Commission approves litigation allocation, park funding, change order and several project bids; staff updates construction timelines

The Elkhart Redevelopment Commission took several budget and contract actions at its June 9 meeting covering litigation costs, construction change orders, bidding authorizations and park funding.

Staff said the City has ongoing litigation related to environmental contamination at the Labor Pump property and requested the commission allocate an additional $50,000 from the consolidated TIF account to cover current and anticipated expert witness fees; the commission approved the allocation by voice vote.

Jacob (staff) presented Change Order No. 1 for Premium Concrete Services related to Park 131 sidewalk repairs, saying the contractor "agreed to replace the sidewalk at the contract cost per foot." The commission approved increasing the contract price to $256,677 and allocating $6,827 from downtown allocation area #1 to cover the extra work.

For pedestrian and lighting improvements, staff asked the commission to approve the request for bids and form agreements for sidewalks and lighting on East Windsor and Casopoulos Streets; the commission authorized advertisement and set a bid opening date of July 14, 2026.

Mary Casco, assistant director of community development, presented a CDBG allocation to fund playground equipment and associated improvements at Olie (Ellery) Park and requested $45,000 from grant B21 MC180015 (split between 2025 and 2026 line items). Commissioners approved the allocation and authorized officers to carry out the award.

On a property-assistance item, staff asked the commission to subordinate the RDC's second mortgage on a newly built home at 1639 Huron Street to a new first mortgage with Union Home Mortgage; one commissioner disclosed the homeowner is a cousin and said they could not vote. The record shows the motion carried with four yes votes and one abstention.

Staff concluded with construction updates: the Beardsley EPA work is roughly 50% complete and recent bids for follow-up work returned at about $1.5 million; South Main Street reconstruction will begin after July 4 with a planned December completion; Park 131 will see concrete poured before the jazz festival; and Woodland Crossing punch-list and furnishing work continues.

The actions taken allocate and reassign modest sums to cover litigation, park and construction needs and move several capital projects toward procurement and construction.