Hammond City Capital Improvement Board approves four project allocations, including Willow Court realignment design

The Hammond City Capital Improvement Board approved four funding allocations at its Feb. 18 meeting, authorizing work ranging from two-tree replacements downtown to design work for a roadway realignment meant to address repeated crashes.

The board approved funding allocation 303 to Reith Riley Construction Co. for $2,028.27 to replace two trees in downtown Hohman Avenue that had to be planted in the middle of summer, a cost the board said would be shared with the contractor. Councilman Salinas moved the measure and Commissioner Prieto seconded; the motion passed on a roll-call vote, five in favor and none opposed.

The board also approved a $60,000 general engineering-services contract with NIES Engineering (funding allocation 304). The contract is intended to support the city’s engineering department on sewer, drainage, electrical and signage projects. Commissioner Prieto moved the contract, which Councilman Racos seconded; the board approved it unanimously.

Funding allocation 305, a $120,490 contract with H3 Concrete to improve a ditch along J.F. Mahoney Drive near the Ice Cube, was approved after staff described the ditch as overgrown and recommended installing an ‘‘inverted crown curb’’ to improve drainage and maintenance. Councilman Racos moved the funding and Commissioner Muta seconded; the motion passed 5–0.

The board’s largest action was approval of funding allocation 306: $120,500 to First Group Engineering for design of a realignment at Willow Court and State Street. The chair said the project responds to multiple reports of roadway departures at the Willow Court–State Street intersection and aims to remove a ‘‘design kink’’ and correct sight-distance issues near the Holman Avenue bridge. The chair also said the design work is timed to precede planned railroad quiet zones on the Norfolk Southern line at Willow Court, State, Sibley and Oakley; construction is expected later this year. Councilman Salinas moved the design funding and Councilman Racos seconded; the motion passed 5–0.

No members of the public spoke during the public-expression portion. The board briefly reviewed a prior work study session, noted there was no funding report for item six, and set its next regular meeting for March 2. The meeting adjourned following a motion and voice vote.

Quotes recorded in the meeting included the chair’s statement that the Hohman Avenue tree work ‘‘is a commitment to replace about two trees’’ and staff framing for the Willow Court realignment that ‘‘this needs to sort of get done this year so design is happening with construction being done later this year in anticipation of the future quiet zone.’’

Actions recorded in the meeting were formal motions to approve each listed funding allocation; each motion carried on roll-call votes with five votes in favor and no dissent.