July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Portland cracks down on junk cars (8/23/05)
Owners of towed vehicles would be cited to city court
By By Rachelle Haughn-
The Portland City Council voted Monday to crack down on junk vehicles in the city by passing a more strict ordinance.
The five council members who attended the meeting passed the junk vehicle ordinance on first and second readings.
Council member Kip Robinette did not attend the meeting. One council seat is currently vacant due to former member Linda Kennedy being named city clerk-treasurer. The Jay County Democratic Party will name a new city council member tonight at 7 p.m. at party headquarters.
When police find a junk vehicle parked on a property or a city street, it is tagged for removal. A junk vehicle is classified as any vehicle that cannot be legally driven.
Portland Police Chief Bob Sours said after a vehicle is tagged, the owner has 72 hours to remove the auto. If the vehicle is not moved within that time, it is towed at the owner’s expense.
With the city’s current ordinance, the person just has to pay a $25 fine and the towing fee. Anyone who violates the new ordinance, however, will be cited and will have to appear in city court. This will lead to more fines, Sours said. Towing fees will also be charged.
“This (new) ordinance puts a little more bite in the junk vehicles ordinance,” Sours said.
Before the council voted on the new ordinance, Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier said, “It’s a step in the right direction” toward the council’s attempt to tighten property ordinances.
In other business, the council members voted to purchase the Community Resource Center, 118 S. Meridian St., Portland, at a cost of $326,729.
The city will purchase the building with its Economic Development Income Tax funds.
The Jay County Commissioners, who have oversight over all EDIT funds generated in the county, voted at their Aug. 8 meeting to approve the modification of the city’s EDIT plan, allowing the funds to be used to purchase the office building.
Jay County Development Corporation executive director Robert Quadrozzi said about $2,000 in rent currently is collected each month from the building’s tenants.
The resource center houses the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce, Jay County Visitor and Tourism Bureau, Jay/Portland Building and Planning, Jay County Development Corporation and Jay County Community Development. It currently is owned by Jay Pride LLC.
Quadrozzi said the rent paid would be used to replace the city’s EDIT funds. The money should be recouped over a period of about 15 years.
Also Monday council members:
•Approved Portland’s 2006 budget on second and final reading.
The proposed budget will increase by $213,880 to $3,536,518 from this year’s total council approved funds of $3,322,638. After cuts by the Indiana Department of Local Finance, the actual funds for 2005 were reduced to $2,356,007.
The budget includes appropriations for city departments, city officials, city court, pension funds, the Portland Planning Commission and Portland Municipal Airport.
•Voted to give Kennedy authorization to make withdrawals and deposits in the city’s bank account at First National Bank. Kennedy said this morning, bank officials wanted her to get the council’s permission to access the account.
•Heard Hosier announce the former hatchery building, located at 509 S. Wayne St., Portland, will be demolished this week to make way for the planned Hudson Family Park.
The Portland Board of Works accepted a $67,250 bid from SBI, Shroyer Brothers Inc. of Muncie at the board’s Aug. 10 meeting to tear down the building. The razing should take 15 to 20 days to complete.[[In-content Ad]]
The five council members who attended the meeting passed the junk vehicle ordinance on first and second readings.
Council member Kip Robinette did not attend the meeting. One council seat is currently vacant due to former member Linda Kennedy being named city clerk-treasurer. The Jay County Democratic Party will name a new city council member tonight at 7 p.m. at party headquarters.
When police find a junk vehicle parked on a property or a city street, it is tagged for removal. A junk vehicle is classified as any vehicle that cannot be legally driven.
Portland Police Chief Bob Sours said after a vehicle is tagged, the owner has 72 hours to remove the auto. If the vehicle is not moved within that time, it is towed at the owner’s expense.
With the city’s current ordinance, the person just has to pay a $25 fine and the towing fee. Anyone who violates the new ordinance, however, will be cited and will have to appear in city court. This will lead to more fines, Sours said. Towing fees will also be charged.
“This (new) ordinance puts a little more bite in the junk vehicles ordinance,” Sours said.
Before the council voted on the new ordinance, Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier said, “It’s a step in the right direction” toward the council’s attempt to tighten property ordinances.
In other business, the council members voted to purchase the Community Resource Center, 118 S. Meridian St., Portland, at a cost of $326,729.
The city will purchase the building with its Economic Development Income Tax funds.
The Jay County Commissioners, who have oversight over all EDIT funds generated in the county, voted at their Aug. 8 meeting to approve the modification of the city’s EDIT plan, allowing the funds to be used to purchase the office building.
Jay County Development Corporation executive director Robert Quadrozzi said about $2,000 in rent currently is collected each month from the building’s tenants.
The resource center houses the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce, Jay County Visitor and Tourism Bureau, Jay/Portland Building and Planning, Jay County Development Corporation and Jay County Community Development. It currently is owned by Jay Pride LLC.
Quadrozzi said the rent paid would be used to replace the city’s EDIT funds. The money should be recouped over a period of about 15 years.
Also Monday council members:
•Approved Portland’s 2006 budget on second and final reading.
The proposed budget will increase by $213,880 to $3,536,518 from this year’s total council approved funds of $3,322,638. After cuts by the Indiana Department of Local Finance, the actual funds for 2005 were reduced to $2,356,007.
The budget includes appropriations for city departments, city officials, city court, pension funds, the Portland Planning Commission and Portland Municipal Airport.
•Voted to give Kennedy authorization to make withdrawals and deposits in the city’s bank account at First National Bank. Kennedy said this morning, bank officials wanted her to get the council’s permission to access the account.
•Heard Hosier announce the former hatchery building, located at 509 S. Wayne St., Portland, will be demolished this week to make way for the planned Hudson Family Park.
The Portland Board of Works accepted a $67,250 bid from SBI, Shroyer Brothers Inc. of Muncie at the board’s Aug. 10 meeting to tear down the building. The razing should take 15 to 20 days to complete.[[In-content Ad]]
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