February 19, 2020 at 5:35 p.m.
Getting a seat at the table
Portland City Council
Getting a seat at the table
Jay County students soon could have a seat at the table during city council meetings.
Portland Mayor John Boggs told Portland City Council at its meeting Tuesday that he is in talks with Jay School Corporation superintendent Jeremy Gulley to establish a student-city council this year.
Boggs said ideally the council would have elected positions, decided by the student body, with at least one representative who would attend city council meetings to give insight onto matters pertaining to the school.
Outside of city council meetings, Boggs said the student-city council could meet once or twice a month to discuss and vote on issues pertaining to the school.
“I think we’ve got a very good plan to get students engaged with local politics,” Boggs said.
The mayor said he will formally announce the move at the annual State of the City address today.
The council also approved funds for Jay County’s development corporation and waste management district.
Travis Richards, Jay County Development Corporation executive director, spoke on behalf of the newly established Housing Task Force, which requested $2,000 to help fund an update to a housing study originally completed in 2016.
Jay County Development Corporation already secured a $4,000 grant from Indiana Michigan Power to cover the rest of the cost of the study being conducted by the National Land Advisory Group.
“This study gives us the data we need to have serious discussions with potential developers,” Richards said.
Portland Mayor John Boggs told Portland City Council at its meeting Tuesday that he is in talks with Jay School Corporation superintendent Jeremy Gulley to establish a student-city council this year.
Boggs said ideally the council would have elected positions, decided by the student body, with at least one representative who would attend city council meetings to give insight onto matters pertaining to the school.
Outside of city council meetings, Boggs said the student-city council could meet once or twice a month to discuss and vote on issues pertaining to the school.
“I think we’ve got a very good plan to get students engaged with local politics,” Boggs said.
The mayor said he will formally announce the move at the annual State of the City address today.
The council also approved funds for Jay County’s development corporation and waste management district.
Travis Richards, Jay County Development Corporation executive director, spoke on behalf of the newly established Housing Task Force, which requested $2,000 to help fund an update to a housing study originally completed in 2016.
Jay County Development Corporation already secured a $4,000 grant from Indiana Michigan Power to cover the rest of the cost of the study being conducted by the National Land Advisory Group.
“This study gives us the data we need to have serious discussions with potential developers,” Richards said.
“In fact, a lot of them really probably won’t come to town and do anything until they see these numbers.”
Richards presented data from the study as well as studies from Purdue University and Michael Hicks at Ball State University that showed that housing development in Jay County could be profitable and help lead to population growth.
The easiest way to attract new residents to Portland is by targeting those who work here but don’t live here, Richards said. He presented data showing that 44% of Portland’s workforce doesn’t live in the city.
Like Richards, George McGinnis of Jay County Solid Waste Management District secured a partial grant to help pay for a new bulb crusher.
What’s a bulb crusher? Council members asked the same thing.
Boggs explained that disposing light bulbs can be hazardous for waste workers. A bulb crusher would help make that process less dangerous and more efficient.
In total, the crusher will cost more than $4,500 with half of the funding coming from Portland and the rest coming from Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
In other business council members Mike Aker, Michele Brewster, Dave Golden, Matt Goldsworthy, Don Gillespie, Kent McClung and Janet Powers:
•Established a $30,000 annual salary for the mayor’s assistant. Council voted to reestablish the mayor’s assistant as a full time position in January.
•Approved a zoning request for the 1314 N. Meridian St. building owned by JLKS Real Estate LLC. The building, which previously housed Dayton Progress, is set to be offices for local branches of Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Department of Child Services and Division of Family Resources.
•Signed off on a partial closure of Main Street during the Arch Bridge Kroozers’ car show May 16. The street will be closed between Meridian and Pleasant streets.
Richards presented data from the study as well as studies from Purdue University and Michael Hicks at Ball State University that showed that housing development in Jay County could be profitable and help lead to population growth.
The easiest way to attract new residents to Portland is by targeting those who work here but don’t live here, Richards said. He presented data showing that 44% of Portland’s workforce doesn’t live in the city.
Like Richards, George McGinnis of Jay County Solid Waste Management District secured a partial grant to help pay for a new bulb crusher.
What’s a bulb crusher? Council members asked the same thing.
Boggs explained that disposing light bulbs can be hazardous for waste workers. A bulb crusher would help make that process less dangerous and more efficient.
In total, the crusher will cost more than $4,500 with half of the funding coming from Portland and the rest coming from Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
In other business council members Mike Aker, Michele Brewster, Dave Golden, Matt Goldsworthy, Don Gillespie, Kent McClung and Janet Powers:
•Established a $30,000 annual salary for the mayor’s assistant. Council voted to reestablish the mayor’s assistant as a full time position in January.
•Approved a zoning request for the 1314 N. Meridian St. building owned by JLKS Real Estate LLC. The building, which previously housed Dayton Progress, is set to be offices for local branches of Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Department of Child Services and Division of Family Resources.
•Signed off on a partial closure of Main Street during the Arch Bridge Kroozers’ car show May 16. The street will be closed between Meridian and Pleasant streets.
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