The Elkhart City Board of Public Safety on Nov. 12 approved a slate of contracts, equipment purchases and policy updates, including awarding a demolition contract and authorizing repairs and operational expenditures for the police and fire departments.

The board voted to award the demolition contract for 1253 (transcript alternately referred to as "Columbian" and "Columbia") Avenue to John Ward Concrete as the lowest responsive bidder at $4,500, following receipt of a second quote from Jerry Reed Excavating for $4,995. A board member moved to refer earlier quotes to the city's building department for review before the award was finalized; the award motion was then approved by voice vote.

Other motions approved by the board included approval of the claims and allowance docket for $198,567.09 and acceptance of meeting minutes from Oct. 28, 2025. The Police Merit Commission minutes for Oct. 13, 2025, and the Board of Public Safety meeting dates for 2026 were also approved.

The board approved operational expenditures and repairs for the police department that included:

- An advertising agreement with Joshua K LLC to support Elkhart Police Department recruitment at a cost not to exceed $5,000, and authorization for Captain Travis Snyder to sign the necessary documents. (Captain Travis Snyder introduced the item.)

- Authorization for Trane repairs to police department HVAC equipment: replacement of two flame sensors and two igniters on four units ($2,351), replacement of a failed condenser coil on Unit 1 ($14,202), and replacement of a failed heat exchanger in Unit 2 ($6,801). Captain Snyder explained those repairs were identified under the department's service agreement with Trane.

The board accepted the Elkhart Communications (911) October month-end report and heard that the department will open a hiring pool to fill four dispatcher vacancies, hiring two at a time during the recruitment process.

The board adopted the standard operating procedures for abandoned vehicles developed jointly by Building and Code, Police and Legal departments, and accepted results from an Oct. 29 order-to-take-action hearing that ordered demolition of four properties.

All listed motions were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote during the meeting. The meeting adjourned after no members of the public spoke during the public participation period.