The Board of Public Works and Safety approved several Capital Improvement Board (CIB) funding allocations and professional service agreements on June 26, authorizing change orders and grant-coordination work for local infrastructure projects.

The most immediate allocation approved was $56,744.51 from CIB for Change Order No. 1 on the Little Calumet River Trail pedestrian bridge project. Staff said the change order covered undercut and unsuitable soils encountered during construction; the project is nearing final payment.

Why this matters: the change order resolves construction issues and clears the way for final payments and project closeout on a trail bridge that affects local connectivity.

Other approvals included:
- $20,000 of CIB funding and a professional services agreement with Crawford, Murphy & Tilly for grant coordination on the Grand Avenue Pedestrian Bridge project; staff said the firm will help ensure federal grant compliance.
- $9,980 of CIB funding and a PSA with Knees Engineering to regrade and clear the swale on JF Mahoney Drive after reports that the ditch line was overgrown and difficult to maintain.
- A $35,167 CIB allocation and Change Order No. 1 with Milestone Contractors North LLC for traffic signal work at Sportsplex; the change order included conduit installation for video surveillance between 167th and 165th and extension of a right-in/right-out approach temporarily retained because of YMCA expansion plans.

In related infrastructure business, the board received bid quotes and referred two small procurement items to consultants for review: a single quote of $18,500 from Specialties Company LLC for a guardrail at Howard and Ridge, and two quotes for signing and striping at Willow Court and State Street — Hawk Enterprises at $7,100 and Highstar (transcript: "Highstar Trassy Trassy") at $6,072. Board members voted to refer those quotes to the consultant for recommendation.

The board also approved right-of-way permits for residential gas hookups and other utility work and endorsed INDOT and railroad-related closures as required for public-safety work: an IHB (Indiana Harbor Belt) railroad crossing closure on Indianapolis Boulevard for track work (June 30–July 4, 2025) and an INDOT closure of Willow Court under Calumet Avenue for two weeks beginning June 23 for bridge painting. Staff noted that Indianapolis Boulevard is a state route and that the city’s approval pertains only to the local detour and record notification.

The board approved a separate, $35,167 signal change order tied to public safety camera conduit requested by the police lieutenant and noted coordination with YMCA expansion that will alter local drive aisles.

The board approved these funding allocations and professional agreements by voice vote; staff said most items had been approved previously by the Capital Improvement Board and were submitted to the board for funding authorization and contract execution.