Roads, sidewalks are good targets

What’s on the to-do list?

Following the Nov. 5 election, we asked for letters to the editor about what our newly elected and re-elected officials should focus on after they take office.

We received none. But, as is so often the case, we received a series of Facebook comments.

(This is a frustrating trend. A letter to the editor or a letter/email directly to a city official — it doesn’t have to be long — is a far more effective way to share your opinion. Posting on social media regarding something you care about is like walking outside and shouting your opinion. Sure, a handful of neighbors might hear you, but the chance of actually affecting anything is minimal.)

That said, we’ll do the favor of sharing the handful of comments — at least those that were on topic — that we received.

To no one’s surprise, bringing a grocery store to Portland was one commenter’s priority.

The current mayor has been trying to make this happen ever since Marsh closed its doors. The next mayor may do so as well. But success won’t be easy.

Grocery stores have extremely slim profit margins. Add the prospect of competing with a behemoth like Walmart and it’s a daunting prospect.

As we’ve said before, we’d love to see another grocery store in the city. But, because of those difficulties and others, we’re not counting on it.

Another issue brought up by a reader was the drug problem.

That one is certainly worthy of attention. Local officials should continue to strive to do what they can to address the issue. (Local government entities are part of a lawsuit against the opioid industry.) However, it’s likely that solutions, in the form of funding for enforcement and treatment, will have to come from the state and federal levels.

That brings us to the most common Facebook response to the question and the one that is most in the hands of our local officials — roads and sidewalks.

Readers asked for improvements to both, with one specifically asking for installation of sidewalks on Portland’s north side. (An Indiana Department of Transportation project tentatively scheduled for 2021 will construct a sidewalk along Votaw Street from near Meridian Street to Walmart, but that won’t address the side streets that connect to Votaw.)

Local municipalities have been making strides in terms of street paving, making use of the state’s Community Crossings grant program. Grant funds helped with paving streets in Portland, Dunkirk, Pennville, Bryant and Salamonie this summer. But there’s always more to do.

Elected officials should keep that in mind as they take office in January, continue to stay on top of asset management plans that identify what streets are most in need of attention and look for other ways to improve the pavement and concrete on which we drive and walk.

Those are reasonable requests from residents who want to see their city become a better place to live. — R.C.