The Michigan City Department of Parks and Recreation Board on Aug. 20 approved a contract with Terracon to complete the environmental assessment required under a $1 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant for the Fetters Alley project.

The superintendent told the board, "So our million dollar HUD grant ... requires, an environmental assessment," and said former HUD director Sherry Lehi, who had been managing the grant, resigned and staff reached out to Terracon because the firm had performed HUD environmental assessments for the city in the past. The superintendent said the city's attorney, Attorney Nuremberg, reviewed the contract and "had no issues with it."

Staff recommended prompt authorization so the department can issue a notice to proceed; the superintendent estimated a six- to eight-week timetable to completion and said the assessment will include required public comment periods so the project can remain on the HUD grant schedule.

A board member moved to approve the Terracon contract; a second was called and the board approved the motion by voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote or individual yes/no tallies. No contract dollar amount was recorded in the public transcript.

The board did not specify additional conditions beyond attorney review and standard HUD process steps. If executed, the assessment will permit the department to advance grant tasks tied to the Fetters Alley project.