Logan Square board approves routine city contracts, accepts police resignation and waives property fine

Mayor Chris Martin presided over the Logan Square Board of Public Works and Safety meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, at Logansport City Hall, where the board approved multiple routine contracts and agreements, accepted a police department resignation and acted on two property-cleanup appeals.

The board approved a change order for Advance Excavating related to the OCCRA ramp project at the former Trello board site, totaling $5,225.57 to cover unplanned work encountered under the concrete. The board also approved a contract amendment to add two user accounts to the city’s code-enforcement tracking system so newly hired personnel can access the system.

Police and public-safety purchases approved included a three-year agreement for HAAS Alert digital alerting devices to be installed in the city’s first-out apparatus (listed for Rescue 6, Engine 1 and Engine 3), and a three-year renewal for Thomson Reuters CLEAR investigative services used by detectives. The board also approved annual radio maintenance from ERS and a one-year cleaning contract with Army of 5 for the police department facility; staff said the cleaning bid came in lower than the previous vendor.

The board unanimously accepted the resignation of Branson Eber from the Logansport Police Department; Eber submitted two weeks’ notice dated Jan. 30, 2025, after accepting a chief of police position elsewhere. The board thanked him for his training contributions.

On street-department business, the board approved a curb/streets cut application from NIPSCO at 916 Ray Street to retire a gas line in advance of demolition at that site.

In code enforcement matters, staff presented a weekly report listing 15 new trash notices, two citations and two notices to appear; five additional vehicles were tagged and four prior tags cleared. The board tabled an appeal for 400 Howard Street to allow the property owner to appear next week. For 829 North Street the board removed a $250 multiple-violation fine after the property owner, Carlos Aguirre, explained the tenants had cleaned the property and the owner had paid an earlier $100 violation fine; removal was conditioned on no new violations during 2025 and on prompt communication if problems recur.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes (Jan. 15, 2025): Passed (Levi Jones: yes; Jacob Palmasol: yes; Chris Martin: yes). - Approve claims totaling $585,252.66 (includes $289,650.76 payroll and line items in the meeting packet): Passed (Chris Martin: yes; Levi Jones: yes; Jacob Palmasol: yes). - Advance Excavating change order #1 (OCCRA ramp project), $5,225.57: Passed (Jacob Palmasol: yes; Chris Martin: yes; Levi Jones: yes). - Contract amendment to add two CommCate user accounts for code enforcement/traffic officer: Passed (Levi Jones: yes; Jacob Palmasol: yes; Chris Martin: yes). - HAAS Alert digital alerting system, three-year agreement, install on Rescue 6/Engine 1/Engine 3: Passed (Jacob Palmasol: yes; Chris Martin: yes; Levi Jones: yes). - ERS radio system maintenance (annual): Passed (Levi Jones: yes; Chris Martin: yes; Jacob Palmasol: yes). - Army of 5 cleaning services (one-year police department contract): Passed (Levi Jones: yes; Chris Martin: yes; Jacob Palmasol: yes). - Thomson Reuters CLEAR investigative tool renewal (three-year): Passed (Jacob Palmasol: yes; Levi Jones: yes; Chris Martin: yes). - Accept resignation of Branson Eber, effective Jan. 30, 2025: Passed (Chris Martin: yes; Jacob Palmasol: yes; Levi Jones: yes). - Approve NIPSCO curb/streets cut at 916 Ray Street (demolition): Passed (Jacob Palmasol: yes; Levi Jones: yes; Chris Martin: yes). - Approve code-enforcement weekly report: Passed (Levi Jones: yes; Chris Martin: yes; Jacob Palmasol: yes). - Table appeal for property-cleanup at 400 Howard Street (request to reschedule): Passed (Chris Martin: yes; Levi Jones: yes; Jacob Palmasol: yes). - Remove $250 multiple-violation fine for 829 North Street (condition: no violations in 2025): Passed (Levi Jones: yes; Jacob Palmasol: yes; Chris Martin: yes).

Board members did not introduce new policy changes; staff said funding for the listed police and radio contracts is included in existing departmental budgets. The meeting adjourned after board comments and a reminder about cold weather.