Board approves amended water project change order, bond releases and Regency Fairways bond extension

The Crown Point City Board of Public Works and Safety on April 2 approved an amended change order for the city’s Phase 4 water main looping project, accepted a zero-dollar contract time extension for the wastewater treatment plant project, released a $5,000 bond for boring work, and extended a maintenance bond for Regency Fairways Phase 1.

Al, a city staff member who presented the utilities update, told the board that the State Revolving Loan Fund granted permission to proceed with an amended change order that removes an ineligible cleaning component because the fund determined that cleaning is an operations and maintenance expense, not a capital improvement. "We did get permission back from the state revolving loan fund for the change order," Al said. The board approved the amended change order (identified at the meeting as change order number 12) by voice vote.

The board also approved a contract extension for the wastewater treatment plant to adjust completion dates. A city staff speaker identified the change order as costing $0 and adding 64 days to substantial completion and 21 days to final completion to align contractual dates with actual progress; the board approved the extension by voice vote.

Project updates and financing: the city submitted three preliminary engineering reports (PERs) for funding on projects including lead service line replacement and a 24-inch water transmission main to the new wastewater treatment plant. The 24-inch line’s archeological study returned no findings and the design is being finalized for a planned late-fall bid. For the lead service line replacement second round, the city said it will await funding decisions before deciding next steps.

Al reported that one recent project bid opening on March 31 produced two bidders with total bids of about $4,500,000 while the city has roughly $3,700,000 available to spend on construction; staff said they will return to a future meeting with a recommendation. The downtown interceptor project remains out to bid with an anticipated bid opening on April 14 and a likely loan closing from the State Revolving Loan Fund in June or July, depending on the fund’s schedule.

Other board actions: the board approved release of a $5,000 bond for boring work and approved a maintenance bond extension for Regency Fairways Phase 1 in the amount discussed at the meeting (approximately $76,000.25). The board also moved and approved deferral of an agenda item regarding an electrical and gas utility easement for a proposed T‑Mobile water tower location until the next meeting.

Intermunicipal service area agreement: the board approved an agreement between Crown Point City and the Town of Schererville that documents which municipality will provide water and sewer service in adjacent areas. Alex, a city staff member, described the agreement as a written record of previously negotiated service boundaries and said it is "mutually beneficial." The board approved the agreement by voice vote.

The meeting record shows the board handled warranty work on the Westin County Lift Station and CSO 4 improvements and that the existing wastewater treatment plant contractor had reached substantial completion with a punch list still being addressed. Staff said one property acquisition remains outstanding for the three lift stations and force mains project.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes from March 20, 2025 — approved (voice vote). - Approval of amended change order No. 12 for Phase 4 water main looping (removal of cleaning component) — approved (voice vote). - Approval of zero-dollar contract extension to adjust substantial and final completion dates for wastewater treatment plant (+64 days substantial, +21 days final) — approved (voice vote). - Release of $5,000 bond for city-wide boring work — approved (voice vote). - Extension of maintenance bond for Regency Fairways Phase 1 (~$76,000.25) — approved (voice vote). - Deferral of electrical and gas utility easement item for T‑Mobile water tower location — motion to defer approved (voice vote). - Approval of intermunicipal water/sewer regulatory territory agreement with Town of Schererville — approved (voice vote).

The board chair indicated competitive bids were received on some projects and staff will return with recommendations where construction funding gaps exist. Several items were described as pending or contingent on outside approvals or funding, including State Revolving Loan Fund closings and remaining property acquisitions.

Minutes and other routine consent items were approved at the start of the meeting, and the board adjourned to its next regular meeting scheduled for April 16 at 11 a.m.