Gary Board approves construction and service contracts for animal shelter, Brothers Keeper rebuild, fire exams and electrical work

The City of Gary Board of Public Works and Safety voted July 8 to award construction and services contracts covering an animal shelter, a homeless-shelter rebuild, medical exams for the fire department and electrical work for police trailers.

The board, chaired by President Sullivan, approved four separate motions by roll call, each passing 4–0. Staff said the procurements are funded through a mix of police department/community development dollars and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) community development funds and cited time-sensitive completion requirements.

Staff recommended awarding the Gary Animal Care Facility contract to Powers and Sons with a base bid of $2,792,140. Project manager Kamisha Bill said architects supply budget estimates but bidders submit actual prices and that the city declined several alternates — such as a contractor-built parking lot — which affects the final figure: "And, also, we had several alternates, and we ended up not accepting any of the alternates, I believe, on the project," she said. Board members asked why the award exceeded the architect estimate by roughly $1 million; staff replied that market changes and alternates account for much of the difference. The board approved the award by roll call 4–0.

Board members also stressed the need for a new animal shelter. One member said the current facility "is not up to code" and "has put some of our residents at risk," arguing that despite an alarming price the project is necessary for public safety.

The board approved a $2,257,500 award to Gary Up for the Brothers Keeper shelter rebuild, funded with ARPA community development money. Staff said Gary Up guaranteed substantial completion before Dec. 1, 2026, a factor in selecting that bidder despite not always being the lowest price. Members noted Gary's shelter serves people from surrounding communities and emphasized meeting the end-of-year funding deadline; that motion passed 4–0.

On personnel services, the board approved a professional-services contract with Franciscan Working Well to provide medical entry examinations for the Gary Fire Department, not to exceed $40,000 per year. Fire Chief Larry Tillman told the board a prior agreement with Ascension Saint Vincent stalled over terms and that the city currently owes about $14,900 under that arrangement. He said 23 candidates are ready to be sworn in but are "at a stalemate" because they cannot complete evaluations, and the new contract will reduce the per-candidate cost: "I have 23 candidates ready to swear into the fire department that I'm at a stalemate with because I can't get them through evaluations," Tillman said. Under the new approach, staff estimated the combined medical and psychological entry evaluation would total about $1,390 per candidate versus about $2,300 under the previous vendor. The board approved the contract 4–0 and directed staff to bring a separate short contract or resolution to address the past-due amount to the prior vendor.

Finally, the board approved a $9,600 contract with Lincoln Electric to install a 400-amp service for two police trailers at the Gary Freight Facility, with work to run through Aug. 15, 2026. City Attorney Marco Molina said normally unsigned contracts would be tabled, but recommended approval "as long as there's no changes" so the project can proceed; he said any contractor-requested changes would be returned for board consideration. The board approved that motion by roll call, 4–0.

There was no unfinished business or public comment, and the board adjourned following a motion that was seconded and approved.

The board will revisit claims at next week's meeting and said staff will present contract language or a resolution to resolve the outstanding past-due amount to Ascension Saint Vincent before executing payments.