Speedway redevelopment commission approves Main Street survey, dental developer reimbursement and roundabout design amendment; several payments cleared

The Speedway Redevelopment Commission on Jan. 27 approved a series of contracts, reimbursements and invoices intended to move several downtown projects toward construction and to clear routine financial items.

The commission voted unanimously to hire Keiser Consulting to perform a topographical survey for a planned Main Street overhaul, approve an economic-development agreement to reimburse DA Dental Partners for development fees tied to occupancy, accept an amendment to the design contract for the 16th and Main Street gateway roundabout, and pay a contractor for irrigation repairs on Crawfordsville Road. Commissioners also approved the commission slate, monthly claims and a temporary pay adjustment for an executive assistant.

The Main Street item authorized negotiation and execution of a professional-services contract with Keiser Consulting for a topographical survey priced at $40,100. Grant Kleinhens, town manager, told the commission the full design-and-bid package was estimated much higher but that the survey was the “most important part” at this point to establish existing pavement and subgrade conditions. He said the proposal can be phased and that doing the survey now will inform whether to pursue the full reconstruction at once or in stages.

Kleinhens also reviewed the claims docket and flagged the large debt-service disbursements in January’s total claims…