Votes at a glance: Board of Works approves generator contract, courthouse road closures, plats and personnel policy

The Lebanon Board of Works and Public Safety on March 10 approved several motions spanning infrastructure, planning and personnel matters.

Key votes included awarding a contract for a generator replacement at Lebanon Fire Department Station 12, authorizing half-block road closures around the Boone County Courthouse for a crane operation on March 14, approving the secondary plat and surety acceptance for Angelique Gardens Section 1B, adopting a child-recovery leave policy retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, and surplusing an aged fire-department lawnmower. The board also approved claims and adjourned at the scheduled time.

Votes at a glance

1) Generator replacement, Fire Station 12 - Motion: Approve recommendation to enter contract with Adams Electric to remove and replace generator at Station 12 (18 Anderson Lane) not to exceed $36,903, pending final legal review and authorization of the mayor to execute contracts. - Presenter: Kevin Kirlick, Engineering Department. - Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Notes: Presenter said the existing generator is roughly 25 years old and the quote covers the full generator system and hookups.

2) Courthouse crane road closure, March 14 - Motion: Approve Boone County Commissioners’ request to close the half-block (north/south halves of Washington and Main around the courthouse) for crane setup and lifts March 14, with hours adjusted to allow early setup (motion set timeframe 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. or until completed). - Presenter: Kevin Kirlick, Engineering Department. - Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Notes: Staff recommended half-block closure for safety; presenters said operation expected to be completed prior to courthouse opening hours.

3) Angelique Gardens Section 1B — secondary plat and surety acceptance - Motion: Approve secondary plat and accept required sureties subject to administrative review. - Presenter: Kevin Kirlick, Engineering Department. - Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Notes: Section 1A and related construction are already underway; surety worksheet deemed compliant with city ordinance.

4) Child-recovery leave policy (personnel) - Motion: Approve child-recovery leave policy as presented and make it retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025 (consent amendment recorded). - Presenter: Mayor Gentry (item introduced by mayor/administration). - Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Notes: Policy mirrors state practice: six weeks for a natural birth and eight weeks for cesarean delivery; it also covers adoptive placement and certain fetal loss situations after 20 weeks. The policy includes a one-year employment commitment following leave or a requirement to reimburse the city for leave if employment ends early.

5) Surplus of 25+-year-old lawnmower - Motion: Approve surplus of an aged Lebanon Fire Department lawnmower (value not significant; disposal noted more costly than proceeds). - Presenter: Chief Betts, Lebanon Fire Department. - Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Notes: Department described mower as more costly to maintain than its residual value.

6) Claims and adjournment - Motion: Approve claims. - Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Notes: Meeting adjourned; next Board of Works meeting set for March 24 at 6:15 p.m.

Several motions were introduced and approved by voice vote; individual roll-call tallies were not specified on the record.

What the votes mean

- The generator contract will permit replacement of a 25-year-old generator at Station 12 once final legal review and signature authority are complete. - The March 14 partial street closures are scheduled for early-morning crane lifts and are intended to minimize disruption to normal business hours on the courthouse square. - The Angelique Gardens secondary plat approval advances a residential subdivision phase now under construction. - The child-recovery leave policy aligns city personnel practice with recent state actions and adds a one-year retention condition for employees taking the leave.