On the agenda: Portland CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 10/5/2026 — data center (Oct 5)

The City of Portland
City Council
October 5, 2026
5:30 PM

City Council was called to order by Mayor Jeff Westlake at 5:30 PM on Monday, October 5, 2026. Roll was
called and present were members Kent McClung, Michele Brewster, Dave Golden, Ron May, Ashley Hilfiker,
Matt Goldsworthy and Mike Aker. Also, present were Attorney, Wes Schemenaur, and Clerk-Treasurer, Lori
Phillips.

Pledge of Allegiance

Approval of City Council minutes from September 21, 2026
Motion by May, seconded by Hilfiker to approve the City Council minutes from September 21, 2026 as
presented. Roll call vote. All voted aye.
Claims Docket
Motion by May, seconded by Goldsworthy to approve three payroll dockets; September 12 for $158,344.17;

September 26 for $146,105.73 and Longevity for $50,200. General, Water and Sewage claim #119899120164 in the amount of $1,159,291.08. Roll call vote. All voted aye.
Brian Ison, Park Board President

-

Request for Grant Approval

The Portland Park Board has the opportunity to apply for a non-competitive, Phase I Planning Proposal Grant

through Lilly Endowment's Community Park Initiative. The Planning Proposal Grant is in the amount of up to

$50,000. Phase II of the grant is competitive and up to $1 million per project. There are 39 cities in Indiana
(5,000- 10,000 in population) that have been invited to apply for the Phase I Planning Grant. The Park Board
will partner with JCDC and the Portland Foundation with this grant. Motion by McClung, seconded by Hilfiker
to support the Portland Park Board with this grant. Roll call vote. All voted aye.
JCDC Quarterly Report was presented to the Council

Ordinance 2026-15; Police Department Non-Reverting Fund -2nd Reading

Motion by Goldsworthy, seconded by Hilfiker to approve Ordinance 2026-15 on the 2nd reading. Roll call vote.

All voted aye.

Ordinance 2026-16; Amending Chapter 75, Parking Schedules

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Pleasant and Votaw, 1st Reading

Motion by Hilfiker, seconded by Golden to approve Ordinance 2026-16 on the 1st reading. Roll call vote. All

present voted aye.

*There shall be no parking on the west side of Pleasant Street 50 feet to the south of the intersection of
Votaw Street and Pleasant Street.

Ordinance 2026-17 Amending Chapter 75, Parking Schedules

Bridge Street, 1" Reading
Motion by Hilfiker, seconded by Golden to approve Ordinance 2026-17 on the 1st reading. Roll call vote. May
voted nay. All others voted aye.
-

*There shall be no parking on the west side of Bridge Street from 10th Street to 12th Street.
Ordinance 2026-18; Ordinance Vacating an Alley between Arch Steet and the east west alley north of Arch
Street, 1st Reading

Motion by Goldsworthy, seconded by Golden to approve Ordinance 2026-18 on the 1st reading. Roll call vote.
All voted aye.

Ordinance 2026-18; Ordinance Vacating an Alley between Arch Steet and the east west alley north of Arch
Street

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Suspend the Rules and pass on the same night

Motion by McClung, seconded by May to suspend the rules and pass Ordinance 2026-18 on the same night.
Roll call vote. All voted aye.

Ordinance 2026-18; Ordinance Vacating an Alley between Arch Steet and the east west alley north of Arch
Street, 2nd Reading
Motion by McClung, seconded by May to approve Ordinance 2026-18 on the 2nd reading. Roll call vote. All
voted aye.

Resolution 2026-3; 2027 Budget Adoption

Motion by McClung, seconded by Golden to approve Resolution 2026-3. Roll call vote. Hilfiker abstained. All
others voted aye.

The 2027 budget was adopted in the amount of $11,403,487.

Discussion

-

Findings from Strategic Planning Study for Consideration of Consolidating the Portland Police

Department Dispatch with the Jay County 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)
Kent1.

Wants to proceed and get input from Sheriff Newton.

2.

The mayor stated that he is still NOT for this move. Kent noted that the council could cut out the

dispatch budget, but also noted this is not feasible because the city does not have anything else in
3.

place to pick up calls.
Tonight is not the night to shut down dispatch. More information needs to be gathered.

Dave-

1.

2.

Wants to hear from the following stakeholders: Sheriff Newton, Fire, and EMS.

Requested that a vote be taken at the next council meeting to move forward with gathering
information from stakeholders.

3. Would like to form a board to oversee the input and discussions with stakeholders.

4. Questioned if the new console could be returned.
Contessa Stilts (Portland Dispatcher) spoke about the recent IN911 Conference. She noted that all Portland
dispatchers have had the 911 training and they are waiting for the certificates in the mail. She noted that the
State of Indiana will provide all dispatch centers with free MEVO phones. The phones have rapid SOS. This is
a program to plot all 911 calls. Through MEVO phones all 911 information from the county will be transferred
to the city when a call is transferred. She noted that the state wants reassurance that the city will not move

forward with the consolidation, then they will provide the phone. Ashley and Kent questioned this. Kent

stated that 911 service is already paid through cell phone bills. Ashley wanted written confirmation that the
state would not provide these phones until the city stated they will not move forward with the consolidation.
Council Comments

Matt

-

Reminder this is city wide clean up week

Ron - Questioned the mayor about a comment that he made about illegals having the same rights as veterans.

Ashley1. Requested a copy of the SOP's that have been completed to date. Also requested that the mayor ask
Charles Braun to come to the next council meeting (and CC the council on the email). Dustin stated
that the SOP's are 80-90% complete.

2.

Would like to establish an ordinance prohibiting registered sex offenders from being in any of the city

parks. Wes will work on this.

Kent1.

Requested that we establish a record request policy, where all record requests are received through
the Clerk Treasurer's Office.

2.

Requested to update our Code of Ordinances for how citizens can speak on upcoming ordinances; such
as a citizen signing up to speak and follow the 3 minutes allotted time to speak.

Mayor's Report
Noted that he attended ICOM last week and the following topics were discussed: Road funding, homeless
residents, data centers, and GLP-1 medications. He also noted that he stopped by the SBOA Resource Center

and asked some questions.

Clerk Treasurer's Report
1.

Reminder that early voting starts tomorrow.

2. Reminder that Tox-A-Way Day is this Saturday.
Government students were introduced

Adjournment

Motion by McClung, seconded by Golden to adjourn at 6:18 pm.

APPROVED:

ATTEST:

JouPhillps

Lori Phillips, Clerk-Treasurer

Jeff Westlake, Mayor