March 2, 2018 at 6:34 p.m.
Board agrees to pay INDOT
Board agrees to pay INDOT
By Rose Skelly-
After initially tabling the decision three weeks ago, Portland Board of Works opted to pay almost $50,000 to Indiana Department of Transportation.
Board members voted at their Thursday meeting to pay the $48,403.36 invoice to INDOT for the Indiana 26 project.
They also approved the hiring of six new firefighters for Portland Fire Department.
At its Feb. 9 meeting, the board learned from Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman that the city still owed money to INDOT, an issue came to light after an audit more than a year ago. Geesaman said he had contested the amount on the grounds that INDOT, not the city, had signed off on the plans for the Indiana 26 project.
In 2015, INDOT completed the Indiana 26 project, redoing the road (Water Street) from Meridian Street to the eastern edge of the city. ADA-compliant sidewalks and LED streetlights were installed, and INDOT agreed to pay up to $500,000 to replace sewer and water lines underneath the road. Portland would be on the hook for remaining fees for the line replacement, and initially ended up paying $728,056 for the project.
Since the project has been completed, Geesaman said there have been problems including sinkholes in residents’ lawns and the pavement around manholes breaking apart. The board voted Feb. 9 to postpone paying the invoice in order to have leverage if INDOT didn’t fix the problem.
However, Geesaman told the board Thursday that INDOT had responded and said the city had hired the engineering firm that completed the sewer line work, and so was responsible for paying the overages. He suggested the city pay the amount in order to stay in INDOT’s good graces.
“After fighting it for over a year I don’t think we have any choice if we want to stay in good standing with INDOT in case there’s other projects coming up that we want to ask for funding through,” Geesaman said.
As for the sinkhole and pavement issues, Geesman said INDOT was aware of the issues and that the contractors and subcontractors who completed the project are coming to assess the problems.
Portland Fire Department Chief Mike Weitzel told the board that the department has lost two employees in the past three months, has had four spots open and that he anticipates at least a couple employees to retire in the next year. Fourteen applicants took physical and written tests.
Board members voted at their Thursday meeting to pay the $48,403.36 invoice to INDOT for the Indiana 26 project.
They also approved the hiring of six new firefighters for Portland Fire Department.
At its Feb. 9 meeting, the board learned from Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman that the city still owed money to INDOT, an issue came to light after an audit more than a year ago. Geesaman said he had contested the amount on the grounds that INDOT, not the city, had signed off on the plans for the Indiana 26 project.
In 2015, INDOT completed the Indiana 26 project, redoing the road (Water Street) from Meridian Street to the eastern edge of the city. ADA-compliant sidewalks and LED streetlights were installed, and INDOT agreed to pay up to $500,000 to replace sewer and water lines underneath the road. Portland would be on the hook for remaining fees for the line replacement, and initially ended up paying $728,056 for the project.
Since the project has been completed, Geesaman said there have been problems including sinkholes in residents’ lawns and the pavement around manholes breaking apart. The board voted Feb. 9 to postpone paying the invoice in order to have leverage if INDOT didn’t fix the problem.
However, Geesaman told the board Thursday that INDOT had responded and said the city had hired the engineering firm that completed the sewer line work, and so was responsible for paying the overages. He suggested the city pay the amount in order to stay in INDOT’s good graces.
“After fighting it for over a year I don’t think we have any choice if we want to stay in good standing with INDOT in case there’s other projects coming up that we want to ask for funding through,” Geesaman said.
As for the sinkhole and pavement issues, Geesman said INDOT was aware of the issues and that the contractors and subcontractors who completed the project are coming to assess the problems.
Portland Fire Department Chief Mike Weitzel told the board that the department has lost two employees in the past three months, has had four spots open and that he anticipates at least a couple employees to retire in the next year. Fourteen applicants took physical and written tests.
Weitzel requested and was given permission by board members Jerry Leonhard, Bill Gibson and Geesaman to hire Lukas Darby, Kyle Love, Brandon Swoveland, Bryan McIver, Dustin Guggenbiller and Preston Bemis as part-time firefighters.
In other business, board members:
•Postponed discussion about the High Street sidewalk project. The agenda for the meeting indicated the project was cancelled, but Geesaman said there were new developments that needed to be discussed before any decisions are made. The board in September approved the project, which would be partially funded through a grant from INDOT, but the city has not moved forward with the process in the ensuing months.
•Approved the purchase of a new police car. Portland Police Department Chief Nathan Springer said one of the police vehicles, a 2012 Dodge Charger with 110,000 miles, is having engine problems and needs to be replaced. He presented two bids: one from Fuqua Chrysler in Dunkirk for a Dodge Charger at $20,625, and one for a Ford Police Interceptor for $20,991 from Moser Motors in Portland. Springer recommended purchasing the Dodge Charger, as it was the lower bid and the equipment from the old police car can be easily transferred to it. The board agreed with his recommendation.
•Agreed to purchase a payloader for the street department. Street and parks department employee Matt Shauver said the current loader is unsafe, as the turn signals, horn and windshield wipers aren’t working, and the engine is malfunctioning. The new payloader will be purchased from RPM Machinery. The city intends to finance the purchase through Indiana Bond Bank. The board had originally tabled the purchase in January in order to gather more information.
•Approved releasing the $45,955.30 retainer to Watson Excavating for work on the Main Street water line replacement.
In other business, board members:
•Postponed discussion about the High Street sidewalk project. The agenda for the meeting indicated the project was cancelled, but Geesaman said there were new developments that needed to be discussed before any decisions are made. The board in September approved the project, which would be partially funded through a grant from INDOT, but the city has not moved forward with the process in the ensuing months.
•Approved the purchase of a new police car. Portland Police Department Chief Nathan Springer said one of the police vehicles, a 2012 Dodge Charger with 110,000 miles, is having engine problems and needs to be replaced. He presented two bids: one from Fuqua Chrysler in Dunkirk for a Dodge Charger at $20,625, and one for a Ford Police Interceptor for $20,991 from Moser Motors in Portland. Springer recommended purchasing the Dodge Charger, as it was the lower bid and the equipment from the old police car can be easily transferred to it. The board agreed with his recommendation.
•Agreed to purchase a payloader for the street department. Street and parks department employee Matt Shauver said the current loader is unsafe, as the turn signals, horn and windshield wipers aren’t working, and the engine is malfunctioning. The new payloader will be purchased from RPM Machinery. The city intends to finance the purchase through Indiana Bond Bank. The board had originally tabled the purchase in January in order to gather more information.
•Approved releasing the $45,955.30 retainer to Watson Excavating for work on the Main Street water line replacement.
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