Choice One to manage paving

A local engineering firm will manage the bidding process and construction of two upcoming paving projects in Portland.

Portland Board of Public Works and Safety voted to award a $2,250 contract to Choice One Engineering to manage paving of Industrial Park Drive and Wayne Street. The board also voided checks that had been outstanding for two years and identified the bad debts owed to the city for unpaid water and sewer bills.

Choice One Engineering will handle the bid process and manage the construction of the two projects that will be partially funded by money awarded to Portland through Indiana Department of Transportation’s Community Crossing matching grant program. The program awarded 50/50 matching funds to communities around Indiana for work on road and infrastructure improvements. The city will receive $239,205 from the state that will cover approximately 50 percent of the cost of repaving the entirety of Industrial Park Drive, from Votaw Street to Meridian Street, and also the repaving of Wayne Street, from Lincoln Street to Water Street.

The cost of the Industrial Park Drive paving is expected to be around $286,000, and the cost of the Wayne Street project is planned at about $192,400.

Work on the projects is expected to begin in the summer, after a bids are collected and a contract is awarded.

Milestone Contractors will also start work on eight paving projects throughout the city during the summer, after being awarded a $193,931.25 contract from the city in September. That work will include Main Street between Morton and Meridian streets, Western Street between Water and Votaw streets, Arch Street between Middle and Williams streets, 2nd Street between Western and Middle streets, Middle Street between Water Street and Blaine Pike, Alexander Street between Main and Walnut streets, Williams Street between High and Votaw streets and the alley west of Alexander Street between Votaw and North streets.

Board members Bill Gibson, Jerry Leonhard and Mayor Randy Geesaman also discussed three outstanding checks to be voided. In accordance with the city’s policy, any checks still outstanding after a two year period are to be voided. The board voted to void three checks totaling $94.46.

The board also heard about 12 liens placed on residents who have bad debts with the city for their water and sewage bill. The liens against them mean they won’t be able to get water or sewer service back until they settle their debts with the city.