June 4, 2019 at 4:30 p.m.
Council approves Goodhew purchase
Council approves Goodhew purchase
By Rose Skelly-
The Sheller-Globe south building is officially off the market.
Portland City Council voted Monday to sell the property to John Goodhew, ending a months-long debate over the proper course of action.
Portland Board of Works originally selected Goodhew’s bid in January after receiving four offers for the property at 510 S. Bridge St. But because Goodhew’s bid was below the $52,163 appraised value of the property, Portland City Council questioned the board’s decision.
The board then decided to reject all four bids and restart the process in February. Goodhew bid again, this time offering $52,500. Tim Miller of TJ’s Bicycle and Moped Sales, which also bid during the first round, offered $156,050.50. Goodhew owns Goodhew Roofing and Metals in Ridgeville.
The board again preliminarily selected Goodhew’s bid, Portland Board of Works member Jerry Leonhard told Portland City Council Monday, because his offer best fit the bid specifications for the property.
Leonhard compared Goodhew’s and Miller’s bids against that list, pointing out that Goodhew included every item required. Miller’s bid did not include a check for 10 percent of the purchase price that was included with Goodhew’s bid, and his plans and information were less detailed.
A point of contention was brought up during Monday’s meeting — that Goodhew had already moved some items onto the Sheller-Globe property before the sale was finalized.
Council member Judy Hedges said that made it look like the deal had been completed “under the table.”
“When it comes to us and I’m already hearing from people that he’s moved in, and the paperwork’s not even signed. I don’t think that looks good legally,” Hedges said. “I don’t think that looks good as a business.”
To council member Kent McClung, it appeared that Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman and Goodhew assumed council would approve the sale before the meeting had even occurred.
“So we got a process now where people think something nefarious has happened,” McClung said. “I don’t think it has. What I think has happened is someone said ‘yes’ before they should have said yes.”
Goodhew told council he moved equipment over from his business’ location in Ridgeville for several reasons — he assumed the sale would be finalized in January, he is running out of room for the equipment at the other location and he would not charge the city rent to store its street department equipment at the property.
“If we got the building, I wouldn’t charge the city anything for storage until … you guys could build a new building,” Goodhew said. “I thought, ‘Why should I pay rent?’ … We thought it was going to be happen a lot sooner.”
Council had to officially approve the sale, but two previous efforts failed. In April, a motion to vote on the sale died for lack of a second. On May 6, council split a vote on the sale 3-2 in favor of selling Goodhew the property, but the “yes” votes did not make up a majority of the seven-member council.
As all members were present Monday, council was able to put the issue to rest, approving the sale 5-2. Judy Hedges, Bill Gibson, Judy Aker, Michele Brewster and Kent McClung voted in favor of selling the property to Goodhew, while Janet Powers and Don Gillespie voted against it.
Goodhew plans to invest at least $500,000 in renovating the property. He will manufacture standing seam roofing and carports at the location and hopes to start up a workforce training program onsite.
Because the process took longer than Goodhew expected, he told council he likely won’t be able to start manufacturing at the Sheller-Globe building until next year. However, he plans to have a new roof placed on the building before the fall.
In other business, the board:
•Were updated on combined trash and recycling pickup, which started Monday in Portland. Geesaman reminded residents to place their recycling and trash bags out for pickup on their normal trash day. City employees will pick up both at the same time to be processed at East Central Recycling in Muncie.
•Established the $5.50 sanitation fund, which each household will pay monthly for combined trash and recycling pickup.
•Heard that the city has begun mosquito spraying.
•Paid claims of $1,570,138.09.
Portland City Council voted Monday to sell the property to John Goodhew, ending a months-long debate over the proper course of action.
Portland Board of Works originally selected Goodhew’s bid in January after receiving four offers for the property at 510 S. Bridge St. But because Goodhew’s bid was below the $52,163 appraised value of the property, Portland City Council questioned the board’s decision.
The board then decided to reject all four bids and restart the process in February. Goodhew bid again, this time offering $52,500. Tim Miller of TJ’s Bicycle and Moped Sales, which also bid during the first round, offered $156,050.50. Goodhew owns Goodhew Roofing and Metals in Ridgeville.
The board again preliminarily selected Goodhew’s bid, Portland Board of Works member Jerry Leonhard told Portland City Council Monday, because his offer best fit the bid specifications for the property.
Leonhard compared Goodhew’s and Miller’s bids against that list, pointing out that Goodhew included every item required. Miller’s bid did not include a check for 10 percent of the purchase price that was included with Goodhew’s bid, and his plans and information were less detailed.
A point of contention was brought up during Monday’s meeting — that Goodhew had already moved some items onto the Sheller-Globe property before the sale was finalized.
Council member Judy Hedges said that made it look like the deal had been completed “under the table.”
“When it comes to us and I’m already hearing from people that he’s moved in, and the paperwork’s not even signed. I don’t think that looks good legally,” Hedges said. “I don’t think that looks good as a business.”
To council member Kent McClung, it appeared that Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman and Goodhew assumed council would approve the sale before the meeting had even occurred.
“So we got a process now where people think something nefarious has happened,” McClung said. “I don’t think it has. What I think has happened is someone said ‘yes’ before they should have said yes.”
Goodhew told council he moved equipment over from his business’ location in Ridgeville for several reasons — he assumed the sale would be finalized in January, he is running out of room for the equipment at the other location and he would not charge the city rent to store its street department equipment at the property.
“If we got the building, I wouldn’t charge the city anything for storage until … you guys could build a new building,” Goodhew said. “I thought, ‘Why should I pay rent?’ … We thought it was going to be happen a lot sooner.”
Council had to officially approve the sale, but two previous efforts failed. In April, a motion to vote on the sale died for lack of a second. On May 6, council split a vote on the sale 3-2 in favor of selling Goodhew the property, but the “yes” votes did not make up a majority of the seven-member council.
As all members were present Monday, council was able to put the issue to rest, approving the sale 5-2. Judy Hedges, Bill Gibson, Judy Aker, Michele Brewster and Kent McClung voted in favor of selling the property to Goodhew, while Janet Powers and Don Gillespie voted against it.
Goodhew plans to invest at least $500,000 in renovating the property. He will manufacture standing seam roofing and carports at the location and hopes to start up a workforce training program onsite.
Because the process took longer than Goodhew expected, he told council he likely won’t be able to start manufacturing at the Sheller-Globe building until next year. However, he plans to have a new roof placed on the building before the fall.
In other business, the board:
•Were updated on combined trash and recycling pickup, which started Monday in Portland. Geesaman reminded residents to place their recycling and trash bags out for pickup on their normal trash day. City employees will pick up both at the same time to be processed at East Central Recycling in Muncie.
•Established the $5.50 sanitation fund, which each household will pay monthly for combined trash and recycling pickup.
•Heard that the city has begun mosquito spraying.
•Paid claims of $1,570,138.09.
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