City will re-route line

A local building owner will get some help with a water line issue.

The city’s street department headquarters will get some upgrades.

Portland Board of Works on Thursday approved the installation of a new tap for the Hawkins Galleria and OK’d several quotes for upgrades at the street department.

Emily Goodrich, owner of the Hawkins building that houses various businesses from 101 through 111 N. Meridian St., explained 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,” which comes from a line that runs underneath the building and is unmetered until a four-way split at the east side of the building.

Water department superintendent Doug Jackson said he originally told Goodrich that she would need to pay to have a new line installed. But, he said, after taking some time to think about the issue, he recommended to the board of works that the city install a new water line along the alley on the north side of the building at no cost to Goodrich. She would then be responsible for connecting the line from the northeast corner of the building to the meters. 

Board members Jerry Leonhard, Steve McIntosh and Mayor Jeff Westlake unanimously approved the installation of the new line.

The board also approved several requests from street department superintendent Matt Shauver for projects at the street department headquarters on Wayne Street adjacent to Weiler-Wilson Park.

Shauver said the building is in need of some work, suggesting the addition of a standing-seam metal roof, siding on three sides of the building and new windows. (The east side of the building, which faces the park’s basketball courts, would be painted.)

He presented two quotes from the roof and siding work — John Goodhew of Ridgeville had the low quote of $48,800 — as well as quotes of $6,002.07 for windows and $2,792 for doors from Moeller Door of St. Henry, Ohio, and $1,418 for power-washing and painting from Bruce Smith of Salamonia.

Leonhard asked about a new headquarters for the department, which has been discussed intermittently over the last few years.

“No matter what … that building is gonna stay,” said Shauver.

“I think it’s worth putting some money into,” agreed McIntosh.

The board unanimously approved the work.

Following the meeting, Portland clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips noted that Indiana Department of Environmental Management has cleared the former Sheller-Globe south property of environmental issues.

In other business, the board:

•Approved a $2,100 contract with Choice One Engineering to update the city’s asset management plan. The update of the city’s inventory of roads and their status is required in order to receive Community Crossings grant funding from Indiana Department of Transportation.

•OK’d a water bill adjustment of $94.08 for 415 S. Helen St., because of a leak.