Hosier honors Rockets (8/24/04)

Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier presented coach Randy Miller a Mayor’s Community Achievement Award for the Portland Rockets, who placed third in the American Amateur Baseball Congress regional tournament in Warren, Ohio recently.

During Monday’s city council meeting, Hosier said the team and the Miller family are great ambassadors for the city of Portland.

In response, Miller presented Hosier with a team picture.

“(Being part of the team) is a labor of love,” Miller said.

Portland was knocked out of the tournament in the finale in the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament by South Bend. The Rockets finished the 2004 season with a 34-14 record.

Also Monday, local entrepreneur Glynn Barber updated council members on plans for a proposed extreme sports park.

Barber reviewed the business plan for the park with the council, highlighting the demographic aspects of the project. He said 60 percent of the U.S. population lives within an eight-hour drive from Portland. Also, in 2003 U.S. families spent $12.1 billion in entertainment and recreation.

Barber said since the beginning he has tried to keep the community involved and up to date on all aspects of the project.

“Without the community (support), this park will not be a success,” he said.

Hosier said one way Barber has gotten the idea out to the community is through media coverage and by holding open meetings on the park.

Councilman Bill Gibson asked Barber about drainage in the retention pond, which will be located at the south end of the lot. Gibson said he was concerned the pond might overflow if there was a heavy rainfall.

“If (the retention pond) fills up, the water’s got no place to go,” said Gibson.

Barber said the water in the pond will be pumped out once a week and be used to water down the dirt tracks, so they don’t get too dry. He said the architectural and engineering firm MSKTD and Associates Inc. of Fort Wayne is working on the drainage issues.

“Drainage is a major issue here. We are making sure to cover all of the bases,” said Hosier.

The final plan for the park will be voted on by the Portland Planning Commission on Monday, Sept. 13, at 5 p.m.

In other business, the council approved on second reading the proposed 2005 city budget.

The proposed appropriations will increase $168,871 to $3,322,638 for 2005 from this year’s total council approved funds of $3,153,767.

The budget includes appropriations for city departments, city officials, city court, pension funds, the Portland Planning Commission and the Portland Municipal Airport.

After the budget was approved Hosier said, “I certainly appreciate city council’s input and critique of the budget.”

Also Monday, the council approved a five-year tax abatement request from Stoneridge Inc., upon recommendation by the Portland Tax Abatement Advisory Committee.

City clerk-treasurer Barbara Blackford said the committee met on Aug. 10 and unanimously approved the request.

Stoneridge, the parent company of Alphabet Inc.-Portland Division, plans to purchase two new pieces of equipment, which cost $77,865. The new wire-cutting equipment and wire print station would create four new jobs with a total of $100,000 in salaries.

A tax abatement allows companies to pay taxes in increased increments over several years, instead of paying the full amount each year.

Also Monday, the council heard:

•Portland Police Chief Bob Sours encourage Portland residents to be very aware while driving in the city this week because of the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show.

He said there will be many pedestrians and golf carts on the streets. Also, there will be extra police patrols in heavily trafficked areas during the show, which runs Wednesday through Sunday.

•Councilwoman Linda Kennedy say she has received several complaints of cats running loose in the city.

She said there is a city ordinance which doesn’t allow cats or other animals to be on city streets, alleys or on private property, without permission from the owner. Any animal found running loose could be picked up by local animal control officer Bill Fields, she said.[[In-content Ad]]