Utility board to reimburse street department for work

PORTAGE | The Utility Services Board this week approved reimbursing the street department for work done by its employees.

Mayor James Snyder, who also chairs the utility board, told members that each year the street department employees pick up leaves, sweep streets and clean drains. That work has taken a toll on the street department's budget.

Snyder said Assistant Street Superintendent Randy Reeder conducted a cost study to determine how much was being spent from the street department budget on stormwater related projects.

The cost was determined to be $175,000. Snyder asked the board to move that amount from the utility department's stormwater fee account to the street department to compensate for the work and the board agreed.