Board OKs JCDC lease

The new community developer will be reclaiming the old office.

Portland Board of Works on Thursday approved a lease agreement with Jay County Development Corporation for an office in Community Resource Center.

The office on the north side of the building at 118 S. Meridian St., Portland, had previously served as the office of Jay County Development Corporation’s community developer. After the role was discontinued following Christy Shauver’s resignation in 2022, Jay County Commissioners began leasing the office for use by the community coordinator provided through a contract with East Central Indiana Regional Planning District. That contract came to an end in August and was not renewed.

Jay County Development Corporation is reinstating the community developer and grant writer role to fill the void and will again need an office for that employee. The organization has identified a candidate for the position, though a hiring announcement has not yet been made. The cities of Portland and Dunkirk both contributed additional funding to help cover the financial gap in order to allow for the preferred candidate to be hired.

The lease agreement, with no changes from the previous lease with the county, approved Thursday will run from Jan. 1 through the end of June.

All leases at Community Resource Center will be up for renewal July 1.

Board of works members Jerry Leonhard and Steve McIntosh approved the lease. Portland Mayor Jeff Westlake, who is the other member of the board of works, was absent.

Also Thursday, the board approved the following:

•The purchase of a new Chevrolet Silverado for $47,897 for the water department from McClusky Chevrolet in Loveland, Ohio. The quote was about $3,000 more than from Kelley Chevrolet of Fort Wayne, but the dealer said the truck was not in stock and could take three to six months to arrive while McClusky has the vehicle in stock. City employee Bubba Swoveland, who presented the request, noted that the current 2017 truck had $3,000 in repairs this year and additional work is needed.

•A $294,000 payment request from James Jackson Company of Bluffton for work completed in October as part of the construction of a wet weather pump station at the wastewater treatment facility. Ten percent of the total is held back as retainage.

•An additional $911.33 in funding for new phones at Portland City Hall. Clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips noted that the board previously approved $19,651 but several additional phones have been added to the project. She said it should be complete by the end of the year.

•A $5,073.20 CDL training reimbursement agreement with street department employee Dylan Limbert. The city will pay for the training, but Limbert will be responsible for reimbursing a portion of the cost if he leaves employment within three years.