August festival planned (07/17/07)

Before the whir of gas engines fills the air in August, some local business owners are hoping to welcome visitors to the city.

The Welcome Home to Portland festival will be held Sunday, Aug. 19 to promote the businesses of Jay County. The event will be held just before the start of the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show, which runs Aug. 22-26.

Dave Frasher, a member of the six-person Welcome Home to Portland committee, asked the Portland City Council Monday night for permission to close some city streets for the event. Council members granted his wish and also gave him permission to hold a parade in connection with the festival.

The festival will have food, including homemade pies and ice cream, a farmers' market, displays by local merchants, games for kids, a performance by Del Rio and displays of antique cars, vintage motor bikes and tractors.

It will be held on East Main Street, from Meridian Street to Harrison Street, on West Main Street, from Meridian Street to The Commercial Review, and along portions of Commerce Street, West Walnut Street, West Water Street and Ship Street. The streets will be closed from 2 to 8 p.m.

Frasher said the half-hour parade will begin at 3:30 p.m. The festival will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tractors, antique vehicles and scooters are expected to join the parade, he said.

Before voting council member Bill Gibson said, "I like the name you picked for that committee."

"I think it's a great first effort," said councilman Dolphus Stephens.

Also Monday, council members:

•Approved a tax abatement compliance form for Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. in a 6-1 vote after hearing an explanation of why the number of employees at the Portland plant had decreased.

When the tax abatement for a new can line at the plant was approved by the council in 2006, the new line was expected to create 12 more jobs, bringing the total to 108 employees, said Jim Sanders, who cast the lone dissenting vote.

However, the plant currently has about 55 employees.

Ron Stockton, plant manager, said some of the employees, such as the shipping and warehouse workers, have been moved to the Richmond and Anderson plants, but are still on the payroll. The Portland business needed more warehouse space. Instead of expanding the plant, the warehouses at the other facilities are being used, he said.

After the meeting, Sanders said he voted against the form because he felt the company was not in compliance with the tax abatement because the number of employees had decreased. "In my book, that's not compliance," he said.

Tax abatements allow companies to phase-in taxes on new investments over several years.

•Approved a 2.5 percent salary increase for all city employees in 2008.

The payroll ordinance sets the salaries and wages of street and park, water, fire and police department heads and employees, the city's attorney. It also sets the pay for the mayor's administrative assistant, city court employees and those who work in the city clerk-treasurer's office.

•Heard Gibson ask for an update on the possibility of adding a sidewalk along the north side of Votaw Street near the Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said the Indiana Department of Transportation is considering doing a major street-widening project in that area and if a sidewalk was installed, it might be torn out as part of the street project, Hosier said.[[In-content Ad]]