Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Actions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Goshen board approves Chicago Avenue closure, awards $525,537.50 reconstruction contract and accepts police resignation
Summary
The Goshen Board of Public Works and Safety on July 16 approved a temporary closure of Chicago Avenue, awarded a $525,537.50 contract for River Race Drive reconstruction to the low bidder and accepted the resignation of special police officer James E. Ballard.
The Goshen Board of Public Works and Safety on July 16 approved a temporary closure of Chicago Avenue, awarded a $525,537.50 contract for the River Race Drive reconstruction and accepted the resignation of special police officer James E. Ballard.
Dustin Salem, director of Public Works, asked the board to permit a closure of Chicago Avenue from Basher Road to Indiana Avenue for job 20240029. "We're asking for that closure to be permitted from July 20 through August 11," Salem said. Committee member (Speaker 1) moved to approve the closure; the board voted unanimously to grant the permit.
Salem also presented job 20252038, a reconstruction project on River Race Drive in the public right of way. Bids had been received and, Salem said, "Netlock Excavating was the lowest responsible and responsive bidder at $525,537.50." The board approved awarding the contract to the low bidder by unanimous vote.
On a separate infrastructure notice, Salem told the board Elkhart County planned a short closure of Logan Avenue near the wastewater treatment plant for bridge-deck work and that county crews expected to finish the same day. The board moved to table formal approval of that item after the county confirmed completion.
From the legal side, the city attorney informed the board that James E. Ballard, identified as a special police officer with the Goshen Police Department, submitted a resignation and retirement dated July 17, 2026. The city attorney said Ballard had been on administrative leave since December and indicated Ballard is employed "at will." Committee member (Speaker 1) moved to accept the resignation effective July 17, 2026; the motion carried unanimously. The city attorney said he would decide whether to place Ballard’s resignation letter in the meeting record and that any public-record request would be processed and routed to the city attorney's office for evaluation.
With no public speakers at privilege of the floor, the board approved civil city claims and adjourned.
Votes at a glance: The board unanimously approved the Chicago Avenue closure (July 20–Aug. 11, 2026); unanimously awarded the River Race Drive reconstruction contract for $525,537.50 to the low bidder; tabled the Logan Avenue notification; and unanimously accepted the resignation of James E. Ballard effective July 17, 2026.
The board did not take additional action on whether to file Ballard’s resignation letter into the public record; the city attorney said public-record requests would be handled in accordance with usual procedures.
