AN ORDINANCE ANNEXING REAL ESTATE
TO THE CITY OF BLUFFTON, WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA
WHEREAS, Petitioner, FIT Development, LLC, by its members, TODD M. FIECHTER AND AARON J. ISCH, is the sole owner of the real estate described below, and desires for said real estate to be annexed to the City of Bluffton; and
WHEREAS, Petitioner has filed a Petition for Annexation with the Common Council of the City of Bluffton, the municipality in which the real estate will be annexed; and
WHEREAS, notice of the filing and pendency of the Petition For Annexation, was given in the manner prescribed by IC 5-3-1 by publication of said notice in the Bluffton News-Banner, a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Bluffton, Indiana, being the City affected by said proceedings, and by sending notice by certified mail to each owner of land that abuts the property proposed to be annexed not less than twenty (20) days prior to the public hearing; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Bluffton has considered the proposed Fiscal Plan for Annexed Territory submitted by Petition and has adopted the Fiscal Plan prior to the adoption of this Ordinance by Resolution No. 2026-6; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Bluffton, now having held a public hearing on the Petition For Annexation, being duly advised in the premises, and having heard the evidence, now finds that the material allegations contained in the Petition For Annexation are true, and further finds that no written remonstrances and objections have been filed by any person or persons owning property immediately adjoining to said real estate to be annexed.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of Bluffton, Indiana, to-wit:
Section 1.
That the following real estate in Harrison Township, Wells County, Indiana, be and hereby is annexed to the City of Bluffton, Indiana, under Indiana law:
The West half of the Southwest Quarter of Section Ten (10), in Township Twenty-Six (26) North, Range Twelve (12) East.
EXCEPT THEREFROM THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED TRACT:
Starting at the Southwest Corner of said Southwest Quarter marked by a railroad spike, found; thence Northerly 665.80 feet on the West line of said Southwest Quarter to a railroad spike, set, which shall be the place of beginning; thence continuing Northerly 405.30 feet on said West line Southwest Quarter to a railroad spike set; thence easterly, deflecting right 90 degrees 22 minutes 02 seconds, 705.29 feet to a 6” diameter steel well casing corner post, found; thence Southeasterly, deflecting right 84 degrees 29 minutes 05 seconds, 457.26 feet to a 6” diameter steel well casing corner post found; thence Northwesterly, deflecting right 99 degrees 20 minutes 07 seconds, 748.31 feet to the place of beginning. Said to contain in previous deed 7.16 acres, more or less.
ALSO EXCEPT THEREFORM THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED TRACT:
Part of the West half of the Southwest Quarter of Section 10, Township 26 North, Range 12 East, Harrison Township, Wells County, Indiana, described as follows:
Beginning at the Southwest corner of said Southwest Quarter found per record witness; thence Northerly, 665.80 feet along the West line of said Southwest Quarter to a MAG Nail w/ “Hoehn” I.D. Washer at the Southwest corner of the 7.16 acre tract described in Deed Record 132, Page 652; thence Southeasterly, deflecting right 94 degrees 11 minutes 13 seconds, 748.30 feet to a 6 inch well casing post at the Southeast corner of said 7.16 acre tract; thence Northwesterly, deflecting left 99 degrees 20 minutes 06 seconds, 457.26 feet to a 6 inch well casing post at the Northeast corner of said 7.16 acre tract; thence Easterly, deflecting right 95 degrees 30 minutes 55 seconds, 624.47 feet to a 5/8”x24” rebar stake w/ “Hoehn” I.D. Cap on the East line of the West half of said Southwest Quarter; thence Southerly, deflecting right 89 degrees 45 minutes 23 seconds, 1052.08 feet along said East line to a MAG Nail w/ “Hoehn” I.D. Washer on the South line of said Southwest Quarter; thence Westerly, deflecting right 89 degrees 25 minutes 22 seconds, 1327.51 feet along said South line to the place of beginning. Parcel said to contain in previous deed 25.22 acres more or less.
ALSO EXCEPT THEREFROM THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED TRACT OF REAL ESTATE ALSO KNOWN AS LOTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of TIMERLINE ESTATES recorded April 24, 2025 as Instrument No. 20251294 of the records of Wells County, Indiana:
A portion of the lands described to the FIT Development, LLC 20240479, Recorded February 8, 2024 in the office of the Recorder of Wells County, Indiana, situated in the West Half of the Southwest Quarter of Section 10, Township 26 North, Range 12 East, Harrison Township, Wells County, Indiana, as shown on the Subdivision plat completed by Bertsch Frank & Associates, and certified by Matthew G. Bertsch (P.S.#20200087) on April 4, 2024 under Project Number 22120.100; Being more particularly described as follows:
Commencing at the Southwest corner of said Southwest Quarter: Thence North 00 degrees 48 minutes 15 seconds West (NAD83 Indiana State Plane, Zone East Grid and Basis of Bearings to follow), 1071.10 feet to a railroad spike found at the Northwest corner of an existing 7.16 acre tract described to Kevin Brent Hiday and Stephanie L. Hiday in Deed Book 132, Page 652 in the office of the Recorder, said Point also being the Point of Beginning of the herein described parcel; Thence continuing North 00 degrees 48 minutes 15 seconds West, 294.90 feet to a survey marker nail with a “Bertsch-Frank” identification ring set on the South Line of a 66 foot wide easement and right-of-way to Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company as described in Miscellaneous Book 46, Page 485 in the office of said Recorder; Thence North 88 degrees 34 minutes 45 seconds East, 630.00 feet along said South Line to a 5/8” rebar with a “Bertsch-Frank” identification cap set; Thence North 65 degrees 49 minutes 45 seconds East, 763.65 feet along said South Line to a 5/8” rebar with a “Bertsch-Frank” identification cap set on the East Line of the West Half of said Southwest Quarter; Thence South 00 degrees 40 minutes 58 seconds East, 613.08 feet along said East Line to the North Line of an existing tract described to Adam Neuenschwander in Document Number 20194619 in the office of said Recorder; Thence South 89 degrees 33 minutes 47 seconds West, 1329.70 feet along said North Line of Neuenschwander and also the North Line of said 7.16 acre tract described to Hiday to the Point of Beginning, Containing 11.727 acres, more or less.
Commonly known as 300E, Bluffton, Indiana 46714
Tax ID Number: 90-08-10-300-001.000-003
Section 2.
The Clerk-Treasurer of the City of Bluffton is hereby directed to furnish a copy of this Annexation Ordinance to the following:
a. County Recorder;
b. County Auditor;
c. Wells Circuit Court Clerk
d. Indiana Secretary of State; and
e. Office of Census Data.
Section 3.
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon passage and approval of the Mayor.
Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Bluffton, Indiana, this __ day of _____________ 2026, by the following vote:
Councilperson AYES NAYS ABSENT
Rickey D. Elwell
Janella J. Stronczek
Joshua D. Hunt
Ronald J. Neuenschwander
Blake A. Fiechter
Sarah J. Reed
David P. Teeple
Mayor Scott Mentzer, Presiding Officer
ATTEST:
Bri Lautzenheiser, City Clerk-Treasurer
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of Bluffton, Indiana, at ___:___ o’clock p.m. this __ day of _________, 2026.
Bri Lautzenheiser, City Clerk-Treasurer
Approved by me this __ day of _________, 2026.
Mayor Scott Mentzer
I, affirm under the penalties for perjury that I have taken reasonable care to redact each Social Security Number in this document, unless required by law (Anthony O. Crowell).
This instrument prepared by David N. Baumgartner under the
direction of City Attorney, Anthony O. Crowell, Attorney at
Law, Bluffton, Indiana 46714
nb 8/26