July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Hudson Park engineering moves forward (06/27/08)
Portland Board of Works
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
Engineering work on the next phase of a park project in Portland is set to begin immediately.
Members of the Portland Board of Works have voted to pay an Indianapolis company $85,900 to do the engineering work on phase III of the Hudson Family Park project.
City clerk-treasurer Linda Kennedy said Thursday that the city has money available to cover the cost of the engineering work.
"This is a very critical time" for the project, Mayor Bruce Hosier told board members Thursday afternoon. Hosier said The Schneider Corporation will begin engineering work immediately for this phase of the project, which includes the creation of a pond, trails and drives throughout the park, parking area, drainage and the utilities. It also includes construction of a new street and park department building.
Board member Bill Gibson said if the board waits to act on this phase of the project, the engineering fees will continue to rise. Bob McCreery, another board member, also voted to hire Schneider for the job. The company has done engineering work on the previous phases of the park project.
When local developer Barry Hudson donated the land for the park to the city in 2000, he set a deadline of 10 years for the park to be developed. The park, located south of Weiler-Wilson Park, along the east side of Wayne Street, currently has a sign, a drive leading into the park and a replica of the Arch Bridge.
In other business, board members discussed the possibility of allowing city residents to vote on whether or not they would like to have recycling collection services in the city.
"How about we put this on the ballot for November?" asked McCreery.
City officials learned in April that Rumpke, which collects recycling in the city, has increased its per-household cost to $3.64 from $3.25. City residents have been paying $3 per month for this curbside collection service for several years.
At the April board of works meeting, board members discussed the possibility of charging city residents more for the collection service. Gibson said Thursday that he met with the Jay County Solid Waste District board this week and asked board members for financial assistance to prevent the city from having to increase the cost to the consumer. Waste district board members tabled city's the request.
Hosier said he was concerned about allowing city residents to vote on whether or not to continue curbside collections in the city. "It took a lot of years to build up participation," he said. "I would hate to see the possibility that we could lose the recycling program." He added that a recent survey determined that 75 percent of city residents participate in the program. If the program ends, all of the recyclables will go into the trash, which the city will have to haul to the landfill, he said.
Gibson said the solid waste district currently absorbs the costs for recycling collection in other communities in the county.
"And they're not giving us a dime, and I don't think it's fair," McCreery said.
Board members voted to table the matter until the JCSWD board makes its decision.
In other business Thursday, board members:
•Voted to seek a loan with a different financial institution for the city's new trash truck.
Kennedy told board members that because the truck wasn't ready until recently, Old National Bank decided to increase its interest rate.
City officials voted in January to take out a loan with company for the truck, which costs $180,428. The truck wasn't ready until recently, because the company which manufactures the axels for the truck was on strike, said Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent.
Old National officials told Kennedy the bank's interest rate had increased to 4.05 percent from 3.75.
The company received the following quotes: First Bank of Berne, 3.6 percent; First Source bank, 3.85; Old National, 4.05; Bank of Geneva, 4.19; Pacesetter Bank, 4.7; MainSource Bank, 4.25; and First Merchants Bank, 4.359. Board members selected the lowest bid.
•Voted to hire Limestone Products Inc. to seal a portion of Main Street and paint lines on it at a cost of $16,136.
The seal will fill cracks and should protect the street until the city has the money to pave the street. The work will be done between Harrison Street and the alley located across the street from The Commercial Review. The work will begin immediately, Harker said.
•Hired A. Landon Excavating, Portland, to add about 830 feet of sidewalks to Haynes Park.
The sidewalks will be 5 feet wide and run from each of the parking areas to the center pavilion of the park. The purpose of adding the sidewalks is to allow the handicapped to access the center pavilion, which has restrooms.
TJ's Concrete Work LLC, Portland, also submitted a quote of $15,720, and LPI submitted a price estimate of $16,200. Board members decided the work should begin July 14.[[In-content Ad]]
Members of the Portland Board of Works have voted to pay an Indianapolis company $85,900 to do the engineering work on phase III of the Hudson Family Park project.
City clerk-treasurer Linda Kennedy said Thursday that the city has money available to cover the cost of the engineering work.
"This is a very critical time" for the project, Mayor Bruce Hosier told board members Thursday afternoon. Hosier said The Schneider Corporation will begin engineering work immediately for this phase of the project, which includes the creation of a pond, trails and drives throughout the park, parking area, drainage and the utilities. It also includes construction of a new street and park department building.
Board member Bill Gibson said if the board waits to act on this phase of the project, the engineering fees will continue to rise. Bob McCreery, another board member, also voted to hire Schneider for the job. The company has done engineering work on the previous phases of the park project.
When local developer Barry Hudson donated the land for the park to the city in 2000, he set a deadline of 10 years for the park to be developed. The park, located south of Weiler-Wilson Park, along the east side of Wayne Street, currently has a sign, a drive leading into the park and a replica of the Arch Bridge.
In other business, board members discussed the possibility of allowing city residents to vote on whether or not they would like to have recycling collection services in the city.
"How about we put this on the ballot for November?" asked McCreery.
City officials learned in April that Rumpke, which collects recycling in the city, has increased its per-household cost to $3.64 from $3.25. City residents have been paying $3 per month for this curbside collection service for several years.
At the April board of works meeting, board members discussed the possibility of charging city residents more for the collection service. Gibson said Thursday that he met with the Jay County Solid Waste District board this week and asked board members for financial assistance to prevent the city from having to increase the cost to the consumer. Waste district board members tabled city's the request.
Hosier said he was concerned about allowing city residents to vote on whether or not to continue curbside collections in the city. "It took a lot of years to build up participation," he said. "I would hate to see the possibility that we could lose the recycling program." He added that a recent survey determined that 75 percent of city residents participate in the program. If the program ends, all of the recyclables will go into the trash, which the city will have to haul to the landfill, he said.
Gibson said the solid waste district currently absorbs the costs for recycling collection in other communities in the county.
"And they're not giving us a dime, and I don't think it's fair," McCreery said.
Board members voted to table the matter until the JCSWD board makes its decision.
In other business Thursday, board members:
•Voted to seek a loan with a different financial institution for the city's new trash truck.
Kennedy told board members that because the truck wasn't ready until recently, Old National Bank decided to increase its interest rate.
City officials voted in January to take out a loan with company for the truck, which costs $180,428. The truck wasn't ready until recently, because the company which manufactures the axels for the truck was on strike, said Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent.
Old National officials told Kennedy the bank's interest rate had increased to 4.05 percent from 3.75.
The company received the following quotes: First Bank of Berne, 3.6 percent; First Source bank, 3.85; Old National, 4.05; Bank of Geneva, 4.19; Pacesetter Bank, 4.7; MainSource Bank, 4.25; and First Merchants Bank, 4.359. Board members selected the lowest bid.
•Voted to hire Limestone Products Inc. to seal a portion of Main Street and paint lines on it at a cost of $16,136.
The seal will fill cracks and should protect the street until the city has the money to pave the street. The work will be done between Harrison Street and the alley located across the street from The Commercial Review. The work will begin immediately, Harker said.
•Hired A. Landon Excavating, Portland, to add about 830 feet of sidewalks to Haynes Park.
The sidewalks will be 5 feet wide and run from each of the parking areas to the center pavilion of the park. The purpose of adding the sidewalks is to allow the handicapped to access the center pavilion, which has restrooms.
TJ's Concrete Work LLC, Portland, also submitted a quote of $15,720, and LPI submitted a price estimate of $16,200. Board members decided the work should begin July 14.[[In-content Ad]]
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