OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Columbus Board of Works Meeting Summary - July 21, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, July 21, 2026
BodyColumbus, Indiana
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, July 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 26:36

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Gotta keep you guys in mind.

0:01

I love I love this gavel.

0:05

Praise helping a long time.

0:06

Ever.

0:07

Uh so I'd like to call this meeting to order, and I'll start with roll call.

0:13

John Pickett.

0:14

Brenda Sullivan here.

0:15

Eric Fry is present.

0:17

And uh the mayor and Melanie are not in attendance today.

0:21

So first item uh for consideration the approval of the July 14th meeting minutes.

0:27

I'll move to approval.

0:28

Second, we have a motion and a second to approve the meeting minutes.

0:31

All those in favor say aye.

0:33

Aye.

0:33

Those opposed.

0:35

All right.

0:36

Animal sheltered contract approval.

0:38

Doug's uncle.

0:42

It's actually happening, huh?

0:44

Yeah.

0:46

I told you uh a month ago when I was here to do the LI that I would be back, and so I'm back.

0:51

And we're able to finalize all the terms.

0:55

Uh nothing changed on it from uh financial standpoint, but we just finalized some of the contract terms and a few other things, and so that was all ready to go.

1:05

So happy to answer any questions that you've got, but uh just looking for approval so that we can execute that contract.

1:15

We have to open it for a public hearing as well.

1:17

Okay, because it's a bot.

1:19

Okay.

1:20

Um just to clarify.

1:22

So the this is the guaranteed price.

1:26

And the agreement has what for the for the scope of work that that was in the scope of works attached to the on the on the back of the contract that as well as uh we previously so we circulated the drawings, but it's basically 8.599 uh million dollars is the was the final uh agreed uh price for that scope of work.

1:49

So at this point in time, I'll open up the uh public hearing and uh entertain any questions, comments.

1:58

I was waiting for Brad Davis to raise his hand.

2:00

I looked right over to the corner, he's not there, so if there's no questions or comments, then I can officially close the public hearing.

2:12

I should gavel again, Jimmy.

2:14

Oh any other questions from Board of Warriors.

2:22

No, I'll move that we approve the uh contract with forced construction for the uh construction of the animal shelter.

2:30

I will second.

2:32

All right, we have a motion and a second to approve the contract with forced construction for the animal shelter.

2:37

All those in favor say aye.

2:39

Aye, those opposed.

2:41

Thank you.

2:41

Can you send around a signature sheet for that?

2:43

I know that there's a contract signal signature paper.

2:46

Yeah, I'm just gonna if we get it inked here.

2:49

I'll I'll uh get it over to them this afternoon.

2:51

So okay, great.

2:53

All right, thanks.

2:57

All right.

2:58

Next up is the Columbus Fire Department.

3:03

Um commendations.

3:04

Uh Deputy Chief Mike Cutzko.

3:08

Always nice to uh to have an opportunity to express our appreciation.

3:13

Absolutely.

3:15

So let's stand.

3:18

Uh I get the honor and privilege of uh go ahead and stand over on that.

3:24

Uh uh commending these gentlemen on a uh uh an exemplary run that they had.

3:34

I mean, all of our folks are men or women day to day, always do uh exemplary job at this time.

3:43

This was uh uh a great uh opportunity to show um the tremendous care that they provided.

3:51

Uh Chief Lay unfortunately couldn't be here, and he wrote this remote uh letter of commendation.

4:01

Uh the date was June the 15th of this year, demending an exceptional emergency medical care.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Human Resources███████████████████19%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Capital Projects██████████████14%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Animal Welfare██████████10%
Economic Development█████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Community Engagement██████6%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Columbus Board of Works Meeting Summary - July 21, 2026

The Board of Works met on July 21, 2026, with members John Pickett, Brenda Sullivan, and Eric Fry present. The Mayor and Melanie were absent. The meeting covered approvals of contracts, job descriptions, grant awards, and several operational items.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of July 14, 2026 Meeting Minutes: Motion to approve, seconded, all in favor.

Discussion Items

  • Animal Shelter Contract: A representative presented the final contract with Fors Construction for the animal shelter construction at a guaranteed price of $8.599 million. A public hearing was opened and closed with no comments. The board approved the contract unanimously.
  • Fire Department Commendations: Deputy Chief Mike Cutzko presented a commendation from Fire Chief Andy Lane for Engine Company 6 (Lt. Andrew Jordan, Paramedic John Height, Firefighter Paul Chapel) for their exceptional response on June 15, 2026, to a severe burn injury. The crew arrived in five minutes, provided advanced care, and coordinated air transport to Eskenazi Hospital. The board expressed gratitude.
  • Job Descriptions: The board approved updated job descriptions for the Training Officer and Public Information Officer separately, each after motions and seconds.
  • Conditional Offer of Employment: An updated conditional offer was approved, adding state law provisions allowing the city to recover training investments if an employee leaves within the first year.
  • Knuckle Boom Loader Truck: The board approved a notice to bidders for a 2027 knuckle boom loader truck with dump body, part of the 2026 capital budget, to replace an aging 2005 unit.
  • CDBG Award to United Way: A Community Development Block Grant award was approved for the United Way of Bartholomew County to rehabilitate an elevator at their facility. A board member questioned why the organization did not have its own funds, but the award was approved unanimously.
  • Columbus Gateway Project Ready Grant Agreement: The board approved a $500,000 state Ready Grant agreement for a road connector serving development including a Chick-fil-A and a gas station.
  • Temporary DORA Permit: A temporary Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area permit was approved for Upland Brewing Company for the Our Hospice concert on September 5, 2026, at the library plaza.
  • Carhill Road Bids - Airplex Commerce Park Sewer: The board unsealed bids and awarded the sanitary sewer contract to King’s Trucking and Excavation for $270,425.
  • Special Use of Right-of-Way: Requests from SAK Construction, Duke Energy, and the Department of Public Works were approved.
  • Bid Opening for Another Project: Eight bids were received for an unspecified project (amounts ranging from $290,305.65 to $419,000). The board voted to take the bids under advisement.
  • Claims: Eight dockets of claims were approved.

Key Outcomes

  • Animal Shelter Contract: Approved with Fors Construction ($8.599 million).
  • Fire Department Commendation: Recognized Engine Company 6 for life-saving actions.
  • Job Descriptions: Approved for Training Officer and Public Information Officer.
  • Conditional Offer: Updated and approved.
  • Knuckle Boom Loader: Notice to bidders approved.
  • CDBG Award: Approved for United Way elevator rehabilitation.
  • Ready Grant Agreement: Approved ($500,000).
  • DORA Permit: Approved for Upland Brewing Company (September 5, 2026).
  • Airplex Sewer Contract: Awarded to King’s Trucking and Excavation ($270,425).
  • Right-of-Way: Approved applications.
  • Bids Under Advisement: For an unspecified project.
  • Claims: Eight dockets approved.

Announcements

  • Upcoming events: Farmers Market (Saturdays 9:00 AM–12:30 PM), Garage Innovation Summer Six-Pack Concert (Saturday 3:00–9:00 PM), and the Hotter Than Haiti Bike Ride (Saturday, starting/ending at St. Bart’s Church, with a free-will donation cookout).

Meeting Transcript

Gotta keep you guys in mind. I love I love this gavel. Praise helping a long time. Ever. Uh so I'd like to call this meeting to order, and I'll start with roll call. John Pickett. Brenda Sullivan here. Eric Fry is present. And uh the mayor and Melanie are not in attendance today. So first item uh for consideration the approval of the July 14th meeting minutes. I'll move to approval. Second, we have a motion and a second to approve the meeting minutes. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed. All right. Animal sheltered contract approval. Doug's uncle. It's actually happening, huh? Yeah. I told you uh a month ago when I was here to do the LI that I would be back, and so I'm back. And we're able to finalize all the terms. Uh nothing changed on it from uh financial standpoint, but we just finalized some of the contract terms and a few other things, and so that was all ready to go. So happy to answer any questions that you've got, but uh just looking for approval so that we can execute that contract. We have to open it for a public hearing as well. Okay, because it's a bot. Okay. Um just to clarify. So the this is the guaranteed price. And the agreement has what for the for the scope of work that that was in the scope of works attached to the on the on the back of the contract that as well as uh we previously so we circulated the drawings, but it's basically 8.599 uh million dollars is the was the final uh agreed uh price for that scope of work. So at this point in time, I'll open up the uh public hearing and uh entertain any questions, comments. I was waiting for Brad Davis to raise his hand. I looked right over to the corner, he's not there, so if there's no questions or comments, then I can officially close the public hearing. I should gavel again, Jimmy. Oh any other questions from Board of Warriors. No, I'll move that we approve the uh contract with forced construction for the uh construction of the animal shelter. I will second. All right, we have a motion and a second to approve the contract with forced construction for the animal shelter. All those in favor say aye. Aye, those opposed. Thank you. Can you send around a signature sheet for that? I know that there's a contract signal signature paper. Yeah, I'm just gonna if we get it inked here. I'll I'll uh get it over to them this afternoon. So okay, great. All right, thanks. All right. Next up is the Columbus Fire Department. Um commendations.

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