Mapping the lines

Mapping the city’s water system will be the top priority this year for Portland Water Department. 

Portland City Council at its meeting Monday heard updates and plans for the year from two of the city’s departments. 

Council members were also informed about Indiana Department of Transportation’s plans to renovate Meridian Street in 2020.  

Over the past few years the water department has tried to work on the mapping while taking on other projects, but superintendent Doug Jackson said that process was ineffective. 

“This year we’re going to dedicate 2019 to just strictly mapping the city out for future generations, because I’m not going to be around forever,” Jackson said.

The work, which will begin this spring and continue through the fall, will involve locating the water mains and valves. It can be time consuming — the department spent four weeks on one section of Votaw Street determining how to shut off a 12-inch line there — but the work is important, the superintendent said. 

“You have an emergency situation, if you had a map to look at that was right, you could shut that main down within a half an hour,” Jackson said. “Well, the way it is now, it’s two hours, because you just don’t know.” 

Creating the maps will also help the city determine which water mains are the oldest and should be replaced first. 

Portland fire chief Mike Weitzel told council his department will continue to work on updating and replacing equipment as needed this year, completing training hours and staying within its budget. Three full-time firefighters will be retiring within the next year and half, so he will be looking to replace them soon. 

The department has been training with and outfitting the city’s new firetruck, which it received late last year, and it should be ready to be put into service soon. But Weitzel also advised council of an impending, significant expense.

“Keep in mind we do have a 24-year-old ladder truck that’s going to need replaced at some point,” he told council. 

Also on Monday, council heard that Indiana Department of Transportation is planning to overhaul Meridian Street in 2020. 

Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman said he received a comprehensive plan from INDOT for Meridian Street (U.S. 27) from Williamson Drive to county road 100 North. The project will entail milling and paving Meridian Street, replacing sidewalks and redoing the Arch Bridge’s surface. 

Geesaman said he will have a phone call this week with INDOT officials to review plans for Meridian Street. After the meeting, he said the project should align with the city’s downtown revitalization plan, which is being put together by R&B Architects. 

“We’re hoping it’s in conjunction with the downtown revitalization plan, because they (INDOT) have said that they want to be part of our downtown revitalization,” Geesaman said. “We’re hoping it follows right along.” 

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

•Tabled a vote to re-designate the economic development funds the city received from the Bluff Point Wind Energy Center project. The money was being considered for a flood mitigation projected planned for the area around Jay County Courthouse. However, Geesaman suggested the city instead use the money for its local match for the $375,000 Community Crossings Matching Grant it received from INDOT. 

“Our local match will be $93,750,” Geesaman said. “The $50,000 is not going to help us out on the courthouse drainage project so I figured to just pull that.”

The grant will be used to pave 10 streets in the city. 

After the meeting, Geesaman said the city will be seeking other funding sources for the flood mitigation project. 

•Heard from Bob Moore, president of J & B Lodge 102, Fraternal Order of Police, about several bills that have been introduced in the Indiana General Assembly that could affect civil workers, including firefighters and police officers. One bill would increase death benefits for officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty, while others concerned pensions and training. Geesaman said he would keep an eye on the bills.

•Paid Jutte Excavating $671,360 and Jones and Henry $10,790 for continued work at the wastewater treatment plant. Geesaman said the project is close to completion. 

•Were reminded that the State of the City address will be at noon Jan. 29 at the Lions Club Civic Center. 

•Heard Geesaman thank city employees for clearing Portland’s streets of ice and snow over the weekend.