Columbus Indiana Board of Public Works Meeting – March 10, 2026

The board met on March 10, 2026, with all members present. The board approved the March 3 meeting minutes, a transit policy update, a bus purchase, police and emergency management items, contract renewal, claims, engineering projects, and a property demolition request.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the March 3, 2026 meeting minutes by a 5-0 voice vote.
• Approved the Columbus Transit drug and alcohol testing policy update, modifying one sentence on page 3, Section D to remove a dollar amount and adopt the city's higher standard of drug testing after any accident.
• Approved the bill of sale transferring retired police canine Bain to former officer Marcus Clark, who worked with the dog for five years.
• Approved the memorandum of understanding among Columbus Police Department, Bartholomew County Sheriff's Office, and Columbus Regional Hospital for a SWAT medic; this supplements the existing medics MOU by clarifying responsibilities for a sheriff's deputy who also works as an EMT.
• Approved the $14,350 quote for the Rapid Warn NOAA outdoor tornado siren activation system, replacing the current Central Alert software for 14 city and 4 county sirens.
• Authorized the city attorney to sign the third-party administrator contract and summary plan description with SIHO, with no substantive changes.
• Approved two dockets of claims as presented.
• Approved the notice to bidders for Project 2601 (2026 crack seal and mastic joint repair).
• Approved special use of right-of-way requests from Public Works, Dave O'Mara, and JW Excavating.
• Took under advisement the single bid for Project 26-06 (Central Avenue preemption), which adds confirmation lights to seven intersections.
• Accepted uniform conflict of interest disclosure statements from Gene Hack, Steve Norman, Lori Rowan, Jerome Wood, Don Ray, and others.

Discussion Items

Transit Bus Purchase

• Transit Director Beth Ann presented the intent to purchase a 29-foot Gillig low-floor diesel bus, funded through the Indiana 539 grant; the local match has already been approved by the city council, so no additional funding is requested.
• The bus will be identical to the current fleet of five Gillig diesel buses with Cummins engines. The fleet also includes two useful spares and one 2006 bus that was struck by lightning. The purchase adds to fleet capacity as older buses come due for replacement within 18 months.
• The board approved the purchase 5-0.

Property Demolition – 727 Reed Street

• Engineering staff requested authorization for vacation, condemnation, demolition, and legal action at 727 Reed Street. The property is in severe disrepair, has been problematic since at least 2014, and has evidence of break-ins; the owner is not in contact.
• A board member noted the Lincoln neighborhood watch has prioritized vacant homes and welcomed the action.
• The board approved the motion 5-0.

Key Outcomes

• All motions passed unanimously (5-0).
• The meeting was adjourned after the board accepted the conflict of interest statements and approved the demolition request.