July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Bumps in alley approved (03/04/08)
Portland City Council
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
The next time someone drives on the alley located between Baker and Adams streets, he or she will feel a bump or two.
After hearing a Portland man's request to make an alley one-way west Monday night, members of the Portland City Council voted instead to install speed bumps in the alley.
Fred Conkling, 115 E. Baker St., told council members that he would like the alley to be changed to one-way to make it safer for those who live nearby. Conkling said he has nearly been hit several times by vehicles while mowing near the alley. Also, young children live in the area, he said.
"It's really dangerous ... luckily nobody's ... been hit," Conkling said.
The alley is only wide enough for one vehicle, however, there frequently are vehicles going the opposite direction at the same time, he said. The vehicles often go in yards when passing.
He suggested the alley be changed to one-way west. A large bush blocks the view of traffic at the east end of the alley, he said.
Council president Bill Gibson asked Bob Sours, chief of Portland police, if he had looked at the area.
Sours said yes, he had, and suggested that speed bumps be installed, rather than making all or a portion of the alley one-way. He said the speed bumps should deter people from using the alley so much and instead use Baker or Adams streets.
Conkling said that would be a good idea, but some of the people who live near the alley rely on electric wheelchairs to get around.
Councilman Todd Nichols asked if there could be gaps in the speed bumps for those who use wheelchairs.
Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said the bumps could be created wide enough for vehicles and still leave space for wheelchairs.
In other business, council members heard a Portland man's request to only ban parking along the south side of Dogwood and Honeysuckle lanes during the winter months.
Kip VanSkyock, 1009 S. Blaine Pike, lives near the two streets. At the last meeting, council members voted to prohibit parking along the south side of Honeysuckle and Dogwood lanes. VanSkyock said the problem with prohibiting the parking is it forces people to park along the north side of one of the streets and in his yard.
VanSkyock suggested that parking along the south side of the two streets only be prohibited during winter months, to make more room for snowplows.
Council members did not realize when they made the motion at the Feb. 18 council meeting neither Honeysuckle nor Dogwood lanes have ever been legally dedicated to the city. The county owns the streets because of back taxes.
Judy Aker suggested that she and other council members wait to take action on the matter until the streets are deeded to the city.
Council members agreed with her and voted to table the matter.
Also Monday, council members:
•Voted on second and final reading to vacate two alleys needed for a new Walgreens.
A north-south alley located between Ben Hawkins Avenue and Meridian Street, and an east-west alley that starts at Ben Hawkins Avenue and ends at the Village Pantry parking lot, will be vacated once The Faigus Group purchases the properties needed for the project.
As a condition of the vacating of the alleys, The Faigus Group will have to maintain whatever utility easements are in the alleys.
The 13,650-square foot store is set to be built between Village Pantry and Ben Hawkins Avenue.
The pharmacy will have 67 parking spaces, and the north end of the building will have a drive-up pharmacy.
•Heard Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, report that officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation recently inspected the turn signals on Meridian Street at Votaw Street.
Hosier said INDOT officials determined that there were problems in the electrical boxes for the turn signals. He said some parts were replaced, and the timing on the turn signals is now correct.
•Invited council members to volunteer to work at the city's booth this weekend at the 2008 Business Expo and Home Show.
The event will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., in the gymnasium at Jay County High School.
•Heard Hosier report that INDOT and Wal-Mart officials have reached an agreement on the installation of a stop light at the Industrial Park Drive and Votaw Street. Hosier said he expects the light to be installed soon.[[In-content Ad]]
After hearing a Portland man's request to make an alley one-way west Monday night, members of the Portland City Council voted instead to install speed bumps in the alley.
Fred Conkling, 115 E. Baker St., told council members that he would like the alley to be changed to one-way to make it safer for those who live nearby. Conkling said he has nearly been hit several times by vehicles while mowing near the alley. Also, young children live in the area, he said.
"It's really dangerous ... luckily nobody's ... been hit," Conkling said.
The alley is only wide enough for one vehicle, however, there frequently are vehicles going the opposite direction at the same time, he said. The vehicles often go in yards when passing.
He suggested the alley be changed to one-way west. A large bush blocks the view of traffic at the east end of the alley, he said.
Council president Bill Gibson asked Bob Sours, chief of Portland police, if he had looked at the area.
Sours said yes, he had, and suggested that speed bumps be installed, rather than making all or a portion of the alley one-way. He said the speed bumps should deter people from using the alley so much and instead use Baker or Adams streets.
Conkling said that would be a good idea, but some of the people who live near the alley rely on electric wheelchairs to get around.
Councilman Todd Nichols asked if there could be gaps in the speed bumps for those who use wheelchairs.
Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said the bumps could be created wide enough for vehicles and still leave space for wheelchairs.
In other business, council members heard a Portland man's request to only ban parking along the south side of Dogwood and Honeysuckle lanes during the winter months.
Kip VanSkyock, 1009 S. Blaine Pike, lives near the two streets. At the last meeting, council members voted to prohibit parking along the south side of Honeysuckle and Dogwood lanes. VanSkyock said the problem with prohibiting the parking is it forces people to park along the north side of one of the streets and in his yard.
VanSkyock suggested that parking along the south side of the two streets only be prohibited during winter months, to make more room for snowplows.
Council members did not realize when they made the motion at the Feb. 18 council meeting neither Honeysuckle nor Dogwood lanes have ever been legally dedicated to the city. The county owns the streets because of back taxes.
Judy Aker suggested that she and other council members wait to take action on the matter until the streets are deeded to the city.
Council members agreed with her and voted to table the matter.
Also Monday, council members:
•Voted on second and final reading to vacate two alleys needed for a new Walgreens.
A north-south alley located between Ben Hawkins Avenue and Meridian Street, and an east-west alley that starts at Ben Hawkins Avenue and ends at the Village Pantry parking lot, will be vacated once The Faigus Group purchases the properties needed for the project.
As a condition of the vacating of the alleys, The Faigus Group will have to maintain whatever utility easements are in the alleys.
The 13,650-square foot store is set to be built between Village Pantry and Ben Hawkins Avenue.
The pharmacy will have 67 parking spaces, and the north end of the building will have a drive-up pharmacy.
•Heard Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, report that officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation recently inspected the turn signals on Meridian Street at Votaw Street.
Hosier said INDOT officials determined that there were problems in the electrical boxes for the turn signals. He said some parts were replaced, and the timing on the turn signals is now correct.
•Invited council members to volunteer to work at the city's booth this weekend at the 2008 Business Expo and Home Show.
The event will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., in the gymnasium at Jay County High School.
•Heard Hosier report that INDOT and Wal-Mart officials have reached an agreement on the installation of a stop light at the Industrial Park Drive and Votaw Street. Hosier said he expects the light to be installed soon.[[In-content Ad]]
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