Road work ahead

Two paving projects are moving forward.

Demolition of a downtown building will take a bit more time.

Portland Board of Works on Thursday took action to move forward with $2.8 million in paving and sidewalk work on Blaine Pike as well as paving of several other city streets through a Community Crossings grant from Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT).

It also opened bids for the demolition of the Bailey Building, but those bids will need some additional review.

Board of works members Steve McIntosh and Mayor John Boggs, absent Jerry Leonhard, approved the city’s required match of $568,758.32 for the Blaine Pike project. The remaining $2.28 million will be paid via federal funding awarded through INDOT.

3D Construction of Muncie was the lone bidder in the second round of bidding, coming in at $2,843,761.59.

INDOT originally awarded federal funding for the project in October 2016. The work includes milling and repaving the road from the railroad near Water Street to county road 150 South. A sidewalk will also be added.

The board also signed a notice to proceed with paving work through INDOT’s Community Crossings grant. The city was awarded $549,558 in December for paving the entirety of Arch Street, the entirety of Pierce Street, Walnut Street east of Meridian Street, Noble Street between Main and High streets, and Union Street between Meridian and Bridge streets.

Bids for the project came in significantly lower than expected, with Milestone Contractors as the low bidder at $460,308.45. The city’s cost for the project — Community Crossings grants require a 25% match — will be about $115,000.

The work will be completed this year.

The board opened bids for the demolition of the Bailey Building, 201 through 205 W. Main St. Bids came in at $187,500 from JAShroyer Group of Muncie at $539,372.25 from Advanced Demolition Services of McComb, Ohio.

The board took the bids under advisement, expressing concern over the wide gap between them. Boggs also noted that Indiana Department of Environmental Management will require the city to have a Phase I Environmental Study completed prior to demolishing the structure.

Bid specifications called for demolition of the building while preserving “the integrity of the remaining buildings on the block.” The timeline required that demolition begin within 14 days of the project being awarded.

The mayor added that there will need to be additional discussions with the owners of adjacent bar/restaurant The Greazy Pickle.

“Our biggest concern is to minimize the hours they’re closed and maximize the safety to people while we’re doing it,” said Boggs.

Board members also tabled a contract with Air Management Techniques of Muncie for an asbestos report and sampling on the building.

In other business, the board:

•OK’d a pair of $7,400 contracts with Baker Tilly for studies on the city’s water and wastewater treatment operations. The accounting firm will look at rates and planned projects and make recommendations to help the city make sure it has enough funds for the work that is needed.

•Approved contracts with Jones and Henry engineering firm for an asset management plan required by the State Revolving Loan Fund to seek a loan for planned work at the city’s wastewater treatment plant and not to exceed $20,000 for services as needed at the wastewater treatment plant.

•Was reminded that Portland Police Officer Dustin Garringer’s last day as a full-time officer is today. He will shift to part-time. Chris Jack will be sworn in as a new full-time officer Monday.