Maintenance board approves planter repair and downtown lighted bollards after debate over costs and long-term responsibility

La Porte City maintenance board members voted to approve a $1,000 payment to cover the insurance deductible for a planter damaged at Lincoln Way and Michigan Avenue and to permit the immediate installation of eight lighted bollards in the Farmers Market/Monroe Street block.

Jamie, a city staff member and presenter, told the board the planter contractor quoted $8,000 for repairs and the insurance payment netted the board $7,000 after a $1,000 deductible. "I have a quote attached from a company that can get this fixed ASAP for $8,000," Jamie said, and asked the board to cover the $1,000 difference so the planter could be repaired and replanted.

The board approved that request by motion. Members also debated a longer‑term proposal to install lighted bollards in tree wells on the block between Lincoln Way and State on Monroe to create a safer, better‑lit gathering and event space for Friday Night Live and the farmers market. Jamie described the bollards as dusk‑to‑dawn lighting with built‑in breakers to reduce recurring electrician calls and said the work would include removing trees, filling tree grates with concrete, anchoring bollards, and routing electricity through the new fixtures. She said the bid for eight bollards was about $9,500 and concrete an additional roughly $300, and asked the board to authorize up to $10,000 from UE funds.

Board members asked for details about maintenance responsibility, ownership and whether the electrical work was on BID (business improvement district/bid) property. Discussion clarified that city tree crews and a contracted electrician would perform tree removal, conduit work and bollard wiring, and that the goal was to complete the work before the first farmers market on May 25. Jamie said three of the tree sites are already stumps and that five live trees would be removed; another speaker briefly used the figure "eight" when counting locations, but Jamie reiterated the plan was for five trees to be taken out and three stumps already present.

A motion to grant permission for the bollard installation was amended to specify that "the bid will cover the electrical and the city will cover the bollard itself," and the amended motion passed. Board members asked staff to follow up to document long‑term ownership, maintenance and insurance responsibility for the bollards, noting that clarification would be needed later if fixtures are hit or need replacement. One member said insurance claims for collisions would likely be the route for repairs if the bollards are damaged.

Separately, the board approved routine business items discussed in the meeting: approval of the Feb. 10 and March 10 minutes, approval of vouchers/invoices presented, and the financial update covering January–April that showed elevated early‑year repair and maintenance spending. John, who presented the finances, said the board received an $8,000 insurance payment (of which $1,000 was the deductible) and reported about $37,400 spent on sidewalk repairs and roughly $11,000 for electrical outlet repairs in the period; he said the board's cash position and timing of tax draws could leave the group $40,000 short by year end unless revenues or expenses changed.

Jamie closed the item by reiterating that flowers and planters remain on schedule for planting a week or two after Mother's Day, and the board adjourned with a reminder the next meeting is June 9.