Sewer talk cut short by Hosier

Discussion about a sewage treatment contract between the city of Portland and the Jay County Regional Sewer District was shut down before it could get started at a meeting of the Portland Board of Works this morning.
Sewer district president Gerald Kirby attended the meeting with the intention to discuss a few issues holding up negotiations on a sewage treatment contract between the district and the city. The two groups are trying to form a contract for the city to accept sewage from a soon-to-be constructed district sewer line serving the Foxfire Addition and Ind. 67 area southwest of Portland.
The discussion on the topic this morning, however, lasted less than five minutes and brought little resolution.
“I’m here trying to get this thing finished up,” Kirby said, hoping that he could leave today’s meeting with an “agreement in principle.”
Contention on the contract has revolved around connection fees. Although Kirby and the district board has argued that since the district line will physically tap into the city’s system at one point, it should pay only one $500 connection fee and $25 application fee. The district is installing the taps as well as constructing and maintaining the sewer line.
The city, however, is demanding a fee from every property being connected as regulated by its sewer ordinance.
 Kirby began his presentation, addressing an issue about timeline for sewer rate increases, since the city plans to increase rates, which will mean, in turn, that the sewer district will need to perform a rate study to adjust its rates upward.
Before he was able to finish, he was cut off by the board of works chairman Mayor Bruce Hosier, who informed Kirby that any contractual issues should be forwarded to the district’s attorney Steve Murphy who can then work with the city’s attorney Jim Forcum.
“I would refer you to take your information to Mr. Murphy,” Hosier said.
Kirby said he was hoping that he could at least discuss the issues today with the board, again stating his hope to “walk out the door with an agreement in principle.”
Hosier then referenced a packet sent to Kirby and the sewer district in May 2009 that included the sewer ordinance and the necessary rules and regulations to hook up to the city’s system, stating that the district will be expected to meet those guidelines.
“The city of Portland has not deviated from that position,” Hosier said.
“You don’t want to hear my presentation at all?” Kirby responded.
Hosier again referred Kirby to forward the concerns to the district’s attorney and that any work on the contract would be handled by the attorneys.
When Hosier asked if there was anything else Kirby would like to discuss, Kirby responded by saying that he assumed anything he wanted to talk about would be interpreted as contractual discussion that would not be heard by the board.
At that point, the board moved to the next topic on its agenda and Kirby got up and left the meeting.
After the meeting, Kirby said he could not believe that conversation on the topic was quashed.
“That’s the last thing in the world I expected,” Kirby said. “I don’t know that I’ve ever been so insulted in my life.
“What’s wrong with a process that won’t allow people to sit down, look at each other in the face and discuss differing points of view?” he said.
Hosier was unavailable to return a phone call seeking comment on the meeting prior to press time.
In other business this morning, the board of works:
•Awarded contracts for gas, concrete, asphalt, materials and equipment rental.
The board approved the only bid received for gasoline from Speedway America, which quoted a rate of the pump price minus five cents. Portland clerk-treasurer Randy Geesaman said the quote was the same that the company delivered last year.
The board also approved a bid from Ernst Concrete for concrete, which came in at a lower price than a bid from Berne Ready Mix.
Also, all bids for materials and equipment rental were accepted. Bids were submitted by Meshberger Brothers, Berne Ready Mix, AgBest and A. Landon Excavating and G&G Oil.
•Awarded a contract for environmental work on the former Sheller/Globe building, 400 S. Bridge Street, to low-bidder Bruce Carter and Associates, Indianapolis.
BCA entered the lowest bid of $36,794 for the work. The work is being funded through a more than $170,000 Brownfield grant issued by the state.[[In-content Ad]]