The City of Kokomo Board of Public Works and Safety on Nov. 26 approved a series of purchases, contract changes and payments and authorized a $20,000 revolving loan to a local business, while taking bids for a planned bus maintenance facility under advisement.

The board approved purchases that included a 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV for the fire department and a 2026 John Deere skid steer (order price $93,433.66 with a $10,000 trade-in allowance). It also approved encumbering $71,754 to pay Ascension Saint Vincent Public Safety Medical for annual firefighter clearance physicals.

Why it matters: These actions fund public-safety readiness, fleet and sanitation equipment and advance multiple public-works projects already under construction, moving several budgets and contracts closer to completion.

Among project payments approved were pay estimate No. 2 for the Grayson Court construction project — a request to pay $275,258.74 to E and B Paving with $5,892.60 currently held in escrow to be released — and the final payment application for Jefferson Street sanitary sewer extension phase 1, an adjusted contract totaling $249,955.34 (including a $38,806.49 contract modification).

The board approved a utility-relocation reimbursement agreement with Indiana American Water Company (IAWC) for the Northside interceptor project, authorizing reimbursement of $351,000 for a waterline relocation in a dedicated easement, and accepted invoice payments recommended by the Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau and the Howard County Convention and Visitors Commission totaling $15,121.01 to SMR and $9,065.40 to Verdis Group for conference-center work.

Economic development action: The board approved a $20,000 loan to Baddies Trucking LLC recommended by the revolving loan board and referenced as funded through the USDA emerging business revolving loan fund, with a 60-month term at a fixed 4% interest rate and the City of Kokomo designated as a lienholder on the vehicle title.

Labor and finance: The board approved the 2026–2028 AFSCME contracts (including the transit contract). The meeting concluded with approval of weekly claims totaling $2,635,227.44.

Bids received: City staff reported six bids for the bus maintenance facility (construction project C2507-1B). Staff read the bidders and amounts and the board voted to take the bids under advisement rather than award a contract at this meeting.

Procedural notes and votes: Most approvals were made by motion from the member identified in the transcript as Speaker 2 and seconded by Speaker 1, followed by voice votes recorded as "aye." The transcript does not list individual vote tallies or roll-call votes.

What’s next: Bids for the bus maintenance facility will be reviewed further; several approved payments and contract modifications will proceed to processing and execution per staff recommendation. The board adjourned at the end of the session.