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Franklin board approves sidewalk, curb and alley work, festival laser show and cemetery repairs
Summary
On May 4 Franklin’s Board of Public Works and Safety awarded the 2026 sidewalk project and Madison Street curb replacement to Calumet Civil Contractors, approved Houston Electric for Art Craft Alley lighting, accepted cemetery headstone repair quotes and conditionally approved a $7,500 laser-show contract pending two contract edits.
The Board of Public Works and Safety on May 4 approved a slate of public-works contracts and quotes covering sidewalks, curbs, alley lighting, cemetery repairs and a festival laser show.
City Engineer Matt McElroy presented bids for the 2026 sidewalk improvement program and reported seven bids were opened April 24. "Calumet Civil Contractors Inc. submitted $233,000" and McElroy recommended Calumet as the lowest, most responsive and responsible bidder; the board voted to award the construction contract. McElroy also presented quotes for the Madison Street curb replacement, where Calumet’s $117,000 quote was the lowest and the board approved that award as well.
Community Development Specialist Dana Monson said Houston Electric was the only responsive bidder for permanent electrical upgrades in Art Craft Alley and for a dumpster pad; the two line items totaled roughly $5,275.96 and $5,241.46. The board approved contracting with Houston Electric and directed the city engineer to review final plans.
Director of Parks and Recreation Chip Horner presented a Coherent Designs contract for a laser show at the Franklin Firecracker Festival July 3. Horner said the total show cost is $14,155 but the city contract is for $7,500; a board member asked for two edits before final execution: removing a liability cap in the fine print that limited vendor liability to the contract amount and changing governing law from Illinois to Indiana so municipal immunities apply. The board approved the contract subject to those two changes.
Horner also presented quotes for phase 6 of a cemetery headstone repair program to replace 100 headstone foundations. He said about 350 foundations have been completed to date and the program expects roughly 200 more this summer; the board approved the phase 6 quotes.
Other authorizations included release of a subdivision performance bond and acceptance of a subdivision maintenance bond for Kingsbridge Section 5. The board also approved an invoice drawdown for the Franklin owner-occupied rehabilitation grant; staff reported seven initial inspections were complete and that, if all proceed, the program will have assisted 21 homeowners in the city limits.
Votes at a glance
- 2026 Sidewalk Improvement Project: Awarded to Calumet Civil Contractors Inc., $233,000 — approved.
- Madison Street curb replacement: Awarded to Calumet Civil Contractors, $117,000 — approved.
- Art Craft Alley electrical installation: Contract awarded to Houston Electric (two line items totaling approximately $5,275.96 and $5,241.46) — approved.
- Coherent Designs laser show contract (Firecracker Festival, July 3): Approved subject to two contract edits (remove vendor liability cap; change governing law to Indiana) — approved subject to changes.
- Cemetery headstone project phase 6 (100 foundations): Quotes approved — approved.
- Kingsbridge Section 5: Performance bond released and maintenance bond accepted — approved.
- Franklin owner-occupied rehab invoice/drawdown: Approved (seven inspections completed; grant will assist up to 21 homeowners if all proceed) — approved.
City staff said the awards will be followed by standard contract execution and inspections. The board asked that the city engineer and legal staff confirm final contract language and implementation details where noted.
