Council moves $$ for project

Portland City Council approved transferring money into the water park fund at Monday evening’s meeting.
Council also discussed the status of blight elimination.
Council approved an ordinance to take $340,670 received in private donations and transfer the funds to the water park account. This was the second reading and final reading to grant the appropriation.
Council members Judy Aker, Michael Brewster, Bill Gibson, Don Gillespie, Mark Hedges, Kent McClung and Kip Robinette voted unanimously to approve the transfer.
The water park, a $3.21 million project, is scheduled to be complete in December, and a grand opening is set for May.
In addition to the water park, council discussed progress toward removing blighted homes as part of the Indiana Blight Elimination Program. Hedges had questions on the status of the seven properties to be demolished.
Geesaman said the city was approved for a grant of $126,000 to demolish seven properties but Portland is in the second round of locations for blight removal. Blighted properties are currently being removed in other cities, including Dunkirk, that were approved during the first round of grants.
“It’s been a long drawn-out process,” said Geesaman. “We do only have an 18-month process to do it and we haven’t gotten past first base yet. We’ve been trying to get something worked out with the state so we could move forward on that.”
In other business, the council:
•Heard the city has already begun picking up leaves Monday and will continue through November.
The mayor requested residents place their leaves in between the sidewalk and the curb but not in the street as leaves could clog catch basins.
•Heard that a representative from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources will visit Portland at 10:30 a.m. Friday. She will to discuss methods to beautify the city. There will be a follow-up meeting with merchants and citizens with the same representative at a later date.
•Learned the Indiana 26 (Water Street) project is almost complete. Geesaman said Brooks Construction should finish sidewalks, road striping and LED light installation by the first week of November. A ribbon cutting and ceremony is tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 5 at East Jay Middle School.