Elkhart City Council approved on third reading an ordinance appropriating $1,420,271 to relocate American Electric Power transmission lines as part of the Hively Avenue Overpass project.

City Engineer Jeff Schafer told the council that while utilities located in the city right-of-way normally relocate at their own expense, "this utility is unique because Indiana Michigan Power or AEP owns the property that this utility sits on, so that makes it our expense" and that INDOT is contributing through the project grant. Schafer said the work involves replacing poles and raising transmission lines and "this will not impact anybody's service." He described the timeline as lengthy but built into the overall project schedule.

Councilman David Henke cast the lone dissent, saying he opposed using capital outlay funds for the expense because those dollars were intended to generate future tax base and reinvestment. "We're going to take money that should be reinvested to generate a new tax base," Henke said, and indicated he would vote no. Other council members, including Councilman Mishler and Councilman Curry, argued the overpass will support residential and commercial growth, reduce train horn impacts, and improve emergency-response times.

Chief of Staff Megan clarified that the city has been setting aside funds for the overpass match and that the $1,420,271 being voted on is part of a previously planned local contribution estimated at about $12.5 million. A resident, Howard Turner, asked what would happen if the city refused to pay to move the lines and why an overpass was chosen instead of an underpass; Schafer and staff reiterated that cost-sharing and site constraints informed the approach.

The ordinance passed on roll-call 7–1. The agreement did not specify an effective date in the discussion; council did not identify any conditional amendments during the vote.