Sewer project moving ahead

Portland’s west side sewer project is moving forward.
Mayor Randy Geesaman told council members Monday evening city officials are working to prepare to award the project to a contractor at the board of works meeting Dec. 11. Crews will be testing the soil on the west side next week.
Council also voted to transfer funds to pay for a portion of the Ind. 26 East project.
The west side sewer project is expected to bring some flood relief to the west side and also take Portland off the Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ finding list.
In late 2009, the city received a Community Development Block Grant from OCRA and passed it on to Wisconsin manufacturer Steve Geesaman of Geesaman Industries. The money came with several conditions, the most notable being that at least 50 jobs would be created within 18 months of receiving the grant.
The company subsequently failed to meet job creation and investment goals, and repayment of the grant fell onto the city in 2012. The city paid OCRA $132,000 from the sale of Geesaman Industries assets, but still owes an additional $737,825.
In 2013, OCRA agreed to forgive the remainder of the grant if the city invested the remaining money into a local disaster relief project, which resulted in the planned west side sewer work. The city earlier this year appropriated $1.2 million from Economic Development Income Tax, river boat and cumulative capital development funds to pay for the project.
Officials have said the project isn’t expected to cost that much, but they wanted to ensure the city meets the $737,825 it needs to invest.
Members Mark Hedges, Kip Robinette, Bill Gibson, Judy Aker, Michael Brewster, Kent McClung and Don Gillespie also transferred more than $1 million from water operating and sewer operating funds to pay for the city’s portion of the Ind. 26 East project.
Indiana Department of Transportation will replace the street from the alley behind the United States Postal Service post office at the corner of Meridian and Water streets in Portland to the bridge at the eastern city limits near Jay-Randolph Developmental Services.
At that time, the city will replace the water and sewer lines that run beneath it.
INDOT agreed to contribute $500,000 for the utility work if the city paid the remaining $941,000 for that portion of the project.
“Hopefully it will come in less than this … But we have more than enough money set aside when the project starts to pay our share,” Geesaman said.
Construction is expected to begin in summer 2015.
In other business Monday, council:
•OK’d selling the property at 901 E. Votaw Street to adjacent property owners Doug and Missy Cox, 907 E. Votaw St.
•Approved on second reading Portland Redevelopment Commission’s changes to the economic development plan adopted in 2006. The changes include adding a preliminary plan for how the commission will spend its funds over the TIF District’s lifetime.
Council previously approved the changes on first reading, and the commission held a public hearing last week.
•Paid $3.2 million in claims. More than $1 million of funds were transferred into the pool construction fund as part of the city’s contribution.