Committee nears recommendations

Portland’s wage committee is almost ready to propose a standardized system for paying the city’s employees.

Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman told Portland City Council the committee will likely present its findings and recommendations at council’s next meeting April 16.

Council members also discussed solutions to flooding in Haynes Park.

Many departments across the city use different systems to pay employees who have certifications. Some departments add to employees’ hourly salaries, while other employees earn a lump sum with each paycheck. The committee — made up of Geesaman, council members Judy Aker, Bill Gibson and Janet Powers, clerk-treasurer Lori Ferguson and Jay-Randolph Developmental Services executive director James Sinclair — has met several times in the past few months to come up with a standard wage system for the city.

Geesaman said the committee is meeting with department heads in the coming weeks to go through the preliminary proposals and make any needed changes. He said committee members considered both fairness to employees and fiscal responsibility for the city when coming up with the plans.

The flooding of Haynes Park after the recent rain and snow showers was also discussed at the meeting. Aker asked what could be done to alleviate flooding in that area.

“It’s a beautiful park with the trees and everything,” Aker said. “But it’s a mudhole.”

One new development should help — at least a little. The city is installing larger pumps at a nearby lift station that could help drain some of the water from the park.

Geesaman said the city will focus on its options for the park this year.

“That is one of our priorities for 2018,” Geesaman said. “It’s right on the highway, flooding looks terrible.”

In other business, council members Michele Brewster, Kent McClung, Judy Hedges, Don Gillespie. Aker, Gibson and Powers:

•Heard from Geesaman that about 80 percent of the city’s trash is recyclable, and that trash costs would go down the more people recycle. The city spends about $160,000 to $170,000 per year at the landfill for trash, he said, and the city and Jay County Solid Waste Management District board are working on possible solutions.

•Learned that the Jay County bicycle and pedestrian trails master plan is nearing completion. Geesaman said Jay County Trails Club received more than 200 surveys with input from residents all over the county. The plan should be ready in the next few weeks.

•Approved a payment of $8,078.33 to Jones & Henry Engineering for work on the wastewater treatment plant improvements in February.

•Paid $876,813.07 in claims for March.