Board approves park camera contract, historic-structure study and multiple property-cleanup orders

The Logansport Board of Public Works and Safety on March 12, 2025, approved a set of contracts, personnel promotions and property-enforcement actions, including a professional services agreement for park cameras and authorization for a historic-structure report tied to an OCCR grant application.

Browning Day contract The board approved a contract with Browning Day to prepare a historic-structure report intended to support an OCCR grant application for the memorial home. The board noted the contract was approved by counsel and authorized staff to sign. "This is a historic structure report from Browning Day that they need to apply for the OCCR grant potentially this summer," a meeting speaker said. The motion passed on a roll-call vote: Jacob Palmasol, yes; Levi Jones, yes; Chris Martin, yes.

Mission MSP security camera upgrade The board approved a professional services agreement with Mission MSP to install security cameras across city parks. Meeting remarks stated a yearly charge of $35,696 for five years; the presenter said the city would pay the first year from existing funds and budget for subsequent years. "The total number will be ... over the course of 5 years, breaking it down to $35,696 per year for the next 5 years," Kevin (parks staff) said during the presentation. The board approved the contract on a roll-call vote: Chris Martin, yes; Jacob Palmasol, yes; Levi Jones, yes.

Fire-department promotions and police report The board approved promotion requests from the fire department: Brad Moon to fill a mechanic position (made effective March 8) and Matt O'Connor to a mechanic position resulting from a reassignment. Both promotions were approved unanimously. The board also accepted the police department's monthly report for February, which the chief said included a 12-hour data loss in the records system that had been corrected; reported activity included arrests, citations and traffic enforcement numbers as presented.

Street and curb-cut approvals The Street Department's February report was approved. The board granted curb- and street-cut permits, including for Hector Lopez at 813 Clone Street, QC Communications (alley between 12th and 13th streets), and NIPSCO projects at 3059 Market Street and 3931 Mike Anderson Lane; board members said traffic disruptions would be limited during the work.

Code enforcement actions and appeals The board handled several requests for property cleanup and appeals: - 922 Eighteenth Street: two-week extension to March 26, 2025; owner must return to the board on that date; motion passed unanimously. - 1821 Smead Street: one-week extension to March 18, 2025; owner to show progress and was told to appear if cleanup not completed. - 1305 North Street: appeal approved on condition there be no additional cleanup request at that address within one year; board noted the property had multiple prior violations. - 727 Wilkinson Street: board voted to reject a city-ordered cleanup because the owner presented a plan and the property was brought into compliance before the meeting. Motion recorded as "not do a property cleanup" and approved. - 1418 Spear Street and 512 West Broadway: property cleanup approved (furniture/mattresses and related debris on porches). - 404 Howard / 412 Howard / adjacent lot: cleanup approved for three contiguous parcels with extensive debris and several derelict cars noted. - 1410 High Street: the board tabled the cleanup request to provide the owner an opportunity to appear next week.

Code enforcement statistics Code enforcement staff reported 280 properties with violations to date for the year and 534 inspections in February. Staff described an intake process through the city administrative office (Sandy) to create cases that are then assigned for inspection.

Votes and routine approvals The board approved the meeting minutes for March 5, 2025; approved claims totaling $142,750.69 (including $97,012.15 in claims, $44,843.54 in grant claims and a pension claim of $895); and handled a range of routine permits and weekly reports. Most motions passed unanimously on roll-call votes by the three members present: Mayor Chris Martin, Jacob Palmasol and Levi Jones.

The board adjourned after brief member comments and staff business.