Board approves bids and routine measures; awards $1.85 million street reconstruction contract
June 17, 2025 | Elkhart City, Elkhart County, Indiana
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The Board of Public Works of the City of Elkhart on June 17 approved a series of contracts, bid authorizations, permit actions and routine administrative items.
Top approvals included the claims and allowance docket totaling $4,459,220.35 and the award of bid number 25‑14 — Stevens Avenue, Francis Avenue and Second Street reconstruction — to Niblock Excavating for $1,849,913.30. The board also approved smaller construction and maintenance contracts, amendments to professional services, and multiple administrative and permitting items.
Selected outcomes (motions carried by voice vote unless noted):
- Claims and allowance docket: approved. Amount: $4,459,220.35 (34 pages printed 06/10/2025).
- Interlocal agreement: authorized board president to execute interlocal agreement with Elkhart County Redevelopment Commission for Elkhart East Area A (board to manage bid/contract administration; county TIF funds to pay project costs).
- Weaver Consultants Group: authorized professional service agreement for subsurface investigation of River District parking lot and multi‑use path, fees not to exceed $5,000.
- West Hubbard Avenue sewer and manhole repair (quote 25‑09): all quotes rejected due to insufficient funds.
- Williams Street drainage improvements (25‑13): plans and specifications approved; staff to coordinate connection to Elkhart Community Schools system.
- Perpetual water and wastewater easement: accepted from SK Weaver Holdings LLC for crossing at old movie theater site.
- Award: Stevens/Francis/Second reconstruction (25‑14) to Niblock Excavating, $1,849,913.30 (CCMG project; contract funded per council appropriation).
- Award: Beardsley/Greenleaf storm sewer connection (quote 25‑12) to Premium Concrete, $23,426.
- Award: asphalt crack sealing (25‑16) to Asphalt Restoration Services, $125,000.
- Partial payment ratified (Oakland Avenue Force Main phase A): partial payment request #23 to CNE Excavating, $190,570 (SRF loan WW22162005 project).
- Release of escrow: authorized board president to sign letter allowing Bank of New York to release the escrow account associated with the Elkhart Wastewater Treatment Plant capacity upgrade phase 2 project (staff reported escrow was separately administered and release required bank signatory actions).
- Award: forestry/tree removal (quote 25‑10 / contract 2025‑1) to Williams A-1 Expert Tree Service, $51,800; city forester to administer contract.
- Trash and recycling: approved bid documents and permission to advertise for municipal trash and recycling management (25‑15). Key changes in draft included one cart size for trash and recycling, same‑day large item pickup and tightened customer service standards; e‑waste pickup was left to contractor discretion.
- SCADA on‑call amendment: amendment #2 to Donahue on‑call SCADA services approved for +$10,000, bringing total contract to $65,000.
- Labor agreements: memoranda of understanding approved with AFSCME and the Teamsters to transition public works operations team to 12‑hour shifts (affects operations staff; overtime calculation clarified in discussion).
- Annexation: authorized board president to sign annexation petition for Prairie Street Cemetery.
- Surplus and equipment: authorized disposal of surplus fleet/street equipment and removal of an inoperable Cummins generator from the 911 center (generator declared to have no economic value; replacement already budgeted).
- Cisco network upgrade: approved revised payment schedule deferring the first payment to January 2026; funding to be included in 2026 operating budget.
- Contract amendments and routine permits: InFocus contract amendment (+$4,583.34) for UDO presentation materials; ratified water/sewer assessments, revocable permits, driveway permits and bond releases; approved a slate of use and events permits (listed on the agenda).
The board’s approvals covered a mix of capital projects, routine utility business, procurement steps and administrative housekeeping. Several projects will proceed to contract execution or bid advertising; staff identified funding sources where required and said some projects are tied to grant or loan programs (for example, the Stevens/Francis/Second CCMG project and Oakland Avenue SRF loan work).
Top approvals included the claims and allowance docket totaling $4,459,220.35 and the award of bid number 25‑14 — Stevens Avenue, Francis Avenue and Second Street reconstruction — to Niblock Excavating for $1,849,913.30. The board also approved smaller construction and maintenance contracts, amendments to professional services, and multiple administrative and permitting items.
Selected outcomes (motions carried by voice vote unless noted):
- Claims and allowance docket: approved. Amount: $4,459,220.35 (34 pages printed 06/10/2025).
- Interlocal agreement: authorized board president to execute interlocal agreement with Elkhart County Redevelopment Commission for Elkhart East Area A (board to manage bid/contract administration; county TIF funds to pay project costs).
- Weaver Consultants Group: authorized professional service agreement for subsurface investigation of River District parking lot and multi‑use path, fees not to exceed $5,000.
- West Hubbard Avenue sewer and manhole repair (quote 25‑09): all quotes rejected due to insufficient funds.
- Williams Street drainage improvements (25‑13): plans and specifications approved; staff to coordinate connection to Elkhart Community Schools system.
- Perpetual water and wastewater easement: accepted from SK Weaver Holdings LLC for crossing at old movie theater site.
- Award: Stevens/Francis/Second reconstruction (25‑14) to Niblock Excavating, $1,849,913.30 (CCMG project; contract funded per council appropriation).
- Award: Beardsley/Greenleaf storm sewer connection (quote 25‑12) to Premium Concrete, $23,426.
- Award: asphalt crack sealing (25‑16) to Asphalt Restoration Services, $125,000.
- Partial payment ratified (Oakland Avenue Force Main phase A): partial payment request #23 to CNE Excavating, $190,570 (SRF loan WW22162005 project).
- Release of escrow: authorized board president to sign letter allowing Bank of New York to release the escrow account associated with the Elkhart Wastewater Treatment Plant capacity upgrade phase 2 project (staff reported escrow was separately administered and release required bank signatory actions).
- Award: forestry/tree removal (quote 25‑10 / contract 2025‑1) to Williams A-1 Expert Tree Service, $51,800; city forester to administer contract.
- Trash and recycling: approved bid documents and permission to advertise for municipal trash and recycling management (25‑15). Key changes in draft included one cart size for trash and recycling, same‑day large item pickup and tightened customer service standards; e‑waste pickup was left to contractor discretion.
- SCADA on‑call amendment: amendment #2 to Donahue on‑call SCADA services approved for +$10,000, bringing total contract to $65,000.
- Labor agreements: memoranda of understanding approved with AFSCME and the Teamsters to transition public works operations team to 12‑hour shifts (affects operations staff; overtime calculation clarified in discussion).
- Annexation: authorized board president to sign annexation petition for Prairie Street Cemetery.
- Surplus and equipment: authorized disposal of surplus fleet/street equipment and removal of an inoperable Cummins generator from the 911 center (generator declared to have no economic value; replacement already budgeted).
- Cisco network upgrade: approved revised payment schedule deferring the first payment to January 2026; funding to be included in 2026 operating budget.
- Contract amendments and routine permits: InFocus contract amendment (+$4,583.34) for UDO presentation materials; ratified water/sewer assessments, revocable permits, driveway permits and bond releases; approved a slate of use and events permits (listed on the agenda).
The board’s approvals covered a mix of capital projects, routine utility business, procurement steps and administrative housekeeping. Several projects will proceed to contract execution or bid advertising; staff identified funding sources where required and said some projects are tied to grant or loan programs (for example, the Stevens/Francis/Second CCMG project and Oakland Avenue SRF loan work).
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