Change order OK'd

The cost of paving and sidewalk work on Blaine Pike has gone up.

Portland Board of Works on Thursday approved a $100,583.18 change order for the project for the addition of 710 feet of storm sewer line.

Brad Clayton, the city’s wastewater treatment plant superintendent, explained that crews had initially planned to tie into a sanitary sewer line along Blaine Pike. But, he said, state regulations do not allow such a tie in. As a result, 710 feet of new line need to be added from Green Park Drive to Seventh Street to tie in to an existing storm sewer line.

He said the need for the additional line was initially missed by both local officials and project engineers.

The work is part of an Indiana Department of Transportation project to pave Blaine Pike and install sidewalks from near the railroad tracks just south of Water Street to the south side of the city.

Board of works members Jerry Leonhard and Steve McIntosh, absent Mayor John Boggs (see related story), approved the change order. (Clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips noted that she is working to see if INDOT will cover part of the additional cost, adding that other parts of the project have come in under budget.)

The board also approved a $352,551.52 pay request from Watson Excavating of Redkey for work on the ongoing Meridian Street storm sewer project. Phillips said Watson plans to have the main part of the project, which stretches from the Salamonie River to Arch Street, complete by the end of October.

Phillips also noted that when work progresses in front of city hall, thus closing the drive-thru payment window, a box will be placed at the rear of city hall to allow payments to be dropped off after hours. City hall will remain open during regular hours for residents to pay their bills inside.

Also approved Thursday were:

•A contract not to exceed $8,360 with IWM Consulting, Fort Wayne, for the removal and disposal of hazardous material and equipment from the Sheller-Globe property on Bridge Street. Clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips said the hazardous material to be removed is oil. She said the work is expected to be completed next week.

•The hiring of Kyle Denney as a full-time police officer. He had been Redkey Town Marshal for about four months before resigning Sept. 11. He had previously worked as an officer for Portland Police Department for five years, having resigned from the force in December 2022. He takes the full-time role vacated by Eric Fields, who left the department for a job at Grant County Sheriff’s Office.