Board approves INDOT contract acceptance and several public-works permits

City staff asked the board to accept a contract final inspection for Contract RDash42619 with the Indiana Department of Transportation related to Summer Street and to ratify or approve a set of permitting actions for public-works projects.

A staff member standing in for Dean Button explained that the contract final inspection is required when federal funding is utilized and recommended acceptance for the Summer Street work. The board recommended approval and concurred.

Staff also asked the board to ratify an emergency closure of Homan Avenue for roughly five hours on Dec. 18, 2025 to fix a broken rail at a CSX crossing; staff said CSX would provide traffic control. "This is an emergency situation," staff said, and the request was recommended and concurred.

Separately, the board approved a request from Midwestern Electric to temporarily close the westbound right-turn lane on Highland on Dec. 22, 2025 to connect an upgraded EV charging station outside City Hall; staff noted the city will later set pricing for kilowatt-hours. Engineering submitted right-of-way permits from NIPSCO for utility pole work across the city and staff recommended approval. The board also took up a plat for YMCA sports facilities and a street-sweeping services agreement; the latter was approved pending review by the city attorney.

Next steps: Staff will process contract acceptance paperwork for the INDOT contract and schedule the CSX closure and EV-station connection in coordination with contractors and traffic control vendors; the street-sweeping agreement remains subject to city-attorney review.