Additional $100,000 approved

Portland Redevelopment Commission will provide additional funding for the Meridian Street storm sewer project.

The redevelopment commission on Friday approved an additional $100,000 for the project to add a storm sewer line below Meridian Street from between Arch and Race streets to the Salamonie River.

Portland Mayor John Boggs brought the request for additional funding to the redevelopment commission, which had already contributed $350,000 to the project. He said project delays and changes from Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) have been contributing factors to a funding shortfall of $519,197.64. (The project was initially estimated at $1.3 million in March 2021 but that price has continuously increased, with $234,097.64 in change orders approved by Portland Board of Works early this month pushing the cost to $3.13 million.)

The mayor asked the redevelopment commission to provide half of the additional funding needed — $259,598.81 — and said he plans to ask for the other half from Portland City Council.

Portland clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips said the city has reached out to state and federal government officials and agencies but has found no assistance available to cover the overage. (Funds committed to the project are the city’s $1.355 million allocation of federal coronavirus relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, a $780,450 State Transportation and Stormwater Grant from the State Water Infrastructure Fund — an additional $121,550 has been pledged, pending the city securing the remainder of the funds needed — and the $350,000 from the redevelopment commission.)

Joe Johnston, a member of the redevelopment commission along with Rusty Inman, Reda Theurer-Miller, Dave Teeter and Mike Simons, expressed concern about contributing the additional funds requested. He noted that the group had just $72,000 remaining in its “bucket” assigned to infrastructure projects.

Boggs responded with his feeling that the storm sewer project is essential.

“With all due respect, this project is the TIF district,” he said. “People are not going to invest in economic development because we have flowers and benches outside. They’re going to invest because they know the buildings aren’t going to flood. If we’re looking for private investment to improve the buildings downtown, we’re going to have to do something significant to give some confidence to the building owners.”

Teeter, who owns Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in the downtown area, agreed the project needs to be done but also expressed concern about the amount of money requested. He also expressed his displeasure with “the way the state’s treating us,” especially with roads and bridges being worked on during the time of the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association’s annual show.

Inman pointed out that even if the redevelopment commission took all of the money it had in its education and downtown improvement “buckets” and used those funds, it would still fall short of the $259,598.81 being requested.

“I think the heat should be more on the city council than us on this issue,” said Teeter. “We went above and beyond what they expected from us. Maybe it’s time they stepped up and go above and beyond what we expect of them.”

Ultimately, redevelopment commission members voted unanimously to contribute an additional $100,000, bringing its total commitment to $450,000.

The redevelopment commission also approved several items regarding the possible development of the Hood Building, home of The Commercial Review. They included:

•A $2,400 contract with Farber Surveying for survey work.

•A $1,855 contract with Jay County Abstract for title work, contingent on the proposal being all-inclusive.

•An $1,800 contract with SES Environmental for an environmental study.

Curtin noted that both the survey and the environmental study require information from the title work in order to move forward.

The group also discussed the process of creating a tax increment financing (TIF) district to capture increased property taxes as a result of the proposed project. Curtin said the redevelopment commission would work with the county auditor’s office to make sure all of the proper steps are taken.

Theurer-Miller provided an update on Portland Main Street Connect, noting the completion of the mural on the north side of Community Resource Center. The project was a partnership between Arts Place, the city and the Main Street group.

She presented Portland Main Street Connect’s proposed budgets for 2024 and 2025 come in at $41,000 and $27,834, respectively.

Johnston questioned whether the organization’s planters and benches would need to be moved for the storm sewer project. Theurer-Miller said some might need to be moved while adding that most on Meridian Street will need to be relocated during INDOT’s planned paving project in 2024.

In other business, the redevelopment commission:

•Heard the financial report from Portland clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips showing that the commission has a balance of just over $1.11 million. Its tax draw in June came to $189,718.36.

•Learned from Theurer-Miller that the second Portland Main Street Fall Festival is scheduled for 3 to 7 p.m. Sept. 30.