Logansport board approves $476,362.06 in claims, accepts Parks and Community Development annual reports

Mayor Chris Martin called the Logansport Board of Public Works and Safety to order on Feb. 4, 2026 and presided over routine approvals, including claims totaling $476,362.06 and the acceptance of two departmental annual reports.

The board approved the claims package, which the mayor read as including payroll of $295,275.90, bonuses of $15,731.50, fire pension payments of $71,021.12 and police pension payments of $38,101.24. Mayor Chris Martin moved the motion and the board recorded unanimous 'Yes' votes from Chris Martin, Jacob Palmasil and Levi Jones.

Parks staff presenter Jan delivered the department's 2025 annual report, noting "a total of over 4,000,000 in investment in the Dykeman Golf Course" and citing higher program income and event attendance. The report listed multiple capital projects completed or underway (restroom rehabilitations, splash pad work, a 10-acre prairie restoration at Houston Park, ADA assessments across 15 parks) and described expanded programming: summer pool visits, lessons, music series and a new program vehicle described in the transcript as "Vanna." After the presentation the board voted to accept the Parks Department annual report.

Community Development staff member Rob told the board the department had "a pretty decent year," reporting deposits of $97,449.70 and, as transcribed, a total of "1,465 permits," with residential permitting driving increases. Rob listed counts for building permits, contractor registrations and other permit types and noted two condemned structures were rehabilitated and returned to service. The board voted to accept the Community Development annual report.

The board also voted to approve a range of routine contracts and events: continuation of RDC secretary services with the individual named in the transcript as both "Dwayne Olam" and "Duane Ullam" (transcript spelling inconsistent), a uniform/rental services agreement (vendor name appears as "Centus"/"Centas" in the transcript), FirstNet push-to-talk coverage for in-vehicle communications, an agreement with Alyssa Irvin for plant-education programming, and a Purdue University Department of Entomology children's event. An electrical license for Rex A. Byers doing business as Bassett Home Services was approved after staff confirmed required documentation.

One board member raised an operational concern about vendor payments in the RDC department, saying the department has had "trouble getting people paid on time" and that he would be "paying really close attention going forward," a matter left as a discussion point rather than a recorded formal direction.

Votes at a glance:
• Approval of minutes (01/28/2026): Moved by Mayor Chris Martin; recorded votes — Chris Martin: Yes; Jacob Palmasil: Yes; Levi Jones: Yes. Outcome: approved.
• Approval of claims ($476,362.06): Moved by Mayor Chris Martin; recorded votes — Chris Martin: Yes; Jacob Palmasil: Yes; Levi Jones: Yes. Outcome: approved.
• RDC secretary services contract (individual name spelled variably in the transcript): Moved by Mayor Chris Martin; outcome: approved.
• Centus/Centas rental program professional services agreement: Moved by Mayor Chris Martin; outcome: approved.
• FirstNet push-to-talk coverage: Moved by Mayor Chris Martin; outcome: approved.
• Alyssa Irvin — Plant Education and Seed Management Agreement: Moved by Mayor Chris Martin; outcome: approved.
• Department of Entomology bug event (Purdue University): Moved by Mayor Chris Martin; outcome: approved.
• Parks Department annual report (2025): Moved by Mayor Chris Martin; outcome: approved.
• Community Development annual report (2025): Moved by Mayor Chris Martin; outcome: approved.
• Electrical license — Rex A. Byers d/b/a Bassett Home Services: Moved by Mayor Chris Martin; outcome: approved.

The meeting closed after brief board comments and a motion to adjourn, which passed unanimously.

(Reporting note: transcript contains several inconsistent spellings for vendor and individual names — e.g., 'Centus'/'Centas' and 'Dwayne Olam'/'Duane Ullam' — and the article reflects those inconsistencies rather than guessing a corrected spelling.)