Gary board approves roughly $2.15 million in CDBG awards, several contracts and amendments

The City of Gary Board of Public Works and Safety on June 10 approved a package of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) interagency agreements and related contract actions that together commit roughly $2.15 million for neighborhood services and infrastructure.

The board voted unanimously (3–0) to approve interagency agreements that include $400,000 for code enforcement, $400,000 for a demolition/blight-elimination program, $650,000 for street and engineering improvements in low-to-moderate income areas, $250,000 for the Gary Youth Services Bureau’s summer program and $300,000 for fire station repairs and equipment. The board also approved a $155,000 award to Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana to support home-delivered meals for seniors; a $70,000 award to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana’s mobile-market program was presented but tabled because the provider was not available to speak.

Interim Community Development Director Yvette Williams told the board that the CDBG funds are distributed as interagency agreements so municipal departments and partner nonprofits can operate programs and complete projects that HUD would otherwise not fund. Deputy Director Adrienne Yates said the street work will continue in previously targeted areas (Edna and Emerson) and reiterated HUD reporting and area eligibility requirements.

Fire Chief Larry Tilman said prior CDBG support supplied turnout gear and other equipment for the department and described the current $300,000 package as intended for station repairs and remaining equipment needs.

Shade Johnson Warren, standing in for the code enforcement director, told the board the $400,000 would help pay staff salaries, vehicles, uniforms and equipment used to address blight, illegal dumping, overgrown lots and other property-maintenance issues. Williams and Warren said enforcement work also ties into collections when property owners fail to comply with court orders.

The board also approved a memorandum to award lead-certified inspection and cost-estimating services for the Senior Emergency Repair program to America Incorporated. The recommended scope included line items such as lead-inspection and bid-ready project specifications; America Inc. was presented as the most cost-efficient proposer and the memorandum was approved after questions about turnaround time and coordination with the building department.

A contract amendment clarifying hourly rates for Cherry Beckert Advisory LLC was approved; the amendment does not change the $18,000 not-to-exceed compensation of the original agreement and the city described the work as accounting and fixed-asset reconciliation to support audit reporting, not a decision-making role on property disposals.

Most motions passed without extended debate and were approved by roll call with a vote of three yes, zero no. Several speakers asked staff to supply additional procurement documentation (bid tabs and vendor responsiveness sheets) and to ensure environmental reviews and SAM.gov vendor checks are completed before awarding demolition contracts.

Meals on Wheels Director Jennifer Okamora told the board the organization serves about 1,400 Gary residents and estimated that the $155,000 allocation would fund roughly 11,000 meals; she provided the group’s website (mwnwi.org) and a contact number (219-753-3663) for follow-up.

The meeting also recorded earlier routine business: the board approved minutes from June 3 and approved claims payable totaling $931,985.92.

What’s next: staff said they will return with the additional procurement documentation and any corrected contract dates or typographical fixes noted during the meeting. The Food Bank mobile-market award will be brought back when its representative can present details.