Truck $ approved

Funding has been OK’d for another trash truck

Portland City Council for the second consecutive meeting on Tuesday approved funding for the purchase of a new trash truck, though the actual transaction is still a couple of years down the road.

Street and parks department superintendent Matt Shauver explained to the council again that his goal is to put the city’s trash trucks in a rotation. (The current trucks were purchased within a few months of each other in 2017 and ’18.)

At its last meeting, council approved $183,820.98 in funding for a trash truck. (Portland Board of Works OK’d the purchase at its Feb. 1 meeting.) Delivery of the truck is expected in August.

Shauver explained to city council that he talked with Best Equipment of Indianapolis regarding the purchase of a second truck. (Most such trucks are on back-order by about two years.) The second truck would come at a cost of $247,563,50, minus $45,000 for trading in an existing truck. Payment and delivery would be in 2026.

“It’s the responsible thing to do,” said Shauver of locking in the price now. “We know we’re going to have to get another truck.”

Council members Kent McClung, Michele Brewster, Matt Goldsworthy, Dave Golden, Mike Aker, Ashley Hilfiker and Ron May approved funding for the purchase. The board of works will vote on approval of the purchase contract at its Feb. 29 meeting.

Also Tuesday, council heard a request from rural Portland resident Missy Puterbaugh to allow non-city residents who pay for city sewer service the option to utilize city trash pick-up as well. She suggested giving those residents the option to add on a service fee for trash pick-up. (City residents currently page $5.50 per month.)

McClung, who serves as council president, noted that the $5.50 only covers some costs, with most being paid for by city property taxes. He said if the city considered the request it would need to calculate the actual per-customer cost in order to set a fee for non-city residents. However, he added, he is not interested in providing city services outside of city limits, expressing concern that it could then extend to snow plowing, police protection and other services.

Golden added that safety could be an issue.

No other council members made comments on the request.

In other business:

•Council approved amendments to its ordinance regarding sewers in order to bring it in compliance with Indiana Department of Environmental Management regulations. The changes add to the list of hazardous materials and clarify that the department’s superintendent has the authority to halt any discharge that threatens the healthy and welfare of the public.

•Golden reminded residents that the city’s spring clean-up week will be March 18 through 22.

•Aker thanked the city’s street department for its work removing snow and ice that fell Friday and Saturday.

•May donated $100 to Jay County Special Olympics, saying he will donate $100 of his council salary any time he misses a meeting. (He was absent from the Feb. 5 meeting.)