Board approves $890,317.16 in claims; local author presses for paving details

The Muncie Board of Public Works and Safety approved the register of claims presented by City Controller Craig Wright, with a motion to approve claims totaling $890,317.16 carried by voice vote.

Craig Wright said the claims register had been sent out the previous afternoon and pointed to regular items including health care and utilities and a recent purchase of motors at Prairie Creek. After a motion to approve the register and a second, the board approved the claims by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

During the public-comment portion, Rick Entered, who identified himself as a newsman and author, raised concerns about the city’s recently published paving list. Entered said he had seen little detail on how the list was developed, and asked when Tillotson Street — which he said has Indiana Michigan infrastructure in and above ground — would be rebuilt. “I’m still looking for a timetable on when that will be rebuilt because that's probably the biggest job,” he said, adding that he had not seen a contract or other records beyond the list the city published.

Entered warned rising oil and gas prices could increase paving costs and said he wanted greater transparency given federal money is involved. The board did not provide a timetable during the meeting; the chair adjourned the session after public comment.

Next steps: the board approved the claims; public records or follow-up from staff will be needed to address questions about the paving list and contracts.