Votes at a glance: Evansville Board of Public Works approves internet renewal, service reduction, permits and takes roundabout bids under advisement

The Evansville Board of Public Works approved a batch of routine contracts, permits and event road‑closure requests and took Crosspoint Roundabout construction bids under advisement at the meeting.

Highlights include a 36‑month renewal of the Astound 1G internet circuit that supports the city/county enterprise infrastructure, a reduction of an Astound service at the Sunrise pump station from 1G to 100 megabits, approval of right‑of‑way permit applications, an amendment to a Walnut Street consultant agreement, multiple community event road closures, authorization to advertise bidders for project 25-005 (Portland loo), and the acceptance of Crosspoint Roundabout bids for later consideration.

Vernon Luisa, the city’s chief information officer, said the Astound renewal will save roughly $7,199.64 over the 36‑month term by reducing the monthly rate to $1,148.99 split 50/50 between the city and county. “We’re saving a little money by doing the renewal right now. And so it’s gonna be about a $7,000 savings,” Luisa said. The board moved, seconded and approved the 36‑month contract for a total of $41,363.64.

The board also approved reducing service at the Sunrise pump station, lowering the monthly charge from $485 to $300 and reducing the nine‑month cost by $1,665; staff said the water and sewer utility no longer needs the previous level of service. “Again, we got a nice savings,” a staff member said during the discussion.

City engineering recommended approval of right‑of‑way permit applications numbered 2259 through 2281 with standard conditions such as maintenance‑of‑traffic per the Indiana MUTCD and compliance with the city’s utility cut repair detail. The board approved the recommended permits.

An amendment (Amendment No. 6) to an agreement with Lockmental Group Inc. for the Walnut Street project was approved; the transcript identified this as consulting and redesign work but did not provide the amendment amount in the record.

The board approved a package of community event road‑closure requests, including (among others) Zion Missionary Baptist Church’s block party (Sweetser Avenue), WNIN Tri‑State Public Media’s WNIN Kids Fest (Main Street to Riverside), Central High School marching band events, YMCA runs and the Greater Lincolnshire Front Porch Festival. Most closures were approved on the condition that certificates of insurance and any required approvals were on file; staff told the board paperwork was in order for the approved events.

Bids were opened for the Crosspoint Roundabout (project 24-012). Staff read base bids into the record and the board voted to take the bids under advisement; the base bids read were: JBI Construction Inc., $2,504,990.62 (base bid as read); Dye Brothers Lumber and Construction Company Inc., $3,935,055.32; and Rangel, $2,716,280.11. The board did not award the project at the meeting.

Staff also asked for and received board approval to advertise for bidders on project 25-005 (the Portland loo), with advertisement dates and a bid opening date set per the handout in the meeting packet. The board approved bills and payrolls and adjourned.

No recorded dissent occurred on the items the board approved in this batch; most were accepted by voice vote per the transcript.