Board of Public Works & Safety

REGULAR ZOOM MEETING – July 6, 2021 The Board of Public Works, and Safety of the City of Michigan City, Indiana met in regular session on Tuesday morning, July 6, 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 in person: Andrew White, Virginia Keating and Mayor Duane Parry (3). A QUORUM WAS NOTED PRESENT. Also noted in attendance: Amber Lapaich, Corporate Counsel Captain Jeff Loniewski, M.C.P.D. Traffic Division Terry Greetham, Events Director/Recreation Coordinator Chris Yagelski, Mayor’s Administrator Dawn Debald, Deputy Clerk Stacy Dudley, Assistant Deputy Clerk APPROVAL OF MINUTES President White asked if there were any corrections to the minutes from the Regular “Hybrid/Zoom” Meeting of June 7, 2021; the Regular “Hybrid/Zoom” meeting of June 21, 2021 and the Special “Hybrid/Zoom” meeting of June 28, 2021.. Mayor Parry moved to approve the minutes of the Regular “Hybrid/Zoom” meeting of June 7, 2021; the Regular “Hybrid/Zoom” meeting of June 21, 2021 and the Special “Hybrid/Zoom” meeting of June 28, 2021; seconded by Vice-President Keating. The minutes were approved by the following vote: AYES: Board of Public Works and Safety members White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. OPENING OF BIDS- 2021 Phase II – Miscellaneous Street Paving Corporate Counsel, Amber Lapaich-Stalbrink stepped away from the meeting; the Board will address this matter when she returns. REQUEST FOR SIGNAGE- Lacy Kelly is requesting the installation of a “Stop Sign” to be placed on Barker Avenue and Hendricks Street Lacy Kelly, 434 Hendricks Street addressed the Board explaining her request and the safety concerns with traffic and speeding near her business on Barker Avenue and Hendricks Street; asking for a “Stop Sign” or a crosswalk to slow the traffic down. Captain Jeff Loniewski, M.C.P.D. Traffic Division addressed the Board stating he pulled the statistics for that intersection for the last five (5) years and found only one accident in the vicinity of that intersection; advising he doesn’t have a lot of accident history to support a “Stop Sign” however there are sight line issues and issues with pedestrians trying to cross to get to Greenwood cemetery; explaining it should be as simple as putting in a crosswalk with yield to pedestrian signs to correct the issue, rather than a three (3) way stop; further stating he has not spoken to Jeff Wright, City Engineer to get his opinion on this matter; requesting this request be “TABLED” until the next meeting so they can have a chance to discuss it. Vice-President Keating made the motion “TABLE” this matter and refer it to the M.C.P.D. Traffic Division and the City Engineer for their review and recommendation at the next meeting on Monday, July 19, 2021. The motion was seconded by Mayor Parry. The request was approved by the following vote: AYES: Board of Public Works and Safety members White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. CONTRACT APPROVAL – Contract between the Michigan City Board of Public Works and Safety and Indiana Department of Transportation for the local roads and bridges matching grant for the Cleveland Avenue project in the amount of $660,966.32 Corporate Counsel, Amber Lapaich-Stalbrink stepped away from the meeting; the Board will address this matter when she returns. CONTRACT APPROVAL – Skyler York, Planning Director is requesting approval of the contract between the Michigan City Board of Public Works and Safety and Indiana Landmark’s for professional services starting on January 1, 2021 and shall be completed by December 31, 2021 Regular Zoom Meeting – July 6, 2021 Page 2 Corporate Counsel, Amber Lapaich-Stalbrink addressed the Board stating this is a standard contract that is done every year to assist the Historic Review Board; recommending approval. Mayor Parry made the motion to approve the contract between the Michigan City Board of Public Works and Safety and Indiana Landmark’s for professional service commencing on January 1, 2021 and shall be completed by December 31, 2021. The motion was seconded by Vice-President Keating. The request was approved by the following vote: AYES: Board of Public Works and Safety members White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. CORRESPONDENCE- Correspondence was received in the City Clerk’s Office on June 17, 2021 from Attorney Shaw Friedman advising the Courts no longer need their lease regarding Willard Avenue that was used for their Carpentry program (Note: for informational purposes only) RETIREMENT – Chief Doug Legault, Michigan City Fire Department is announcing the retirement of Lieutenant Tom Frontcakas with over 32 years of service; effective Sunday, July 4, 2021 (Note: for informational purposes only) CLAIMS AND PAYROLL Mayor Parry 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 Vice-President Keating and carried as follows: AYES: Board of Public Works and Safety members White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. CLAIMS DOCKET July 6, 2021 Municipal Claims $ 563,776.68 CDBG $ 1,866.36 Health Life $ 364,290.04 Workers Comp. $ 0.00 Total Claims - $ 929,933.08 Allowance of claims as set forth in the Register of Claims as follows: PAYROLL DOCKET July 1, 2021 City Pension Total: $210,665.59 Mayor Parry made the motion to approve the payroll docket for July 1, 2021. The motion was seconded by Vice-President Keating and carried as follows: AYES: Board of Public Works and Safety members White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. NOMINATIONS- Nominations received in the Michigan City Clerk’s Office until July 6, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Deputy Clerk Debald stated one nomination was received in the Clerk’s Office for Michael Neulieb (democratic appointment). Corporate Counsel, Amber Lapaich-Stalbrink addressed the Board stating that since there was only one nominee there is no need for an election; advising Michael Neulieb will be the representative for the Fire Merit Civil Service Commission. OPENING OF BIDS- 2021 Phase II – Miscellaneous Street Paving President White asked if there was anyone wishing to submit a bid at this time; there was no response. Mayor Parry made a motion to close the acceptance of bids for the 2021 Phase II- Miscellaneous Street Paving project. The motion was seconded by Vice-President Keating. The request was approved by the following vote: AYES: Board of Public Works and Safety members White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. Regular Zoom Meeting – July 6, 2021 Page 3 Corporate Counsel, Amber Lapaich-Stalbrink stated that no bids were received; asking if Jeff Wright, City Engineer was at the meeting; there was no response. President White asked if anyone had heard from Mr. Wright; there was no response. CONTRACT APPROVAL – Contract between the Michigan City Board of Public Works and Safety and Indiana Department of Transportation for the local roads and bridges matching grant for the Cleveland Avenue project in the amount of $660,966.32 Corporate Counsel, Amber Lapaich-Stalbrink addressed the Board stating in the past when the City has been awarded funding for a CCMG project, historically the contracts would be put on the agenda so that everyone involved would know when the contract is executed; advising she spoke to Jeff Wright, City Engineer and this will be his standard operating procedure going forward so that it is publicly disseminated; explaining due to time sensitivity, it has to be submitted within two (2) months of receipt, which was the end of June; further stating Mayor Parry executed the document on June 23, 2021 and submitted it; further advising she asked Mr. Wright to give the Clerk’s Office a copy of the contract once it is fully executed; commenting that going forward it is in the best interest of everyone for Mr. Wright to put this type of contract on the Board of Works agenda so that everyone knows when it is received and signed. Discussion ensued between President White and Counsel Lapaich-Stalbrink regarding if any further action is needed for the contract approval. Counsel Lapaich-Stalbrink advised that nothing needs to be done at this point, Mayor Parry has already signed it and submitted it. UNFINISHED BUSINESS President White stated the first item on the pending items/unfinished business list is Councilman Don Przybylinski’s request that signage (rough crossings) be placed at Ohio Street and Tilden Avenue CSX crossings The rough crossing signs have been placed. This matter will stay on the pending items/unfinished business list so that Mayor Parry can keep in communication with CSX in regard to making actual repairs at the crossings at each location. Mayor Parry stated he will be making a call today to CSX and update everyone at the next meeting. President White stated this matter will stay on the pending items/unfinished business list as a reminder to keep the Board updated on communications between the Mayor and CSX. President White stated the next item on the pending items/unfinished business list is Robin Tillman, Transit Director – RFP proposals for bus shelters. Counsel, Lapaich-Stalbrink addressed the Board stating Skyler York, Planning Director, Robin Tillman, Transit Director and herself will be meeting with Lakefront Associates today to discuss what the contract will look like going forward. President White advised this matter will stay on the pending items/unfinished business list. REQUEST FOR SIGNAGE- Jeff Santana, 4954 Lindsey Lane is requesting the installation of a “Do Not Block Drive” sign and painted lines along the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and Pahs Road Captain Jeff Loniewski, M.C.P.D. Traffic Division addressed the Board stating that he met with Mr. Santana, Jeff Wright, City Engineer, Shong Smith, Director, M.C. Central Services to go over the problems at the intersection on Cleveland Avenue; advising that Mr. Wright was in agreement with the placement of the sign east of the driveway that will read “Do Not Block Driveway”; explaining they decided to re-stripe the turning lane in the center of Cleveland Avenue so motorist know where the turning lane starts and ends; recommending they “TABLE” this again and revisit it at the next meeting because Mr. Wright would like an opportunity to see if there is enough distance within the intersection to create a left turn lane for southbound Cleveland Avenue traffic wanting to turn onto Pahs Road. President White stated this matter will stay on the pending items/unfinished business list until the next meeting on July 19, 2021 so that the City Engineer can gather more information. PUBLIC COMMENTS President White asked if there was anyone from the public who wished to speak; Rodney McCormick, 617 Union Street, Board member of the Martin Luther King Youth Center addressed the Board thanking Knoll Tree Service for the work they did removing many trees that have been causing problems at the Youth Center; also thanking Shong Smith, Director M.C. Central Services and Mayor Parry for their help in moving the brush; stating that any private Construction Company or Company that gives back to non for profit organizations, like Knoll Tree Service should come first and be acknowledged when there are projects being done within the City; commenting Regular Zoom Meeting – July 6, 2021 Page 4 on the rate of pay for City workers in Vector Control, the Park Department and the Street Department; advising he submitted a public record request asking for a state law or City policy regarding the use of City equipment that is owned by taxpayers to help the taxpayers; explaining there is no such policy; further stating that Ministers of our Community that live in the County do not have any say what happens in our City. BOARD COMMENTS President White asked if there are any Board comments; there was no response. 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 9:10 a.m. Vice-President Keating made the motion to Adjourn. The motion was seconded by Mayor Parry. AYES: Board of Public Works and Safety members White, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. _________________________________________ Gale A. Neulieb, City Clerk