City contributes to sidewalk

The city will pay for a portion of the cost of adding a sidewalk to a bridge on Portland’s south side.

Portland City Council on Monday approved contributing $26,962.50 for work related to the sidewalk as part of the Seventh Street bridge project.

It also heard a Portland resident express concern about sewer capacity in relation to a proposed project.

Jay County Commissioners president Chad Aker visited Portland City Council to request funds for costs related to adding a sidewalk along the north side of the Seventh Street bridge over the Salamonie River. When a project to replace the bridge was originally proposed, city council members suggested adding a sidewalk, noting significant foot traffic on that stretch of the street between Meridian Street and Blaine Pike.

The sidewalk was included in the project, which came in at a total cost of $1.025 million. Aker requested that the city cover $26,962.50 for project costs related to adding the sidewalk.

Council members agreed Monday that the sidewalk will benefit residents, with Kent McClung, Michele Brewster, Matt Goldsworthy, Dave Golden, Mike Aker and Ashley Hilfiker voting in favor of providing the funding. (Ron May was absent.)

The work is slated to begin this summer and is expected to take about four months to complete.

Council also heard from Charles Street resident Cliff Moser, who expressed concern about sewer capacity on the west side of the city. He said sewage bubbles up from the manhole cover in front of his house during times of heavy rain, leaving human waste in his yard and on his driveway. His family is also unable to use toilets, sinks and showers when water is high.

Moser reported that he has observed similar issues along Industrial Park Drive.

He expressed concern about a proposed project to develop 68 acres on the west side of Portland for commercial use and housing, saying such a project would likely exacerbate sewage problems if systems are not improved.

“They take care of it there on the 68 acres,” he said of the development plan, “but when it leaves there, whose problem is it then?”

He asked city and county officials to seriously consider whether the sewage system is capable of handling the added sewage from the proposed development.

In other business, the council:

•Approved an update to the city’s solicitation ordinance on second reading. It calls for solicitors to register with the city for a fee of $25 for a permit that expires after two weeks. They will be limited to soliciting between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Previously, no timeframe was listed.) They must also have a background check.

•Relayed a request from Moser for reimbursement of a bill related to sewer work to Portland Board of Works. (Council recommended the reimbursement.) He had called a plumber because of what he assumed as an issue with his own sewer lines, but it was discovered that the back-up issue was with a nearby lift station.

•Approved a pair of three-year tax abatements for FCC (Indiana), one for real property and the other for personal property. They total an investment of $1.6 million and are expected to create two new jobs.

•Was introduced to Ceann Bales, who was recently hired as the new executive director of Jay County Development Corporation.

•Agreed to vacate an alley between the Bollenbacher and Associates office (915 N. Meridian St.) and the former CrossRoads Financial Federal Credit Union office to the south. Bollenbacher representatives visited a previous meeting to request vacating the alley, saying plans are to expand the Bollenbacher office to the south.

•Though the resident who made the request was not in attendance, McClung addressed making a section of Votaw Street (Indiana 26/67) east of Industrial Park Drive a no-truck area. He pointed out that because the Votaw Street is a state highway in that area, such a decision would be up to Indiana Department of Transportation.

•Heard Golden ask clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips about the projected impact on revenue for the city following the passage last week of Indiana Senate Bill 1, which addresses a variety of tax issues. She said the city is expected to miss out on $1.2 million in additional revenue over the next three years that it would have received under the current funding system.

•Briefly discussed the lateral transfer issue that has been brought up at multiple meetings as related to police officer Jagg Nunez. Westlake said he is still researching the issue.

•Heard Westlake issue a reminder that street paving work is beginning in the city this week. Residents are asked not to park on the streets between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the project. Streets effect are as follows:

First Street — Between Wayne and Munson streets

Franklin Street — From Lafayette Street north to its dead end at Portland Fire Department

Garfield Street — Between First and Water streets

Hayes Street — From Water Street south to the alley

Jaqua Avenue — From Union Street north to its dead end

Maple Street — Between Silvers Lane and Charles Street

Munson Street — Between First and Water streets

North Street — Between Middle and Glen streets

Seventh Street — From Meridian Street to the western city limits

Shank Street — Between Fifth and Seventh streets

Ship Street — Between Walnut and Votaw streets

Silvers Lane — Between Maple Street and Olsen Lane

Tyson Road — From Charles Street to the western city limits

Wayside Place — Between Charles and North streets

Western Avenue — Between Seventh and Water streets

Williams Street — Between Water and Walnut streets