July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
OK for parking given (10/13/06)
Portland Board of Works
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
A local business owner's idea to make repairs more convenient for his customers shifted into gear Thursday.
Keith Osterholt, the owner of R&R RV Repair, 103 W. Lincoln St., Portland, asked members of a local board for permission to allow his customers to live in their recreational vehicles on his lot while their vehicles are being repaired.
The Portland Board of Works granted Osterholt's request with a handful of stipulations.
Board members will allow the customers to stay in their vehicles on the lot as long as the customers only stay long enough for repairs to be completed; the city's zoning ordinance is not violated; whenever a customer releases waste from a vehicle that customer also takes in water; and approval is nontransferable to future owners.
Osterholt wants his customers to have access to electricity, water and the city's sewer system.
He told the board he plans to pay the utility bills and not pass any of the cost on to the customers.
Bob Brelsford, superintendent of the wastewater treatment plant, suggested each water hook-up be attached to an individual meter. Osterholt said he planned to just use one meter.
Board members voted to require customers to take in water so they wouldn't be using the sewer system for free. The sewer and water fees are blended into one bill.
Before voting, Dolphus Stephens and Bob McCreery expressed concern that customers would stay at the business longer than necessary.
"Any approval needs a clause for how long (customers) can stay," McCreery said.
Stephens asked Osterholt how long repairs would take. Osterholt said it would depend on the problem.
Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said he had already discussed Osterholt's request with city attorney Bill Hinkle, and Bill Milligan, Jay/Portland Building and Planning administrator.
Neither found any problems with the idea, he said.
Milligan said this morning that allowing customers to stay in their vehicles while they are being repaired would not violate the city's zoning ordinance because this would be part of the operations of the business. However, residents staying in recreational vehicles in the city limits for any other purposes - besides special events - would violate the zoning ordinance.
Osterholt's request had to go before the board of works because he was requesting water and sewer hookups, Milligan said.
Also Thursday, board members:
•Agreed to pay Bonar Group, a Fort Wayne engineering firm, an additional $3,070 for a feasibility study the company conducted.
The board made this decision after reviewing a letter sent by Bonar explaining why the cost of the study had increased.
The purpose of the study was to determine whether the city could almost double its daily water supply to accommodate a Premier Ethanol LLC plant southwest of Portland.
The letter states additional work was the reason for the cost increase. The extra work included more water monitoring than expected, and the evaluation of water production data and usage.
"I don't think the letter explains much to us," Stephens said after voting. McCreery agreed.
Board members decided at the Oct. 5 board of works meeting to delay payment until Bonar officials could explain the cost increase. Broin has agreed to pay the remaining balance of $6,000 for the study.
•Agreed to table a proposed $10,000 cost increase for a long-delayed project on the city's north side until an official with the firm doing the engineering work for the project can explain the hike to the board.
Hosier told board members that Indianapolis firm Hannum, Wagle and Cline wants to change its contract to include water and sanitary sewer relocation design plans. The firm is doing the engineering work on the Lincoln Street project, which is expected to include the resurfacing of the street, the repairing of curbs and sewer and water line work.
The project, which has yet to begin, has been estimated to cost about $900,000. Hosier said the city received a $750,000 grant to help pay for the project. The project has not been mentioned at city meetings for several months.
Plans for the project were set in motion while Jim Hedges was mayor of Portland. Hosier said it is not unusual for a project such as this to take so long for construction to start.
•Voted to merge two Verizon Wireless cellular phone plans into one. The two phones are used by wastewater treatment plant employees.
Brelsford told the board that merging the two plans would lower the monthly payment. The phones are connected to computers at the plant. When there is a problem at the wastewater plant, employees are notified through the phones.
Brelsford also asked for the bills to be sent to the city's clerk-treasurer. Former mayor Maxine Lewis currently is listed as the contact person on the bills. Board members agreed that it would be best to have the bills sent to the city's clerk.[[In-content Ad]]
Keith Osterholt, the owner of R&R RV Repair, 103 W. Lincoln St., Portland, asked members of a local board for permission to allow his customers to live in their recreational vehicles on his lot while their vehicles are being repaired.
The Portland Board of Works granted Osterholt's request with a handful of stipulations.
Board members will allow the customers to stay in their vehicles on the lot as long as the customers only stay long enough for repairs to be completed; the city's zoning ordinance is not violated; whenever a customer releases waste from a vehicle that customer also takes in water; and approval is nontransferable to future owners.
Osterholt wants his customers to have access to electricity, water and the city's sewer system.
He told the board he plans to pay the utility bills and not pass any of the cost on to the customers.
Bob Brelsford, superintendent of the wastewater treatment plant, suggested each water hook-up be attached to an individual meter. Osterholt said he planned to just use one meter.
Board members voted to require customers to take in water so they wouldn't be using the sewer system for free. The sewer and water fees are blended into one bill.
Before voting, Dolphus Stephens and Bob McCreery expressed concern that customers would stay at the business longer than necessary.
"Any approval needs a clause for how long (customers) can stay," McCreery said.
Stephens asked Osterholt how long repairs would take. Osterholt said it would depend on the problem.
Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said he had already discussed Osterholt's request with city attorney Bill Hinkle, and Bill Milligan, Jay/Portland Building and Planning administrator.
Neither found any problems with the idea, he said.
Milligan said this morning that allowing customers to stay in their vehicles while they are being repaired would not violate the city's zoning ordinance because this would be part of the operations of the business. However, residents staying in recreational vehicles in the city limits for any other purposes - besides special events - would violate the zoning ordinance.
Osterholt's request had to go before the board of works because he was requesting water and sewer hookups, Milligan said.
Also Thursday, board members:
•Agreed to pay Bonar Group, a Fort Wayne engineering firm, an additional $3,070 for a feasibility study the company conducted.
The board made this decision after reviewing a letter sent by Bonar explaining why the cost of the study had increased.
The purpose of the study was to determine whether the city could almost double its daily water supply to accommodate a Premier Ethanol LLC plant southwest of Portland.
The letter states additional work was the reason for the cost increase. The extra work included more water monitoring than expected, and the evaluation of water production data and usage.
"I don't think the letter explains much to us," Stephens said after voting. McCreery agreed.
Board members decided at the Oct. 5 board of works meeting to delay payment until Bonar officials could explain the cost increase. Broin has agreed to pay the remaining balance of $6,000 for the study.
•Agreed to table a proposed $10,000 cost increase for a long-delayed project on the city's north side until an official with the firm doing the engineering work for the project can explain the hike to the board.
Hosier told board members that Indianapolis firm Hannum, Wagle and Cline wants to change its contract to include water and sanitary sewer relocation design plans. The firm is doing the engineering work on the Lincoln Street project, which is expected to include the resurfacing of the street, the repairing of curbs and sewer and water line work.
The project, which has yet to begin, has been estimated to cost about $900,000. Hosier said the city received a $750,000 grant to help pay for the project. The project has not been mentioned at city meetings for several months.
Plans for the project were set in motion while Jim Hedges was mayor of Portland. Hosier said it is not unusual for a project such as this to take so long for construction to start.
•Voted to merge two Verizon Wireless cellular phone plans into one. The two phones are used by wastewater treatment plant employees.
Brelsford told the board that merging the two plans would lower the monthly payment. The phones are connected to computers at the plant. When there is a problem at the wastewater plant, employees are notified through the phones.
Brelsford also asked for the bills to be sent to the city's clerk-treasurer. Former mayor Maxine Lewis currently is listed as the contact person on the bills. Board members agreed that it would be best to have the bills sent to the city's clerk.[[In-content Ad]]
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