• An encroachment has been approved for property at 719 Willowbrook Trail after the homeowner filed a petition with the Bluffton Common Council.
Karl Ewing asked for permission to encroach on the city’s 10-foot utility easement. The city agreed, as long as the garage and fence that will be built there is not altered after construction — and if the city has access to the easement as necessary.
The agreement, drawn up by City Attorney Tony Crowell, was approved by the Bluffton Common Council last Tuesday.
Another easement at the corner of Compromise Lane and Whitebridge Court will be vacated by the city.
A request to vacate the utility easement was submitted to the Bluffton Board of Public Works and Safety. There is actually nothing in the easement and the property is on the market for sale.
• The members of the Bluffton Common Council have approved the secondary plat of the Harvest Acres subdivision off of Clark Avenue on the city’s south side.
There has been some damage to the streets that have been set in place in the subdivision, but the council was told those were done by AEP utility workers. Working that out will be a task for Biggs Inc., the developer of the subdivision, and AEP.
• Foundations will close the alley that connects Market and Perry streets and is midway between Johnson and Main streets the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 31.
Foundations, which is located next to the alley, will host its annual picnic in the alley from 4 to 9 p.m.
• The city will contribute $2,000 to fund an anti-drug program that will be presented four times next month.
The request for the money was presented to the Bluffton Common Council by council member Chandler Gerber. Erin Prible, executive director of the Wells County Chamber of Commerce, was on hand to add support to the fund request.
The programs will be presented Sept. 12 at Southern Wells, Sept. 13 at Norwell, and Sept. 14. The community event will also be held Sept. 14 at the Wells County Community Center at the 4-H Park.
