Board approves add-on agreement with engineering firm for BOT process on multiple infrastructure projects

The Board of Public Works and Safety on Sept. 3 voted to add and approve an agreement with Wesler Engineering to assist the city with build-operate-transfer (BOT) process services across several infrastructure improvement projects, including Medical Drive and Easton Way North Interceptor improvements and multiple street projects.

Corporation Counsel Sergei Gertrzukhinov introduced the add-on and explained BOT (build-operate-transfer) is a procurement, financing and project-delivery method covered by Indiana Code 5-23-3. Sergei said Wesler Engineering will act as the city’s owner’s representative to help manage financing, design, construction and operation aspects until projects transfer back to the city. “BOT or build operate transfer is a way of procurement financing, designing, and building city infrastructure, municipal infrastructure, and that is under Indiana code 5 dash 23 dash 3,” Sergei said.

Lane Young, Director of Utilities, told the board the primary driver for the approach is coordination across multiple, congested projects and the need for a central developer to manage interfaces between projects. “By going this route, we have 1 central developer that can manage all that. That’s the real driver for this,” Young said. Sergei and Lane answered brief questions from the board before members approved the add-on and the agreement by voice vote.

The agreement was added to the agenda as an add-on item and approved immediately; staff said the firm will support multiple utility and street projects where contractor and schedule coordination would otherwise be complex.