Decatur City Board of Works approves fire contract, plat and pedestrian engineering; records resignations

Decatur City’s Board of Works voted unanimously to approve several routine contracts and administrative items and recorded multiple resignations during a meeting that also advanced pedestrian-safety engineering and a development plat.

The board approved a 2025 protection contract with Washington Township for $18,564.36 and accepted resignation letters from paid‑on‑call firefighters Justin Veil and Daryl Drake and from Paul Schiamen of the city water department, who is leaving to take a position with the Fort Wayne Fire Department. Members also granted permission for a controlled, staged burn to film portions of a revised “Surviving Life” safety video in cooperation with Huntington University and a local developer, Champion Homes.

The board confirmed the plan commission’s recommendation by approving the secondary plat for the Northfields at Cross Creek development, clearing the way for the project to proceed toward construction and site work. The board also authorized execution of a preliminary engineering agreement with USI for a federal HSIP (Highway Safety Improvement Program) project to add pedestrian safety measures—crosswalks and flashing beacons—near the elementary, middle and high schools. City staff said the project is a systematic improvement that does not require right‑of‑way acquisition and that the contract amount will be consistent with an earlier financial-commitment letter; the letting (bid opening) is currently scheduled for February 2027.

In separate business, the Board of Works signed a change order to add a 200‑amp secondary meter to the rear of the economic development building at 138 North Second Street; the cost, which city representatives said would be absorbed by the economic development fund, was recorded in the meeting as $2,750. The board also made a matter of record that the City Executed a CCMG (Community Crossings Matching Grant) contract for street paving and sidewalk work and discussed progress and scheduling with the contractor, though weather has delayed field work.

Staff reported progress on the Five Points site remediation and a related change order to cover contaminated water disposal. According to staff, when tanks were pulled crews found water that required pumping and off‑site disposal at an extra cost of about $25,000; the project has realized savings elsewhere (staff estimated roughly $80,000–$85,000 in unused contingency funds), leaving a net positive balance relative to the original budget. The board accepted the change order as a matter of record pending final signoff.

Routine business included approval of minutes from the prior meeting and adjournment. No ordinances or resolutions requiring multiple readings were presented.

Votes at a glance • Approval of minutes from previous meeting — approved (unanimous) • Washington Township fire contract, 2025 ($18,564.36) — approved (unanimous) • Resignation letters (Justin Veil, Daryl Drake, Paul Schiamen) — made matters of record (unanimous) • Permission for controlled burn to film Surviving Life video (Huntington University/Champion Homes) — approved (unanimous) • Secondary plat: Northfields at Cross Creek — approved (unanimous) • Preliminary engineering agreement with USI for HSIP pedestrian-safety project — approved (unanimous) • Change order: 138 North Second Street (add 200‑amp secondary meter) — approved (unanimous) • CCMG contract execution (streets/sidewalks) — made matter of record (unanimous) • Five Points change order (contaminated water disposal; additional ~$25,000 expense) — recorded and accepted for signature review (unanimous)

The meeting adjourned after board members completed routine signatures and directed staff to finalize contracts and change orders for signature.