Kokomo Board of Public Works and Safety approves Fire Station payout, nuisance cleanups, truck purchase and transit safety plan

The Kokomo Board of Public Works and Safety met May 13 and approved a series of routine and project-related items, including a pay application for the Fire Station No. 6 reconstruction, nuisance-cleanup authorizations, a vehicle purchase for the street department and the adoption of the city’s transit public agency safety plan.

Chair opened the meeting and asked the board to approve minutes from May 6; the board voted to approve the minutes.

The board considered pay application No. 9 for the Fire Station No. 6 reconstruction, which Chair said came from Carrie Stranahan and reflects work completed to date — "slab on grades, CMU walls, metal framing, roofing, exterior walls, underground rough ins, duct work, and electrical." Chair recommended approval of payout number 9 in the amount of $629,598.25 and that $33,136.75 be placed in escrow for retainage. A motion to approve the pay application was made, seconded and carried.

Chelsea, a staff member, reported that "all properties listed below have been abated by our office" but that violations remained at the listed addresses. She requested permission for city crews to enter 1118 East Mulberry and 1218 North Phillips Street to remove abated items. The board authorized city crews to enter those properties and remove the listed items; the motion carried.

The board reviewed three quotes to replace street-department truck No. 872: a 2015 Freightliner from Anderson for $38,900, a 2022 Ford F-650 from Milwaukee for $49,900, and a 2023 Freightliner from Lafayette for $54,900. Chair recommended purchasing the 2015 Freightliner from Stoops Truck Country of Anderson as the lowest and most responsive bid. The board approved that purchase.

The board also approved three invoices for the conference center project: CED Indy for $49,706.60 (exterior site lining), Edwin Dawn for a 50% down payment on banquet and small-ware equipment for $72,830.98, and Bridal Titans for a scissor lift for $23,100. Chair said the Convention and Visitors Bureau reviewed the invoices at its May 8 meeting and recommended payment.

On the transit item, the board considered a memo from Liam Melton in the transit department requesting adoption of the City of Kokomo Transit public transit agency safety plan for submission to the Federal Transit Administration via the KHC GCC. A board member moved to adopt the FTA public transit agency safety plan; the motion was seconded and approved.

There was no correspondence and no public comment. The board approved claims totaling $1,769,610.95. A motion to adjourn carried and the meeting concluded.

Votes at a glance - Minutes from May 6: approved (unanimous) - Pay application No. 9 — Fire Station No. 6 Reconstruction: approved (amount $629,598.25; retainage $33,136.75) - Nuisance cleanups authorized for 1118 East Mulberry and 1218 North Phillips Street: approved (unanimous) - Purchase of 2015 Freightliner from Stoops Truck Country (truck No. 872 replacement): approved (unanimous) - Conference center invoices (CED Indy $49,706.60; Edwin Dawn $72,830.98; Bridal Titans $23,100): approved (unanimous) - Adoption of City of Kokomo Transit public transit agency safety plan for FTA submission: approved (unanimous) - Claims totaling $1,769,610.95: approved (unanimous)

What’s next The board did not set additional follow-up deadlines at the meeting. Items approved — including the pay application and the transit safety plan for FTA submission — will move forward under the departments that brought them to the board.