City to provide water, sewer lines (5/6/05)

The Portland Board of Works heard two ideas Thursday morning for ways to encourage new housing to be built in the city, and came up with a possible solution.

City officials discussed two plans — one could benefit housing developers and the other would be beneficial to families building single-family dwellings.

In one proposal, the wastewater department and the water department would pay for materials and do the work to run up to 2,000 feet of sewer and water lines into a subdivision. The second proposal would give families building single-family dwellings a three-year tax abatement.

The board voted to move forward with an idea which came from wastewater treatment plant superintendent Bob Brelsford and water department superintendent Doug Jackson. The pair came up with a plan to entice developers to build subdivisions in the city.

Brelsford and Jackson suggested the wastewater plant and water department pay for the materials and do the labor to run water and sewer lines into the developments, from the city’s main lines. Up to 2,000 feet of water line and 2,000 feet of sewer line per subdivision would be paid for. If the city employees are unable to install the sewer or water lines, the wastewater treatment plant and water department would only pay for the materials.

City clerk-treasurer Barbara Blackford said this morning the city’s sewer and water lines currently run along streets and property lines. When subdivisions are built, the developers are financially responsible for installing water and sewer lines from the city’s lines into the developments. Smaller lines are then run from these lines to the houses.

The developer would have to pay the $1,000 tap-in fee, Blackford said. Any developer who would like to take advantage of the offer would first have to get permission from the board of works, she said. The city would only pay for lines to be run to developments within the city limits. It wouldn’t matter where the developments are in town, she said, as long as they are in the city limits.

The materials to build a 1,700-foot water line to a subdivision would cost about $23,000, Jackson said Thursday afternoon. He didn’t have an estimate for labor. Brelsford said the sewer line also would cost about $23,000, Blackford said. The cost of extending both the water and sewer lines would be paid by sewage and water department funds.

Blackford said most empty lots large enough for subdivisions currently do not have water or sewer lines running thorough them.

She said the fact that several houses in Portland are for sale right now was discussed by the board. Board members came to the conclusion that many people prefer to buy a new house rather than fix up an old one. Blackford said the board members realized there are currently several homes for sale in Portland, but they are not worried that the houses would not sell if more subdivisions are built. There are always new people moving to Portland, she said.

The board voted to have city attorney Bill Hinkle begin paperwork to set up the program and present it to the board at a future meeting.

Another idea presented to the board came from Jay County Development Corporation executive director Robert Quadrozzi. He suggested the city consider offering tax abatements to those who would like to build single-family dwellings within the city limits. The abatements would allow the homeowners to pay property taxes in increasing increments over three years, instead of paying the full amount each year.

No action was taken on Quadrozzi’s recommendation.

In other business, the board hired a new Portland Street Department employee.

Dennis M. Mason Jr., Portland, was selected to fill the position left vacant when Jim Stipp retired on April 18. Blackford said Stipp had worked for the street department since 1990.

Mason is a graduate of Wapahani High School and has a CDL license needed to drive vehicles used by the department, street and park department superintendent Jeff Harker said Thursday afternoon.

Also Thursday, the board:

•Accepted a $14,498 bid by Moser Motor Sales Inc. of Berne for a 2005 Ford F-150. Ken Kunkle Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Cadillac of Portland submitted a bid of $15,613 for a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The board agreed to purchase the truck from Moser because it was the lowest of the two bids, Blackford said.

The wastewater treatment department needed a new truck because the old one is in bad shape and has high mileage, she said. The truck is driven to the lift stations each morning to make sure they are functioning properly, she said.

The old truck will be sold at the city auction, which will be held Saturday, May 14, at 9:30 a.m. at the old fire station on Commerce Street, Blackford said.

•Accepted a $14,300 bid for a 2002 Ford Explorer XLS for the Portland Fire Department.

The bid was made by Moser Motors of Portland. The bid includes a $1,200 deduction for the trade-in of the fire department’s 1997 Ford Crown Victoria. The board agreed to purchase the vehicle because it was the lowest bid, and the vehicle had the lowest mileage.

Ken Kunkle bid $14,600 for a 2003 Chevrolet Blazer, Fincannon Ford-Mercury, Inc. of Hartford City bid $15,530 for a 2002 Ford Explorer, and Les Wenning Ford of Fort Recovery bid $15,560 for a 2002 Ford Explorer and $19,550 for a 2002 Ford Expedition.

City officials decided repairs to the car — an old police vehicle — would cost so much it wasn’t worth fixing, Blackford said. The fire department asked for a sport utility vehicle so there would be more room to carry equipment when the vehicle is driven to training sessions, she said.[[In-content Ad]]