Valparaiso council approves $2.64 million paving appropriation; resident urges curb, drainage fixes on Harrison Boulevard

The Valparaiso City Council on March (date not specified) approved Ordinance 6 20 26, an additional appropriation of $2,636,406 in the Board of Works Pavement Fund for street rehabilitation, resurfacing, concrete repair, alley paving, pavement markings and contingency. The vote was 6–0.

The appropriation request, presented by Max of the engineering department, remains unchanged from what staff proposed: “The addition additional appropriation request of $2,636,406 has remained unchanged,” he said. Staff told the council the appropriation is intended to fund a package of 2026 paving projects and that the city will pursue a Community Crossings grant opportunity; the grant provides up to $1,000,000 on a first-come, first-served basis and requires a 50/50 local match.

The city intends to post the paving project for bid starting Friday, March 13, seek permission to bid at the Board of Works, open bids on March 27 and then proceed with award and notifications, Max said. He also said the appropriation is drawn from the Board of Works paving fund and that, combined with earlier appropriations, the city will be working toward a total local paving package in the mid‑millions.

During the required public hearing on the ordinance resident Hayden Staub of 353 Harrison Boulevard told the council the east segment of Harrison between Campbell and Valparaiso Street lacks curbing, noting water consistently overspreads front yards and has caused repeated water-line breaks in front of two properties. “It’s causing massive erosion, particularly in front of 353 Harrison and 351 Harrison,” Staub said, asking how residents request new curbs.

Staff and council responded that the engineering and public works teams will generate a list of locations with edge-of-pavement erosion and create an improvement plan; they also said PASER ratings, which drive paving priority, are not the appropriate metric for some stormwater or erosion-control problems and that treating a location as a stormwater project can elevate its priority. Max said the city will coordinate with utilities and public works to vet a preliminary list and will share that list with council if grant funding is available.

After questions and discussion the council closed the hearing and adopted the ordinance on a roll-call vote, 6–0. The Board of Works bid schedule and any grant awards will be the next procedural steps.