Michigan City — The Michigan City Finance Committee on Sept. 2 approved $388,480.10 in claims, including a $250,000 transfer into a Bridal Street fund and $138,480.10 associated with Aretha Riley Construction Co. and Schneider Geometrics. The committee also reported year-to-date fund balances.

The committee voted to approve the claims after a motion by Dr. Kaur and a second by Mr. Beatry; all members present voted in favor. Committee President Tracy Tillman presided.

Deputy Controller Tamiko Smith said the $250,000 was moved “by ordinance into the Bridal Street Fund,” and clarified that no streets have been repaired yet. “So we just — we haven't fixed any streets,” Smith said when asked by City Councilman Don Presbylinski.

The committee reported an ending year-to-date balance for the riverboat-related fund of $4,798,819.44 and an ending balance for the rainy day fund of $1,167,490.42; those two figures sum to $5,966,309.86. The claims total recorded for the Sept. 2 docket was $388,480.10.

Motion and vote: a motion to approve the claims was made by Dr. Kaur and seconded by Mr. Beatry; the motion passed with all members present voting aye and no opposition.

The question from Councilman Don Presbylinski prompted the clarification from Smith that the council’s ordinance transferred funds into the Bridal Street Fund but that no construction or repair work on streets had occurred as a result of that transfer. The committee did not take separate action directing immediate street work.

The committee did not identify further follow-up actions on the claims during the meeting. Members did not provide additional details about the ordinance referenced beyond the deputy controller’s statement that the transfer occurred by ordinance.

Less-critical details: the claims docket referenced payments involving Aretha Riley Construction Co. and Schneider Geometrics; the committee did not discuss contract scopes or schedules during the Sept. 2 meeting.