Dayton Progress seeks abatement

A company requested a tax abatement at Monday’s Portland City Council meeting.
Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley introduced the tax abatement request for Dayton Progress Corporation.
The request is for abatements on three machines Dayton Progress Corporation wants to purchase: a Browne and Sharp Automatic Lathe, Mitsubishi Wire EDM and Mori Seiki Hard Turn Machine totaling $65,000. The abatement will save the company about $2,500 in taxes over the course of the abatement.
With the purchase of the new equipment, the company plans to add four new employees.
Manager Darrell Reeves explained that the changes will bring more of Dayton Progress Corporation’s manufacturing to Portland.
“We’re really interested in continuing to grow the company,” Reeves said.
Council members Bill Gibson, Judy Aker, Kip Robinette, Michael Brewster, Kent McClung, Don Gillespie and Mark Hedges voted unanimously to refer the request to the tax abatement advisory committee before voting on it at the next meeting.
Gibson also raised his concern about the cost of city recycling. He said Portland is spending equal the amount it is giving for landfill dumping when fewer items are being recycled.
“We need to get people more involved in recycling some way,” he said.
Mayor Randy Geesaman added that it seems not enough residents are taking advantage of the curbside recycling, which is picked up on Wednesday on the west side of the city and Friday on the east side.
In other business, the council:
•Heard from Portland City Court judge Donald Gillespie that the court accepts cash payments if they are in the full amount of the fine and the court cost. He said the court does not accept partial payments. It also accepts, credit cards, money orders or cashier’s checks, but not personal checks.
•Heard from resident Barry Hudson, who thanked the mayor and city council for work put into Hudson Family Park. Hudson donated the land for the facility.
•Heard from Geesaman that Brooks Construction is preparing to pave Indiana 26 (Water Street) Thursday through Saturday. There will be a meeting Friday on the project’s progress. Geesaman said Brooks Construction is expected to open the road the week of Nov. 16.
•Heard Geesaman met Friday with a representative from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Carrie Tauscher came to Portland to discuss ways to beautify the city. The mayor said there will be a follow-up meeting with merchants and officials to come up with an overall plan.
•Paid claims totaling $1,296,195.98.