Kokomo Board approves cleanup entries, maintenance contracts, and multiple pay estimates

The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Kokomo on Feb. 12 approved a series of routine maintenance contracts, pay estimates and property-cleanup actions, and authorized advertising for the city’s 2025 weed-cutting season.

The actions carry immediate operational effects for city maintenance and ongoing construction projects. Board approvals included permission for city crews to enter three private properties for abatement, authorization to solicit bids for the annual weed-cutting contract, the purchase of cemetery equipment, a sole-source asphalt rejuvenator application, a Sparks Road change order and related pay estimates, and multiple contractor payments and claims.

All properties listed for abatement — 303 E. North St., 405 E. Haven St., and 511 S. Washington St. — “have been abated by our office,” a Building and Code Services staff member said during the meeting, and the board voted to allow city crews to enter those parcels to remove the remaining items. The board opened a public hearing on the addresses, received no comments, closed the hearing and approved the entry request.

The board accepted specifications for the City of Kokomo Division of Building and Code Services’ 2025 weed-cutting season and granted permission to advertise. Bids are to be returned by 10 a.m. on March 19, 2025, per the motion approved by the board.

On equipment and maintenance items, the board approved a low-quote purchase of a dump bed for Crown Point Cemetery from Haier Chevrolet, and approved a quote from Rejuvitec to apply an asphalt pavement preservative on specified streets in Kokomo. The Rejuvitec quote covers 158,002.89 square yards at $1.21 per square yard, for a total of $193,029.69, and was described at the meeting as a sole-source applicator in Indiana.

John Pike, director of engineering, presented a proposed change order No. 11 for the Sparks Road reconstruction project. Pike said the change order addresses additional work needed because multiple entities working near the project left debris that precluded permanent pavement markings; the contractor was required to grind and groove asphalt to ensure proper adherence of markings. The board approved change order No. 11 and also approved pay estimate No. 13 for the Sparks Road project, a payment request totaling $139,544.59 (the pay estimate amount was $146,889.04 less 5% retainage of $7,344.45).

Pike also presented pay application No. 1 for the Northeast Sanitary Sewer Extension Phase 2 (project C2404-1B). The board approved payment to Atlas Excavating in the amount of $23,465, with $1,235 placed into a retainage account, reflecting quantities placed in the field as of Feb. 5, 2025.

Don Creeks, stormwater manager, presented pay estimate No. 3 for the Markland Avenue and Shambaugh Run small-structure replacement (project C2403-1B). The board approved payment to Morphy Construction in the amount of $10,841.21 (total pay estimate $11,176.50 with $335.29 retainage).

The board approved pay estimate No. 13 for Sparks Road (contractor listed as AMB Paving LLC and E & B Paving in meeting remarks) and authorized the listed applications and change orders as presented by the engineering department and the project consultant Clark Dietz.

Finally, the board approved claims for payment in the amount of $2,038,970.64 and adjourned.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes from Feb. 5, 2025 — approved (voice vote; individual counts not specified). - Permission for city crews to enter 303 E. North St., 405 E. Haven St., 511 S. Washington St. for cleanup — approved (voice vote; no public comments at hearing). - Accept specifications and advertise for 2025 weed-cutting season (bids due 03/19/2025 by 10 a.m.) — approved. - Approve purchase quote for dump bed for Crown Point Cemetery from Haier Chevrolet (lowest quote) — approved. - Approve quote from Rejuvitec for pavement preservative, $193,029.69 — approved. - Approve change order No. 11 for Sparks Road reconstruction — approved. - Approve pay estimate No. 13 for Sparks Road, $139,544.59 — approved. - Approve pay application No. 1 for Northeast Sanitary Sewer Extension Phase 2 (C2404-1B) to Atlas Excavating, $23,465 and $1,235 retainage — approved. - Approve pay estimate No. 3 for Markland Ave/Shambaugh Run small-structure replacement (C2403-1B) to Morphy Construction, $10,841.21 — approved. - Approve claims in the amount of $2,038,970.64 — approved.

The meeting record shows approvals were taken by voice vote; the transcript does not include individual board member vote counts or roll-call tallies.