Airport will get city water

Work will begin soon to connect Portland Municipal Airport to the city’s water system.
Portland Board of Works on Thursday approved nearly $20,000 in funding for materials and supplies needed for the city’s water department to lay a new water main to the airport.
The board also approved contracts for work related to the improvement of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, discussed changing the sick time policy for city firefighters and adjusted the sewer bill for Jay County Fairgrounds.
Mayor Randy Geesaman explained during the meeting that Indiana Department of Environmental Management regulations prevent Hal Tavzel, the owner of Sonrise Aviation who also serves as airport manager, from building a well for his company’s new hangar. Extending the city’s water lines would enable hookups to the city water system at the airport.
Water Department superintendent Doug Jackson asked the board for its approval for materials to lay 2,000 feet of water main from the Hoosier Inn west to the airport. The project would bring the line within 700 feet of the airport, with the remaining stretch of water main planned to be laid in the spring. The board approved $19,737 requested by Jackson to cover the cost of materials.
Board members Bill Gibson, Jerry Leonhard and Geesaman also approved three contracts for work on a project to improve the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The contracts cover different aspects of an application for a grant from Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to help pay for constructing of new final tanks, expanding aeration tanks and adding equipment for phosphorous removal.
The board voted to approve three contracts with Priority Project Resources of Greensburg for grant writing ($1,000), an environmental review ($3,000) and an income survey ($3,000).
Board members also heard from fire chief Mike Weitzel, who requested a change in the sick time policy for his department. Firefighters are awarded sick time quarterly, and new hires have to wait six months before being eligible for sick time. However, that can mean that if a new hire is brought in just as a new quarter starts, he or she could have to wait up to nine months to receive sick time.
Other city employees are awarded sick time monthly instead of quarterly. The board tabled the decision so it could discuss solutions with city attorney Bill Hinkle.
Rob Weaver, president of Jay County Fair Association, spoke to the board about a leak at the fairgrounds that resulted in an increased sewer bill. Weaver explained that a water leak sprung in September in two places near the north restroom. The leaks were fixed, but the fairgrounds’ bill for sewage was significantly higher than in previous years.
Sewage bills are calculated based on water usage, but since the leaking water wasn’t entering the city’s wastewater system, Weaver asked for an adjustment.
Board of works voted to credit the Jay County Fair Association $924 for the adjustment.
In other business, the board:
•Approved reimbursement agreements with two police officers, Josh Zimmerman and Erica Post. The agreements would require the officers to reimburse the city an annually pro-rated sum for training costs if they were to leave the department within their first three years of service.
•Was notified that mayor’s assistant Carol Geesaman will be taking family medical leave.
•Heard comment from resident Larry Bubp, who praised sewer grate replacement on Walnut Street and cleanup in parts of the Salamonie River, but expressed his apprehension at improving two properties because of worries of future flooding. He encouraged the board to move quickly to address the city’s flooding issues.