La Porte Board of Public Works and Safety approves payroll, claims, contracts and event permits

The Board of Public Works and Safety in La Porte on April 8 approved routine payroll and claims and a series of contracts, event permits and maintenance agreements.

Votes at a glance

- March 28 civil city payroll, $548,141.31: approved. - Quarterly merit payroll (first quarter), $1,926.88: approved. - Civil city claims, $1,402,613.85: approved. - Water claims, $416,303.44: approved. - Sewage claims, $656,032.09: approved. - Immediate payment to plumber Tavris Evans for work at the Civic Auditorium, $2,850: approved; payment will be routed through the park board retroactively because the work was approved by that board. - Request for military flyover form (July 4): approved. - Road closure for Park Department Earth Day 5K on April 26 (Truesdale Avenue between McClung and Holacker, ~8:30-10 a.m.): approved. - Parking citation dismissal related to elevator outage at the Rummley: approved. - Plaza annual maintenance contract to Mulfield Properties (recommended): approved; total roughly $7,000 for typical services (varies by as-needed items). - Newport Landing landscaping contract to Lakeshore Landscaping: approved; total just over $25,000 (noted as about $2,500 less than last year due to reduced square footage). - Beechwood Lakes maintenance contract to Mulfield Properties: approved; proposal approximately $20,000 and includes a 30-day termination clause if property development proceeds. - Pay request No. 4 for Hunters Woods, $5,557.50 (brings project to 95% complete): approved; retainage remains $23,602. - McAlpine Consulting contract for small stormwater project design (Grandview, Lakeside, Lakeview Court, Franklin Court, Osborne Street, Twelfth Street): approved. - Enterprise GIS/Cartograph implementation contract with Abbot Marsh (not-to-exceed $68,091.50): approved to expand GIS asset management to additional departments. - Advertisement for bids for the 2025 50/50 and ADA sidewalk programs and use of approximately $50,000 for 50/50 sidewalk funding: approved. - Police credit card program: approve adding fourth card for the training coordinator (identified as Patrick Hempel) and increasing department limit to $7,500: approved. - Wellness grant application to the Health Foundation of La Porte for officer wellness through PEAK Brain Center, $21,600 (to fund six full treatments if awarded): board approved submission; award notifications expected June 15.

Department reports and other items discussed included spring hydrant flushing and repair (water), Lake Fest headliner announcement (Jesse McCartney on July 26), dumpster program rollouts, and scheduling for Park Foundation events. Board members also discussed traffic and drainage questions for Newport Boulevard and the possibility of long-term changes such as a roundabout; no funding was available for a roundabout at this time.

All motions listed above were approved by voice vote during the meeting.