Council agrees to review ordinance

A right-of-way use ordinance went into effect last month.

After getting some feedback, the city council is willing to give it another look.

Portland City Council agreed to work with Ohio Valley Gas on potentially modifying the ordinance after hearing from a representative of the company at its meeting Monday.

Randy Stephen of Ohio Valley Gas noted the $500 permit fee that has been put in place for any work to be done within the city’s right of way. He said that change would cost the company about $30,000 per year and that the cost would likely be passed on to customers.

He said the company has been diligent in its efforts to leave streets and properties “as good, if not better” than they were before the work. He added that each repair for a road cut costs about $600. He expressed concern about the ordinance treating the street and other areas of the right-of-way by the same rules and asked about the origin of the ordinance.

Clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips said that with all the paving that has been done in the city, it made sense to have something on file to protect that work. She advocated for having a permit system to have a record of work being done and suggested that council could look at a waiver or other solution for relieving some of the financial stress on Ohio Valley Gas.

Mayor Jeff Westlake asked about permit fees in other communities, including Connersville, which Stephen said currently does not have a fee.

Council president Kent McClung noted the reasons for the ordinance include making sure that the city knows when streets are being worked on and ensuring that they are properly repaired when work is complete.

“The main purpose is to make sure that our roads aren’t torn up, but we also don’t want to have an undo burden,” he said.

Council member Ron May asked about how Stephen learned about the new ordinance. He said he was first informed by street department superintendent Matt Shauver after the ordinance was approved and then found the information in the newspaper.

Several council members expressed a willingness to work with the company on an equitable solution and Westlake said he will visit the Ohio Valley Gas office to discuss options.

The council also approved the city’s 2026 payroll ordinance on second reading following a brief discussion.

As approved on first reading at the July 8 meeting, the ordinance called for a 2% raise across the board.

May said he would prefer that salaries be frozen for council members. (He advocated for either no raise or a 400% raise.) Westlake asked about increasing the raises to 3%, with Phillips saying she would not recommend that based on uncertainty in tax funding from the state. May agreed with Phillips’ sentiment.

Council members approved the ordinance, with 2% raises across the board, by a 6-1 vote with Michele Brewster, Matt Goldsworthy, Dave Golden, Mike Aker, Ashley Hilfiker and McClung in favor and May dissenting.

In other business:

•May asked about a police vehicle sitting at Portland Water Park. Westlake said that after some issues at a facility in another community, the car was parked there in an effort to provide a presence. (There was no officer in the vehicle.) “They should be patrolling that area a little bit more,” said Goldsworthy. “To me, that’s not a solution, putting a cop car down there.” Hilfiker said she has not seen much police presence when she has been in the area for games at the adjacent baseball/softball fields.

•Council OK’d a three-year tax abatement for Pioneer Equipment Leasing on $3.5 million in new equipment. The abatement would save the company $91,087 while the new equipment would generate $91,087 in taxes over a 10-year period.

•Community coordinator Darlesia Lee told council about a “bridge dinner” event being planned for Sept. 25 at the green bridge over the Salamonie River connecting Hudson Family Park and Weiler-Wilson Park. It is being modeled after a similar event in Muncie and is currently in the planning stages.

•Council approved additional appropriations of $35,000 in the aviation budget to help cover the cost of crack sealing and $20,000 in the pool repair and maintenance budget. May said he wishes departments would stay within their budgets, but voted in favor of the appropriations.

•May asked about individuals other than police officers taking police vehicles home. Westlake asked if he had witnessed that happening. May said he has not, but he has been told about it by others.

•Hilfiker asked about the city’s code enforcement officer and said she has heard complaints about properties not being cited.

•Westlake reminded the community that the Tri-State Antique Engine and Tractor Show is coming up next month at Jay County Fairgrounds and encouraged drivers to be aware of increased golf cart traffic.