Board OKs plant paving

The exterior of the city’s wastewater treatment plant will be getting an upgrade.

Portland Board of Works on Thursday approved more than $125,000 in paving work for the wastewater treatment plant.

Portland wastewater department superintendent Brad Clayton brought a request to the board of works for paving of a horseshoe-shaped driveway at the facility at 1315 Shadeland Avenue. He said areas of the driveway are in disrepair.

“It’s getting pretty bad,” said wastewater department superintendent Brad Clayton. “There’s spots where we have nothing but gravel down. … It’s just rough. It’s all falling apart everywhere.”

He explained that he did not include the main driveway into the facility as part of the request because of upcoming construction for upgrades to the plant, including a new equalization basin.

The board selected a quote of $129,537.50 from Milestone Contractors, Indianapolis, for the project. Brooks Construction, Fort Wayne, the only other firm to provide a quote, came in about $9,000 higher.

In other business, the board:

•Signed an inter-local agreement with Jay County, agreeing to pay half the cost — $45,000 — of installing Motorola Solutions software Spillman Flex. The board had already approved the agreement last month, and it has since been approved by the county.

•OK’d a sewer tap for Wenzak Indiana, which is constructing a Wendy’s restaurant at 514 N. Meridian St.

•Approved an extension of the city’s independent contractor agreement through Aug. 1 with Chad Fifer to allow him access to the former Sheller-Globe south property, 510 S. Bridge St. The city has agreed to sell the property to Fifer, the owner of Fifer Services, but the process has been held up because of environmental issues. The agreement allows Fifer access to the site to begin preparations for installing his planned sawmill before the property is officially transferred over to him.