Council is split on Sheller sale

Portland City Council members were again unable to reach a consensus on the Sheller-Globe south building. 

At its meeting Monday, council split a vote on approving a bid for the property at 510 S. Bridge St. 

It also approved a development agreement with the owners of Jay County Antique Mall. 

Portland Board of Works has twice selected a bid from John Goodhew of Goodhew Roofing & Metals for the property. In December, Goodhew bid $50,000 for the building, and in January his bid was chosen. However, Portland City Council questioned the board’s decision, as Goodhew’s bid was under the minimum sale price of $52,163. 

After rejecting all four original bids, the board restarted the process, ultimately selecting Goodhew’s new bid of $52,500 in April. 

But council has been reluctant to approve the sale. At its last meeting, council members were urged to investigate the bidding process by Tim Miller, who had submitted a bid both times and said he was treated unfairly.

At that April 15 meeting, council member Judy Aker made a motion to approve the sale to Goodhew. But the motion died for lack of a second. 

Aker again made the motion on Monday, prompting a second from fellow council member and board of works member Bill Gibson. Kent McClung, Aker and Gibson voted in favor of approving the sale, while Janet Powers and Don Gillespie voted against. Michele Brewster and Judy Hedges were absent.

Because the three “yes” votes did not make up the majority of the seven-member council, the vote did not pass, city attorney Bill Hinkle said.

Geesaman said today he will ask council to vote again at its next meeting. 

Also on Monday, the council approved a development agreement with Brad and Pat Daniels, owners of Jay County Antique Mall. 

In 2016, the city loaned the couple $75,000 from the Economic Development Income Tax to revitalize the antique mall and event center. If the Daniels fulfilled the terms of the agreement — which included hiring either six full-time or 12 part-time employees — the loan would be considered a grant and would not need to be repaid.

At a previous meeting this year, council allowed the couple some flexibility with the number of employees. They told council the hours their various employees’ work adds up to six full-time employees. 

Council agreed on Monday that the terms of the development agreement had been met.

Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman commended the couple for the work they’ve done over the past three years. 

“We’re just thrilled to death (about) all the improvements and the work that they’ve done there,” he said. 

In other business, council: 

•Approved a three-year tax abatement for FCC (Indiana) on $3.3 million in equipment investment. The tax abatement advisory committee recommended the abatement, estimated to result in savings of $86,324.84 for the company. 

•Learned spring clean-up week will be May 13 through 17. For assistance moving items to the street for pick-up, residents can call (260) 726-9395 or email [email protected]. 

•Approved a state revolving loan fund disbursement of $489,513 and $60,041 from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs to Jutte Excavating for work on the wastewater treatment plant. 

•Were reminded that Indiana Run for the Fallen will be arriving in Portland at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Industrial Drive and will be at Freedom Park around 4:40 p.m. to do a flag presentation. The runners will depart from Freedom Park at 7:30 a.m. Saturday to head to Anderson.

•Learned that the city is ironing out the details of the new curbside recycling contract that the board of works approved Thursday. Geesaman said that pickup could start as early as June. 

•Heard Geesaman acknowledge the more than 100 volunteers who helped out during flooding at the end of April.

•Updated the city’s ordinances to comply with changes in Indiana Code, as recommended by American Legal Publishing Corporation.

•Paid claims of $1,006,809.48.