OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Board of Public Health and Safety Meeting – September 2, 2026

Other Meetings (A-H) — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
BodyIndianapolis, Indiana
SessionOther Meetings (A-H)
DateWednesday, September 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:03:18

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

All right, well, good morning, everyone.

0:02

Welcome to the September 2nd meeting of the Board of Public Health and Safety.

0:06

My name is Andrew Merkley.

0:07

I'm the director of the Office of Public Health and Safety.

0:10

Before we get started, Abby, can you please call the roll?

0:12

Make sure we have quorum.

0:14

All right.

0:16

President, good morning.

0:18

Willings.

0:19

Mercury.

0:21

Here.

0:22

Present.

0:26

Great.

0:26

Thanks, Abby.

0:28

First stuff on the agenda, just uh we'll we'll make sure everyone's had an opportunity to review the last month's meeting minutes.

0:36

Um if if there's no conversation or questions, discussion, I'll entertain a motion to adopt those minutes.

0:42

So moved.

0:44

Second.

0:45

Motion has been moved and seconded.

0:47

All in favor?

0:48

Aye.

0:48

Any opposed?

0:50

Hearing none, the motion is adopted.

0:52

All right.

0:53

First item on our agenda today is item 090226A.

0:58

Uh we'll be hearing from IFD.

1:02

Good morning.

1:03

Morning.

1:04

Good.

1:04

How are you?

1:05

Good, good.

1:08

If you all could state your name and title when you get ready.

1:14

I'm the support services division chief of sports services, Kevin Holton.

1:19

I am Kennedy.

1:20

I am the purchasing manager for the Naples Fire Department.

1:23

Um I had um Chief Turnan was originally going to uh present, but he's out of town, so this is Chief Holman was asked to help help out today.

1:33

Um, and we are presenting um two items for the same same thing, same contract, uh item A and B.

1:40

Um they are for uh contract renewals for our um apparatus book ladder and engines.

1:46

Um the term of the contract renewal, it says two years, but it's supposed to be four years.

1:52

Um, and so I just wanted to make that clarification.

1:55

Um it was two years submitted to the board, but it should be four years.

1:59

Um so uh guys have any questions.

2:09

This is so now you just confuse me.

2:13

So this is for the purchase of a ladder and the engine, yes, and it's gonna take four years to purchase it instead of two?

2:22

Yes.

2:23

Please explain.

2:25

Um so the renewal is for four years.

2:27

Uh so currently, and it's not like going to get a car from GM or pickup truck.

2:36

Sure.

2:36

The the turnaround time on an engine and ladder is basically like four years.

2:41

Oh, okay.

2:41

And our travels in the last like six months, they're building a new plant, which is going to speed up the process and get it down to a good like two and a half to three year turnaround instead of so when COVID hit, it threw a lot of things off.

2:55

Right.

2:56

Um they're still working through some of the bugs from COVID.

3:00

And at this point, uh McQueen is working with Piers as their as their uh vendor of choice to as a dealer for the apparatus that we purchase through.

3:11

That's why we were that's why we're renewing these contracts with McQueen that's based out of Whitestown, Indiana.

3:17

And uh it's gonna allow us and the ability to be able to still keep that partnership with Piers and McQueen while they service our vehicles, they do the warranty work here, and uh appears to be actually the manufacturer, but the turnaround time and giving us this window of uh additional years on this contract is gonna help us to maintain the the steady flow of new apparatus coming to the city and replacing some of our older apparatus that are starting to wear down and need to replace.

3:47

You just introduce a new character into the plot with peers.

3:52

Is who and what do they do in relation to McQueen and they're the manufacturer for all the fire trucks that we purchase currently in for the city of Indianapolis?

4:01

Uh Peers.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Fire Safety███████████████████████████████████████████43%
Procurement██████████████████████████26%
Budget█████████████13%
Public Safety███████████11%
Procedural█████5%
Public Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Board of Public Health and Safety Meeting – September 2, 2026

On September 2, 2026, from 9:30–10:30 AM, the Board of Public Health and Safety met at the City-County Building, chaired by Andrew Merkley. The board adopted the previous meeting's minutes and considered Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) contract items and a property purchase. Although the written agenda provided did not include Item 090226-E, the board heard and approved it during the meeting.

Approval of Minutes

  • The board approved the previous meeting's minutes by unanimous voice vote.

Discussion Items

Item 090226-A – MacQueen Equipment LLC (Ladder Contract Amendment)

  • IFD requested approval to amend/extend the contract with MacQueen Equipment LLC for ladder apparatus. The agenda described a two-year extension to 10/24/2028, but IFD staff stated the extension should be four years; the board amended the term to four years.
  • IFD support services staff explained that MacQueen is the dealer and Pierce is the manufacturer. Apparatus are pre-ordered annually, with a roughly four-year turnaround time; about 10 apparatus were ordered this year, and prices set in 2022 are being held through the contract term.
  • The NTE amount was listed as NA/zero. Board member Duane Ingram expressed concern that approving a contract with no NTE and no identified funding source was like signing a blank check and said he was not comfortable with that. IFD project manager Mark Harding stated that actual vehicle purchases and leases go through the bond bank and historically have come back to the board for spending approval.
  • The motion to amend the term to four years was adopted unanimously. The motion to adopt the amended item was adopted unanimously, with a request that IFD CFO Don Sykes send the board written confirmation of the apparatus purchase/lease approval process.

Item 090226-B – MacQueen Equipment LLC (Pumper Engine Contract Amendment)

  • This amendment covers the same contract family for pumper engines. After amending the extension from two years to four years, the board adopted the amended item unanimously with no additional discussion.

Item 090226-C – MES Service Company LLC (Firefighter Equipment and Gear)

  • IFD requested an increase in the not-to-exceed amount from $150,000 to $300,000 for firefighter equipment and gear, including uniforms and station wear for upcoming recruit classes.
  • During the presentation, IFD staff also requested extending the contract term to 2029. The board amended the proposal to extend the term to 2029 (the motion used December 31, 2029) and then adopted the amended item unanimously.
  • Staff estimated the increased funding would cover roughly $100,000 per year through the life of the contract.

Item 090226-D – Indiana University Health Care Associates Inc. (Medical Director Services)

  • IFD requested approval of an agreement with Indiana University Health Care Associates Inc. for Medical Director services, not to exceed $162,934.
  • EMS Division Chief Brendan Hartnett explained that the medical director oversees quality assurance, protocol development, paramedic training, and can respond to incidents for advanced care. The contract is with the IU Health physician group, with a specific assigned medical director; current commitment is 20 hours per month, with a goal of increasing to 24 hours.
  • Board discussion clarified that compensation is considered competitive and that if the assigned medical director changes, IFD would return to the board for approval. The item was adopted unanimously.

Item 090226-E – Purchase of Property at 5490 Pike Plaza Road (Station 33 Replacement)

  • IFD project manager Mark Harding presented a request to purchase approximately 3.3 acres at 5490 Pike Plaza Road for $411,582.50, which he stated was the average of two appraisals. The site is less than a mile north of the current Station 33.
  • The planned replacement is a 15,000-square-foot, three-bay firehouse with drive-through capability. Funding is largely in place; the projected construction cost is about $8.5 million based on recent station projects. IFD stated it will return to the board for architect/design contracts and construction bid approval.
  • The item was adopted unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • All agenda items were approved unanimously.
  • Items 090226-A and 090226-B were amended to a four-year extension before approval.
  • Item 090226-C was amended to extend the term to 2029 and increase the NTE to $300,000.
  • Item 090226-E was approved for the Station 33 property purchase.
  • IFD CFO Don Sykes is expected to provide written confirmation of the apparatus purchase/lease approval process.
  • IFD will return to the board for future approvals related to Station 33 design/construction and for any change in medical director.

Meeting Transcript

All right, well, good morning, everyone. Welcome to the September 2nd meeting of the Board of Public Health and Safety. My name is Andrew Merkley. I'm the director of the Office of Public Health and Safety. Before we get started, Abby, can you please call the roll? Make sure we have quorum. All right. President, good morning. Willings. Mercury. Here. Present. Great. Thanks, Abby. First stuff on the agenda, just uh we'll we'll make sure everyone's had an opportunity to review the last month's meeting minutes. Um if if there's no conversation or questions, discussion, I'll entertain a motion to adopt those minutes. So moved. Second. Motion has been moved and seconded. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, the motion is adopted. All right. First item on our agenda today is item 090226A. Uh we'll be hearing from IFD. Good morning. Morning. Good. How are you? Good, good. If you all could state your name and title when you get ready. I'm the support services division chief of sports services, Kevin Holton. I am Kennedy. I am the purchasing manager for the Naples Fire Department. Um I had um Chief Turnan was originally going to uh present, but he's out of town, so this is Chief Holman was asked to help help out today. Um, and we are presenting um two items for the same same thing, same contract, uh item A and B. Um they are for uh contract renewals for our um apparatus book ladder and engines. Um the term of the contract renewal, it says two years, but it's supposed to be four years. Um, and so I just wanted to make that clarification. Um it was two years submitted to the board, but it should be four years. Um so uh guys have any questions. This is so now you just confuse me. So this is for the purchase of a ladder and the engine, yes, and it's gonna take four years to purchase it instead of two? Yes. Please explain. Um so the renewal is for four years. Uh so currently, and it's not like going to get a car from GM or pickup truck. Sure. The the turnaround time on an engine and ladder is basically like four years.

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