The La Porte Board of Public Works and Safety approved a series of routine financial and project items during its Jan. 22 meeting, including payroll, multiple claims, construction change orders and pay requests, permit renewals and a personnel retirement.

Key approvals included: civil city payroll for Jan. 17, 2025, in the amount of $561,791.44; civil city claims totaling $1,532,914.42 (including bond payments); sewage claims of $84,537.41; and water claims of $98,140.90. The board recorded voice votes approving each item.

The board approved appraisal invoices for two vacant parcels adjacent to the Daytona Street fire station so staff can obtain market values for a potential future purchase to expand the fire department’s training facility; Otis said the property owner indicated willingness to accept the city’s tentative offer based on the average of the two appraisals. The motion approved payment for appraisals only; any purchase would return for separate approval.

Construction items approved included change order No. 4 for the McClung Road project, a net deduct of $50,869.21, and pay request No. 6 for that project in the amount of $22,999.30 (project at roughly 98 percent complete; remaining balance $11,380.94 retainage). The board also approved pay request No. 1 for the 18th Street sanitary extension to Woodruff in the amount of $197,743.81 (about 19 percent of the contract); staff described staged hookups for nearby homeowners and said homeowners who do not give easements now would pay future hookup costs individually, with an estimated future hookup cost of roughly $15,000.

The board accepted final change orders and recommended acceptance for Chesapeake Trail Phase 2 and the Jesse Trail project; staff said the federal‑aid project will result in a refund to the city because final costs were lower than originally anticipated.

Other routine approvals included renewal of multiple septic discharge permits for local contractors (Delta Industrial, Johnson Septic, Jagged Truck Leasing, Dog Tag Septic, Sudlow Excavating, KFAX Excavating, D and M Excavating, and Shankster Brothers), approval of the routine engineering services agreement with Tim Werner (for day‑to‑day engineering assistance), and acceptance of a resignation and retirement notice from Officer Nathan Tote with service ending Jan. 31, 2025; the board voted to accept the retirement and authorize filling the position.

The board approved a quote and trade‑in for a new floating dock (6-by-36 feet) from Harborside Manufacturing for the city’s rescue boat at Unity Park; Member Romine abstained from that vote. The board also approved a mass prophylactic/clinic site memorandum of understanding with the county health department to allow the use of fire station facilities during a large‑scale public‑health event.

Several items were tabled for later discussion, including an engineering code lease (La Porte Chrysler) and selection scoring for two INDOT‑related projects (sign replacement and pedestrian crossing improvements). For the McClung Road contract staff said they would return with as‑builts and a recommendation to release retainage at the next meeting once final items are resolved.

Votes on the listed items were taken by roll/voice and recorded as passed unless otherwise noted in the minutes.