City hall funding approved

City hall will be repaired and upgraded.
Portland City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved on second and final reading about $250,000 in funding for the project. The proposal had passed on first reading by a 5-2 vote Aug. 17.
The funding approved includes $139,000 for flood-related repairs, $83,200 for façade work and other improvements and $27,000 for a new generator.
City hall sustained significant damage during flooding July 13 and 14. Carpet and several feet of drywall have since been removed throughout the building.
With those repairs needed, Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman said at council’s last meeting he felt it was a good time to make other upgrades as well. Those improvements will include a stone veneer, new front steps, several new windows, awning fixes and roof work.
Council member Mark Hedges had questioned the spending at the Aug. 17 meeting, saying he didn’t have enough information to know if it was necessary. He and Kip Robinette then voted against the measure.
The appropriation passed 7-0 without comment Tuesday, and after the meeting Hedges said most of his questions about the work had been answered.
“We were presented with a significant packet of information with quotes and the missing information that just made me uneasy about the total,” said Hedges.
Geesaman said Tuesday he is expecting to hear back from the city’s insurance company this week about how much it will receive to repair the flood damage. He’s hoping for $60,000 to $75,000.
The mayor also told council members Bill Gibson, Judy Aker, Kent McClung, Don Gillespie, Michael Brewster, Hedges and Robinette he has scheduled a meeting with a representative from Indiana Department of Natural Resources to discuss downtown beautification. He plans to then hold a meeting with downtown business owners and the public about options for downtown improvements.
In other business, the council:
•Received updates from Geesaman on several local projects, including the west side sewer work that is scheduled to be complete within the next 30 days. All sewer and water line work is complete on the Ind. 26 East (Water Street) project, which now has a target completion date of mid-November. Work is also continuing on Portland Water Park, which Geesaman said is on track for a Dec. 1 deadline.
•Heard a reminder from Geesaman that Portland’s clean-up week is scheduled for Sept. 14 through 18.
•Learned from Geesaman that the deadline to sign up for the Portland Police Department Citizens’ Academy is Thursday. The police department will also take part in a drug prevention block party Oct. 3 at the future home of Community and Family Services at the corner of Meridian and Race streets and a Building Bridges event for those with special needs on Oct. 22 at East Jay Middle School.
•Paid claims totaling $1,614,860.17.
•Heard encouragement from Gibson and Geesaman to support all events at Jay County Fairgrounds, including the Buckeye Scooter meet that ended Saturday and the Indiana Military Vehicle Preservation Association Show scheduled for Sept. 18 and 19. They also congratulated the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association on a successful 50th show Aug. 26 through 30 at Jay County Fairgrounds.
•Approved a request from resident Matt Shauver to close the corner of Tenth Street and Miller Avenue from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday for a neighborhood block party.