Feds funding street project

The city of Portland has been awarded federal stimulus money for street improvements.

Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier announced Monday night that Portland has been awarded $69,420.02 to replace portions of North Charles and Lincoln streets.

"I thank everyone for their help" in getting the funds, Hosier said during the Portland City Council meeting. The city has paid The Schneider Corporation $35,000 to help the city apply for stimulus money to improve several city streets.

The stimulus funds awarded to the city will be used to improve Charles Street, between West Water and Votaw streets, and Lincoln Street, between North Franklin and Meridian streets.

According to a press release Hosier issued Monday, the city currently is seeking stimulus money to improve portions of three other city streets.

Also Monday, Hosier announced that Rumpke will no longer be collecting recycling in the city.

As of Nov. 16, Best-Way, Modoc, will begin collecting recycling at residences. Hosier said the two companies have an agreement for the collection services and the change will not disrupt services. Residents can use the same containers for recycling collection, he added.

After Monday's meeting, city clerk-treasurer Randy Geesaman said the change will not affect rates. He said Rumpke is headquartered in Ohio and Best-Way is in Indiana. He said the company officials decided to flip-flop routes as a cost-cutting measure.

The city had no control over the matter, Hosier said.

In other business, council members were presented an overview of plans and a timeline for the north side sewer separation project.

Paul Vincent, an engineer for The Schneider Corporation, said the project will separate storm and sanitary sewers - sending only sanitary sewer to the city's wastewater treatment plant. The storm water would be taken to ditches and eventually be absorbed into the ground or go to the Salamonie River, he said.

The project has been estimated to cost $3,712,000, and needs to be completed by the end of 2013.

The city submitted a long-term control plan to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which has the completion date as 2013. If the project is not completed by Dec. 31, 2013, the city could be fined about $5,000 per week.

The control plan also includes a wastewater treatment plant expansion, scheduled to be completed in 2017; and the separation of storm and sanitary sewers from Park Street to Western Avenue, and from Water Street to North Street, which had a deadline of 2021.

The north side sewer separation project includes areas located between Votaw and Meridian Streets and Industrial Park Drive. Vincent said most of the work will be west of Meridian Street, but there also will be some east of Meridian Street.

He said Schneider employees currently are doing survey work for the project to come up with a more accurate cost estimate. He hopes the city can apply for grants through IDEM's State Revolving Loan Fund, the United States Department of Agriculture or the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The grant applications should be submitted between January and July of 2010, he said. Plans call for construction to begin in the spring of 2011.

Also Monday, council members:

•Heard an update on the Lafayette Street extension project.

Craig Rogers of The Schneider Corporation said the street extension will be three lanes, which includes a left turn lane in the center. He said there may be a retention pond for drainage.

The construction currently is scheduled for 2013, but he, city and state officials are working to move the date up. "The Schneider Corporation is pursuing this project as if it will be ready to construct in 2011," Rogers said.

After the meeting, Nola Albrecht, architect for Schneider, said the late schedule for the street extension should not hinder work on the planned Katelynn Place apartments. She said a temporary entrance for the apartment complex will be created and can be used when tenants start moving in.

Construction on Katelynn Place is expected to be complete by the summer of 2010.

•Learned that a dedication ceremony for the River Path has been tentatively set for Nov. 20.

Albrecht said the trees and shrubs along the path have been planted and the final inspection is expected to be done in the next few weeks. The path - which was funded by a grant through the Indiana Department of Transportation - goes from the restroom facility at Hudson Family Park, across the Salamonia River, then west toward Freedom Park.

•Accepted 18 acres from the Jay School Corporation to be part of Hudson Family Park.

The land is located south of the Salamonie River and east of where the park is being developed. It is a wooded area. If the land is not used for the park project, the ownership will revert back to the school corporation, said city attorney Bill Hinkle.

•Approved an amendment to the city's code for unsafe buildings.

The amendment says that any changes in state law in regards to inspection, repair or removal of unsafe buildings will overrule the city's ordinance.

•Received a press release from street and park department superintendent Jeff Harker stating that the street department is now collecting leaves on a regular basis.

The leaves must be left at the curb, and not on streets or alleys. Limbs or brush should not be left in the piles. Collection will end Dec. 18.[[In-content Ad]]