Tie broken for Golden

A tie on election day ended up unofficially uncontested when it came time for the tiebreaker.

Portland City Council members on Monday unanimously voted for incumbent Democrat Dave Golden to retain his at-large council seat over Republican Larry Nuckols, who had asked to be removed from consideration because of health issues.

Council members also approved three requests for economic development income tax (EDIT) funding.

Golden and Nuckols finished in a tie for second place in a three-way race for the city’s two at-large council seats in the Nov. 7 election. They each received 485 votes while Ashley Hilfiker won with 669.

By Indiana Code, such a tie is broken by the fiscal body, which in this case is Portland City Council.

Jay County clerk Jon Eads explained Tuesday that since the election, Nuckols contacted his office and requested that his name be removed from the ballot because of health issues. However, it was past the deadline for a candidate to be removed from the ballot. He said Nuckols subsequently contacted city officials to ask that he be removed from consideration.

Council honored that request.

“In light of that fact that Mr. Golden at this time is actually the only candidate, I would make a motion that we vote for Dave Golden to break that tie,” said council president Kent McClung.

Council members Don Gillespie, Janet Powers, Matt Goldsworthy, Michele Brewster, Mike Aker and McClung then voted unanimously for Golden to fill the council seat. (Golden abstained, as required by Indiana Code.)

“I wish Larry a quick and complete recovery relative to his health issues,” said Golden.  “I regret that someone’s misfortune results in my good fortune.

“I thank those of you who did vote for me. If you didn’t, it’s my goal to win your trust, your confidence that I am doing my very best up here. 

“I appreciate the opportunity that the Lord has seen fit to grant me.”

He also thanked Eads and his department for their work, saying he never considered requesting a recount because he had no doubts about the integrity of the election.

Council members gave unanimous approvals to three requests for EDIT funding, following the recommendation of the city’s EDIT advisory committee.

It OK’d loans of $188,250 to Wheel & Spoke Antique Mall for a roof replacement and $75,000 to Reclaiming Design for interior renovations. 

Both loans are at zero interest and zero payments for three years, followed by a five-year payback with an interest rate at one percentage point above prime. If the businesses meet certain criteria — Wheel & Spoke must complete construction by spring 2025 and have at least 100 vendor spaces while Reclaiming Design must complete the work and invest a minimum of $180,000 — 50% of the loan amount will be forgiven.

Also approved was an additional $8,500 for Jay County Development Corporation to cover its projected budget deficit for 2024.

In other business:

•Mayor John Boggs, attending his first meeting in person since early September as he has been recovering from a stroke, presented plaques to outgoing council members Gillespie and Powers. Gillespie has served four terms on council while Powers has served two. Both decided not to seek re-election this year. “It’s been a very, very big honor in my life to serve as the mayor of this city,” added Boggs, who finished third in a four-way Republican primary in May and will end his term Dec. 31. “I’ve missed the last few weeks not being in the office, and I’ll definitely miss it from now on. Thank you very much.”

•Powers asked about the status of the project to replace the Indiana 26 (Water Street) bridge over the Salamonie River on the east edge of Portland. Clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips said the latest update from Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) calls for a target completion date of Dec. 19. (The project was originally scheduled for completion in November.)

•Golden asked whether an INDOT project to pave Meridian Street in Portland is still on track for 2025. Phillips said the project is out for bid this month and is still in INDOT’s plans for next year.

•Council approved a request from police chief Steve Schlechty to utilize $36,990 from funds brought in via off truck route tickets for the purchase of two 2015 Ford Explorers for the police department. Schlechty noted that more than $72,500 has come in already via the tickets with a total of more than $98,000 expected. (Golden praised powers for her for leadership on the issue, as she had pushed for increasing fines for such violations prior to the two major projects that shut down U.S. 27 and Indiana 26 this year. Council increased fines to $275 for a first offense and $500 for each additional offense. The previous fine was $25.

•Golden asked about the status of proposals for recording and live-streaming city meetings. (By state law, such meetings must be live-streamed and recorded beginning July 1, 2025.) Phillips said bids will be opened at Thursday’s Portland Board of Works meeting and then shared with council.

•McClung asked about ordinances regarding camping trailers. City attorney Wes Schemenaur said such rules are likely in the city’s zoning ordinance. He said he would double-check existing restrictions, but also advised that council may want to look into addressing the issue.

•Following a question from Goldsworthy, council learned city leaf pick-up will continue through the end of the week. Residents are asked to rake leaves to the edge of, but not into, the street.

•Golden complimented the city’s Christmas decorations.

•Council approved nepotism and conflict of interest disclosures and payment of claims.