July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Pleasant parking probed (2/3/04)
Council discusses parking on major north-south street
Parking on Pleasant Street topped conversation at Monday’s Portland City Council meeting.
Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier said that he had recently received several calls from residents concerned with parking on Pleasant Street. Hosier added Monday that he welcomed input from the public and council members on the situation.
Currently, parking is permitted on the west side of Pleasant Street between Water and Votaw streets.
Portland Fire Chief Mike Thomas told council members that the fire department faces two problems when driving fire trucks on Pleasant Street.
“We’ve slapped mirrors with oncoming traffic, and turning onto (Pleasant) street from Votaw (Street) is kind of a blind turn,” Thomas said about the narrowness of the street.
Portland street and parks department superintendent Jeff Harker told the council his employees experience similar problems. He added that the intersection of Votaw and Pleasant streets is a difficult location to clear snow from and spread salt.
“If there is something we can do to make it easier and safer for us, I am for it,” Harker added.
Jim Wehrly, 404 W. High St.,
who lives at the northwest corner of High and Pleasant streets, told council members he would not like to see parking changes on his block.
“I’d like to see no parking between North and Votaw streets,” said Wehrly, who is also a Portland firefighter.
Councilman Bill Gibson asked if residents living on the west side of Pleasant Street between North and Votaw streets have off-street parking available. Hosier said that he thought those residents have off-street parking, but that he would check.
Todd Wickey, 416 N. Pleasant St., asked the council not to change parking on the 400 block of Pleasant Street.
Councilwoman Linda Kennedy suggested possibly making all of Pleasant Street a one-way street.
Hosier ended discussion by tabling the issue until the council’s next meeting, which has not been scheduled.
In other business, Hosier updated the council on action taken at the Jan. 29 Portland Board of Works meeting.
Board members opened six bids received for the drainage improvement project in the Steen Addition on the city’s southeast side. This project is in conjunction with the planned Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project.
A low bid of $93,093.10 was submitted by Jutte Excavating of Fort Recovery. Additional bids included: Hoosier Excavating, Portland, $147,529.90; Limestone Products Inc., Portland, $118,613.20; Keith Sullivan Excavating, Marion, $120,192.98; Culy Construction and Excavating, Winchester, $116,875; and Fleming Excavating of Decatur, $148,713.02.
Board members Hosier and Kennedy voted to have Mark Jesse of Bonar Group of Fort Wayne review the bids to ensure that they meet the project specifications. Board member Bob McCreery was absent.
The board also approved John Hankins, Stuart Green and Dustin Mock as Portland reserve police officers.
Hosier also said Monday that the board approved the purchase of a $8,437 road salt spreader from Deeds Equipment Company, Lawrence.
The city currently owns one spreader used to spread salt on city intersections. The spreader will be mounted on a city-owned 1987 Chevrolet truck, he said.
The board also approved $5,564.42 in repairs for the city street department’s lift truck. Lewis Utility Truck Sales, Ridgeville, will replace outdated cables and cylinders on the truck.
Hosier also told council members that the board accepted a $5,000 quote from R. Davis & Sons Construction-Excavating, Portland, for clean-up of a house destroyed by a fire in 2003. The house is located at 522 E. Main St.
Conseco Finance Servicing Corporation, Tempe, Ariz., owners of the home, have not responded to letters from the city requesting that debris be removed from the site, Hosier said.
He added Monday that the city will initially pay for the debris clean-up, but it will seek reimbursement from the company.
Also Monday, council members:
•Voted to allow American Legal Publishing Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio to add all city ordinances passed in 2003 to the city’s code of ordinances at a cost of approximately $1,500.
This price also includes printed copies of the new code for council members, the clerk-treasurer’s office and the mayor.
•Received a copy of the city’s new employee performance evaluation form.
“I think this will serve us well for documentation and credibility purposes,” Hosier said, adding that he plans to meet with city department heads this week to review the two-page form.
The form includes evaluations on job commitment and accountability, quality of work, interpersonal skills, job knowledge and skill development, attendance, initiative, problem solving, verbal and written communications, acceptance of supervision, leadership and dress appearance.c[[In-content Ad]]
Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier said that he had recently received several calls from residents concerned with parking on Pleasant Street. Hosier added Monday that he welcomed input from the public and council members on the situation.
Currently, parking is permitted on the west side of Pleasant Street between Water and Votaw streets.
Portland Fire Chief Mike Thomas told council members that the fire department faces two problems when driving fire trucks on Pleasant Street.
“We’ve slapped mirrors with oncoming traffic, and turning onto (Pleasant) street from Votaw (Street) is kind of a blind turn,” Thomas said about the narrowness of the street.
Portland street and parks department superintendent Jeff Harker told the council his employees experience similar problems. He added that the intersection of Votaw and Pleasant streets is a difficult location to clear snow from and spread salt.
“If there is something we can do to make it easier and safer for us, I am for it,” Harker added.
Jim Wehrly, 404 W. High St.,
who lives at the northwest corner of High and Pleasant streets, told council members he would not like to see parking changes on his block.
“I’d like to see no parking between North and Votaw streets,” said Wehrly, who is also a Portland firefighter.
Councilman Bill Gibson asked if residents living on the west side of Pleasant Street between North and Votaw streets have off-street parking available. Hosier said that he thought those residents have off-street parking, but that he would check.
Todd Wickey, 416 N. Pleasant St., asked the council not to change parking on the 400 block of Pleasant Street.
Councilwoman Linda Kennedy suggested possibly making all of Pleasant Street a one-way street.
Hosier ended discussion by tabling the issue until the council’s next meeting, which has not been scheduled.
In other business, Hosier updated the council on action taken at the Jan. 29 Portland Board of Works meeting.
Board members opened six bids received for the drainage improvement project in the Steen Addition on the city’s southeast side. This project is in conjunction with the planned Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project.
A low bid of $93,093.10 was submitted by Jutte Excavating of Fort Recovery. Additional bids included: Hoosier Excavating, Portland, $147,529.90; Limestone Products Inc., Portland, $118,613.20; Keith Sullivan Excavating, Marion, $120,192.98; Culy Construction and Excavating, Winchester, $116,875; and Fleming Excavating of Decatur, $148,713.02.
Board members Hosier and Kennedy voted to have Mark Jesse of Bonar Group of Fort Wayne review the bids to ensure that they meet the project specifications. Board member Bob McCreery was absent.
The board also approved John Hankins, Stuart Green and Dustin Mock as Portland reserve police officers.
Hosier also said Monday that the board approved the purchase of a $8,437 road salt spreader from Deeds Equipment Company, Lawrence.
The city currently owns one spreader used to spread salt on city intersections. The spreader will be mounted on a city-owned 1987 Chevrolet truck, he said.
The board also approved $5,564.42 in repairs for the city street department’s lift truck. Lewis Utility Truck Sales, Ridgeville, will replace outdated cables and cylinders on the truck.
Hosier also told council members that the board accepted a $5,000 quote from R. Davis & Sons Construction-Excavating, Portland, for clean-up of a house destroyed by a fire in 2003. The house is located at 522 E. Main St.
Conseco Finance Servicing Corporation, Tempe, Ariz., owners of the home, have not responded to letters from the city requesting that debris be removed from the site, Hosier said.
He added Monday that the city will initially pay for the debris clean-up, but it will seek reimbursement from the company.
Also Monday, council members:
•Voted to allow American Legal Publishing Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio to add all city ordinances passed in 2003 to the city’s code of ordinances at a cost of approximately $1,500.
This price also includes printed copies of the new code for council members, the clerk-treasurer’s office and the mayor.
•Received a copy of the city’s new employee performance evaluation form.
“I think this will serve us well for documentation and credibility purposes,” Hosier said, adding that he plans to meet with city department heads this week to review the two-page form.
The form includes evaluations on job commitment and accountability, quality of work, interpersonal skills, job knowledge and skill development, attendance, initiative, problem solving, verbal and written communications, acceptance of supervision, leadership and dress appearance.c[[In-content Ad]]
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