as well as Baker Tilly expenses for additional accounting services saw the need to move money into that line item. Furthermore, $1,300 was transferred from the animal shelter’s equipment line item to their repair and maintenance line item.
Salary ordinance amendments for 2024 and 2025 were also updated, with additional compensation for the ordinance compliance officer position being written into the amendments.
jonathan@news-banner.com
