Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Procurements Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves multiple construction contracts, downtown pedestrian crossing design and local grants
Summary
The Elkhart Board of Public Works voted to authorize several professional services agreements and construction contracts, approved bridge repairs and street projects, and awarded local grants and equipment purchases during a routine meeting dominated by procurement votes.
The Elkhart Board of Public Works on a unanimous series of voice votes approved a string of professional services agreements, construction contracts and procurement actions covering pedestrian safety improvements, bridge repairs, sewer separation bids and municipal equipment purchases.
Jeff Schaefer, the city engineer, told the board the first contract authorizes DJ Construction as an on-call construction consultant, an hourly agreement capped at $100,000 that departments will draw against from existing contractual budgets to scope and price vertical construction work. The board approved design work by DLZ Indiana LLC for a Prairie Street pedestrian crossing near the Elkhart & Western Railroad; staff described the design as a Hawk (pedestrian) signal to close a final link in the River District greenway, with design fees not to exceed $83,700 and the work paid from River District funds.
The board also approved compaction testing by Weaver Consultants for the Elkhart County Courthouse demolition, several change orders and construction awards across multiple projects. Notable awards included the CSO13 Beardsley sewer separation construction contract to Selge Construction (low bid reported just under $916,646) and the 2026 street resurfacing and curb ramp contract to Selge for $372,400. Change orders were approved for the Oakland Avenue Force Main Phase A project to address signage and signal loop work, and an amendment extended Davis-Bacon wage-compliance oversight with Klein Peter Consulting to carry the project through April 2026.
Infrastructure work on the Napony Street pedestrian bridge was treated in two steps: a change order to Crane Industrial Services to address immediate reinforcement needs and authorization to advertise a larger summer restoration project intended to extend the bridge's service life by roughly 2–4 years while a full replacement is designed and funded.
Other routine approvals included permanent bus shelter installation on Second Street ($24,750), ratification of remediation payments for 1101 East Beardsley ($24,111 to Roberts Environmental), and vehicle and equipment purchases such as a dump-truck build ($118,411.93) and a Ford F-350 snowplow ($57,533.68). The board also approved a $20,000 economic development partnership grant to the Elkhart County Symphony.
Most items passed by voice vote with minimal discussion; staff repeatedly described the approvals as budgeted or within procurement limits. The board closed with routine event-permit approvals and adjourned.
