Council increases off route fines

With two construction projects scheduled to begin soon, city council members want to make sure proper detours are followed.

Portland City Council on Monday approved an update to the city’s ordinance to increase fines for trucks that are off the designated route.

The updated ordinance calls for a fine of $275 plus court costs for the first violation. Each additional violation will result in a $500 fine plus court costs.

In addition, the city can pursue civil action to recoup funds for any property damaged by trucks that are off the designated route.

Council member Janet Powers brought up the idea to increase the fine — it was previously $25 — in January. She noted the many citations that were written last summer in Redkey when the Indiana 67 bridge on the north side of the town was closed for construction.

When Water Street (Indiana 26) was closed for street, water and sewer work in 2015, Portland police wrote 141 tickets for vehicles being off the truck route in less than seven months.

The issue was a concern this year as Indiana 26 is set to be close again beginning April 17 for the demolition and replacement of the bridge over the Salamonie River on the eastern edge of the city.

Also, part of Meridian Street (U.S. 27) will be closed when a project to install a new storm sewer line begins. (Indiana Department of Transportation is scheduled to pave U.S. 27 through the city next year.)

Council members Kent McClung, Don Gillespie, Michele Brewster, Matt Goldsworthy, Mike Aker, Dave Golden and Powers unanimously approved the ordinance change.

Mayor John Boggs noted later in the meeting that a pre-construction for the Meridian Street storm sewer project is scheduled for Thursday. Work to install a new sewer line from the north end of the downtown area to the Salamonie River is expected to begin this month.

Also Monday, Mindy Weaver of Jay County Humane Society provided an update on progress on the renovation of the former Fastenal building as a new animal shelter, noting that construction began last month.

Muhlenkamp Construction of Coldwater, Ohio, was the low bidder on the project at $837,500. (With land acquisition and engineering costs, the total project is now about $1.2 million.) Weaver noted that funds are still being raised to cover the cost.

Renovation of the building is expected to take about 180 days, with projected completion in October.

Weaver also noted that a consultant/director for the new facility has been hired and will help with the transition.

Council also voted unanimously to rezone the land the humane society purchased directly north of its new facility to highway service from the previous agricultural/residential. The rezoning had been unanimously recommended by the city’s plan commission.

In other business, the council:

•Learned following a question from Golden that Boggs plans to take quotes for a Phase I environmental study and asbestos determination of the Bailey Building to Portland Board of Works at its Thursday meeting. The study and determination are required before the city moves forward with tearing down the dilapidated structure at the southwest corner of Main and Commerce streets.

•Heard Powers ask about a seeming discrepancy between text notifications and the city’s tornado sirens during storms late Friday and early Saturday. Powers noted that sirens went off a few minutes after a text notification indicated that the tornado watch for the area had been lifted. Fire chief Mike Weitzel explained that the text notifications, which come from Jay County Sheriff’s Office, follow information from the National Weather Service. The city’s sirens were activated after reports of a tornado in the northeast area of Jay County.

•Following a question from Aker, received an update on plans for a Wendy’s in Portland. City attorney Wes Schemenaur said permits can be issued to allow the construction of the restaurant at 514 N. Meridian St., Portland. Officials from Wenzak, the firm that plans to bring the fast food restaurant to Portland, said previously they would like to be open in August. (The construction project is expected to take 120 days to complete.)

•OK’d an additional appropriation of $318,758.32 from the cumulative capital improvement fund for the paving/sidewalk project planned for Blaine Pike.

•Approved a three-year tax abatement for FCC (Indiana) on $3.42 million in new equipment. The abatement, which was recommended for approval by the city’s tax abatement advisory committee, will save the company about $85,000 in taxes.

•Approved a $2,500 donation to The Journey Home, a Randolph County facility that provides assistance for veterans. The donation was OK’d on a 5-2 vote with Powers and Golden dissenting.

•Was reminded that Portland Fire Department’s annual banquet is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday.

•Heard Golden praise Jay County Development Corporation and executive director Travis Richards. He said he was glad to learn the organization received a portion of its annual funding and that he is hopeful it will be fully funded.