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Lawrence Board approves series of contracts, tables ARPA interagency acknowledgement
Summary
At its Feb. 13 meeting the Lawrence Board of Public Works and Safety approved multiple service contracts and procurement steps — including lobbying agreements and a vendor for property remediation — and voted to table an item on ARPA interagency agreements until the city controller is available.
The Lawrence Board of Public Works and Safety on Feb. 13 approved a series of contracts and authorizations for the city and tabled an acknowledgement of interagency agreements tied to ARPA funding until the city controller is available.
The board approved amendments and engagement letters covering lobbying and legal services, awarded a vendor for property remediation services, and authorized negotiations on a resurfacing contract after receiving a certified bid tabulation.
The actions move routine city business forward while postponing one finance-related item. Board members said most approvals had been vetted and required no additional public hearings or hearings, and staff said some items had been discussed previously before city council.
Board members voted to approve the meeting minutes from Jan. 23, 2025, by voice vote. The board then voted to table an acknowledgement of interagency agreements involving American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds until the city controller can attend, saying the controller’s presence was needed for signatures and final review.
Ms. Lawrence, a board member, moved approval of a First Amendment to a professional services agreement with Catalyst Public Affairs Group for lobbying during the current session of the Indiana General Assembly. "I have read the First Amendment. I understand it's for lobby of services for the current session of the Indiana General Assembly," Ms. Lawrence said. The motion passed by voice vote. Greg, the mayor’s chief of staff, told the board the mayor renegotiated the Catalyst fee down from $72,000 a year to $36,000 a year, which he framed as a taxpayer saving.
Donnie Morgan, an attorney with Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, introduced an outside legal-services agreement that the board approved for as-needed public-sector legal support. "I'm happy to answer any questions," Morgan said before the board moved and approved the agreement.
The board approved a quote from Working Brothers for 2025 violations remediation services after staff said the vendor’s prices were in line with other bidders. Miss Raffala, a staff presenter, said the city sought multiple vendor quotes and recommended the selection to assist with property cleanup in Lawrence.
For road work, staff presented a certified bid tabulation for the 2024-2 resurfacing improvements. Shrewsbury certified the tabulation and identified Howard Companies as the lowest responsive bidder at $893,821.15. The board authorized staff to proceed with contract negotiations; the motion to authorize negotiations referenced proceeding with "Power and Company" in the motion text, creating a discrepancy with the tabulation that identified Howard Companies as the low bidder.
The board also approved an engagement letter with Krieg DeVault for lobbying services at the same rate paid last year, and separately approved a three-month communications contract with Heard Strategies not to exceed $20,000. Mr. Goodnight noted the Krieg DeVault rate is unchanged from the prior year. The mayor, Deb Whitfield, attended the meeting and participated in brief discussion about the contracts.
All approvals were by voice vote with the board saying "aye"; the meeting did not record a roll-call vote tally for individual members. The board adjourned following a motion to close the meeting.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of Jan. 23, 2025 meeting minutes — Motion moved by board member (not specified); voice vote; outcome: approved. - Table acknowledgement of ARPA interagency agreements — Motion moved by board member (not specified); voice vote; outcome: tabled until controller available. - Approve First Amendment, Catalyst Public Affairs Group (lobbying for Indiana General Assembly) — Mover: Ms. Lawrence (board member); voice vote; outcome: approved. Note: chief of staff said fee renegotiated from $72,000 to $36,000 annually. - Approve legal services agreement with Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP — Mover: Ms. Florence (board member); voice vote; outcome: approved. Presenter: Donnie Morgan, Taft law firm. - Approve quote from Working Brothers for 2025 violations remediation services — Mover: board member (not specified); voice vote; outcome: approved. - Authorize contract negotiations for 2024-2 resurfacing improvements — Staff: Shrewsbury certified bid tabulation; lowest responsive bid listed as Howard Companies at $893,821.15; motion to proceed to negotiations referenced "Power and Company"; mover: board member (not specified); voice vote; outcome: authorized to negotiate (final contract to return for board approval). - Approve engagement letter with Krieg DeVault — Mover: board member (not specified); voice vote; outcome: approved. Staff said no rate increase from prior year. - Approve engagement letter with Heard Strategies (marketing/communications) — Mover: board member (not specified); voice vote; outcome: approved. Contract described as three months, not to exceed $20,000. - Adjournment — voice vote; outcome: approved.
The board’s next stated action is to bring any negotiated resurfacing contract back to the board for final approval at a subsequent meeting.
