Deal is in doubt

Geesaman Industries may not be moving to Portland, after all.

A county economic development official said this morning he has talked with the company's owner and that it looks unlikely the project will happen.

That assessement from Bill Bradley, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, comes one day after a member of the Portland City Council asked for an update and the city's mayor described the project as in limbo.

Bradley said today he has talked with company owner Steve Geesaman, and it looks like the business will not be coming to Portland.

"I think they're done with the project period, anywhere," he said.

Geesaman announced plans in September to move its Wisconsin-based metal polishing company into a vacant factory building on South Bridge Street that was formerly home to Sheller-Globe. The new business was expected to create 50 to 100 new jobs.

Portland was awarded a $900,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs for the project. Bradley said Geesaman has spent about $170,000, and will have to repay the city if he doesn't move his business to Portland. The city will then pay back the grant to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

The grant specified that the funds be used for equipment purchase, freight, shipping, etc. It also stipulated that Geesaman must employ at least 50 within 18 months of receiving the grant funds.

Mayor Bruce Hosier said after Tuesday's council meeting that he doesn't believe Geesaman had purchased the property, which last week was overgrown with grass and weeds. The mayor said he expects to make an announcement about the status of the project by the end of next week.

"There's been a few challenges with the economy and the property both," he said. Hosier said he, Bradley and a consultant have been working with Geesaman "to determine the final outcome of this project.

"I'm always the ultimate optimist, but we're just waiting to talk with (Geesaman) again and make a final determination" of the outcome of the project, the mayor said this morning.

Geesaman has received both city and state financial assistance for his project.

Also, the council voted to loan Geesaman $150,000 in Portland Economic Development Income Tax funds to purchase new equipment. The EDIT funds have been repaid to the city, Bradley said.

In other business Tuesday, council members learned that Portland Street and Park Department Superintendent Jeff Harker and council president Bill Gibson recently met with officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation about the stop light at Votaw and Meridian streets.

Harker said that the light isn't green long enough for those going east on Votaw Street and turning north onto Meridian Street.

He said INDOT officials suggested that left turn arrows be added to the light for traffic on Votaw Street. The turn arrow for westbound traffic would be 10 seconds, and the arrow for eastbound traffic would be 20 seconds. However, this would make each stoplight on Meridian Street be 30 seconds longer for a total of a 90-second wait at each light.

Harker said another way to make traffic flow smoother at the intersection could be to make Industrial Park Drive a truck route. However, large trucks aren't causing traffic to back up at Votaw and Meridian streets, he said.

INDOT officials told Harker that public input is needed on the proposal and a letter of support must be submitted by the city.

Also Tuesday, Gibson reminded council members that the Vintage Motorbike Show begins Monday at the Jay County Fairgrounds, and that permits are not needed for rummage sales in the city next week.[[In-content Ad]]