Columbia City Board approves digester repairs, skatepark payment and a house-side fence encroachment

Columbia City’s Board of Works and Safety on Tuesday approved two wastewater-repair contracts, authorized the first contractor payment for the Eagle Park skatepark and granted an encroachment agreement allowing a homeowner to place a fence partially in the right of way.

The board voted unanimously to accept a variable proposal from Merrill Brothers to clean a wastewater digester and to award a $248,080 contract to Spectra Tech for coating the same digester. Public works staff told the board the exact cleaning cost will depend on how many gallons of sludge must be hauled away. The board also approved the payment of $98,610 to Hunger Skateparks for work at Eagle Park and retroactively approved a street/sidewalk closure related to façade work at 219 West Van Buren.

Why it matters: the digester work is part of a multistage repair and lining project the board has been planning; the cleaning step must be completed before a new cover can be installed. The skatepark payment signals active construction at Eagle Park, and the encroachment approval clarifies how the city handles small fence intrusions into public right of way.

Digester cleaning and lining Public works staff described the digester job as a multi‑phase project already underway. Mike (last name not specified in the record) told the board he solicited three bids for the coating phase and recommended Spectra Tech of Noblesville based on prior work and the lowest bid of $248,080. He said two other bids received were for $272,440 and roughly $337,127. Mike warned the board the cleaning proposal from Merrill Brothers does not include a single flat dollar amount because hauling costs depend on the volume and consistency of material removed and on disposal fees.

“We have 3 quotes here... my recommendation is Spectra Tech out of Noblesville, Indiana for $248,080,” Mike said.

Staff estimated the digester’s capacity at about 400,000 gallons and said cleaning could take roughly five to seven days depending on conditions in the tank. Staff also noted that high aluminum levels in the storage tank increase disposal volumes and that lowering those levels would reduce hauling costs.

Eagle Park skatepark payment and site progress Vice Chair Chip (last name not specified) told the board contractors had begun pouring concrete for the skatepark at Eagle Park and requested the board approve the contractor’s first pay request for $98,610. Chip said a water line and electrical work were being coordinated on site and that recent weather helped progress.

“They are finally making headway there and so I would like to request that we pay $98,610 to Hunger for their first pay request,” Chip said.

Chip also reported cosmetic issues appearing on the new pickleball courts; staff have contacted contractors and are pursuing warranty work.

Encroachment agreement at 202 North Line A homeowner identified as Tamela requested permission to place a decorative iron fence approximately 3 to 3.5 feet into the right of way on Line Street; she said the fence would not obstruct driver sight lines and that pine trees on the property would screen most of the view from the sidewalk. Tamela told the board she is seeking a code change so similar fences would be allowed in front yards without a variance.

“I’m just simply putting a fence in my side yard. I would actually want approval for the side and front yard,” Tamela said.

Board members discussed precedent from a prior case at Jefferson and Line and noted concerns about approving repeated encroachments into public right of way. One board member said the intrusion here appeared small and not to affect line of sight. The board voted unanimously to approve the encroachment for the Line Street side; Tamela was told she would need to pursue the same process again if she later requests work on the Jackson Street side.

Other board business and finances The board retroactively approved a street-closing permit tied to façade work at 219 West Van Buren. It also approved accounts-payable motions: checks totaling $1,279,596.21; EFT payments of $497,304.53; and a pay file and overtime totaling $301,105.91. Each motion passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance - Accept minutes of Feb. 25, 2025: approved (unanimous). - Encroachment agreement — 202 North Line (fence into ROW, Line Street side only): approved (unanimous). - Payment — Hunger Skateparks, pay request #1 for Eagle Park skatepark: $98,610; approved (unanimous). - Retroactive street/sidewalk closure permit — 219 West Van Buren (façade/tuckpointing): approved (unanimous). - Proposal — Merrill Brothers, cleaning of digester (proposal 1; cost variable, not a flat amount): approved (unanimous). - Contract award — Spectra Tech, digester coating: $248,080; approved (unanimous). - Accounts payable (checks): $1,279,596.21; approved (unanimous). - EFT payments: $497,304.53; approved (unanimous). - Payfile ending 22125 (including overtime): $301,105.91; approved (unanimous).

What’s next Staff said the digester cleanup must occur before the coating and before installation of a replacement cover; public works will manage mobilization and report back on final hauling volumes and costs. Tamela was instructed to return if she pursues an encroachment on the Jackson Street side, and staff will continue warranty follow-up on Eagle Park features.

(Quotations and attributions are taken from the March 11, 2025 Board of Works and Safety transcript.)