Commission contributes

The city’s redevelopment commission is willing to contribute to assist with the extension of a water line.

Its members feel the city should have further responsibility as well.

Portland Redevelopment Commission on Friday agreed to contribute $1,500 toward connecting a new water line to water meters at the Hawkins Galleria and its annex.

Emily Goodrich, who owns the building, returned to the redevelopment commission to request funding assistance for the water line. She had visited its October meeting, explaining that a "shoot-off" of a water line that goes to a display window at Patriot Sportswear has been the subject of frequent problems. She has been advised that there is no longer a way to fix the "shoot-off" anymore and can no longer be repaired, requiring a new line to water meters inside the building that serve Patriot Sportswear, Patriot Fitness and Blessings Photography. At that time, she said she had been advised by the city’s water department that running a new line would be her responsibility as the building owner.

Since then, Portland water department superintendent Doug Jackson agreed to run a new water line along the alley north of the Hawkins building and to its northeast corner. But, the city has said it is the responsibility of the building owner to extend the line from the exterior of the building to the meters inside.

Goodrich told the redevelopment commission Friday that she has quotes of $7,000  and $8,000 to connect the line to the meters.

Commission members Rusty Inman, Reda Theurer-Miller, Joe Johnston, Dave Teeter and Mike Simons discussed the situation, noting that the building is an anomaly because the meters are on the interior of the building whereas most are on the exterior. (Goodrich noted that the meters were put inside before she owned the building.)

“I feel like there’s responsibility on the city’s part …” said Inman.

Teeter agreed.

“I feel like, really, the city dropped the ball on this,” he said. 

The city can argue all they want that they don’t go inside buildings,” Johnston said later, “but they put the meters inside the building.”

Inman reminded the commission that it typically funds projects at a 20% contribution, which based on the average of the two estimates would be $1,500.

The commission ultimately voted unanimously to contribute $1,500 to the project and asked Goodrich to return to the city’s board of works about the issue.

The meeting was also scheduled as the bid opening after the commission put out a request for proposals for the Hood Building. (The building is the home of The Graphic Printing Company.) No proposals were received.

Inman noted that there is now a 30-day waiting period, after which the commission can begin negotiating with a developer of their choice.

In other business, the commission:

•Received a report from Portland Main Street Connect that noted that planters and Christmas lights were placed, collaboration on a historical/cultural trail is continuing and plans are being discussed for a spring clean-up day. Johnston complimented the Christmas decorations.

•Heard the financial report, which shows the commission as a total of $999,107.04.

•Noted that its 2025 regular meetings will be at 8 a.m. Fridays Jan. 24, April 25, July 25 and Oct. 24.