July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
City OK's alley closing (03/17/2009)
Portland City Council
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
A local board has voted to vacate part of an alley needed to expand the Jay County Jail, but not before hearing concerns from a property owner.
A public hearing on the petition to vacate part of the east-west alley was held Monday night. Frederick M. Bailey, who owns buildings on West Main Street, near where the alley would be vacated, spoke during the hearing at the Portland City Council meeting and said he was concerned that a semi truck could no longer be driven on the alley to reach his three properties along West Main Street.
The alley will be vacated just north of the existing jail. The expansion will be built on that portion of the alley and continue north to West Main Street.
Bailey said after the meeting that he recently sold two of his properties and the new owners would need to be able to get a semi truck on the east-west alley and turn north. If semis are unable to go down the alley because of the petition to vacate a portion of that alley, "I would consider suing for depreciation of my buildings," Bailey said to the council.
Council members did not comment on Bailey's statements and proceeded to vote to vacate the alley.
Also Monday, council members:
•Voted to add a $200 fee for appeals to the Portland Board of Zoning Appeals.
Jay County Commissioners also voted Monday afternoon to add the fee.
•Learned that work on the Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project resumed Monday morning. Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said city residents should frequently check the city's web site for updates on street closures for the project. The web site is www.thecityofportland.net.
•Heard Hosier report that the River Road trail project is expected to begin sometime in the next two weeks.
The trail will begin at Meridian Street, near Freedom Park, then go southeast along the Salamonie River. It will then cross Wayne Street and go to and over the iron bridge and into Hudson Family Park. It will end at the trailhead in the park. The trailhead and restroom facility will be built as part of the trail project.
The project is largely being funded through an Indiana Department of Transportation Transportation Enhancement Grant.
•Were invited to attend the North Central Mayors Roundtable on April 16.
The city will be hosting mayors from other cities. Hosier said he does not yet have the time or location of the event.[[In-content Ad]]A woman who has previously announced plans to open a restaurant and banquet facility in the former Portland Fire Station is buying the building.
The station, located on North Commerce Street across from the Jay County Courthouse, is being purchased by Glori James-Suarez. James-Suarez leased the facility from 2007 until February of this year on a lease-purchase agreement.
As part of the agreement, she had the option to purchase the building at a cost of $98,750, which is the average of two appraisals. The lease payments will be applied toward the purchase price.
"We are looking forward to completing the sale of that old structure," Hosier said Monday.
A public hearing on the petition to vacate part of the east-west alley was held Monday night. Frederick M. Bailey, who owns buildings on West Main Street, near where the alley would be vacated, spoke during the hearing at the Portland City Council meeting and said he was concerned that a semi truck could no longer be driven on the alley to reach his three properties along West Main Street.
The alley will be vacated just north of the existing jail. The expansion will be built on that portion of the alley and continue north to West Main Street.
Bailey said after the meeting that he recently sold two of his properties and the new owners would need to be able to get a semi truck on the east-west alley and turn north. If semis are unable to go down the alley because of the petition to vacate a portion of that alley, "I would consider suing for depreciation of my buildings," Bailey said to the council.
Council members did not comment on Bailey's statements and proceeded to vote to vacate the alley.
Also Monday, council members:
•Voted to add a $200 fee for appeals to the Portland Board of Zoning Appeals.
Jay County Commissioners also voted Monday afternoon to add the fee.
•Learned that work on the Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project resumed Monday morning. Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said city residents should frequently check the city's web site for updates on street closures for the project. The web site is www.thecityofportland.net.
•Heard Hosier report that the River Road trail project is expected to begin sometime in the next two weeks.
The trail will begin at Meridian Street, near Freedom Park, then go southeast along the Salamonie River. It will then cross Wayne Street and go to and over the iron bridge and into Hudson Family Park. It will end at the trailhead in the park. The trailhead and restroom facility will be built as part of the trail project.
The project is largely being funded through an Indiana Department of Transportation Transportation Enhancement Grant.
•Were invited to attend the North Central Mayors Roundtable on April 16.
The city will be hosting mayors from other cities. Hosier said he does not yet have the time or location of the event.[[In-content Ad]]A woman who has previously announced plans to open a restaurant and banquet facility in the former Portland Fire Station is buying the building.
The station, located on North Commerce Street across from the Jay County Courthouse, is being purchased by Glori James-Suarez. James-Suarez leased the facility from 2007 until February of this year on a lease-purchase agreement.
As part of the agreement, she had the option to purchase the building at a cost of $98,750, which is the average of two appraisals. The lease payments will be applied toward the purchase price.
"We are looking forward to completing the sale of that old structure," Hosier said Monday.
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