The Michigan City Department of Parks and Recreation Board on Aug. 20 approved an emergency special-purchase contract to replace fencing at Singing Sands after a NIPSCO power line fell during a storm, and adopted a resolution transferring $25,000 from the administration fund to the maintenance contractual account to cover the insurance deductible.

The superintendent reported that a downed NIPSCO power line "electrified approximately 860 feet, blowing off the brackets, melting the welds, melting the locks on the railroad fencing," and that repairs are urgent to maintain the separation between the railroad and public areas. The superintendent said the department sought coverage from NIPSCO’s insurer but was told the incident was considered an "act of God" and not covered, and that the board earlier increased its deductible from $5,000 to $25,000 in March.

The board approved a special-purchase request after staff said two of three fencing contractors did not respond to outreach and only one vendor can perform the work immediately. Public commenter Scott Mellon, 200 Kenwood Place, urged the board to consider revisiting the higher deductible, saying, "I wish there were some pictures of that 800 feet of fence. That's quite dramatic," and pointing to other jurisdictions that have held utilities liable for damage caused by their equipment.

Following the vote on the special purchase, the board considered Resolution No. 1,072, which the superintendent described as a transfer "to meet said expenses" and showed a line-item move decreasing administration seasonal wages and increasing maintenance contractual by $25,000 to cover the deductible. A motion to approve the resolution carried.

The superintendent said insurance proceeds for the remaining loss are expected to arrive and that staff are shifting funds to address the immediate payment and repairs. No contract dollar amount for the fence replacement was provided in the record; the board approved the special-purchase authorization and the budget transfer to meet the deductible.

The board did not record a roll-call vote with individual member names in the public transcript; the chair called for the ayes and declared the motions carried.