Board of Public Works and Safety Meeting - June 2, 2026
Board of Public Works and Safety Meeting - June 2, 2026
The Board of Public Works and Safety held a regular meeting on June 2, 2026, chaired by the Mayor with members John Pickett, Brenda Sullivan, and Eric Fry present (Melanie Henderson absent). The meeting covered approvals, bid openings, project updates, and routine items.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of May 26, 2025 minutes: Approved unanimously.
- Weed abatement letter for 3344 Flintwood Drive (owned by Padilla Family Trust): Approved for mowing and cleanup due to continued non-compliance.
- Notice to bidders for a 2026 VAC truck: Approved for capital purchase.
- Bids for a 33 cubic yard automated side loader: Two bids received – Municipal Equipment at $359,000 and Best Equipment at $409,602.49. Taken under advisement.
- Final change order for 2518 Mar Road and 25th Street Pedestrian Signal Project: Approved; amount less than allotted.
- Notice to bidders for Airplex Commerce Center Sanitary Sewer (to serve the new animal shelter): Approved; estimated cost $450,000.
- Contract with Christopher Burke & Associates for stormwater inspections: Approved for one year, 5–10 inspections per month.
- Weekly special use/right-of-way summary: Approved, including a request from the Fraternal Order of Police for route closure near the fairgrounds.
- Five dockets of claims: Approved.
- Conflict of interest disclosure statements from Alicia Garr and Ethan Crow (Human Rights Commission): Accepted and filed.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were recorded.
Discussion Items
- Removal of used oil underground storage tank at DPW yard (2250 Kreitzer): The tank is a 550-gallon non-compliant tank. Four quotes were received, with the lowest complete quote from Allied OTT at $16,300. The project qualifies for 50% IDEM reimbursement. Approved.
- Downtown entrance redevelopment – Request for Proposals and Qualifications (RFP/Q): The board unsealed and acknowledged six submissions: MAC Construction & Excavating, Dave O'Mara Contractor, HIS Constructors Inc., Smock Fansler Corporation, Avenue Roads Inc., and Powers & Sons Construction. One withdrawal from Innovative Irrigation. The submissions will be evaluated, with a short list expected by June 6, and final selection by June 12 for a scoping period; a public hearing is scheduled for July 28. Funding sources include TIF, leftover funds from the railroad overpass, and potential funds from the former Info Tech Park. The project is part of the Gateway project including the overpass, downtown entrance, riverfront, and Bob Stewart bridge painting.
- Williamsburg Way apartments update: Building inspections are 75% complete; urgent issues have been addressed promptly. Tenants who wished to return have moved back. Monthly updates will continue, and the board may request further appearances if needed.
- Second Street closure: A water main break at Washington Street caused the closure; traffic is rerouted via Jackson and Lafayette. The closure was initially planned for one week but is now in its third week due to older, brittle infrastructure. Repairs are ongoing.
- Upcoming events: First Thursday (June 4) downtown merchants open late 4–8 PM, with a coffee and cocktails celebration on Fourth Street. The Arts Council is hosting a youth rock band on Sixth Street from 5–7 PM. Saturday is the Columbus Farmers Market.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Allied OTT contract for oil tank removal at $16,300, with IDEM reimbursement expected.
- Approved weed abatement for 3344 Flintwood Drive.
- Approved notices to bidders for VAC truck and Airplex Commerce Center sanitary sewer.
- Took automated side loader bids under advisement.
- Acknowledged six proposals for downtown entrance redevelopment; evaluation committee to proceed.
- Accepted Williamsburg Way update and continued monthly reporting.
- Approved two event permits (Arts Alley June 4, Red Cross Rally June 18).
- Approved final change order for pedestrian signal project.
- Approved stormwater inspection contract.
- Approved special use/right-of-way summary.
- Approved claims and conflict disclosure statements.
Meeting Transcript
So we can officially start today's meeting of the Board of Public Works and Safety. And I will begin with a roll call. John Pickett. I'm here. Brenda Sullivan here. Eric Fry. Here. And I am here and we'll serve as chair and Melanie Henderson is out this week. First up is approval of the May 26, 2025 minutes. I will move for their approval. I'll second. We have a motion of a second. All in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed and sign motion carries. No. Now we have a notice to bidders for a department of public works. Good morning. So the first one that we'll start with is so at uh uh Kreitzer, our Department of Public Works site now 2250 Kreitzer. We have a used oil tank that's in the ground, the underground storage tank. It's a 550 gallon tank. It's uh the last inspection that we did uh with IDEM that they come out every year do an inspection. It's was non-compliant. Um so we would like to remove that tank. And so it does qualify for the uh 50 percent um grant approval reimbursement um for that, but we have to have a uh contractor in order first before they'll reimburse and we have to pay up front and then we'll get the reimbursement. Kind of like what the fire department had just uh gone through here just recently to do. So we have one for a 550 gallon oil tank. We uh asked for quotes. Uh we received four quotes. So I apologize. So we got the low quote here is uh allied ought um in the amount of sixteen thousand three hundred dollars. And again, if uh ever taken we'd qualify and we've got the approval from IDEM to move forward at this uh point that our tank would qualify and everything, but if everything's done in order that we could be eligible for the 50% uh reimbursement. And this is at the old city garage site. Correct, yeah, the old site, yes. We have three underground storage tanks there, two uh two fuel tanks and then the used oil uh tank. Uh so we just want to remove that or used oil tank. Um, and they were all pretty much in order. 163 is the low quote. Uh we have one for sixteen thousand seven hundred and twenty dollars, sixteen thousand three hundred and forty-two dollars, and then we have one for uh Williams Beck and Hass for $8,249, but they were not uh it was not the full quote, so we didn't uh look at that. They didn't have the environmental piece of it, so uh we would still have to get that in order as well. So uh we would like to recommend using Allied Ot. Uh the revenue that we've used in the past, and we've used several of them, but they are uh low quote at 16,300 uh to move forward with this process. Um I'll move to approve the removal of the oil tank with allied what did you say allied Ot. Allied Ot. OTT, yes, yes. I'll second that motion. So we have a motion and a second to approve the uh contract with allied out point oil tanks removal at the department of public works yard as presented. All in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye aye, opposed, same sign, motion carry. I have one weed letter today.
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