Columbia City Board of Works approves permits, payments and marketing agreement

Columbia City’s Board of Works and Safety on Jan. 14 unanimously approved a set of permits, payments and a marketing agreement affecting public events, a park project and utility customer outreach.

The board approved an encroachment agreement for the Whitley County Historical Society to install a sign at Main and Jefferson; accepted pay request No. 8 for Chapel Construction in the amount of $82,967.90 for work on park amenities; modified and approved a street-closing permit for the Wheels of Whitley County car show to end at the alley south of the post office; and entered into a marketing agreement with Utility Service Partners’ private-label program to offer a service-line warranty to city utility customers. The board also approved multiple accounts-payable disbursements, including a checks batch for $1,235,854.68 and several payroll and benefit-related payments.

Why it matters: the approvals clear the way for immediate vendor payments and for a private, voluntary warranty program marketed to city utility customers. The street closure change preserves post-office access; the sign encroachment lets a…