Abatement approved for FCC

FCC (Indiana) will get tax abatements on more than $15 million in local investments.
Portland City Council gave final approval during its meeting Monday for the abatements totaling $15.56 million.
It also discussed a proposed city ordinance regarding bicycle safety and got an update on progress toward cleaning up the former book bindery building on Wayne Street.
After hearing the initial proposal at its last meeting, council OK’d the tax abatements for the FCC expansion and equipment that are projected to create 57 new jobs. The city’s tax abatement advisory committee had recommended the approval.
The agreement includes a 10-year abatement on $6.39 million in real property for a planned 76,600-square foot expansion to the west of the current facility on Industrial Park Drive. FCC will also get a five-year abatement on $9.17 million in personal property to purchase equipment for three 800-ton press lines and sanding lines.
The expansion, which will bring the company’s Portland workforce to more than 800, comes at the same time as a planned investment of nearly $130 million in Berne.
Council also heard a proposal from Theresa Inman, who is a member of Jay County Trails Club, for the city to enact an ordinance that would require drivers to allow at least a distance of 3 feet while passing bicycles on city streets. She advocated for the ordinance saying it would make streets safer for bike riders and give the trails club a better opportunity to get grants, such as one to write a bicycle and pedestrian plan for the city.
“It’s just one more minor step to make our community that much better and that much safer,” said Inman. “For us to pass this, at our community’s size, would be a great, big plus for us.”
Council member Mark Hedges questioned how such an ordinance would be different that what is currently documented in the state’s driver safety manual. He also asked about the feasibility of enforcing such an ordinance.
Bill Gibson, council president, noted his concern that the proposed ordinance would place an undue burden on drivers.

“We’ve got streets in here that’s barely wide enough for two cars,” he said. “It’s just one of those things that would be very much of a handicap to drivers.”
Inman noted a list of Indiana cities — Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Seymour, Carmel, West Lafayette, Lafayette and Elkhart — that have adopted similar ordinances. The state legislature considered a bill on the topic this year, but it did not come to a vote.
According to an August 2014 report by the National Conference of State Legislatures, 25 states have laws requiring a passing distance of 3 feet while Pennsylvania requires a passing distance of four feet. Some states have more general “safe distance” passing requirements while Indiana is among 17 states, along with Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky, that have no specific law for bicycle passing.
Council members Judy Aker, Kent McClung, Don Gillespie, Kip Robinette, Hedges and Gibson tabled the proposal to allow more time to study the issue.
Hedges also asked Mayor Randy Geesaman about what progress has been made to clean up the former book bindery building. It was torn down in spring 2013, but bricks and other rubble still remain at the site in the 500 block of South Wayne Street.
Geesaman said owner Jim Brewster is interested in signing the property over to the city, but that environmental studies must be done before that process can move forward. He said he hopes to have more information at council’s May 4 meeting.
In other business, council:
•Approved closing Main Street between Meridian and Harrison streets from 6 to 10 p.m. June 16 for a car show and cornhole tournament for a scholarship fundraiser.
•Heard Geesaman, in answering a question from Hedges, say the city’s sidewalk replacement program will continue this year. The city has $10,000 set aside to split the cost with residents who would like to have sidewalks replaced in front of their homes. Those interested should call city hall at (260) 726-9395.
•Transferred funding for the Portland Water Park project. The city has now set aside nearly $3 million of the funding for the $3.21 million project.
•Took no action on a request for a four-way stop at the intersection of Walnut Street and Hawkins Avenue. Geesaman said he checked with police and found there have been no accidents at that intersection.
•Heard updates and reminders from Geesaman, including: the annual city cookout will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 19 behind city hall; spring clean-up week is May 4 through 8; a meeting with downtown business owners is being scheduled for May to discuss trees and sidewalks in the downtown area; the start date for the west side sewer project has been moved back to mid May; and a meeting to plan for the state’s bicentennial celebration is set for 10 a.m. April 28 at Arts Place.