Additional funds OK'd for city consultant

Some extra work to possibly enhance Portland’s future means a larger paycheck for a city consultant.
Members of the Portland Board of Works voted Friday morning to pay Sturtz Public Management an additional $5,445 for work Kristi Sturtz and her assistant did for the city this year. The contract had been capped at $30,000.
City clerk-treasurer Randy Geesaman told board members that Sturtz spent many hours helping with the city’s downtown façade grant program, the long-term control plan for the city’s water system and applying for the Stellar Communities grant program.
Sturtz’s hourly rate is $80, while her assistant is paid $60 per hour.
Through the façade grant program, matching grants were awarded this year to a handful of downtown property owners. The money was used to spruce up the facades of the historic buildings. Sturtz helped establish the program and has worked with both property owners and members of the Portland Historic Preservation Commission and the Downtown Façade Funding Committee.
The long-term control plan creates a plan of action in case the city’s water system would happen to get contaminated.
Also, the city is in the running for a Stellar Communities grant through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and Indiana Department of Transportation.
Portland is one of 10 communities in the running for the grant, which could award up to $5 million.
Geesaman said Sturtz also has been working with engineers on the Lafayette Street extension project and the north side sewer separation project.[[In-content Ad]]