Board of Public Works & Safety

REGULAR HYBRID/ZOOM MEETING – January 2, 2024 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Michigan City, Indiana, met in REGULAR SESSION on Tuesday, January 2, 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 Corporate Counsel Amber Lapaich Stalbrink. Noted present in person: Tim Bietry, Candice Antisdel, and Gene Simmions (ZOOM) (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 Terry Greetham, Special Events Director Eric Williams, Assistant Events Coordinator William Walker, Assistant Park Superintendent Marty Corley, MCPD Chief Ta-Tenesha George, Personal Director Kelley Smith, Mayor Administrator Izabella Galvin- Ellis, Assistant Administrator Barrett Taylor, MCFD Chief Shannon Borders, MCFD Assistant Chief Angie Nelson Deuitch, Mayor Steve Standford, Sanitation Operations Manager Darrell Garbacik, Superintendent Central Maintenance Shong Smith, Street Department Director Gale Neulieb, City Clerk Amanda Pickens, Deputy Clerk Roll Call City Attorney Lapaich Stalbrink, did roll call of the new member of the Board of works. Election of Officers Gene Simmions made a motion for Tim Bietry to be board President; seconded by Candice Antisdel and was approved by the following vote: AYES: BOW members Bietry, Simmons, and Antisdel (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. Candice Antisdel made a motion that Gene Simmons to be board Vice President; seconded by President Bietry and was approved by the following vote: AYES: Board members, Bietry, Simmons, and Antisdel (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. APPROVAL OF MINUTES President Bietry asked if there were any corrections to the minutes of the Regular “Hybrid/Zoom” meeting of December 18, 2023, Executive Session December 18, 2023 and Special “Hybrid/Zoom” meeting December 18, 2023. President Bietry made a motion to approve the minutes as read of the Regular “Hybrid/Zoom” meeting of December 18, 2023, Executive Session December 18, 2023 and Special “Hybrid/Zoom” meeting December 18, 2023; seconded by Candice Antisdel and was approved by the following vote: AYES: BOW members Bietry, Simmons, and Antisdel (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. President Bietry read the following item on the agenda. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING- Memorandum of Understanding between Northshore Health Center, Inc., and the City of Michigan City for a “Healthcare Clinic for City Employees” Craig Menne, President of General Insurance, gave the board an overview of pricing of the proposal with Northshore. Todd Elliott, Chief Strategy Officer, Northshore, addressed the board stating that the North Shore had just recently purchased the old St. Paul School building located at 817 Pine Street with hopes to be open a health facility the next 4- 6 months that will include but not limited to Primary Doctors, Dental, Vision, OB, and Mental Health. There is a discount put in place for City employees at other Northshore locations until the facility is opened in Michigan City. North Shore is a non-for-profit facility and offers 340B and will have a full staffed pharmacy that will provide 80% savings on prescriptions. President Bietry asked if the board had any comments. City Attorney LaPaich Stalbrink, stated that the savings for City employees is going to be phenomenal and will be very convenient for the employees. She is working on a few adjustments to the MOU and asks that if the board approves today to make the approval subject to her final review of the documents. President Bietry asked if there were any comments from the public. Darrell Garbacik, Central Maintenance Superintendent, asked if there were any incentives or advantages using or switching to this pharmacy provided by North Shore verses other pharmacies such as Walgreens or CVS. Todd Elliott, Chief Strategy Officer, Northshore, stated we are a Federal qualified health center and go by the citizens income levels as no one will be turned away in the community. Vice President Simmons made a motion to approve Memorandum of Understanding between Northshore Health Center, Inc., and the City of Michigan City for a “Healthcare Clinic for City Employees”, subject to City Attorney Lapaich Stalbrink review and approval; second by Antisdel and the motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BOW members Bietry, Simmons, and Antisdel (3) NAYS (0). Motion carries President Bietry read the following item on the agenda. OPENING OF BIDS- City owned property- bids received for Wild Rose Drive (vacant lot) Parcel #46-01-13-232-022.000-022 President Bietry asked there is anyone here to submit a bid do so now. Antisdel made a motion close the bids, second by Vice President Simmons and the motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BOW members Bietry, Simmons, and Antisdel (3) NAYS (0) Motion carries. Attorney Lapaich Stalbrink stated there were 1 bid received • Attorney Barry McDonald in the amount of $500.00 The asking amount that the former board set was $1800.00 as a starting bid. President Bietry stated the board will need an explanation from Attorney McDonald to explain to us the nature of their bid as it is below the asset value. Attorney Lapaich Stalbrink asked to table this until the next meeting, and she will ask them to appear before the board. Antisdel made a motion to table until the next meeting; second by Vice President Simmons and the motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BOW members Bietry, Simmons, and Antisdel (3) NAYS (0). Motion carries President Bietry read the following item on the agenda. OPENING OF BIDS- 2023-2 bids received for the Community Crossing Grant – Paving Project (Haas & Associates) Brad Minnick Haas and Associates, stated bids should be submitted for the CCMG grant 2023- 2 Paving Project. President Bietry asked there is anyone here to submit a bid do so now. Antisdel made a motion close the bids for the Community Crossing Grant, second by Vice President Simmons and the motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BOW members Bietry, Simmons, and Antisdel (3) NAYS (0) Motion carries. Attorney Lapaich Stalbrink stated there were 2 bids received • Reith-Riley with a base bid of $1,790,938.00, Alternative 1- Krueger Parking Lot $36,113.00, Alternative 2- Golf Course Cart Paving $58,080.00, Alternate 3- Golf Course Club House $64,036.00. • Milestone Contractors North, Inc. with a base bid of$2,152,658.46, Alternative 1- Krueger Parking Lot $42,666.64, Alternative 2- Golf Course Cart Paving $54,340.30, Alternative 3- Gold Course Club House $95,123.90. If this board would like to refer them to my department and the engineer for review and recommendation at the next meeting. Vice President Simmons made a motion to refer to City Attorney and City Interim engineer Brad Minnick for review; second by Antisdel and the motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BOW members Bietry, Simmons, and Antisdel (3) NAYS (0). Motion carries President Bietry read the following item on the agenda. CITY ARBORIST- Correspondence was in the Clerk’s Office on December 18, 2023 from City Attorney Lapaich Stalbrink, regarding the Michigan City Arborist recommendation President Bietry asked if the board had any comments. Mayor Nelson Deuitch stated as a former member of the Tree Board, this position has needed to be filled for several months and having received a million-dollar grant, we would like to get this person on board to help manage and maintain the grant as we move forward in the season. City Attorney Lapaich Stalbrink stated the Tree Board did meet, they interviewed and submitted a formal recommendation to hire this candidate to the prior board on December 6, 2023, as they highly recommend this individual. Mayor Nelson Deuitch stated that any new hire needs to start on the beginning of a pay period and not in the middle of a pay period. President Bietry asked if there were any comments from the public, there was no response. Antisdel made a motion to approve the recommendation of hiring the Michigan City Arborist starting on January 8th, 2024; second by Vice President Simmons and the motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BOW members Bietry, Simmons, and Antisdel (3) NAYS (0). Motion carries President Bietry read the following item on the agenda. REMOVAL OF SINGAGE- Tommy Kulavik, 1316 Ohio street, is requesting the removal of the “Do Not Enter” sign located at Ohio and Green Street and converting Green street between Ohio and Elston Street back to two-way traffic due to reopening of 11th Street to one-way eastbound traffic President Bietry stated Mr. Kulavik withdrew his request as these items have been completed. President Bietry read the following item on the agenda. SPECIAL EVENT REPORT- Terry Greetham, Special Event Director- updates and details as to events per BOW Resolution No. 2836 Terry Greetham Special Events Director, gave an overview of the 2023 year of events highlighting the 8 major events and is looking forward to a great 2024 season of events to make each of the events bigger and better. President Bietry read the following item on the agenda. PARK DEPARTMENT REPORT- Park Departments updates and details as to all upcoming community events per BOW Resolution No. 2836 City Attorney Lapaich Stalbrink stated to carry this over till the next meeting. President Bietry 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 will be here at the next meaning, he does know that all the closing on the property and the bonds have been executed and closed on the bank loans. There is a conflict of a sewer pipe with Water and Sanitation Department as they are working to resolve the issue. CLAIMS AND PAYROLL President Bietry read the BOW Claim Docket for January 2, 2024: PAYROLL DOCKET December 28, 2023 City Payroll NOT RECIEVED CLAIMS DOCKET January 2, 2024 NOT RECIEVED UNFINISHED BUSINESS Pending item’s list Councilman Don Przybylinski- Replace City owned guard rail on the corner of 8th street and Springland Avenue Brad Minnick Haas & Associates, addressed the board presenting a quote that was received from LaPorte Construction CO, INC. in the amount of $11,707.00 and asked the board to leave this on the pending list till the next meeting so he can secure funding with the Controller Office and City Attorney Lapaich -Stalbrink to review and recommendation at the next meeting. Paul Przybylinski- Drainage Issue Brad Minnick Haas & Associates, addressed the board presenting the punch list which is part of what is still being worked on this asking that this remains on the pending list as the drainage issue is still on the list until the first meeting in May which will allow Asphalt plants to open up in the Spring. Simmons made a motion to approve this item remain on the pending list until the May 6, 2024 meeting; second by Antisdel and the motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BOW members Bietry, Simmons, and Antisdel (3) NAYS (0). Motion carries Mayor Nelson Deuitch asked the board to revise the meeting schedule for the first meeting of the month to be at 8:30 a.m. and the second meeting of the month to be at 4:00 p.m. Simmons made a motion to approve the meeting schedule; second by Antisdel and the motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BOW members Bietry, Simmons, and Antisdel (3) NAYS (0). Motion carries PUBLIC COMMENT President Bietry asked if there were any public comments, there was no response. BOARD COMMENT President Bietry 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 9:18 a.m. Vice President Simmons made the motion to Adjourn. The motion was seconded by Antisdel. AYES: Board of Public Works and Safety members Bietry, Simmons, and Antisdel (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. ______________________________ Gale A. Neulieb, City Clerk