More site monitoring approved for Sheller

The city approved additional environmental work for the former Sheller-Globe site.

More will be coming.

Portland Board of Works on Friday OK’d a $12,200 contract with IWM Consulting of Fort Wayne for work at the industrial site on the west side of Bridge Street on Portland’s south side.

The contract covers utility clearance, well abandoning and other items regarding “plume one” at the site. It also involves quarterly monitoring for a two-year period.

Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) approved those plans for environmental mitigation.

The state agency, however, did not approve the city’s proposal for mitigating “plume two.”

IWM will put together a new plan, which will then need to be submitted to IDEM for approval before moving forward.

The city completed the sale of the property, 510 S. Bridge St., to Chad Fifer early this year. The sale stipulated that the city would retain responsibility for any existing environmental issues, including plumes one and two.

In other business, the board:

•Hired Portland resident Matt Arnold as a new employee for the street department.

•Approved a CDL repayment agreement for Dean Fogle, who resigned from the street department last week. He owes $3,383.82 in repayment to the city for his CDL training. He will begin making monthly payments Oct. 1.

•OK’d a water bill adjustment of $127.62 for 947 W. North St. because of a leak.