City hopes to pave 10 streets

A recent application submitted by the City of Portland for a state matching grant proposes repaving 10 streets. 

At its meeting Monday, Portland City Council was updated on the city’s application for Community Crossings Matching Grant money from the Indiana Department of Transportation. 

Council members also set residential trick-or-treating hours for Halloween. 

The Community Crossings program awards matching grants to Indiana communities to help pay for road- and bridge-related projects. Based on Portland’s size, INDOT would provide 75 percent of the money for a project and the city would pay the remainder. 

In 2016, Portland was awarded a grant to repave Industrial Park Drive from Votaw Street to Meridian Street and Wayne Street from Water Street to Lincoln Street. Last year’s application to extend the road at the industrial park was not approved. 

The streets listed on this year’s grant application are Rayburn Drive from Olson Lane to Charles Street; Commerce Street between Water and Votaw streets; Meadow Lane from Charles Street to Park Avenue; Bridge Street between Third Street and 12th streets; Hickory Court from Olson Lane to the cul-de-sac; Floral Avenue from Chicago Avenue to Meridian Street; Middle Street from Votaw Street to Water Street; Pleasant Street from Main Street to Walnut Street; Ship Street from Main Street to Bridge Street; and Walnut Street from Pleasant Street to Commerce Street. 

These roads would be milled and repaved, for a total estimated cost of $508,105.78. Portland committed to paying $127,026.44 as a match if the full grant of $381,079.34 is awarded. 

City council president Bill Gibson said the application was submitted last week by Jay County Development Corporation’s director of community development Ami Huffman and Choice One Engineering. The city should find out in November if it was awarded the grant. 

Gibson was running the meeting in place of Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman, who is attending a conference. 

Also Monday, council set residential trick-or-treating hours for 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. The merchant trick-or-treating hours are from 5 to 7 p.m. that day. 

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

•Were reminded that the trash and recycling pickup schedule throughout the city has not changed as the city continues to work out a contract for curbside recycling. Gibson also advised city residents to put out their trash the night before pickup, as the city workers have tweaked their routes and are collecting at earlier times. 

•Heard about the upcoming annual fire safety day, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Portland Fire Station, 1616 N. Franklin St. The event offers community members to meet the county’s first responders, as well as take a tour of the firehouse, receive blood pressure screenings and see equipment demonstrations. 

•Learned the city has been approved to put up signs prohibiting engine braking within the city limits, but it will have to purchase devices from the state to monitor braking noises before installing the signs. 

•Thanked FCC (Indiana) for its 30 years in the community. 

•Approved paying Jones and Henry $29,676 and Jutte Excavating $268,219 from the state revolving loan fund and Jutte Excavating $71,298.26 from the OCRA distribution fund for continuing work on the wastewater treatment plant.

•Paid $850,784.43 in claims.