Water rates to get review (12/02/2008)

Portland's water and sewage rates will soon be evaluated.

Members of the Portland City Council learned Monday night that a contract to evaluate the rates will be reviewed by the Portland Board of Works on Thursday.

The contract would be with H.J. Umbaugh and Associates, Plymouth.

Bruce Hosier, the city's mayor, said Monday that he plans to have the water and sewage rates reviewed every three or four years. The last review was done in 2004 by H.J. Umbaugh, and resulted in a 6 percent rate increase.

Hosier said this morning that H.J. Umbaugh is asking for $14,000 to review the rates. He said it's important to evaluate rates every three or four years so increases, if needed, may be made gradually, rather than waiting several years and making a huge hike in water-sewage rates.

In other business Monday, council members voted to send two tax abatement requests to the Portland Tax Abatement Advisory Committee for review.

Stoneridge Inc., the parent company of Alphabet Inc.-Portland Division, 700 Industrial Park Drive, Portland, asked for two five-year abatements. The first is for new cutting and splicing equipment that is expected to cost $637,841.60 and create nine new jobs with salaries totaling $180,000. The other request is for a new security system and employee badge system that is expected to cost $77,038.

The tax abatement requests will come back to the city council for consideration after the requests are reviewed by the abatement committee.

Tax abatements phase in property taxes on new investments over a period of several years.

Also Monday, council members:

•Learned that city and Indiana Department of Transportation officials are evaluating engineering firms for the Lafayette Street extension project.

Hosier said companies submitted reasons why they would be a good fit for the project and are being scored based on their qualifications. The company with the highest score will receive the contract for the project, he said.

Hosier said he expects the engineering work to begin immediately after the engineering company is chosen.

Plans call for the street to be extended west to Industrial Park Drive, with hopes of paving the way for new development. The project is largely being funded through a grant from INDOT.

•Heard Hosier report that Boundary Pike has been paved between Seventh Street and about Elder Street. He said the Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project is no longer behind on schedule, but he is not sure how long the work will continue this year since winter weather is here.

•Learned that a gated security fence has been erected around the new lift station along Industrial Park Drive.

The fence was installed by Gabbard Fence Construction, Winchester, at a cost of about $7,000. Some of the funds left over from the widening of Industrial Park Drive were used for the fence.

•Were invited by Hosier to a Christmas party for all city employees, which will be held Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. The location for the party has not yet been determined, the mayor said.[[In-content Ad]]