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Burns Harbor RDC approves National Park Service agreement and moves ahead on tree work for Marquette Greenway
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Summary
The Redevelopment Commission approved a clean agreement template with the National Park Service for Marquette Greenway Phase 1b, voted to advertise tree‑removal bids separately to meet the bat‑season window, and accepted a $36,500 Soil Solutions contract for tree mitigation funded from project contingency.
Tina, project staff, told the Redevelopment Commission that National Park Service officials have signed all environmental compliance documents for the Marquette Greenway project, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for Phase 1 work. She said the agreement template was revised to remove design-phase language and certain federally oriented clauses because the towns have already coordinated design and the project is not federally funded.
The commission approved the updated National Park Service agreement and recommended the town council sign the document so National Park staff can finalize signatures. "All of the environmental compliance documents have been signed by National Park officials, so the environmental compliance is complete," Tina said.
Commissioners discussed a remaining constructability issue in Minoki Prairie: a proposed fence at North Babcock Road intended to limit off‑trail crossings and address Norfolk Southern safety concerns. Because tree clearing must occur outside the bat‑season window, the commission voted to advertise bids for tree removal separately from the full construction contract so clearing can be completed before the seasonal deadline.
Staff described tree‑mitigation obligations required by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources: for each tree removed the town must plant four replacements. Tina said the proposal the commission received calls for 800 saplings and that Soil Solutions submitted a not‑to‑exceed $36,500 proposal to prepare the mitigation plan, install plantings and provide three years of compliance monitoring and reporting. "The proposal is not to exceed $36,500," Tina said; staff noted the expense can be covered by existing contingency funds and does not increase the project's total cost at this time.
A motion to accept the Soil Solutions contract (not to exceed $36,500) passed on roll call. Commissioners also approved related purchase orders and invoices tied to Marquette Greenway work, including a $180,000 PO to Avon Marsh to advance construction administration and a $3,971.22 PO to SEH to refresh a contract balance.
The approvals allow staff to proceed with separate tree‑clearing procurement and to finalize mitigation planning and plantings while the commission continues coordination with National Park Service and other project partners. The commission noted remaining contingencies for constructability but emphasized the decision preserves the seasonal window for tree work.
