Fort Wayne committee advances flood mitigation, utility upgrades and a South Side property purchase

Council committees on Jan. 20 advanced a slate of infrastructure and utilities projects that city staff said will improve stormwater management, street lighting, wastewater treatment and utility data systems.

Councilwoman Michelle Chambers, chair of the Public Works Committee, opened the evening's agenda and presented a donated parcel for the Polka Batch Connector project. Patrick Zaharco, the city engineer, described the donation as land "at the very south end of Bluffton Road at Ferguson Road" and said the area being donated is "pretty open" with only low shrubs and "no major tree clearing" anticipated. The council accepted a due-pass recommendation and the motion carried by voice vote.

Traffic engineer Phil LaBrass outlined a $233,190.44 contract to install 48 decorative Town and Country lights along Lewis Street between Harmar and South Anthony, replacing 20 older cobra-head fixtures. "The ordinance before you is for the installation of 48 Town and Country lights," LaBrass said, noting the work is in the 5th District and within the East Central neighborhood. Council members said neighborhood illumination and related park improvements would benefit from the upgrades; the measure passed by voice vote.

Transportation Engineering's Matt Gray described a $159,000 professional-services agreement with Pavex LLC to complete the city's annual PACER pavement evaluation. "It is to have Pavex complete our yearly pavement service evaluation and rating or PACER using their proprietary AI evaluation process," Gray said, adding the vendor can produce results in weeks rather than the months required for internal staff review. The council moved and passed the item.

At the City Utilities Committee, Matthew Wirtz presented a roughly $2.98 million construction award to Crosby Excavating for the Bollerman wetland detention project. Wirtz said the work will construct "about a 7,000,000-gallon stormwater detention" area with native plantings, walking trails and neighborhood amenities, funded by stormwater rates and a roughly $750,000 grant; Crosby was the lowest of six bidders. The committee voted to pass the ordinance.

Wirtz also presented a $454,390.94 contract for a St. Joe Center Road lift station to increase sewage system capacity and reduce wet-weather overflows, and a $404,700 special procurement to replace aeration diffusers at the wastewater treatment plant as part of a multi-phase upgrade. He explained the diffuser replacements must be staged so the plant can remain in operation; both measures were approved by committee vote.

City Utilities staff requested $295,000 for professional services from Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri) to implement a modern utility network in the city's GIS platform. An unnamed City Utilities presenter said, "The utility network will transform how we manage, and analyze our GIS data and our infrastructure," describing expected benefits including improved data accuracy, network tracing and better web and mobile performance. The committee approved the agreement.

In finance committee business, Councilman Jeff Patton presented Resolution R2601-16 to purchase 614 Wagner Street for $154,900. Seth Langlas of City Utilities said the lot is adjacent to the Three Rivers filtration plant, that acquisition is supported by two appraisals in accordance with Indiana code, and that funding will come from water revenue. "Acquiring this property will provide additional space for plant operations to ensure continued liability of our city's drinking water supply," Langlas said. Council members asked about maintenance of city-owned lots in the neighborhood; Langlas said the house will likely be demolished and the city will increase maintenance efforts. The committee gave a due-pass recommendation on a recorded 7-1 vote.

Council President Marty Bender introduced the new city clerk, McGully, who thanked the council and said he looked forward to the role; members welcomed him. The meeting concluded with brief closing remarks and adjournment.

Votes at a glance - R2601-14 (donation/right-of-way for Polka Batch Connector): motion carried by voice vote (aye), due-pass recommendation recorded. - S260104 (East Lewis Street lighting improvements, $233,190.44): passed by voice vote. - S260113 (Pavex PACER pavement evaluation, $159,000): passed by voice vote. - S2611 (Bollerman wetland detention, Crosby Excavating, ~$2,977,911.65): passed by voice vote. - S2612 (St. Joe Center Road lift station, Fleming Excavating, $454,390.94): passed by voice vote. - S2613 (WPCP aeration diffusers phase 2, $404,700): passed by voice vote. - S2061115 (Esri GIS utility network professional services, $295,000): passed by voice vote. - R2601-16 (purchase of 614 Wagner Street, $154,900): due-pass recommendation approved, recorded 7-1.

What happens next All committee recommendations will move to full council consideration in the council's standard agenda process; the Jan. 20 session concluded after the committees gave their due-pass and approval recommendations.