Council committees give do-pass recommendations on lighting, sidewalks, software and fire equipment; several procurement items approved

Fort Wayne Common Council committees on Nov. 18 advanced a series of procurement and capital-improvement measures addressing street lighting and neighborhood infrastructure, public-safety equipment, and contract awards.

In Public Works, traffic engineer Phil LaBrass described ordinance S-25-11-04, a $156,565 contract with Kissinger Electric to install 37 Town & Country LED lights along Burgess Street and St. Mary's Avenue in the Nebraska neighborhood; the committee voted 8-0 to recommend passage. Community Development’s PJ Thuringer presented S-25-11-14, a $276,059.90 contract with Malott Contracting Inc. for the Kinsmore–Fairfield sidewalk and lighting enhancement project (27 new streetlights and sidewalks to improve access to Packard Park and area businesses). Staff said the project aligns with the Packard neighborhood plan and is 5.2% below the engineer’s estimate; the committee gave a do-pass recommendation, 8-0.

The Finance Committee considered multiple items. An ordinance to award ITB 8,355,844 for neighborhood cleanup services to Yard Jobs was amended on the floor from the posted $250,000 to $300,000 (councilmembers concluded the ordinance document in front of them already reflected $300,000); the amendment and the amended ordinance each passed 8-0. Deputy Director Chris Blauville presented S-25-11-02 to purchase Altura Unified Dispatch Software (Altura CFKAA Holdings LLC) for an initial cost of $140,000; Blauville said the second-year cost is projected at $130,000 and that the purchase includes integration costs (about $10,000) this year to connect with existing police records systems. The Finance Committee gave S-25-11-02 a do-pass recommendation, 7-1.

Fire Department requests included S-25-11-03, a $134,207 award to replace boilers and storage tanks at four stations (contractor listed as Hatterley’s and Sons Inc.); staff noted cast-iron boilers have a typical 25-year life and replacement lead times are about 2–3 months with three-day installs per station. The committee voted 8-0 to recommend passage. The council also approved S-25-11-06, a $246,540 purchase of replacement bunker gear (Hoosier Fire Equipment Inc.) to provide second sets for recently graduated firefighter classes; staff emphasized second sets reduce exposure to toxic contaminants and improve readiness. Finally, the council approved a $40,000 increase to PO 2580306 for Pierce/McQueen fire truck parts (S25-11-07); fleet director Todd Brookmeyer said funding exists and no new budget appropriation was requested. Both the bunker gear purchase and the PO increase received do-pass recommendations (votes recorded as passed in committee).

Most items were approved in committee with unanimous votes or comfortable majorities and will proceed to the full council for final consideration as part of the regular legislative process.