July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Street work ahead (02/13/2009)

Portland Board of Works

By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-

The extension of Lafayette Street in Portland has taken a step forward.

Indianapolis engineering firm The Schneider Corporation has been hired to do the engineering work on the project.

Members of the Portland Board of Works voted Thursday morning to hire the company, which has worked with the city on several projects.

Nine engineering firms submitted their qualifications for the job to the Indiana Department of Transportation. The companies were scored based on qualifications. Schneider scored the highest, city clerk-treasurer Linda Kennedy said Thursday afternoon. The project will largely be paid for through INDOT funds.

The $248,673 contract is for Schneider to design the extension of Lafayette Street 2,600 feet west from Creagor Avenue to Industrial Park Drive. One of the purposes of extending the street is to make way for new development.

To fund most of the project, INDOT officials have allowed the city to use a $740,000 FA-3 grant awarded to the city in 2003 for another project to be used. The project is expected to cost about $900,000.

The funds had originally been awarded for a Lincoln Street improvement project. The Lincoln Street project, which had been in the works for several years, included street improvements, new curbs and utility upgrades.

When Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier announced in August of 2007 that the grant funds would be used for the extension project, he said one of the reasons why the street needs to be extended is so a 56-unit apartment complex called Katelynn Place Apartments could be built just west of Portland Place Apartments, 430 W. Lafayette St. The land for this project recently was purchased.

In other business Thursday, board members approved changes to two contracts with Schneider for the Hudson Family Park project.

Both a contract approved by the board on Jan. 8, and another approved in 2005, were reduced. The contracts were amended because city and Schneider officials realized the company was being paid twice for work on the planned street and park department building, which is set to be built in the park.

The contract approved in 2005 was reduced to $75,247 from $103,512, and the one approved last month was reduced to $70,680 from $86,250.

Also Thursday, board members:

•Denied a Portland woman's request to adjust the sewage portion of her water/sewage bill because of two water leaks.

Board members voted against the request made by Sharon Wall, 122 E. Adams St., because the leaks did not follow the city's policy for adjustments. The leaks occurred under the house instead of between the house and the water meter.

•Voted to write off unpaid water bills as bad debts.

The city had total of $954.05 unpaid bills for 11 properties. Most of the residents had moved before a required 90-day waiting period to begin collections had expired.[[In-content Ad]]
PORTLAND WEATHER

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