Saint John council approves multiple economic agreements, purchases and personnel action; interim manager hire passes 3–1

The Saint John Town Council approved a series of resolutions, purchase requests and personnel actions at its March 25 meeting, voting unanimously on most items and approving the interim town manager employment agreement by a 3–1 margin.

Key approvals included:

- Resolution 2026‑03‑25A: Authorization to submit a Community Development Block Grant project proposal for $94,446 to be used by the Parks Department. Vote: 4–0.

- Ten purchase requests totaling $219,018.68 for items including festival rentals, police tasers, hydrants, water‑meter couplings, body‑cam cloud storage and emergency pump repairs. Vote: 4–0.

- Accounts payable voucher for $2,428,462.31 representing payroll, supplies, services and equipment. Vote: 4–0.

- Multiple requisitions from Series 2025A and 2025B construction accounts (including payments to SEH Engineering and insurance services). Votes: unanimous.

- A package of resolutions approving economic development agreements (including with SJ9301, LLC; Ham's Lake Commission/Lake Development; LBL Development, LLC; LVL Development, LLC), establishment of the Saint John Riverfront Development Project Area 2, and a termination/withdrawal from a joint interlocal cooperative with Schererville for a shared sewer inspection trailer; most passed 4–0 and one economic development item passed 3–1 after a member said he voted yes by mistake and would stand by it.

- Interim town manager employment agreement for Wayne Pondinas approved 3–1.

- Donation of $36,400 to the Tri Town Safety Village and a construction‑phase services agreement for Heartland Park with SEH not to exceed $100,000. Votes: 4–0.

- Contracts and project approvals including sign installation and emergency vehicle preemption equipment (up to $45,000) and a Lake Hills Dam technical inspection agreement with American Structure Point not to exceed $10,050. Votes: 4–0.

- Release of a $230,000 performance bond and acceptance of a $154,168 two‑year maintenance bond for the Gates of St. John development; motions carried unanimously.

Council recorded votes as motion carries with numeric tallies when announced; most items passed unanimously and several procurement and disbursement motions were approved by voice vote. The interim manager employment agreement was the only recorded non‑unanimous council vote at the meeting.

The council did not take final action on ordinance changes tied to public‑comment concerns about annexation; that topic drew multiple resident requests for follow‑up.