Bloomington Board of Public Works approves abatements, contracts, road closures and environmental deed restriction

The Bloomington Board of Public Works on Aug. 26 approved a package of abatements, contracts, road-closure permits and an environmental restrictive covenant for a remnant parcel where elevated soil contaminants were found.

The actions, taken during a regularly scheduled meeting at City Hall, included approvals to abate two overgrown properties, a $153,444.70 change order to a Hopewell West contract that raises the contract to $1,840,763.55 and adds 14 calendar days, multiple short-term right-of-way closures tied to utility and construction work, a one-day $1,400 service agreement at the police firearms range, and an environmental restrictive covenant for a parcel at West Fountain Drive and Eighth Street where tests showed elevated lead, arsenic and PFOS. All measures on the meeting agenda were approved by roll call.

Why it matters: the approvals permit near-term construction and maintenance work across the city — from paving and utility relocations to repairs at the police training range — and formalize controls on a small city-owned parcel where soil contamination limits future uses and requires a soil-management plan for a proposed bioretention facility.

The board approved continuous abatements for two lots cited repeatedly for excessive vegetation. City staff reported repeated citations and no meaningful owner response for 1912 South Rogers Street and 2225 South High Street; the board voted to authorize continuous abatement at both addresses.

A change order for the Hopewell West segment on South Jackson Street and South Rogers Street was presented by Zach Rogers of Engineering. The change order covers stockpiling and management of excavated soils per the project's soil-management plan, added silt fence and seed mix, and extends the contract by 14 calendar days. The change order amount is $153,444.70, which, the board was told, revises the contract total to $1,840,763.55.

The board approved multiple right-of-way closure requests from the city and private contractors. City of Bloomington Utilities received permission for phased closures on West Second Street — including temporary detours for the B-Line Trail crossing — with work planned between Sept. 21 and Oct. 17. Two-week lane closures were approved for Bone Dry Roofing at 524 North College Avenue (Sept. 1–14) and for CFC Properties at 205 North College Avenue (Oct. 6–20) to accommodate an aerial lift and crane-supported masonry work, respectively. Staff said businesses and adjacent property owners are being notified and traffic-control plans have been supplied.

The board approved a one-time service agreement at the Bloomington Police Department firing range for Action Target technicians to perform maintenance and training for firearms instructors; the cost shown was $1,400 for a one-day visit.

City legal and utilities staff presented an environmental restrictive covenant for a remnant parcel at West Fountain Drive and Eighth Street that staff said is necessary after an environmental study found elevated levels of lead, arsenic and PFOS. Chris Wheeler, city legal counsel, told the board the covenant restricts future uses — he said the document would prevent uses such as a kindergarten, daycares and residential development on the small parcel — and requires notice to any future purchaser. Catherine Zager, director of utilities, said a soil-management plan will be fully implemented if the city proceeds with installing a bioretention facility on the site. Staff also said they may seek transfer of the parcel to the utilities department to streamline future work.

Other contract actions approved included: addendum No. 1 to a contract with Infrastructure Management Services to add 73 miles of field data collection for sidewalk and roadway inventory, increasing the cost by $23,475 (the transcript-listed “not to exceed” total was unclear in the record); a professional services agreement with Studio Access for conceptual design of a potential Public Works operations center, not to exceed $55,000; a contract amendment to Milestone Contractors LP and other routine change orders and service contracts listed on the consent agenda; and approval of payroll and claims totaling $1,286,383.78.

Staff updates and discussion: city engineering staff said repairs tied to the citywide fiber project are continuing in short permitted intervals and that most repairs are expected to be short (typically a day or less). Board members and the city attorney discussed a recurring issue with addenda to outdoor lighting service agreements requested by the city and Duke Energy’s statement that certain addenda cannot be signed because of state utility regulations; City Attorney Audrey Breedingham said she will seek written legal justification from Duke and attend Duke’s public forum to learn how other municipalities are handling the matter. Staff also said an anticipated closure near Switchyard Park remains to be scheduled and that contractors told staff the closure likely will not be as long as the 120-day permit window suggests.

Votes at a glance

- Approve abatement, 1912 South Rogers Street — outcome: approved (Carone: Aye; Roach: Aye; Kron: Aye; Cox Deckard: Aye). - Approve abatement, 2225 South High Street — outcome: approved (Carone: Aye; Roach: Aye; Kron: Aye; Cox Deckard: Aye). - Approve consent agenda (minutes, resolutions, contracts listed on consent) — outcome: approved (unanimous by roll call). - Approve change order No. 1, Crider and Crider contract (Hopewell West South Jackson/South Rogers) — amount: $153,444.70; revised contract: $1,840,763.55; added 14 calendar days — outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve right-of-way closure, West Second Street (City of Bloomington Utilities) — dates/phases: Sept. 21–Oct. 17 (phased) — outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve right-of-way closure, Bone Dry Roofing, 524 North College Ave — Sept. 1–14 — outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve right-of-way closure, CFC Properties, 205 North College Ave — Oct. 6–20 — outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve service agreement with Action Target for Bloomington Police Department range — $1,400, one day — outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve environmental restrictive covenant and authority to proceed with plans to install a bioretention facility at West Fountain Drive & Eighth Street — outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve addendum No. 1 to Infrastructure Management Services (add 73 miles; +$23,475) — outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve professional services agreement with Studio Access (conceptual design) — not to exceed $55,000 — outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve claims in the amount of $1,286,383.78 — outcome: approved (unanimous).

What to watch next: staff said contractors will return with contracting details where required (for the bioretention installation and transfers), the Duke Energy addendum question may prompt further legal follow-up, and staff will continue the citywide fiber repairs over the next several weeks.