The Hammond City Capital Improvement Board on June 2 approved a series of funding allocations covering bridge and street work, engineering contracts and park construction, and rejected one item after board members said it is covered by other funding sources.

Meghan Moore, Hammond City controller, told the board the packet before members reflected roughly $4.2 million in projects the board had allocated funds toward, about $830,000 in grant refunds or accounts receivable she was booking and approximately $619,000 that remained unallocated. Moore said those figures did not yet include a third-quarter budget the board expects in July and noted that separate debt issuance tied to a recently enacted wheel tax will fund planned street overlays.

The board voted, by recorded roll call, to approve funding allocation 249, the city’s 20% match of $165,792.45 for the federally funded reconstruction and widening of the US 20 (Michigan Street) bridge over Kennedy Avenue. The board was told the match will be split 50-50 with the city of East Chicago because half of the bridge widening and approach is in East Chicago, and that the project will provide a dedicated bike lane for the Market Greenway Trail that connects toward Michigan. The motion to approve was moved by Councilman Reiko and seconded by Commissioner Muda; the vote recorded seven in favor and no dissent.

The board approved a $50,000 budgetary amount for general engineering services with First Group Engineering (funding allocation 250). The contract is intended to provide traffic- and transportation-related engineering support the city does not have in house. That motion was moved by Councilman Wuerpel and seconded by Commissioner Muda and passed on a 7-0 roll call.

Funding allocation 251, a $175,935.01 contract with American StructurePoint for construction engineering and observation at Memorial Park, also passed on a unanimous roll call. The board was told this work will observe infrastructure installed to serve a new residential development. Commissioner Prieto moved the item; Councilman Wuerpel seconded.

The board moved to reject funding allocation 252 after a motion to do so by Commissioner Muda, seconded by Councilman Rakos. The chair said the work covered by that allocation is being funded by other sources and apologized to the board for bringing it forward at this time; the rejection motion carried 7-0.

The board approved funding allocation 253, the city’s 20% match of $882,659.96 for Hohman Avenue Phase 2 construction with the Indiana Department of Transportation. Moore said the Hohman Avenue project — also described as a Complete Streets reconstruction between Russell and Douglas and part of the Downtown Hammond master plan — has been bid by INDOT and that the city’s match represents the exact 20% share. INDOT is expected to invoice the city, and payment is expected within 30 days of the announcement to the city; construction is expected to begin later this year. The motion was moved by Commissioner Yuta and seconded by Councilman Wuerpel and passed 7-0.

The actions taken were procedural funding approvals and a rejection; the board did not adopt additional policy changes during the meeting. Moore emphasized that the city’s planned street overlays depend on debt issuance funded by the recently enacted wheel tax and the cooperation of external agencies for INDOT-managed projects. No public speakers addressed the board during the public-expression portion of the meeting.

Board members also approved the May 5 meeting minutes at the start of the session. The board expects to meet next on June 16.