Carmel Board of Public Works and Safety approves bids, contracts and event permits; revokes and re-awards police vehicle bid

The Board of Public Works and Safety on April 2, 2025, approved a series of bid awards, vendor contracts and event permits and voted to revoke one vehicle bid award before awarding that group to E.B. Ford.

The actions included awards for road and path construction, purchases of police equipment and vehicles, contracts for consulting and community events, acceptance of donated EMS equipment, and a temporary tabling of a summer festival permit pending documentation.

The meeting matters affect several city projects funded in part by the 2024 infrastructure and water bonds and included routine approvals of recurring vendor agreements.

The board opened two bid solicitations and later awarded multiple construction and purchase contracts. Brad Pease, Carmel director of engineering, announced the bids for the Clay Center Road path construction and culvert replacement and for the 140 First Street path. "The award will go to Morphey Construction. They were the lowest responsible, responsive bidder. It's $1,875,000," Pease said when presenting the 140 First Street contract award.

John Duffy, director of utilities, presented the 120 First Street water-main extension bid opening. He told the board the top bids submitted ranged from Yarberry Companies Inc. at $182,070 to Lichens Contracting LLC at $224,513.

On vendor contracts and purchases, the board approved an updated food-and-beverage agreement with MTS Collective Inc., doing business as Iron and Ember, for Brookshire Golf Course. Bob Higgins, general manager, said the new contract is "basically the same company that we've had for 5 years now" and that the contract updates simplified payment terms and consolidated previously separate costs such as electricity.

The board approved a HIPAA/GRAMMA agreement with Ascension Saint Vincent Carmel to allow hospital quality-assurance review of the city's EMS patient care records, presented by Andrew Young, EMS chief. The board also accepted a donation of replaced EMS equipment to Indiana Task Force 1, presented on behalf of the fire chief.

Public-safety purchases approved included 25 radar units from Applied Concepts Inc. for the police department and two 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles for K-9 units from Dan Young Tipton LLC. Police Chief Drake Sterling described the radar purchase as for "25 radar units for our 2025 vehicle purchases." The board also approved a resolution to present a pistol and badge to Master Patrol Officer Scott A. Morrow upon his retirement after 20 years of service.

Engineering contracts to design and retrofit crosswalks at multiple roundabouts were approved: American StructurePoint Inc. for $148,100 at 116th and Rangeline Road, and A&F Engineering Company for $152,090 at Maiden and Hazeldale. A conduit-installation contract for parks and trail connectivity (from the 2024 infrastructure bond) was approved with CSU Inc. for $109,218.92. The board also approved Pyro Technico Fireworks Inc.'s $79,500 contract amendment for the CarmelFest fireworks display.

The board approved multiple permit requests to use city streets and plazas for recurring community events, including Bike Carmel rides, pop-up fitness classes, the Hispanic Heritage event, Midtown Plaza dinner cruises and the Bolt for the Heart Thanksgiving run. One request for an EMT summer music festival at Clay Terrace was tabled after staff identified a mismatch between the applicant's signatory and the property owner; the board asked for documentation showing the applicant represents the property owner before returning the permit to the agenda. For the annual Artemobilia event, engineering required the northbound Monon Boulevard lane remain open; the board approved the permit with that condition.

The meeting included an add-on agenda item to revoke a prior award to Kelly Automotive Group for a multi-group police vehicle RFQ and to award the remaining groups to E.B. Ford. Benjamin Langston (attorney) explained the revocation was requested because Kelly Automotive did not honor the submitted specifications and resubmitted a higher bid. The board voted to revoke the Kelly Automotive award, then approved awarding the remaining vehicle groups to E.B. Ford. For the group that had been at issue, E.B. Ford's amount for that group was confirmed in the record as $169,365.60. The board then approved the contract.

A secondary plat for Lots 212 of the Rangeline subdivision, reviewed and recommended by Mike Hallobaugh of the Department of Community Services, was added as an add-on and approved to expedite a property closing related to a residential redevelopment on Rangeline.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes from March 19, 2025 — approved (voice vote). - Bid openings recorded for Clay Center Road path and culvert replacement (22-ENG-15) — bids read into record; award to be considered per procurement process (opening only recorded). - Bid opening recorded for 120 First Street water main extension — bids read into record (opening only). - Award: 140 First Street path (202-ENG-11) — contract awarded to Morphey Construction, $1,875,000 — approved (voice vote). - Contract: MTS Collective Inc. (Iron and Ember) food and beverage agreement at Brookshire Golf Course — approved (voice vote). - Agreement: HIPAA/GRAMMA with Ascension Saint Vincent Carmel — approved (voice vote). - Resolution: transfer/donation of replaced EMS equipment to Indiana Task Force 1 — approved (voice vote). - Purchase: Applied Concepts Inc., radar units — approved (voice vote). - Purchase: Dan Young Tipton LLC, two 2025 Chevrolet Tahoes for K-9 units, $107,483.92 — approved (voice vote). - LPA consulting contracts: American StructurePoint Inc., $148,100; A&F Engineering Company, $152,090 — both approved (voice vote). - Purchase: CSU Inc., conduit installation, $109,218.92 — approved (voice vote). - Purchase: Morphey Construction Inc., 140 First Street Path contract, $1,875,000 (contract accompanying earlier award) — approved (voice vote). - Purchase/Amendment: Pyro Technico Fireworks Inc., $79,500 for CarmelFest fireworks — approved (voice vote). - Multiple event permits and street-use approvals for spring/summer/fall 2025 community events — approved (voice votes); one EMT summer music festival application tabled pending property-owner authorization. - Easements for waterline at 9873 and 9893 N. Michigan Road (CL West Carmel Marketplace) — approved (voice vote). - Resolution: presentation of pistol and badge to Master Patrol Officer Scott A. Morrow upon retirement — approved (voice vote). - Add-on: revoke prior vehicle award to Kelly Automotive Group and award remaining RFQ groups to E.B. Ford; E.B. Ford group-specific amount for the previously awarded group recorded as $169,365.60; contract approved — motions carried (voice votes). - Add-on: Secondary plat for Lots 212, Rangeline Subdivision — approved (voice vote).

What board members and staff emphasized

- Engineering staff repeatedly noted construction sequencing and state supplemental funding for certain projects; Pease said the city will receive partial state reimbursement for two projects that together secured about $1 million in supplemental funding. - For event permits farther in the calendar year, engineering requested organizers confirm routes and logistics four weeks before events to account for possible construction or schedule changes. The board added that condition to its approval of a Thanksgiving-run permit.

No motions failed; several items were tabled pending documentation or clarification. The board adjourned after completing the agenda.