Sewer project about a month away

A flood mitigation project that has been in the works for nearly two years will begin soon.

Mayor John Boggs told Portland City Council on Monday that work on the Meridian Street storm sewer project is expected to begin in about a month.

The $2.42 million project, which was proposed by Wessler Engineering of Indianapolis in March 2021, calls for installing about 2,000 feet of new sewer line from the north end of Portland’s downtown area to the Salamonie River. It will drain three Meridian Street catch basin systems — those that cover the area between Main and North streets — and take them off of the Millers Branch line that runs about a half-block to the east. The Millers Branch line has experienced issues with being overloaded and having water back up onto the streets over the last decade-plus.

Boggs noted that earlier in the day Watson Excavating met with Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) officials to discuss detours for the project. He said detour signs should go up within the next couple of weeks, with work to follow shortly after.

The work will begin between the Salamonie River and Water Street, with that section of the road closed.

Watson Excavating then plans to move north block-by-block, maintaining two-way traffic for the remainder of the project.

The city is using the entirety of its $1.355 million in federal coronavirus relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act for the project. It also received a $780,450 State Transportation and Stormwater Grant from the State Water Infrastructure Fund and $350,000 from the city’s redevelopment commission.

INDOT is scheduled to pave U.S. 27 (Meridian Street) through the city in 2024.

Council member Janet Powers pushed an idea she previous suggested to increase fines for semis that are off the truck route. Council members agreed to send suggestions to city attorney Wes Schemenaur with a goal of addressing the issue prior to the project getting underway.

Also Monday, Travis Richards, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, presented a tax abatement request on behalf of FCC (Indiana). The firm is requesting a three-year abatement on $3.42 million in new equipment that is expected to create 10 new jobs.

The abatement would save FCC an estimated $85,000 in taxes over the three years. The new equipment would generate an estimated $274,000 in property taxes over a 10-year period.

Council members Kent McClung, Don Gillespie, Michele Brewster, Dave Golden, Mike Aker and Powers, absent Matt Goldsworthy, agreed to send the abatement request to the city’s tax abatement advisory committee for its review.

Jenny Bricker, who has been leading an effort to save the Indiana 26 bridge over the Salamonie River on the east edge of Portland, provided another update, acknowledging that the bridge is likely to be demolished. Last month, she had informed council that INDOT was willing to dismantle the bridge to be stored locally and eventually relocated only if a local government unit commits to reimbursing the $500,000 cost within one year of removal.

Bricker offered additional proposals Monday including salvaging part of the bridge to be used to create a sculpture or a smaller replica in the form of a foot bridge.

Council members thanked Bricker for her efforts but took no further action.

In other business, council:

•Learned from Boggs that Portland Fire Department has been selected as a future regional training site by state officials. About $13 million has been earmarked to increase the number of training sites statewide.

•Heard a report from Richards regarding JCDC’s activities over the last year and plans for the rest of 2023, including the Launch Jay business pitch competition, tax abatements, working with small businesses, the Yodel community calendar, the Make My Move initiative and the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP). Powers thanked Richards and the JCDC staff for their efforts. McClung and Golden echoed her feelings, with Golden adding, “I hope that you continue to be fully funded.” (Jay County Commissioners last month tabled JCDC’s claim for its $210,000 annual budget.)

•Voted to split the city’s portion of funding from a nationwide opioid lawsuit settlement between Youth Service Bureau and 2nd Chance at Life Ministries. The city is expected to receive a total of about $21,772.99 over a 16-year period. (Portland assistant police chief Michael Brewster had recommended those two organizations as well as Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition for the split, but several council members said they wanted the funds to focus on the drug abuse problem within the city. Boggs pointed out that all three organizations provide services to city and county residents.)

•Approved the following: an additional appropriation of $150,000 in economic development income tax (EDIT) funds for the purchase of land adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant for future expansion; closures of sections of Main, Walnut and Commerce streets on the west side of the downtown area from noon to 8 p.m. May 20 for an Arch Bridge Kroozers car show; a road closure for Main Street between Meridian and Harrison streets from noon to 3 p.m. April 15 for a Prevent Child Abuse of Jay County event.

•Answering questions from council members, Boggs and Schemenaur gave updates regarding a planned Wendy’s and environmental clean-up work at the former Sheller-Globe South property, reiterating action taken at recent Portland Board of Zoning Appeals and Portland Board of Works meetings. Powers asked for a running total of how much the city has spent working on environmental remediation on the property. Phillips said she would gather that information.