[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6266985,"mediaKeyId","3080846-2f9763befdadd78c5936c1ed6cdd0659","parentId",3080846,"title","Board advances water, wastewater and sidewalk projects; awards and contract steps cleared","audioSeconds",385,"startMs",2088000,"endMs",2473000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080846-2f9763befdadd78c5936c1ed6cdd0659&start=2088&end=2473","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080846-2f9763befdadd78c5936c1ed6cdd0659/thumbnail_2088000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6266985/La-Porte-City/LaPorte-County/Indiana/Board-advances-water-wastewater-and-sidewalk-projects-awards-and-contract-steps-cleared","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266985-c4bd6ad41eefc279a23eee2ef73fd8a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157165&Signature=SbNoGvICAdPmotvcqs95Zkdp~wNYEusKiuifjmfJqYUqTy1cCKeYyj5pU~tUiKdj1BmF3kHi2B6qyzGGGlTf~HjmLZiLDrRFBEQM03~jAHHCmN5NQrprBBhYUPN0hG-1BJGnC9KPDPPdy7aof~DaUYR6BBRpJtTnO3tsYZ5XlK03SR21v-Inb23v7oG~dg6Ph2k6dcZG6~VZBmlV5mDpeHxsNn7IPkV-9NVhJyEL1lLkxi96lujX1u66hYPa-QmVWeaRG4xJfQ6W~g3AW~DTLV7vMlre~VSezw7YvBv9rLVcZtFas4cNumMgG8VWS5eEthxwTynReZno2MwDbrR~2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of La Porte IN","date","2025-04-22T14:00:05Z","article","The La Porte City Board of Public Works on April 22 approved several actions related to water, wastewater and street-side infrastructure, including authorization for localized water service improvements, advancing a headworks procurement process for the wastewater plant, opening sidewalk bids on a Madison Street project, and approving a final change order to close out a prior Schneider Electric contract.

Water: Water Superintendent Tim Warner told the board that two homes on Eighth Street between Fifth and Sixth Street are experiencing low-pressure problems caused by old galvanized service lines running through alleys. Two homeowners agreed to bring their services to the front of the houses; the city will bore lines from the Fifth/High intersection to serve both properties and reduce restoration impacts. Warner estimated the cost to bore both services would likely be between $4,000 and $5,000 and asked the board to approve proceeding; the board approved the work.

Wastewater and headworks procurement: Wastewater staff reported they received three statements of qualifications for a headworks project from Kokosing, Bowen and Schneider Electric. After evaluating submissions and reference checks, staff recommended moving to contract discussions with Kokosing as the top-ranked firm under a guaranteed savings/open-book approach. The board authorized staff to proceed to contract negotiations with Kokosing and to return the negotiated contract to the board for review and approval; staff noted budget and contract terms must be acceptable before final award.

Sidewalks and bids: Staff opened two bids for sidewalks on Madison Street (between Lincoln Way and First Street and portions of Maple, Harrison and Jefferson). Bids received were $250,772 from Pavey Excavating and $329,899.03 from Reith-Riley; staff asked the board for time to review bid completeness and to award the contract at the next Board of Works meeting (May 6). The board granted that request.

Contract closeout: Staff presented a negative change order of $22,050 for a Schneider Electric project to close out contract accounting; the board approved the change order.

Payments: The board approved a pay application (numbered in staff materials) for the WHP Training Towers construction; the transcript noted the item and the board approved payment, though the transcript contained conflicting audible dollar figures in that exchange and the exact amount should be verified in the official pay application paperwork.

Board members and staff said the projects are part of ongoing routine infrastructure maintenance and improvements; staff will return to the board with negotiated contract documents, final bid analyses and verified pay-application figures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Works & Public Safety - 4/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","La Porte’s Board of Public Works on April 22 authorized water service work on Eighth Street, advanced a headworks procurement recommendation, opened sidewalk bids for Madison Street and approved a Schneider Electric change order as part of ongoing utilities and street projects.","taxTitle","La Porte City, LaPorte County, Indiana","taxId",70496,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6266990,"Board approves engagement letter to assist city’s statutorily required redistricting",136,1432000,1568000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080846-2f9763befdadd78c5936c1ed6cdd0659&start=1432&end=1568","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080846-2f9763befdadd78c5936c1ed6cdd0659/thumbnail_1432000.jpg","/articles/6266990/La-Porte-City/LaPorte-County/Indiana/Board-approves-engagement-letter-to-assist-citys-statutorily-required-redistricting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266990-c1ea7b370abd8cc8f96d8b5eedb02ca9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157165&Signature=UwDLTJUjxQ2GZPQhSjFlVQCpWMPGu0ABwITDzfk0hhniPhN1VNMR6qGNQZwuDjxgAhKRK8AXgFhDwEHonED3-8~-ssbomTnMuzqCIy~6iyc0eIDLLbPIzq-gHnkFbIULLWH38fulqG8-ZW6Qr3e-tnE3-Ik~vG0IR5YDuJcGX8dIZGDxNSafcyKwZfblrybagGsGdsB6aXydkXHpPcXS2VCpu6un-HLP~2LGIIcQlLBJUQIGL~4u~k8q1HHHj3VDICp24EPm1PmoTVPCB83-4M6YzBU~vuJ-gvI5KQlgn0exAsfP9b63Y~Z9rWjKRCU9mVw8T0Wa8yDus4W-LUI3SQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The La Porte City Board of Public Works on April 22 approved an engagement letter with a law firm that will assist the city with required redistricting based on 2020 census data.

City staff said statutes require the city to complete redistricting by June and that some council districts exceed the 10% population deviation allowed for voting-district equality. The proposed firm (Kroger, Gardas & Regas in Indianapolis, as named in the staff packet) was described as experienced in municipal redistricting; staff said the firm will provide mapping options and work with the city council, which will set final district lines after public engagement.

Staff indicated the process will include several public meetings and multiple draft maps for council consideration; staff said changes were driven by demographic shifts rather than annexations. The board approved the engagement and directed staff to proceed within the statutory timeline.

Staff said the firm will supply compliant map options and that the council will determine which plan to adopt after public input.","La Porte approved an engagement letter with an Indianapolis law firm to assist with redistricting required this year based on 2020 census data; the city council will make final district decisions after public input.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6266994,"Board signs engagement to join PFAS class-action outreach; no fee unless recovery",327,1105000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080846-2f9763befdadd78c5936c1ed6cdd0659&start=1105&end=1432","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080846-2f9763befdadd78c5936c1ed6cdd0659/thumbnail_1105000.jpg","/articles/6266994/La-Porte-City/LaPorte-County/Indiana/Board-signs-engagement-to-join-PFAS-class-action-outreach-no-fee-unless-recovery","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266994-fac6e4cac69d5ff86d2dcfcbc6bfc985/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157165&Signature=XqyPVNLuQsjYJP9rqwn6gxXaFn-KfX7Gj~N1GljsdcEyZF1-5wGeI-8Hy4YHOJOCPmSFbBEGuPKhQjPnSWXJigyd5vaCLf13xPJ3a0lwzpbzSheKpHKHgZysvskE7YAz0huLt6EFKyGgmmdKegWQ5WiX-gMSR2rIcvmPuWn~B15BR5S36T2NH5sJEa9h4bd9dkyx8nmNfWw4MdOVzbqxNSf7bGGpHJx14Nmn2U59g3DpMx-oKOl34M2XA1SKQmz1H-zNHJ9k6Fvhs0SxdaRRPMltvI4HW--B7ZAQs~GRmcMqd2~MACd7f0IRzlcGT7xjbAp2m-NAp4icuuAkhCrVuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The La Porte City Board of Public Works on April 22 authorized an engagement letter with the law firm Ice Miller to participate in PFAS-related litigation and potential recovery efforts at no upfront cost to the city.

City Attorney Nick Otis explained the proposed engagement, saying Ice Miller has prior experience representing the city on insurance collection work and that the firm would not charge fees or expenses unless recoveries are obtained on the city’s behalf. Otis said the area of law is specialized and that the city’s financial exposure is limited because costs are contingent on successful collections.

Water Superintendent Tim Warner summarized testing the city undertook: La Porte volunteered PFAS sampling from its wells and detected minimal traces in two newer wells (reported in the transcript as very low parts-per-trillion levels). Warner said current measured concentrations were very small and that the city has been monitoring through its wellhead protection program. He described ongoing interdepartmental coordination (wastewater, MS4, stormwater) to limit PFAS entry to well fields.

The board moved and approved the engagement letter by voice vote. Staff emphasized that engagement puts the city “on the list” for any potential distributions from national settlements with manufacturers such as 3M and DuPont, and that any recovery could help fund future treatment upgrades such as activated-carbon filtration.

City staff said the state has not finalized regulatory limits and that the city is pushing back on including the voluntary test results in the annual Consumer Confidence Report until state parameters are formalized.","La Porte approved retaining Ice Miller to pursue potential recovery from national PFAS settlements; the city will not incur fees or expenses unless money is recovered on its behalf.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6266999,"Board approves PAC Center MOU for State Street garden plan and $7,500 CDBG food pantry grant",333,363000,696000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080846-2f9763befdadd78c5936c1ed6cdd0659&start=363&end=696","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080846-2f9763befdadd78c5936c1ed6cdd0659/thumbnail_363000.jpg","/articles/6266999/La-Porte-City/LaPorte-County/Indiana/Board-approves-PAC-Center-MOU-for-State-Street-garden-plan-and-7500-CDBG-food-pantry-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266999-4979b790f1defc8148604e34724209ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157165&Signature=ZAQfZafs0Wzw5hxxSOUOctyJB7M~0lbHJZScWEmYAIltK73HkZQu2mZkJJSWpnp4P4nDvZSWDsK7rVwY5U12O4UUFTNzjEwN34BlwrEybqPiVnOGLcZF--xRDZB2MZGcaC4QdNvcDUedEyT5JqAjyVEJcbG5urrWuofjJnCtbhn4BbYGVv1rR9vFFcSGB-4B6GS-FMqmIc9pDSviDqfLqDNSCysjdffaZaTXH8u3MTz7Kmdfmk5GC4AOuEOLGDnZvrpS8bcps-Y35tGLp-Q5e1SoDZHherpkT1sq-bVW5UnL-wnimsuziWQvMMdSBP6UKkExsjy0O4ULhiJw~6X7Tw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The La Porte City Board of Public Works on April 22 approved a memorandum of understanding with the PAC Center to convert nine brick planters on State Street into vegetable planters managed by the nonprofit, and separately approved a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public services agreement of $7,500 to support the PAC Center’s food pantry.

At the meeting, PAC Center representative Jamie Buchanan described the proposed “State Street Garden Walk,” which would convert nine planters from State and Monroe eastward to vegetable plots available to the community. Buchanan said the PAC Center already operates three community gardens in La Porte and would provide plants and volunteers; the city would provide watering and some street-department assistance with soil and mulch.

City staff said the city will be responsible for watering the nine planters and noted an offer from the street department to supply a watering truck and assistance with routine maintenance. Buchanan said the PAC Center would provide plants and tending; a waiver of assumption-of-risk was drafted with the city attorney and included in the agreement.

The board also approved a $7,500 CDBG public services grant for the PAC Center’s food pantry for program year 2024; the packet used the same grant stipulations the city has used in prior years. Both motions passed by voice vote with no substantive objections recorded.

City staff said the garden program is modeled on a larger Unity Gardens program in South Bend and would start on a smaller scale in La Porte. The MOU and the grant take effect after signatures and will be filed according to standard city procedures.","La Porte’s Board of Public Works approved a memorandum of understanding with the PAC Center to manage nine planters on State Street as a community garden program and approved a $7,500 CDBG public services grant to the PAC Center food pantry.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6267004,"Board approves FTA 5307 conveyance and related certifications for La Porte transit funding",142,239000,381000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080846-2f9763befdadd78c5936c1ed6cdd0659&start=239&end=381","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080846-2f9763befdadd78c5936c1ed6cdd0659/thumbnail_239000.jpg","/articles/6267004/La-Porte-City/LaPorte-County/Indiana/Board-approves-FTA-5307-conveyance-and-related-certifications-for-La-Porte-transit-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267004-78b88e3e85285755793772ff6377ea98/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157165&Signature=Ld3GcmmXUc~MQeE66jnJBOpGBHXmLtXyxEVFnS1hQeu0w3nHwMvsgeBR~zz-~TVE0zd7PvUSQvwupVnUCc~Xbzl3zwM0Gyjwy1~pyXoupOEo4RPcCcO3nWsoRZEXayOIjURcUdGgIg0LzhOhCD5wrqfUjOt3TjGyCEsNySQPAanYerx4BwCCqXjEH7h~uWazymNDy5IyRr-Or4RGG6seinBxU8b4L8Lytm7YI2~wLjLWKxHrMjxmTtCRa1mRB1zjP9zZcro2eHPI5bBxKCcqeSi0jygaAtI4qKVA3RqSzDc3YPnVCCIFOgrRzoXdAs24cn14cv9ay-oqsRo0PePkjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The La Porte City Board of Public Works on April 22 approved a Section 5307 conveyance agreement and related Federal Transit Administration documents to make federal transit operating and planning funds available to the city’s transit subrecipient.

The board voted to authorize the mayor and the clerk-treasurer to sign the 5307 conveyance agreement (grant number cited in the staff packet), the FTA certifications and assurances for 2025, a certification of financial capacity and local share availability for grant year 2025, and the FTA master agreement as presented by city staff. City staff said these are routine, annual documents required to draw federal funds and to certify the city’s compliance and local match capacity.

City staff told the board the 5307 program makes federal resources available to subrecipients for transit operating assistance and transportation planning in specified areas and that the packet included a redline and final version of the FTA master agreement. The clerk-treasurer’s signature line (Natalie Griffith) and the mayor’s signature were noted as required on multiple documents.

Board members moved, seconded and then approved each item with a voice vote. No member raised substantive objections during the approvals.

The approvals allow the city to proceed with required FTA paperwork and position the transit program to receive federal operating and planning funds for 2025. Staff said the work is part of the city’s recurring annual grant administration and compliance obligations.

Looking ahead, staff will complete signatures and file the executed agreements with FTA as required by the grant terms.","The La Porte City Board of Public Works approved a Section 5307 conveyance agreement and several Federal Transit Administration certifications and assurances to secure federal transit operating and planning funds for 2025.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board advances water, wastewater and sidewalk projects; awards and contract steps cleared

Board approves engagement letter to assist city’s statutorily required redistricting

Board signs engagement to join PFAS class-action outreach; no fee unless recovery

Board approves PAC Center MOU for State Street garden plan and $7,500 CDBG food pantry grant

Board approves FTA 5307 conveyance and related certifications for La Porte transit funding