Board splits on requests

Two lengthy discussions about requests for assistance from the city brought different results.

Portland Board of Works during its first meeting of 2025 on Thursday agreed to reimburse a resident for plumbing work related to a disconnected sewer line. It denied a request from a downtown business owner to extend a water line.

Rayburn Drive resident Miranda Layton explained to the board that her sewer line was cut off when a neighbor put in a new line this fall. She said the neighbor was having repeated problems and was advised by the city to install a new line.

She said problems at her house surfaced last month and resulted in a call to Roto-Rooter, which identified the issue. The city has since put in a new sewer line.

The discussion went in circles regarding liability, with Layton saying a city employee told her the bill would be taken care of. She noted that she did not have anything to do with the work that cut off her line, but is now stuck with the bill.

“I know it’s not the Layton family’s fault,” said wastewater department superintendent Brad Dues.

Board of works member Jerry Leonhard asked if anyone had talked with the neighboring property owner Dylan Marentes. Dues said he had, but only for permission to run the new line that now services both houses.

Board of works members Steve McIntosh, Mayor Jeff Westlake and Leonhard voted unanimously to cover the $350 bill from Roto-Rooter.

Hawkins Galleria owner Emily Goodrich returned to the board of works to request assistance with extending a water line from the north side of her building to the four water meters that are inside the structure. 

The building has had a problem with a “shoot-off” line that can no longer be repaired. The city agreed in November to run a new line that would bypass the shoot-off.

Goodrich explained that she visited Portland Redevelopment Commission, which agreed to contribute $1,500 toward the estimated $7,000 to $8,000 to connect that new line to the meters, and that the group suggested she return to the board of works to request additional help from the city.

Water department superintendent Doug Jackson said the city’s responsibility ends at the “curb stop” alongside the building, as is the case with most water departments. (He provided documentation from other municipalities and Indiana American Water.)

Jackson noted that the water meters were placed inside the building at the request of previous owner Barry Hudson as a cost-saving measure. He added that there are about 100 such buildings with water meters inside, with Westlake mentioning John Jay Center for Learning as an example.

“If you do it for one, you’re going to have to do it for 100 others,” said Jackson.

The board voted unanimously against providing any further assistance.

In other business, the board:

•Awarded a potential street paving project to Brooks Construction of Fort Wayne at a cost of $731,658. The city is seeking Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings grant funding to pave sections of Williams, Maple/Mangold, Shank, Ship, Franklin, 7th, North, 1st, Garfield, Munson, Hayes and Charles streets, Jaqua and Western avenues, Silvers Lane, Tyson Road and Wayside Place. The grant process has changed, requiring projects to be bid and awarded before they are considered for grant funding.

•Tabled discussion of the potential sale of the lots at 208 and 210 N. Meridian St. The buildings at those locations were demolished last year and adjoining property owner LeeAnn Miller has expressed interest in buying the lots. City attorney Wes Schemenaur explained that the lots have an assessed value of $6,100 each. In order to sell them, the city would need to post public notice of their availability for at least 10 days. The board decided to table the issue to consider its options.

•Increased the amount of the city’s Indiana Law Enforcement Academy reimbursement agreement with new police officers to $20,000 from the previous $14,997. Police Chief Dustin Mock said the total cost of sending employees to the academy has increased significantly, which led to his request for the change.

•Approved a six-month sewage fee waiver for Lisa Derrickson, who owns a house on county road 200 South that was damaged in the September tornado. She said it is currently unlivable because of structural damage but that she is already working with a contractor toward repairing the house.

•Wrote off $805.31 in debt that is more than two years old.

•Wrote off $632.33 in outstanding checks that are more than two years old.