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

Two streets will get new lighting (11/06/07)

Portland City Council

By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-

Two city streets will come into the light at night.

Members of a local board voted Monday to install street lights on Penn Street and Williamson Drive in Portland.

Residents who live in the areas where the lights will be installed had made the request to city officials.

Councilman Dolphus Stephens brought up the possibility of installing a light on Williamson Drive at the Oct. 15 council meeting. He said someone who lives in the area requested the light.

Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said Monday that he talked to Williamson Drive residents and viewed the area at night. Many residents were in favor of having the light installed, Harker said. A resident who lives on the south side of the street said a utility pole and light could be put in his yard.

All council members in attendance voted in favor of installing the light. Council member Kip Robinette did not attend the meeting.

Council members also voted to have a light installed along West Penn Street, between Ben Hawkins Avenue and Franklin Street. Harker said someone who lives along the street asked if a light could be installed.

Stephens and councilman Bill Gibson both said they had been in the area at night time and they felt a light was needed. The council approved the installation of the light on an existing utility pole.

In other business, council members gave preliminary approval of a lease agreement with the John Jay Center for Learning for a new parking lot located west of Portland Tire and Service on the south side of West Water Street.

JJCL owns the formerly vacant lot. The only payment under the agreement will be $30,660 toward the cost preparing and paving the lot this past summer. The one-time payment under the 10-year agreement has not been made.

The city will maintain the lot and be responsible for snow removal.

A public hearing on the lease agreement will be held at the Nov. 19 council meeting, which is set for 7 p.m. After the hearing, the council can vote to approve the document.

The land was converted into a parking lot for those visiting JJCL and downtown businesses.

Also Monday, council members:

•Approved a resolution on the purchase of Keystone Software for Portland City Court.

The Indiana State Board of Accounts requires the city to approve a resolution on the purchase, Hosier said. The new software, which will be used to keep track of money received and dispersed through the court, is being purchased from Keystone Consulting Services Inc. at a cost of $6,500.

The software replaces the current hand-written ledger books, which are more than 2 feet long.

•Approved a five-year tax abatement request for Joyce-Dayton Corp.-Portland Division, 1621 N. Meridian St.

Company officials requested the abatement on the purchase of a lathe, which is expected to cost $230,000. The addition of the new equipment will add one job with a salary of $35,000 per year to the workforce of 74.

Hosier said the Portland Tax Abatement Advisory Committee recently reviewed the request and recommended approval by the council.

Tax abatements allow companies to phase in property taxes due on new investments over several years.[[In-content Ad]]
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