Commercial review

The rule will require replacement within the next 10 years.

There may be new regulations regarding lead water lines.

The cost to replace the city’s remaining major service lines is currently estimated at between $1.6 million and $2.1 million.

The Portland City Council on Monday heard a report from Kurt Wanninger of Wessler Engineering regarding the federal government’s previously published rule regarding water line replacements.

Wanninger explained that new lead and copper regulations were signed by former President and now President-elect Donald Trump in 2020, but have since been suspended. He added that the Joe Biden administration last month issued “pre-published rules” — the president has not yet signed them — that will require the replacement of all leading service lines over the next 10 years.

A recent federal government inventory of city water lines found that more than 82 percent of them in the city were lead-free. The study found 243 to be lead, while another 366 remain unidentified and require further investigation.

Wanninger said line replacement currently costs between $6,200 and $8,700 per location. He added that he expects costs to rise as the new rule increases demand for such work.

He also noted that it is possible that the rules could be changed again under a second Trump administration.

Council President Kent McClung asked if the work could be done by city employees or if it would require an outside contractor. Wanninger said the scale of the project will likely require the use of a subcontractor.

“The great thing is that (Water Superintendent Doug Jackson) and his department do a great job running the water treatment plant,” he added. “They did not have any violations regarding the leadership rule. So the water that customers drink at home is the safe and reliable water that you guys produce in your drinking water system.”

Through the Regular Claims Registry, council members Michelle Brewster, Matt Goldsworthy, Mike Acker, Dave Golden, Ashley Hilfiker and McClung, excluding Ron May, also approved $50,000 in 2024 funding for the Jay County Development Corporation.

Golden asked if the funding was listed, and it was. Secretary-Treasurer Laurie Phillips said she was unsure whether the board would be willing to discuss funding after last week’s announcement that Executive Director Travis Richards would leave the organization for a new job.

“Well, the contract is with JCDC, not Travis Richards,” Golden said. “And I think I will definitely release this money.”

Council members continued to discuss the issue, with McClung noting that payment would be due in 2024. (The contract the city signed with JCDC includes another $50,000 for 2025).

Goldsworthy expressed concern about the organization moving forward, saying he did not want the work to be outsourced. (The Jay County Commissioners contracted with the East Central Regional Planning District for the Community Coordinator position to replace the previous Community Development position that was part of the JCDC.)

“I think if anyone would argue against outsourcing this work, it would be the 25 directors,” said Richards, who has agreed to work at JCDC on an as-needed basis through the end of the year to bring existing projects to completion.

McClung said he wanted to send a message to potential applicants for the JCDC executive director position that the city supports the organization.

Council members voted unanimously to approve a list of grievances, including JCDC funding.

“I want to take a moment to pay tribute to Travis, Jody and the people on the JCDC board of directors,” Golden said later in the meeting. “I think we as a city are very lucky to have you. …

“As a citizen, I appreciate all you have done to create opportunity for our city.”

In other words, advice:

•Received an update from Arts Place Executive Director Carolyn Carducci regarding the Hudson Family Park Amphitheater concert series for which the city has committed $15,000. She said all four free concerts drew at least 700 visitors, with a maximum of 757 at Whoa, Man! Group in July. She also noted that a community planning session to create a regional arts master plan is being held at the John Jay Learning Center on Wednesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Introduced a request from rural Portland resident Kyle Love for reimbursement on his sewer bills after his home was severely damaged in the Sept. 22 tornado, which also hit Jay County High School. The council held a lengthy discussion on the issue, which had previously been tabled by the city building board because city ordinance states that a sewer bill must be paid for any location connected to it. Council members agreed to study other municipalities’ ordinances and consider changes that would allow fees to be waived for a certain period of time after a disaster.

• Referred Joyce-Dayton’s tax abatement request to the city’s tax abatement advisory committee. The company is seeking an annual rebate on $229,000 worth of production equipment. This is projected to save the company $2,748 in taxes and result in tax payments of $21,296 over a 10-year period.

• Approved $58,762 in Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) funds for the Portland Municipal Airport apron expansion project. The Federal Aviation Administration will provide 90% of the project’s funding, with the city and Indiana Department of Transportation each responsible for 5%.

• Expressed support for a potential expansion of the city’s waterfront area at the request of Emily Goodrich of Good-Rich Brewery and Taproom. She shared the idea of ​​adding a commercial kitchen to the brewery at 128 E. McNeil St. to provide space for new restaurants on a short-term basis. To expand a waterfront district, the City Council would have to designate the area as a designated economic development area, redevelopment project area, urban renewal or redevelopment area, economic development project area or community revitalization improvement area.

• Following Hilfiker’s question, he received confirmation from Mayor Jeff Westlake that there are plans to open a Goodwill store in the former Walgreens on Wataw Street, just west of Meridian Street. He said he asked about the timeline and was told the store could open within the next six months.