By JONATHAN SNYDER
Bids and closures were the order of the day for the Bluffton Board of Public Works and Safety on Tuesday, as two bids for demolition and street material projects were discussed.
The board started by approving the demolition bids by Kaerh Excavation opened in the board’s meeting on Jan. 23. Kaerh had the low bid for both projects at 418 Hale St., valued at $11,950, and 228 East Market St., valued at $15,750. Longenberger Excavation’s bids came in at over double the amount proposed by Kaerh for both projects.
The board also opened bids for the payment of new street material for the city. Rock Creek Quarry and IMI Concrete made bids for the project, but the amounts were not disclosed at the meeting. Street Commissioner Tim Simpson will look over both bids and advise the board on which one to take.
Additionally, the board approved a request for a section of Bennet Street between Poplar and Elm streets to be closed from 9:30 a.m. to noon on May 18. First Reformed Church made the request so they could host a derby cart race. First Reformed’s Christian Education Coordinator Isabella Stutzman also mentioned that there will be days in April where families and kids will build and paint wooden carts for the races. Stutzman also mentioned lunch will be provided after the event.
“Reminds me of the Pinewood Derby days,” said Bluffton Mayor John Whicker. Whicker’s fellow board member Scott Mentzer also shared his happiness over the event. Josh Hunt was absent from the meeting.
In addition, the board also heard a request from SMS Property Management for handicapped parking for 319 East Central Ave. Simpson stated that there is no parking on the side of East Central that the house sits on, so the Street Department will need to find a location for handicapped parking if approved. Simpson mentioned that there is potentially parking for the tenants off an alley near the location, but he is unsure if that space is compliant with the standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The board decided to take the matter under advisement while Simpson investigates the alley and any other locations to ensure ADA compliance. In past cases, they have awarded handicapped parking for rental locations when there are no other options available.
Furthermore, the board also approved Fire Department Captain Ryan Crist’s letter of resignation. He is transitioning into retirement after being in the department for 12 years. His last day will be Feb. 3. After the resignation letter was read, the board also took time to thank City Engineer Kelly White for her service, as she is resigning from her position in February.
Whicker mentioned that there will be tweaks to the city engineer job description for discussion in next week’s meeting. He also advised that finding a new engineer may take a while since the market is tight.
jonathan@news-banner.com
