Main Street sets up meetings

Two downtown buildings were demolished this year.

A local organization is working to spearhead an effort to help building owners and businesses moving forward.

Reda Theurer-Miller of Portland Main Street Connect visited Portland City Council on Monday to explain efforts that the organization is making and invite them to meetings scheduled for next month.

Theurer-Miller explained that Portland Main Street Connect has distributed surveys to 51 downtown building and business owners seeking basic information about owners and tenants. Of those, 26 have been returned. The process is the first step in gathering information in order to be able to reach out and work with those involved in the downtown area in order to help it thrive.

“The obvious hope is that we would have responses from owners who have buildings that are unoccupied,” she said. “And we also want businesses who are doing well and those who have challenges to be present because they can share with each other.”

The effort is in part in response to the recent demolitions of the Bailey Building in the west 200 block of Main Street and the former Hunt’s building in the north 200 block of Meridian Street.

Theurer-Miller also invited council members Kent McClung, Michele Brewster, Matt Goldsworthy, Dave Golden, Mike Aker, Ashley Hilfiker and Ron May to attend meetings that are scheduled for 1 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Community Resource Center. Downtown business and building owners will be invited, with the meetings to offer information about funding opportunities, building permits, occupancy and safety. Those in attendance will also have the opportunity to share their own needs and obstacles as well as advice on what has been successful.

“We care about the present business owners as well as are concerned about the owners who are doing nothing with their buildings,” Theurer-Miller said.

She also informed council that Portland Main Street Connect is partnering with Asbury United Methodist Church and the city’s street department on a clean-up day on Sunday, Nov. 10. Main Street members and the street department will focus on the downtown area while church volunteers with handle parks. Anyone interested in volunteering should meet at 10 a.m. Nov. 10 in the John Jay Center for Learning parking lot behind Portland Post Office.

Theurer-Miller also noted that Christmas lights will be put up in the downtown area but planters, which were removed to accommodate the ongoing Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) project on Meridian Street (U.S. 27), will not be put back in place until the spring.

Later in the meeting, Portland Mayor Jeff Westlake said INDOT officials have told him paving of Meridian Street from county road 200 South to county road 100 North is expected to be complete in the first week of November. Striping is scheduled for Nov. 4 through 8. (The project also involves sidewalk work and new traffic signals.)

Prior to the meeting, council members got a primer from Craig Frazee of Dynamic Business Solutions regarding the new system that has been installed for livestreaming and recording meetings. Monday’s meeting was livestreamed as a test of the system.

Microphones and cameras have been installed but there is some wiring work left to be completed, Frazee said. Following Monday’s test, Dynamic Business Solutions planned to make adjustments as needed.

By state law, government meetings must be livestreamed and recorded beginning July 1, 2025.

In other business, the council:

•Heard a complaint from Portland resident Bryan Alexander regarding ordinances that seem to be contradictory or are otherwise confusing, specifically referencing an issue he had with water service. He suggested that ordinances be reviewed and clarified, adding that he feels they should be approached in a resident-friendly manor. He heard some support from council members for making such changes.

•Learned from Westlake that the Jay County Chamber of Commerce Merchant Trick-or-Treat will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, in the Jay Community Center parking lot.

•Heard May suggest that the guardrails along the new Indiana 26 bridge over the Salamonie River on the east side of the city be painted blue, similar to the bridge that was removed. He was informed that it would be an Indiana Department of Transportation issue.

•Heard Hilfiker ask about upkeep at the street department building — Westlake and clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips said plans are in the works — and suggested the city consider installing covered bus stops for students in heavily used locations.

•Had a discussion about whether police vehicles should be marked as “City of Portland.” May raised the issue, saying he feels they need to be identified as such. Several other council members agreed, while Hilfiker expressed concern about picking fights with the police department. 

•Approved ordinances adjusting language regarding discipline for city employees and authorizing the clerk-treasuring to make necessary transfers to balance the city’s budget.

•Heard May raise questions about multiple families living in a single home, saying he feels it needs to be addressed. It led to discussion about how many resources would be needed to investigate such issues.

•Approved a street closure for Main Street between Meridian and Harrison streets for 2 to 8 p.m. Nov. 16 for a festival.