City votes to close street

A portion of a Portland street has been closed to protect the safety of those working on the expansion of the Jay County Jail.

Members of the Portland City Council voted Monday night to close Ship Street, between Main and Water streets. The street will reopen once the work on the exterior of the jail expansion is complete. Signs stating that the street is closed were posted this morning.

Jay County Commissioners' president Milo Miller Jr. attended Monday night's meeting and made the request. He said traffic has been heavy on Ship Street because of construction vehicles and those interested in the progress of the jail. He said the increased traffic has made the area unsafe for the construction workers. Miller said he did not know when the work on the outside of the expansion will be complete.

In other business Monday, council members met the city's new wastewater treatment plant superintendent, Ron Krieg.

Krieg, who was appointed by Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier, is replacing longtime superintendent Bob Brelsford, who was demoted. Since that time, Dave McGraw has served as interim superintendent. Monday was Krieg's first day on the job.

Kreig, an Anderson native, has lived in Jay County since 1956. He most recently worked for the Jay School Corporation, and left that position in 2009.

"I welcome the challenge," of being superintendent, he said. "I've seen a lot of good things out there."

Also Monday, council members voted to reappoint Bill Gibson as council president for 2010. This will be his third year as council president.[[In-content Ad]]