Board of Public Works & Safety

REGULAR ZOOM MEETING – March 1, 2021 The Board of Public Works, and Safety of the City of Michigan City, Indiana met in regular session on Monday morning, March 1, 2021, at the hour of 8:30 a.m., local time, hosted by “ZOOM” and streamed live on “My Michigan City” Facebook page. The meeting was called to order by President, Andrew White, who presided. Noted present: Andrew White, Virginia Keating, Mayor Duane Parry (3) Absent: (0) A QUORUM WAS NOTED PRESENT. Also noted in attendance: Amber Lapaich, Corporate Counsel Kaleb Goodwin, IT/Web Designer Jeff Wright, City Engineer John Gorczyca, M.C. Sanitary District Steve Stanford, M.C. Sanitary District Arber Himaj, M.C. Sanitary District Skyler York, Planning Director Gale Neulieb, City Clerk Dawn Debald, Deputy Clerk APPROVAL OF MINUTES Vice-President Keating moved to approve the minutes of the Regular “Zoom” meeting of February 16, 2021 as presented; second by Mayor Parry. The motion carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (0). Motion Carries. REQUEST FOR STREET CLOSURE – Aimee Weaver, representing Notre Dame Catholic School, is requesting approval for street closure of Moore Road to Lakeshore Drive on March 20, 2021 to hold a St. Patrick’s Day 5K run/fun walk from 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Aimee Weaver, representing Notre Dame Catholic School lost communication and could not speak at the meeting. Mark Seddon, addressed the Board stating he is co-leading the event with Ms. Weaver; explaining the street closure for the 5K run/fun walk on March 20, 2021; advising they received approval from the Town Council of Long Beach and the Chief of Police being most of the closure is in their jurisdiction. Discussion ensued between President White, Mayor Parry and Mr. Seddon regarding if neighbors along the route were notified in advance of the closure. Mr. Seddon stated signs can be posted if that is the Board’s recommendation. Captain Jeff Loniewski, M.C.P.D. Traffic Division addressed the Board stating he has no objections to this request. President White made the motion to approve the request by Aimee Weaver, representing Notre Dame Catholic School for street closure of Moore Road to Lakeshore Drive on March 20, 2021 to hold a St. Patrick’s Day 5K run/fun walk from 7:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.; contingent on receipt of their Certificate of Insurance in the Clerk’s Office. The motion was seconded by Vice-President Keating. The motion carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (0). Motion Carries. REQUEST FOR STREET CLOSURE- Miles Craft, H & G Underground Utilities, LaPorte is requesting approval for street closure at the intersection of Fogarty Street between Ohming Street and South Lake Avenue for a sewer extension project associated with the Sanitary District; the closure will begin on March 8, 2021 thru March 17, 2021 Steve Stanford, Operations Manager, Michigan City Sanitary District addressed the Board stating this is a sewer improvement project to bring infrastructure on to Fogarty Street; stating this will improve sewer service to 201, 207, 211 and 215 Fogarty Street; advising these are old structures that are occupied; explaining the existing connections to the system are improper and failing. Discussion ensued between President White and Mr. Stanford regarding who is responsible for notifying the residents that are affected. Mr. Stanford stated the Sanitary District notified them. President White made the motion to approve the request by Miles Craft, H & G Underground Utilities for street closure at the intersection of Fogarty Street between Ohming Street and South Lake Avenue for a sewer extension project associated with the Sanitary District; the closure will begin on March 8, 2021 and run thru March 17, 2021. The motion was seconded by Mayor Parry. Regular Zoom Meeting – March 1, 2021 Page 2 The motion carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (0). Motion Carries. PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE RENEWAL – Charles Keene, General Insurance Services (GIS) Inc. is requesting approval for the 2021 Agreement for Commercial Property & Casualty Insurance renewal with the City of Michigan City, Indiana  Commercial Property and Casualty Coverage – Policy term 03/01/2021- 03/01/2022; annual premium $819,075.00  Crime Coverage – Policy term 03/01/2021-03/01/2022; annual premium $5,246.00 Charles Keene, General Insurance Services (GIS) addressed the Board explaining his request. Mayor Parry commended General Insurance for their efforts and services with the City. Discussion ensued between President White and Mr. Keene regarding the percentage of the increase. Mr. Keene stated the premiums are increasing a total of 8.59%. President White made the motion to approve the 2021 Agreement for Commercial Property & Casualty Insurance – Policy term 03/01/2021-03/01/2022; annual premium $819,075.00 and Crime Coverage – Policy term 03/01/2021-03/01/2022; annual premium $5,246.00. The motion was seconded by Mayor Parry. The motion carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (0). Motion Carries. BOARD RESOLUTION – ACCEPTING NICTD’S UNIFORM PROPERTY ACQUISTION OFFERS FOR TWO (2) CITY-OWNED PROPERTIES FOR PURPOSES OF NICTD’S DOUBLE TRACK PROJECT Skyler York, Planning Director addressed the Board explaining the two (2) city owned properties that are being acquired. Corporate Counsel, Amber Lapaich-Stalbrink stated she did receive the uniform property acquisition offers from NICTD; explaining she also received the appraisals for both properties; advising the City received an offer of $73,800.00 for Chicago Street; and an offer of $155.00 for W. 10th Street for the NICTD double track project. Mayor Parry was happy to hear that these properties are owned by the City and we will be receiving money for them. President White made the motion to accept NICTD’s Uniform Property acquisition offers for two (2) city-owned properties for purposes of NICTD’s double track project; Chicago Street, Michigan City, Indiana, Parcel #46-01-32-128-001.000-022 in the sum of $73,800.00 and W. 10th Street, Michigan City, Indiana, Parcel #46-01-31-238-028.000-022 in the sum of $155.00. The motion was seconded by Mayor Parry. The motion carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (0). Motion Carries. RETIREMENT – Chief Doug Legault, Michigan City Fire Department, is announcing the retirement of Marlin Garner with over 35 years of service; effective February 26, 2021 (Note: for informational purposes only) RESIGNATION- Chief Doug Legault, Michigan City Fire Department, is announcing the resignation of William Roddy; effective March 6, 2021 (Note: for informational purposes only) CLAIMS AND PAYROLL Vice-President Keating moved that the claims set forth in the Register of Claims (in possession of the City Controller) and appearing in the Register be severally allowed and ordered paid and proper warrants for payment thereof hereby ordered issued in the stated amounts to person(s) and/or firm(s) as set forth, and payrolls approved. The motion was seconded by Mayor Parry and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (0). Motion Carries. CLAIMS DOCKET March 1, 2021 Municipal Claims $1,222,350.09 CDBG $ 392.03 Health & Life $ 299,457.55 Workers Comp. $ 109,476.40 Total Claims $1,631,676.07 Regular Zoom Meeting – March 1, 2021 Page 3 Allowance of claims as set forth in the Register of Claims as follows: PAYROLL DOCKET February 12, 2021 City Payroll Total: $858,604.84 February 26, 2021 City Payroll Total: $546,556.53 Mayor Parry made the motion to approve the payroll dockets for February 12, 2021 and February 26, 2021; the motion was seconded by Vice-President Keating and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (0). Motion Carries. UNFINISHED BUSINESS President White stated the first item on the pending items list is a request from Pamela Utterback, representing the Shoreland Hills Property Owners Association, 203 Maplewood Trail – requesting paving in the Shoreland Hills Subdivision Mayor Parry addressed the Board stating the City is in no position to accommodate the request at this time; advising himself and Jeff Wright, City Engineer should look at the PASER rating of the road and make sure it is accurate. Discussion ensued between President White and Mayor Parry regarding when this matter should be revisited again. Mayor Parry stated at the first meeting in April. Mayor Parry then stated he should have looked more into this issue; advising they are working on the next paving cycle which will be fixing speed bumps on Cleveland Avenue between Highway 20 and Kieffer Road (400 North); advising the best they can do is to place this matter in the next paving cycle which is in the fall of 2021. Discussion ensued between Mayor Parry, Jeff Wright, City Engineer and Skyer York, Planning Director regarding Maplewood Trail not being ready to resurface at this time. Mr. York stated there has been some intersection patching and patches done on the road. Mayor Parry stated that based on the assessment from Mr. Wright and Mr. York, he is making a motion to deny the request at this time and remove the matter from the pending items/unfinished business list. The motion was seconded by Vice-President Keating. The motion carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (0). Motion Carries. President White stated the next item on the pending items/unfinished business list is John Chalikian, 609 Franklin Street – no access to property and drainage issues Mayor Parry addressed the Board stating the property is at the end of the service drive at the south end of Menard’s and Meijer’s. Skyler York, Planning Director advised the plan is to extend the road and connect to the Walmart entrance; basically finishing Town Centre Drive; stating this is being discussed at the next Redevelopment meeting; explaining there are a few things to finish up such as taking ownership of parts of the road. Discussion ensued between Mayor Parry and Mr. York regarding the service drive which is known as Town Drive in front of Meijer and Lowes. Mayor Parry stated it is in extremely bad shape and the City does not own this road; advising the City needs to come up an agreement with Meijer and Lowes so they can relinquish ownership of the road so that we can repair and maintain it; asking if Mr. York if this can be done by the end of the year. Mr. York explained this is a big project, there is a wetland there that they have to mitigate and there are a lot of moving parts to this; stating that it is ideal if this can be completed in 2021. Mayor Parry made a motion to keep this matter on the pending item/unfinished business list until the first meeting in October which is October 4, 2021. The motion was seconded by Vice- President Keating. The motion carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (0). Motion Carries. President White addressed the Board stating he has not been on the Board for very long and questioned the address on the request as being 609 Franklin Street; asking if we can cite the correct address on the pending items/unfinished business list so it is more clear when addressing this issue. Regular Zoom Meeting – March 1, 2021 Page 4 Discussion ensued between Mr. York and Counsel Lapaich-Stalbrink regarding the address of the property. Mr. York stated it is the southern terminus of Town Centre Drive. Counsel Lapaich- Stalbrink asked Mr. York if he could provide the parcel number for the property to make it easier to reference. Jeff Wright stated he would make a map showing the overall picture of the property in question; advising we need to focus on acquiring the parcels so that we can move forward; explaining it is good for Michigan City and it is good for the businesses in Michigan City; further stating it needs to be addressed sooner than later. PUBLIC COMMENTS Tommy Kulavik, 1316 Ohio Street addressed the Board with his concerns regarding Town Centre Drive. BOARD COMMENTS President White stated the Blazer boys basketball team starts March Madness this week; wishing the best of luck to these teams. ADJOURNMENT The presiding officer inquired whether there was anything else to be considered by the Board at this time and, there being none, asked for a motion to ADJOURN the meeting at approximately 9:13 a.m. President White made the motion to Adjourn. The motion was seconded by Mayor Parry. _________________________________________ Gale A. Neulieb, City Clerk