Portland, Tennessee Blog

Personally, I think that the "problem" with lack of space has more to do with inefficient utilization of the space they have. This is especially true at the police station. And as far as City Hall goes, why don't they hold council meetings at the the Old Farmers Bank (since they only meet once or twice a month there shouldn't be too much of a health risk . . . at least thats the argument they used for allowing court and community usage) and then they could use the current council chambers for office and/or storage space.

I just don't understand how the city can spend $1800 plus to rent a building when this money could go towards the Old Bank Building and bring it up to codes. Sounds like this is just money thrown away. I know the city needs more room but is this the way to go about it???
Seems like the city is taking one step forward and 2 steps back.

If it is not safe it should be demolished since it doesn't fit in with the rest of the buildings on main street.

unknown2...i guess this is why its called a blog and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. My opinions were based on the meeting I saw last night, and reading info about it on the website...my issue is why throw AWAY money in RENT!!! When in two to three years you have nothing to show for it, and you are still back where you started...i know what I need to know, and that is that the city will be wasting money by renting..and also...dont question my credibility and knowledge!

unknown is a good name, because you do not know what you think you do.
Alderman Meadows has had many opportunities to act during other committes and would not, he has been encouraged to but would not.
there is an agenda at work, but it has nothing to do with your safety.
pay closer attention

So, I watched the council meeting last night, and I was so aggrevated when it was over! First, I wanted to say thanks to Councilmen Meadows for taking on the issue of getting the building inspected! It should be, no matter how much it is used...Councilmen Bratton made the issue of not getting it tested because there was no place to put the people if we found out there was mold..plus city employees are in the building longer than city organizational meetings as well as city court. To that statement I just want to say that it doesnt matter how much you are exposed to mold..you are still affected. Its almost as if he cares about the employees..but doesnt think about the people that are already being exposed everyday. He claimed that once we found out it had mold we would HAVE to fix it...wouldnt you wanna fix it anyways! According to cdc's website mold can cause anywhere from mild allergies to asthma, as well as chronic lung disease. I can guarantee that if some of the council had to use the building...some not all..they would consider having the building tested! I just think that it is crazy to waste our hard earned money on something that in two to three years, we will never see again! On top of that..the mold issue will still be there, and probably worse!! I think renting is a ignorant move on their part, and a quick fix for them. But, what does it matter now..its a done deal! I might as well be burning my tax dollars, because thats money wasted!!!

I got an answer to my question about the Council meeting !! If all goes as planned, it should be shown tomorrow afternoon and again Wednesday.

True....I really hadn't thought of that....I'll put my request in and see what happens.....thanks!

FYI -- If you'd like to see the City Council meeting again, it might be a good idea to contact someone at City Hall, and just ask if they can show it again. It can't hurt.

Well, it looks like Channel3 isn't going to show the Council meeting again..I keep looking for it, but it hasn't been on. :(

It'd been nice if they would show it a few more times so people could see it.... oh well.

I did not have an opportunity to see this months council meeting. Is the city going to have a testing done on the building on Main Street to determine if the building is safe to be occupied? Many times it is less expensive to donate buildings/property to a municipality than to have to incur demolition expense, plus it is a good tax deduction and great public relations for the giver.

Let's go to another city owned property. What does the City do with the old manufacturing plant on Airport Rd?

Why don't the City sell these properties and get the parcels back on the tax rolls?

It's simple...get it inspected...then either fix the problems or tear it down and build something that is safe or sell the property.

The building should be closed until the inspection can take place. Mold, etc. is something that shouldn't be took lightly.

The groups that meet there need to find some place else to go and not depend on the city to furnish a place until the city can guarantee the meeting place is safe. The groups need to be questioning this thoroughly.

It doesn't say much about the City of Portland if they are knowingly putting peoples health at risk.

The City Council meeting was not shown all day today on Channel 3 --- the Sumner Country School Board meeting was shown. Does anyone know if the last Council meeting will be shown again and when ?

Please do not forget we tried to use the Ponderosa building; but the outrage by some in the city over cost caused that project to be shut down.
I wanted it moved to Meadow Brook Park for a civic center.

Some said the cost per square foot was to high and we could build one cheaper; but still no building.

I guess my reaction after watching the incredible debate over the Farmer's bank building was this; certain members of the City Council repeatedly state that the building is unsuitable because of mold and mildew health issues. So someone called their bluff by saying, "let's make sure of what we're dealing with and get an estimate on fixing it up to codes."

From where I sit, it's fairly obvious that a certain section of the Council is determined to have a shiny new building, no matter the cost. There are others who want to use some of the empty buildings that litter the city. Personally, I'd like to see the current buildings used in some way. I was shocked when the 3-year old Ponderosa building was torn down to make way for the Walgreens. What a waste of our resources!!

If I were the parent of one of the children whose Scout troop is currently meeting in the Farmer's Bank building, I would DEMAND a not only a study, but a solution of the problems of asbestos, mold and repairing the "RIVER" that runs through the basement when it rains. Good heavens, let's be sensible about this! There are ways to re-channel a spring and dry up a basement that are MUCH cheaper than a "Space Station" community building.

I am thankful the City has a facility that not for profit organizations can use. From AA to boyscouts they are all great programs that our citizens can utilize. I don't have children that play youth basketball or use the skate park. My point is there are alot of community programs that need the support of a community facility. I am glad our city leaders recognize this.

Yeah this drove me crazy too! If you caught what I said, it was that "ignorance" doesn't excuse us from being liable if there is a problem! I understand that if it's studied,and there's a health risk, that we would have no choice to cease the use of and have it repaired. So? if we ignore it, everything will be ok? I'm not buying it! Here's my thoughts on the building's original purpose. And I cannot speak for The Farmers Bank, but i would almost imagine when they gave it to the "CITY" that it was intended to be a donation to the "COMMUNITY", not for the "city government" to use! I mean, they probably didn't care what we did with it, but I think it's a great building to have to offer folks a place to gather for events. However, I DO think it is the city's responsibility to up-keep the building, no matter what the need may be! If it becomes more than we can bear, we need to do something to relieve ourselves of the duties, whether that means sell it or what ever! Just as a previous blogger posted, it honestly is NOT the city's responsibility to make available a meeting place for all those orginazations (except court). But I'm glad that we have a place such as this for those very reasons. Anyway, now that I've rambled on for ever, I'm not sure that putting city offices in that building is appropriate, but I darn sure was not crazy about "renting" a house to put them in either! To me this is bad business! I voted for it only after the 36 month lease was dropped to 24, mainly because they have GOT to go somewhere, and hopefully within 24 months we can have SOMETHING worked out that the city will OWN!
Thanks again, Jody

I just watched the Council meeting on tv....twice.
Oh, I agree that health is a concern always, but I'm wondering why health hasn't been a concern for the past 15 years or so that the city has been using the building. It's been good enough for a church, court, scouts, and other people to use it........why is "health" the issue now ?
Is it because they simply don't want to use that building in that location ......and are using "health" as the reason ?

It's too bad that Portland hasn't placed a priority on a city building throughout the years, and made some plans instead of only thinking about parks and other things.

They should have put "first things first" it seems.

There was mention by Luther Bratton of "where to put all these people who use the building". I didn't know it was the City's responsibility where Alcoholics Anonymous meets, or the Scouts. Isn't that THEIR responsibility to find a meeting place ?? Are these people renting the building for the time they use it, or are they being allowed to use it for free ??

If one person complained to the health dept. about mold, wouldn't the Health Dept. have to investigate it ? This is in reference to them talking about having an environmental study done on the building to find out IF there was a problem. And how much would THAT cost??? LOL

If the building is deemed unssfe...and it's been given to the City...why not just tear it down ???

I mean if you looked into every "older" building in town that the city uses or has used over the last ten years you would have the same problem here. I'm sure the Richland (Oeo?) Center would have the same problems. I remember going to that building over 20 years ago to do things. Also I'm sure the Richland Gym would be one too. I mean I agree with keeping everyone in good health but....Thoughts?