By JONATHAN SNYDER
Jessica Beste has been officially hired by the Board of Public Works and Safety Tuesday as the new economic development director.
Beste’s hire comes nearly seven months after the dissolution of the economic development branch within the Wells County Chamber of Commerce, which both the county and city governments partnered with. Board member Scott Mentzer said that the county is in agreement with the city that Beste is qualified for the position.
“It’s exciting to get this position filled,” board member Josh Hunt said. “I know that everybody wanted somebody that was local and that was a hard thing to try and match, so I’m excited to get moving on.”
While Beste will be classified as a city employee, the county and city will draft an agreement for Beste’s services, the nature of which is still unofficial. Beste will officially start on Oct. 28, and will have a consultant available to help her in the early days.
Beste previously worked at Stockton Mortgage in Bluffton as a mortgage lender. She has worked in finance as a mortgage lender for the last 17 years and is a current Chamber of Commerce ambassador. Beste will be paid $97,000 a year and, tentatively, the county will shoulder slightly more expenses than the city. Mentzer stated that a meeting in the next couple of weeks will work out the exact split.
Also during the meeting, Police Chief Kyle Randall announced he is looking to replace a vehicle after it was involved in a September crash. Randall is looking for a 2024 Police Interceptor, stating that a straddled semi truck tire that was still on the rim hit the vehicle head on at road speed. The officer involved was uninjured, but the car is considered totaled by the police department’s insurance company.
“We watched the video on the car and there was really nothing the officer could do,” Randall said.
Randall stated that a replacement vehicle will cost about $42,000, with insurance covering $27,000 worth of cash expenses, the reinstallation of police equipment and decals. The board decided to pay for the expense out of Public Safety LIT funds and look into a transfer to replenish that fund at a future Common Council meeting.
The board also sent an issue about an unsafe building at 1325 West Cherry St. to the city attorney. Building Department Commissioner Richard Triplett stated that while the board initially heard about the issue on July 23, some legal concerns with the wording of the enforcement notice needed addressing by City Attorney Tony Crowell.
A shed with a collapsing roof is the target of concern for Triplett and the board, with a demolition order the next course of action for the city. Triplett further noted that the owners have not communicated with him about the issue, despite giving 120 days notice.
Additionally, the board approved a $20,000 transfer from the 911 dispatch center’s wages line item to its overtime line item. The lack of staff in the department has caused the need for the transfer, according to 911 Director Mike Miller. Miller also noted that two additional employees will be available in about a week and a half, which should ease the burden and carry them through the rest of the year.
The board also approved raises for Wastewater Plant Supervisor Tony Fey and Electric Department groundman Josh Jellison. Additionally, a new schedule of wages for the Utility Department was approved, raising the maximum salaries for all employees by 3%. Police, fire and other city department entities received a three percent increase on salary maximums by the Common Council in its meeting afterwards.
The council also signed an interlocal agreement with Harrison Township that allows township funds to be used for parks improvements in the area. Bluffton’s Park Board and Harrison Township’s Board of Trustees both signed the agreement that gives the township the choice to help fund any projects they see fit. While the ordinance involving the agreement was passed, the agreement itself between township, city and park was not yet signed.
Additionally, the council approved the 2025 budget on second reading.
jonathan@news-banner.com
