Board of Public Works & Safety

REGULAR HYBRID/ZOOM MEETING – December 4 , 2023 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Michigan City, Indiana, met in REGULAR SESSION on Monday, December 4, 2023, at 8:30 a.m., hosted by “Hybrid/Zoom” and streaming live on “My Michigan City” Facebook page. The meeting was called to order by President, Virginia Keating, who presided. Noted present in person: Virginia Keating, Michael Vinson, and Mayor Parry (3), Absent: None (0) A QUORUM WAS NOTED PRESENT. Also noted in attendance: Amber Lapaich Stalbrink, Corporate Counsel Ryan Beall, Deputy City Attorney Andrew White, Alco TV Brad Minnick, Interim City Engineer Kyle Petter, Associate Planner Skyler York, City Planner Terry Greetham, Special Events Director Eric Williams, Assistant Events Coordinator Councilman Don Przybylinski Chief Forker, MCPD Gale Neulieb, City Clerk Amanda Pickens, Interim Deputy Clerk APPROVAL OF MINUTES President Keating asked if there were any corrections to the minutes of the Regular “Hybrid/Zoom” meeting of November 20, 2023. Vice President Vinson made a motion to approve the minutes as read of the Regular “Hybrid/Zoom” meeting of November 20, 2023; seconded by Mayor Parry and was approved by the following vote: AYES: Board members, Mayor, Vinson, and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. President Keating read the following item on the agenda. PERSONNEL - Chief Steve Forker, MCPD, is requesting an employee ’s extension of their FMLA leave . Chief Steve Forker, MCPD, addressed the board stating the employee’s leave is set to end on January 4, 2024 and is asking for it to be extended until February 29, 2024. President Keating asked if there were any comments from the public, there was no response. Mayor Parry made a motion to approve an employee’s extension of their FMLA leave until February 29, 2024; second by Vice President Vinson and the motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BOW members Mayor, Vinson, and Keating (3) NAYS (0) Motion carries. President Keating read the following item on the agenda. REQUEST TO SOLICIT BIDS - Brad Minnick, Haas and Associates, LLC., is requesting to solicit bids for the CCMG 2023-2 Paving Project. President Keating stated funding is available per the City Controller. Brad Minnick, Haas and Associates, LLC., addressed the board stating he is seeking approval for the CCMG grant 2023-2, this will be advertised in the Herald Dispatch tomorrow December 5, 2023, and next Tuesday December 12, 2023. The bids will be opened at the first meeting in January 2024 with funding available in the MVH fund for a million dollars to be paired with INDOT grant. President Keating asked if there were any comments from the public, there was no response. President Keating asked if the board had any comments, there was no response. Vice President Vinson made a motion to approve the solicitation of bids for the CCMG 2023-2 project; second by Mayor Parry and the motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BOW members Mayor, Vinson, and Keating (3) NAYS (0). Motion carries . President Keating read the following item on the agenda. SPECIAL EVENT REPORT – Terry Greetham, Special Event Director- updates and details as to all events per BOW Resolution No. 2836 Terry Greetham, Special Event Director stated this has been a very successful year and the Festival of Lights was bigger than last year with special thanks to Eric Williams for all his hard work and dedication for this event. The Chili challenge raised $790 for “Meals on Wheels”. President Keating read the following item on the agenda. MONTHLY UPDATE- Flagherty & Collins updates and details to the construction/building of the six-story precast parking garage, two 12 and 6 story apartment “tower” and two-story retail/commercial space, by the train station . Skyler York Planning Director, stated Dave Ambers was unable to make it today and will give an update at the December 18, 2023 meeting. The precast should be delivered on the first of January and as of today they are working on completing the early work. CLAIMS AND PAYROLL President Keating read the BOW Claim Docket for December 4, 2023: PAYROLL DOCKET December 1 , 2023 City Payroll $ No Received CLAIMS DOCKET December 4 , 2023 Municipal $ 631,616.75 Health & Life Ins. Fund $ 495,779.09 CDBG $ 5,500.00 WORKERS COMP TRUST $ 0.00 Special Events $ 0.00 Total Claims: $1,132,895.84 Mayor Parry made a motion to approve the City Payroll Dockets and the Claims Docket in the amount of $1,132,895.57; second by Vice President Vinson and carried as follows: AYES: BOW members Parry, Vinson, and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Pending item’s list Councilman Don Przybylinski’s -request for the guardrail on the corner of 8th Street and Springland Avenue be replaced. Brad Minnick stated he is waiting to receive the quotes from the contractor this month, and the permanent installation of the guardrail. He is still working on the design as it is more extensive and will have those at the first meeting in January 2024. President Keating asked what has been done for a temporary fix. Brad Minnick responded the temporary boards have been received by the contractor and they will bring them to the Street Department for installation. President Keating asked when installation will take place. Brad Minnick responded that will depend on the weather and if there is any snow removal, hoping this month. PUBLIC COMMENT President Keating stated that the City ’s Website has the forms and explaining the requirements and procedures for being placed on the Board Agenda. The forms are also available from the Clerk ’s office. Also called attention to the Board ’s Resolution #2823 enacted on December 6, 2021 and reading in pertinent part that Public Comment is limited to three (3) minutes. All comments are addressed to the Board President not to the individual Board members. All comments must be germane to and within the mandate authority of this Board. President Keating asked if there were any public comments, there was no response. DISPOSITION OF GRIEVANCE- FOP Dunes Lodge #75 Grievance that was held on November 20, 2023. Mayor Parry made a motion to deny the one time “sign-on” $7,000 bonus; second by Vice President Vinson and carried as follows: AYES: BOW members Parry, Vinson, and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. Mayor Parry made a motion to deny the four (4) additional vacation days; second by Vice President Vinson and carried as follows: AYES: BOW members Parry, Vinson, and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. Mayor Parry made a motion to deny former badge#337; second by Vice President Vinson and carried as follows: AYES: BOW members Parry, Vinson, and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. Mayor Parry made a motion to deny the grievance of Officer Noah Smith in its entirety; second by Vice President Vinson and carried as follows: AYES: BOW members Parry, Vinson, and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. BOARD COMMENT President Keating asked if there were 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 8:45 a.m. Vice President Vinson made the motion to Adjourn. The motion was seconded by Mayor Parry. AYES: Board of Public Works and Safety members Keating, Vinson, and Parry (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries . ______________________________ Gale A. Neulieb, City Clerk