Portland falls short in grant bid

Almost.
While the city of Portland learned Monday it was among the top five finishers in the competition for a multi-million dollar Stellar Communities grant, Greencastle and North Vernon came out on top.
“While we are disappointed at the news, we are not discouraged,” Mayor Bruce Hosier told the Portland City Council Monday night. “We will get back up off the canvas, and it’s round two. I don’t care what anybody says, we’re a stellar community.”
Hosier said he had received positive feedback on Portland’s presentation to officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation, the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Agency, and the State Revolving Fund.
Those agencies will invest an estimated $31 million in Greencastle and North Vernon over the next three years. The two communities will match that with an additional $9 million in local and private funds. For more details on those projects, see page 5.
Forty-two communities submitted proposals for the Stellar Communities pilot program. Twelve finalists — including Portland — were then selected.
Portland’s project would have leveraged the investment in new sewers in the northwest section of the city and would have provided sidewalks, walking trails, housing rehabilitation, and urban renewal funds.
Greencastle’s project focuses on the courthouse square and central business district and includes creation of a wireless internet “bubble” in the commercial district. The North Vernon project builds on efforts to create an economic hub for the defense sector in that part of Indiana.
Hosier noted that a public hearing is set for Monday, March 21, on a 30 percent sewer rate increase to fund the work in the northwest part of the city.
“This is not an arbitrary approach to raise rates,” he stressed. “We’re required under the agreed order (with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management) to move forward with the project.”
Councilman Bill Gibson joined the mayor in praising the efforts by city employees in the wake of last week’s flood. “I think city workers did a magnificent job,” he said.
Hosier added, “I want to also thank the community for your patience and understanding. It may have damaged our buildings but not our human spirit.”
The council was unanimous in forwarding a personal property tax abatement request from Joyce/Dayton to the city’s tax abatement committee for review.
The company is planning to purchase two new pieces of equipment at a cost of $699,400 which would help retain 71 jobs and add two more, Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley said.
In other business, the council:
•Heard an update on the Steen Addition sanitary sewer improvement project from R.W. Armstrong, the Indianapolis engineering firm in charge. Despite weather delays, the project is on track. All sewer lines should be in place by the end of April, with lateral lines and paving completed this summer.
“I’m right in the middle of that area,” said council member Judy Aker. “You guys have been courteous. It’s really been nice.”
•Approved a request by Pastor Steve Arnold of Evangelical Methodist Church to close off a section of Alexander Street between West Main Street and an alley for two church events. A regional youth rally is set from 6 p.m. on Friday, April 15, through 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 16. A Bible Adventure Week is set for June 21 through June 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. each day. The section of Alexander Street runs between the church and its parsonage.[[In-content Ad]]