Meeting OK’d to discuss building demo

A meeting will be scheduled to help coordinate the demolition of a downtown building.

Portland Board of Works on Thursday agreed to ask contractor Stan Shroyer of JAShroyer Group meet with LeeAnn Miller, her attorney and other business owners next week in preparation for the demolition of the building at 208 and 210 N. Meridian St.

Thursday’s meeting was scheduled on Miller’s request to discuss the process of the demolition moving forward. She owns the building adjacent to the one that will be torn down and is renovating it to be the new home of her interior design business.

She noted specific concern about a concrete floor that is attached to the shared wall between her building and the one that will be demolished.

Attorney Eric Welch, who is representing Miller, suggested a meeting with Shroyer to discuss a timeline and plans in order to make sure everyone is on the same page. He also represented The Greazy Pickle, which was adjacent to the now-demolished Bailey Building on Main Street. (JAShroyer Group also handled that project.)

“I thought that went relatively well,” said Welch. “And I think the biggest reason it went well is there was kind of this feeling of let’s all kind of work together.”

Board of works members Steve McIntosh, Jerry Leonard and Mayor Jeff Westlake agreed to set up a meeting late next week. Demolition is scheduled to begin Feb. 19.

City attorney Wes Schemenaur suggested reaching out to the owners of Pit’s Cocktail Lounge, which is across the alley from the building that will come down, in order to keep them informed as well.

Kayla Darby, owner of Deer Park Boutique at 204 N. Meridian St., asked about possible road closures.

Schemenaur said that would be a question for Shroyer. (Any closures of Meridian Street would require approval from Indiana Department of Transportation because it is a U.S. highway.) 

He added that he will communicate with Jay County Commissioners about the possibility of JAShroyer Group needing to utilize some of the county-owned parking lot at the west side of the building.

In other business, the board:

•Awarded the contract for Community Crossings grant street crack sealing project at a cost $117,690.92. The other bids were all above $165,000.

•Approved the hiring of Jaylen Riddle as a full-time police officer at the recommendation of chief Dustin Mock.