Carmel Board of Public Works approves contracts for school-zone signs, fleet vehicles, trail inspection and multiple easements; events permits cleared

The Board of Public Works and Safety on Sept. 17 approved a series of contracts, purchase orders, permits and easements covering school-zone signage, fleet vehicles, trail inspection services, a roundabout change order, software integration and several property encroachments and event permits.

The approvals included awards and purchase orders for the Carmel school-zone signage installation, a fleet vehicle purchase for utilities, a professional-services amendment for trail inspection work, a final balancing change order for a roundabout project, technology integration for fleet maintenance data and a clinical affiliation agreement with Carmel Clay Schools for emergency medical services training.

Jared Huff of the City of Carmel Department of Engineering requested award of the school-zone signage quote to Murphy Construction in the amount of $103,000, saying, “They are the lowest and most responsive bidder.” The board later approved a corresponding purchase order for the same vendor and amount.

Terry Krusekamp, GIS coordinator for the Department of Technology, described a $55,000 contract with Cultivate Geospatial Solutions LLC to integrate Geotab fleet telematics data into the city’s GIS and CitiWorks system to automate mileage and maintenance information. “We’re hoping to get that data, like mileage and those kinds of things automatically into CitiWorks,” Krusekamp said.

Lane Young, director of utilities, described a $624,945 purchase order with Tom Wood Ford for fleet replacements that includes 15 Ford Mavericks and two larger dump trucks. “These will be better vehicles for us and they’re actually less expensive,” Young said, adding that the city expects to trade in older vehicles to reduce the net cost.

The board approved an amendment for Crossroad Engineers PC in the amount of $189,000 for inspection services on the 130 Sixth Street trail connections project (amendment number 3). Brad Pease, director of engineering, introduced multiple engineering items including a single, encompassing change order for the Pennsylvania Street Roundabouts — listed as CO Number 1 for project 22-EG-06 — that totals $155,387.12 and includes a redesign of the west-leg entrance to an adjacent business.

The board also approved an emergency medical services clinical affiliation agreement to allow Carmel Clay Schools students to complete mandated clinical time on city ambulances; the item was presented as originating with Fire Department Chief Joel Thacker and spoken to by Andrew Young, EMS chief. The board approved three consent-to-encroach requests — for 13727 Smoky Ridge Drive (a detached garage inside an easement), 695 First Avenue Southeast (parking in undeveloped right-of-way) and a stormwater quality management easement at 331 West Main Street for Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development Incorporated — after engineering review.

A request to use city streets and property for a set of events (items 4a–4d) was approved together. A rabbi representing Chabad of Indiana thanked the board for prior support of the Indiana Jewish Festival and expressed appreciation for early planning; the board approved all four event requests.

All items on the agenda were approved by voice vote; the meeting adjourned with no additional business.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes from the Sept. 3, 2025 regular meeting: approved by voice vote. - Quote award for school-zone signage: award to Murphy Construction, $103,000; approved by voice vote. - Purchase order for school-zone signage: Morphy/Murphy Construction, $103,000; approved by voice vote. - EMS clinical affiliation agreement with Carmel Clay Schools: approved by voice vote. - Professional services amendment — Crossroad Engineers PC — 130 Sixth Street Trail inspection, Amendment No. 3: $189,000; approved by voice vote. - Change order — E & D Paving LLC — Pennsylvania Street Roundabouts (CO No. 1, final balancing and west-leg redesign): $155,387.12; approved by voice vote. - Purchase order — Cultivate Geospatial Solutions LLC — vehicle maintenance software/GPS integration: $55,000; approved by voice vote. - Fleet vehicle purchase — Tom Wood Ford — $624,945 (15 Ford Mavericks, two dump trucks; trade-ins expected to reduce net cost): approved by voice vote. - Event permits (items 4a–4d, including Indiana Jewish Festival applicant represented by Chabad of Indiana): approved by voice vote. - Consent to encroach — 13727 Smoky Ridge Drive (detached garage in easement): approved by voice vote. - Consent to encroach — 695 First Avenue Southeast (parking in undeveloped right-of-way): approved by voice vote. - Stormwater quality management easement — 331 West Main Street — Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development Incorporated: approved by voice vote.

Clarifying details

- School-zone signage: quoted/contract amount $103,000; bidder named in the agenda as Murphy Construction; later purchase order wording in the transcript used the spelling “Morphy Construction Incorporated.” Transcript contains inconsistent vendor spelling; contract documents should be consulted for the official vendor name. - Fleet purchase: contract listed at $624,945; includes 15 Ford Mavericks and two dump trucks; staff said trade-ins will reduce actual expenditure but no net cost was specified. - GIS integration: contract authorizes integration of Geotab telematics into the city’s GIS and CitiWorks for automatic mileage and maintenance reporting; amount $55,000. - Crossroad Engineers PC: amendment #3 for inspection services on the 130 Sixth Street trail connections — $189,000. - Roundabout change order: E & D Paving LLC CO No. 1, final balancing and includes a redesign of the west-leg entrance; amount $155,387.12. - EMS clinical affiliation: described as enabling Carmel Clay Schools students to complete mandated clinical time on city ambulances; the agenda item was listed as coming from Chief Joel Thacker; Andrew Young spoke to the agreement.

Ending

The board handled the items on a consent-like docket with short presentations and unanimous voice approvals. No items were continued or tabled, and no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.