Three houses set for demo

Several homes in Portland will be demolished as the city continues its work to remove blighted houses.

Portland Board of Works selected bids for the demolition of three area houses at its meeting Thursday. 

Board members also approved three bill adjustments. 

Two of the buildings up for demolition — one at 961 S. Bridge St., the other at 130 E. High St. — were obtained through a tax certificate sale at no cost to the city. The other home, 305 Blaine Pike, was purchased for $11,000 at November’s board of works meeting. Because of its proximity to the Salamonie River, the property could be useful for future flood mitigation projects or wastewater treatment plant improvements.  

The board received bids from TJ’s Concrete and Excavation and A-Landon Excavating for each of the properties. 

TJ’s bid $9,650 to demolish 961 S. Bridge St., $5,900 for 305 Blaine Pike and $5,850 for 130 E. High St. 

Landon Excavating bid $6,800 for 961 S. Bridge St., $8,000 for 305 Blaine Pike and $7,000 to demolish 130 E. High St. 

Board members Jerry Leonhard, Bill Gibson and Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman voted to select the lowest bid for each house.