Budget estimated at $8.3 million

The public hearing on the 2022 budget was quick, with no comments from the public and just a few from council members.

Portland City Council on Monday held its public hearing on the city’s budget for next year, which is proposed at $8.3 million.

Council members also approved rezoning land to allow for a condominium development near Jay County Junior-Senior High School and OK’d a tax abatement for Priority Plastics.

Portland’s proposed 2022 budget of $8.3 million is up 25.2% from the current year’s $6.66 million. The bulk of that increase is nearly $1.2 million for the purchase of a new ladder truck for the fire department. The budget includes $3.78 million in the general fund, $1.18 million in the motor vehicle highway fund, $1 million in the insurance surplus non-reverting fund and $372,005 in the park and recreation fund.

Kent McClung, council president, made the only comments about the 2022 budget, saying though he felt out of the loop on the firetruck purchase — Portland Board of Works approved the $1,199,425 million expenditure during a special meeting Aug. 20 — it was obviously necessary for the city. He said he would have preferred if council had been brought into the discussion about the need for the firetruck before the purchase went before the board of works for a vote.

Mayor John Boggs apologized for the lack of communication, saying he and fire chief Mike Weitzel had talked about it frequently and that he didn’t realize it had not been brought to council’s attention. He added that Weitzel has developed a vehicle replacement plan in order to avoid such surprise expenditures in the future.

“Now we’ve got a longer-term vision for how we’re going to rotate all those capital expenses,” said Boggs, “and hopefully a little more sound fiscal (plan).”

Clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips noted that the projected tax rate of $1.92 for 2022 would be the lowest in several years. The current rate is $2.08.

Council is scheduled to vote on budget adoption at its Oct. 18 meeting.

Also Monday, council members Janet Powers, Don Gillespie, Michele Brewster, Matt Goldsworthy, Dave Golden and McClung, absent Mike Aker, approved rezoning about 10 acres of the former Beacon Heights Drive-in property at county road 75 South and Indiana 67 to planned development residential from the current agricultural residential for a condominium development. CB Development, owned by Glen Goblentz of Geneva, plans to put in a 35-unit condominium development featuring 1,500-square-foot homes with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an attached garage.

CB Development will now put together its final engineered plans, which will be subject to approval by Portland Plan Commission.

Council members also approved a seven-year tax abatement for FR Holdings for the construction of a new $3.6-million, 46,000-square-foot warehouse and office addition at Priority Plastics. (The company leases the property from FR Holdings.) The abatement is estimated to save the company about $369,000 in taxes. Tax revenue over the abatement period would be $386,000. Tax revenue over a 10-year period is estimated at $710,000.

In other business:

•Boggs, answering a question from Powers, said the city expects to hear back this week about several grants it applied for to help fund the proposed Meridian Street sewer project in the downtown area. If funding is approved, the goal would be to add the new sewer line in 2022, as Indiana Department of Transportation plans to pave the street in 2023. Powers also asked about the timeline for an INDOT project to construct a sidewalk along Votaw Street to Walmart. Boggs said the state is working to get the necessary easements for that project to move forward. (A paving and sidewalk project for Blaine Pike is scheduled for bid letting in December.)

•McClung addressed an editorial in Saturday’s edition of The Commercial Review that suggested the city provide some financial backing for a summer concert series at Hudson Family Park’s amphitheater. McClung said he would be in support of such a program. Boggs responded that he had talked to Arts Place executive director Eric Rogers earlier in the day and that the organization would also be interested in partnering on a concert series.

•The mayor also provided the following updates:

—Blakley's of Indianapolis evaluated the pool at Portland Water Park, which has had issues with tiles being dislodged. He said the company indicated that the facility was designed with warm water tiles, which do not stand up well to winter freezing and thawing.

—Before a crosswalk can be added on Walnut Street connecting the Performing Arts Center and the new Hudson Center for the Visual Arts on the Jay County Campus of Arts Place, sidewalk ramps on both sides of the street must be ADA compliant. Boggs said Arts Place plans to make those improvements, after which the crosswalk can be put in place. (City council had given initial approval to the crosswalk request at its Aug. 16 meeting.)

—Portland Main Street Connect is organizing a downtown clean-up day Oct. 10. The organization is seeking help from local service groups, athletic teams and other volunteers to help with various projects that day. Those interested should call Jay County Chamber of Commerce at (260) 726-4481.

•Boggs noted the hiring of former Portland police officer Steve Schlechty as the city’s new assistant police chief. He also said his administrative assistant, Maria Snow, has accepted a new job and her last day in the mayor’s office will be Friday.

•Phillips noted that city hall received a call from a resident asking about trick-or-treat hours. Council will address the issue at an upcoming meeting.