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Board approves claims, street closures, billboard and temporary public art in routine session
Summary
At its meeting the Muncie Board of Public Works and Safety approved $1.3 million in claims including a $272,940.91 invoice tied to Columbus Avenue reconstruction, granted two street‑closure permits for Ball State and The Woodlands events, authorized a billboard contract and approved a right‑of‑way permit for a temporary public sculpture.
The Muncie Board of Public Works and Safety handled routine business and several permits during its meeting.
The board approved the minutes of the Feb. 4 meeting and then the register of claims as presented. City Controller Craig Wright reviewed the claims, noting regular utility and health‑care items as well as a $272,940.91 invoice from a 3D/NVH vendor restricted to the Columbus Avenue reconstruction project. A board motion to approve claims totaling $1,307,095 carried by voice vote.
Lieutenant Anthony Hurst of the Ball State Police Department requested a street closure for Ball State’s spring commencement on May 2 for McKinley Avenue between Riverside and University from roughly 8:00 a.m. to about 12:31 p.m. The board approved the closure. Connie Keiger of The Woodlands requested a closure for the community’s May 14 anniversary event (setup 2–3 p.m.; event 5–8 p.m.) to accommodate live music, vendors and food trucks; the board approved that request and reminded organizers the city does not provide crews to physically close the road.
The board also approved the annual L&W (referred to as LNW in the motion) billboard contract for 2026 to promote Ironman and other city activities on two billboards along I‑69 near the Muncie exits. Finally, the board granted a right‑of‑way permit requested by Carl Schaeffer of Gordy Framing to place a temporary public sculpture (in collaboration with sculptor Aaron Nicholson) on a city parcel by the Greenway across from Amazing Joe’s for up to 24 months. Schaeffer said the work would sit on a trailer, be bolted into a small concrete plug and is about 10 feet tall.
Public comment included remarks from Rick Yenser, who urged caution on plans for a new police station and raised concerns about what he said was roughly $72,000,000 in city debt; his figures were not verified in the meeting record. The meeting adjourned without further action.
Votes at a glance • Approval of Feb. 4 minutes — voice vote; motion carried. • Claims register (total listed in meeting) — motion to approve claims totaling $1,307,095; motion carried. Featured: $272,940.91 tied to Columbus Avenue reconstruction (NVH/3‑D vendor). • Ball State commencement street closure (May 2) — approved. • The Woodlands anniversary street closure (May 14) — approved. • Veritas personal‑services contract to study police facility options — approved (see separate article). • L&W (LNW) billboard contract for 2026 — approved. • Right‑of‑way permit for temporary sculpture (Carl Schaeffer / Aaron Nicholson) — approved.
