Scottsburg board approves lease changes, wastewater director hire, contractor payments and equipment auction

The Scottsburg Board of Public Works and Safety on Wednesday approved a mutual lease termination with Latasha Roof Agency at Mid America Science Park, authorized a new commercial lease and related service contract for E and B Paving, appointed Zeke Smith as the city’s wastewater director at a monthly salary of $3,000, approved two pay applications for the city’s wastewater lift station project, accepted a conflict-of-interest filing, and declared surplus equipment to be auctioned.

The actions matter because they set personnel and contracting decisions that affect Scottsburg’s wastewater operations and the commercial occupancy of city-owned space at Mid America Science Park.

Board members voted without recorded opposition on each item after motions and seconds. The board approved a mutual lease termination with Latasha Roof Agency for a space at Mid America Science Park; the mayor was authorized to sign the termination agreement. The board also approved a new commercial lease for Mid America Science Park with E and B Paving and authorized a related water-filter service contract (described in the agenda as an “office H2O contract”) with the lessee to maintain a water filter on-site; the mayor was authorized to sign that contract.

The board approved the appointment of Zeke Smith as wastewater director with compensation set at $3,000 per month. Jan Harding, clerk-treasurer, noted the hire’s start date was set in the minutes; she stated the start date as April 28, 2025. The board also recorded that Stanley Allen was returned to paid status as a part-time parks caretaker as of April 2, 2025, and the board approved one additional part-time parks-caretaker hire.

As part of ongoing wastewater work the board approved two pay applications for the lift station project to Temple Excavating and Paving: $92,201.30 and $68,789.50. The engineer had signed both pay applications; the board voted to approve them and instructed staff to record them separately in the minutes.

The board accepted a filed conflict-of-interest disclosure from an employee of the electric department, Kevin Jitson, who is reported in the minutes as the owner of Light It Up; the filing was accepted for the record because state accounting rules require annual disclosure where an employee or official may have a contract interest. The board also approved declaring two Hatch water samplers and a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 crane truck (model year listed as 2002/2005 in the minutes as “02/2005”) excess property and authorized listing them on the GovDeals auction website; Jan Harding described the process for receiving and distributing proceeds to the appropriate departmental funds.

Finally, the board approved the claims presented at the meeting and made routine minutes approvals.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (03/26/2025): motion carried by voice vote (ayes recorded; no opposition noted). Mover/second not specified in transcript. - Mutual lease termination with Latasha Roof Agency (Mid America Science Park): approved; mayor authorized to sign. Mover/second: motion and second recorded on the floor; outcome approved by voice vote. - Commercial lease with E and B Paving (Mid America Science Park) and related water-filter service contract: approved; mayor authorized to sign. Mover/second recorded; approved by voice vote. - Appointment of Zeke Smith as wastewater director, salary $3,000/month: approved; start date recorded in minutes as April 28, 2025 (as stated by Jan Harding). Mover/second recorded; approved by voice vote. - Pay applications to Temple Excavating and Paving: $92,201.30 and $68,789.50 (pay app 1 and pay app 2): approved; engineer signed both. Mover: Tom Lewis (as stated when making the motion); second recorded. Approved by voice vote. - Acceptance of conflict-of-interest filing for Kevin Jitson/Light It Up: approved; filing to be uploaded to Gateway and filed with the clerk. Mover/second recorded; approved by voice vote. - Declaration of excess property (two Hatch water samplers; 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 crane truck): approved for GovDeals auction. Mover/second recorded; approved by voice vote. - Claims approval (as presented): approved by voice vote.

Discussion vs. decision Most items were routine approvals with limited public debate. The pay applications were noted as previously reviewed by the project engineer; board members asked no substantive questions during the votes recorded in the transcript. The clerk-treasurer provided procedural clarifications about recording auction proceeds and the necessity of the conflict filing; those were administrative directions rather than policy decisions.

Next steps and administrative notes - Mayor will sign the lease termination and the new E and B Paving lease and water-filter contract. - Staff to upload accepted conflict filings to Gateway and file with the clerk as required. - Surplus items will be listed on GovDeals; Jan Harding reported that sales are itemized and proceeds distributed to departmental funds.

Ending note No items in the public record were tabled or failed at the meeting; all motions recorded in the transcript were approved by voice vote with ayes noted and no opposition recorded in the provided transcript.