Projects delayed

The two major infrastructure projects in Portland won’t be starting this month after all.

Mayor John Boggs noted at Thursday’s Portland Board of Works meeting that a delay to the start of work to remove and replace a bridge on the east side of the city will also push back the Meridian Street sewer project.

Boggs said the city was informed this week that Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has pushed back the start of removal and replacement of the Indiana 26 bridge over the Salamonie River on the eastern edge of the city to June or July. It had been scheduled to start Monday, with the city’s project to add a new sewer line below Meridian Street in the downtown area to follow soon after. The sewer work will require Meridian Street (U.S. 27) to be closed between the river and Water Street at the beginning of the project.

The mayor, who said he was fuming about the change, explained that with the bridge project pushed back, the city will have to apply and coordinate a new detour for the sewer work with both INDOT and Ohio Department of Transportation. That process is expected to take six to eight weeks, pushing the start of the sewer work back to at least mid-May.

The sewer project, which is being handled by Watson Excavating of Redkey, will add a new sewer line running from the north end of Portland’s downtown area to the Salamonie River. It is intended to take pressure off the Millers Branch line, which in the last decade-plus has had issues with being overloaded and water backing up onto downtown streets.

Also Thursday, the board approved the hiring of Eliza Bader as manager of Portland Water Park.

Portland Park Board on Tuesday voted to recommend Bader for the position.

She will take over for her mom, Missy, who ran the water park from its opening in 2016 through 2021. (The facility was closed last year for repairs.)

Board members Steve McIntosh, Jerry Leonhard and Boggs also approved a $17,900 contract with SME Environmental Consulting of Indianapolis for a Phase I environmental study and asbestos determination at the Bailey Building, 201 through 205 E. Main St., Portland. Those steps are required before the city can move forward with tearing down the dilapidated structure.

In other business, the board:

•Approved the following: a contract — the total cost is $4,500, to be split between the city and county — for a water feasibility study by RQAW of Fishers regarding the possibility of running a looped water system to the Beacon Heights addition and a proposed condominium development off of county road 75 South; a reimbursement agreement with police officer Christopher Jack (if he leaves the department within a three-year period, he will be responsible for repaying the city for a portion of its costs to send him to Indiana Law Enforcement Academy); an agreement to lease 20 parking space from Dru Hall, who owns the property across the alley from city hall; water bill leak adjustments of $252.21 and $133.18.

•Agreed to forward a request from Ed Nixon for a sewage bill adjustment for Portland Nazarene Church for assessment to city attorney Wes Schemenaur. The board told Nixon that the adjustment request does not meet the requirements of the city ordinance. Nixon argued that because the water flowed outside rather than through any drain, an adjustment should be granted.