Board of Public Works and Safety Meeting - April 21, 2026
Board of Public Works and Safety Meeting - April 21, 2026
The Board of Public Works and Safety held its regular meeting on April 21, 2026. The board considered several permit applications, signage changes, residential parking requests, financial claims, and utility easements. Key actions included approvals for handrail repairs, fiber-optic boring, event permits, and signage updates, as well as deferral of an AT&T permit pending notification details.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of claims for April 7–20, 2026, totaling $3,150,548.64.
- Approval of transfers for medical expenses for April 7–20, 2026, totaling $786,000.
- Approval of minutes from the previous meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ben Weldon (Jeff Home Improvements): Requested approval to install handrail on Jollison Avenue. Work would be done with flagging (no road closure) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. sometime next week. The board approved the request and directed the applicant to coordinate the date with Billy Air Day.
- Ryan Golden (AT&T): Requested approval to bore a small interduct from the back of a building (existing copper) across a parking lot to an existing handhole in city right-of-way. No impact to traffic or city operations. Approved.
Discussion Items
-
Silver Creek Drive Signage: Larry (city official) reported that a dead end sign exists but a resident had placed a small no turnaround sign. He recommended replacing the dead end sign with a no outlet sign and installing a larger no turnaround sign. The board discussed that the resident (Miss Patty) had removed stones and flower rods from the right-of-way to await the board's decision. The board approved the updated signage (no outlet and larger no turnaround sign) and denied the request for any placement in the city's right-of-way, but allowed her to place items on her own property.
-
Permit for Event – Original Venue Conflict: A permit request for an event on June 7 had been made. City officials noted that construction on the originally requested site would still be ongoing, making it unsafe. The board recommended offering the event organizer the option to move to Market Street with a soft closure at Third and full closure at the alley, but only as a one-time exception. The board also required the organizer to confirm with Copier Mark and Wolf Class that they are closed that day. This item was not voted on but referred to the organizer.
-
Residential Parking Spaces:
- 2412 East on Second: Pending a site visit by Mr. Thompson, a motion to approve was passed subject to that visit.
- 602 West Spring Street (Mary Shepherd): The board approved the request pending receipt of the required deed and vehicle information (temporary plate). The permit is for one year and renewable.
-
Ravens Roost Concert Permit: Christine presented a request from Ravens Roost to host a concert (Move with Purpose) at the amphitheater on Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 2–6 p.m. (setup noon–7 p.m.). They will collect non-perishable foods for a veterans organization, have volunteers for cleanup, and request a rain date of August 15. The board approved with the condition that all trash be removed.
-
Easement for Center Point Energy: An easement between the City and Center Point Energy for a gas line along St. Joseph Road right-of-way was presented. It covers a section of right-of-way that may be returned to property owners. Reviewed by legal. Approved.
-
Mount Tabor Road Paving Update: Larry reported that all terrain work is on track to complete by the end of the week, with paving work anticipated to begin in early May pending paperwork.
-
Alley Closure for Tank Removal: A request to close the southern end of the alley behind 2017 on May 6, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., for tank removal. No impact to businesses. Approved.
-
Emergency Repairs – Center Point Energy: Formal approval of emergency gas service repairs at 331 Jackson Street and replacement of a test station at 114 East Main Street. Approved.
-
AT&T Permits (Kimberly Farkus): Two permits were presented:
- Permit A059JZ6 and JZ5: Involves aerial fiber installation with some underground crossing at Garrett and Charlestown roads. Work requires accessing easements through private property (fenced yards). The board deferred approval until the next meeting, requiring AT&T to provide the door hanger notification that includes a direct contact person.
- Second permit (Charlestown Road crossing): Involves crossing Charlestown Road and installing a new pad. The board approved this permit with the requirement that AT&T notify any businesses if they work in the parking lot. The board noted that flagging would be minimal and that the bank building appears empty.
-
Bank Reconciliations: Miss Muller presented bank reconciliations for February 2026, which were acknowledged for the minutes.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Handrail installation on Jollison Avenue (Jeff Home Improvements).
- Approved: AT&T boring across parking lot (Ryan Golden).
- Approved: Updated signage on Silver Creek Drive (no outlet sign and larger no turnaround sign); denied placement of stones/flowers in right-of-way.
- Approved (pending site visit): Residential parking permit for 2412 East on Second.
- Approved (pending documentation): Residential parking permit for 602 West Spring Street (Mary Shepherd).
- Approved: Ravens Roost concert permit for August 8, 2026, with rain date August 15.
- Approved: Easement for Center Point Energy.
- Approved: Alley closure on May 6 for tank removal.
- Approved: Emergency repairs by Center Point Energy.
- Approved (with conditions): AT&T permit for Charlestown Road crossing.
- Deferred (to next meeting): AT&T permit requiring access through private property; applicant must provide notification details.
- Referred to applicant: Event permit for June 7 – board recommended moving to Market Street as a one-time exception pending organizer's decision.
- Approved: Claims, transfers, and minutes.
Meeting Transcript
I thought they were drawing. Well that's a good problem. Oh, no, no, no. Okay. If you want to have any. It just includes. I say we're live. I guess we can have camera. But I did do that. Also that's a good thing. I think he's got everything up now that that needs to be done. I think he's going to put up three. I'll pop the hand spirit off the street problem. I think it's all ready to go. Get into the side. Yes, on your project. Morning. Call our April 21st, 2026 meeting of the Board of Public Works and Safety will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. Wish to dress report. If you're not on the agenda, there's a sign in cheap podium or sign in, we'll call any later. Ben Weldon, Jeff Home Improvements. Lord Mestus has the concrete. Good morning. So this is my first time before the board. I don't know exactly what what you all might be looking for. But uh we're gonna be doing a job on Jollison Avenue and uh installing some handrail. And I understand you all were interested in the uh traffic plan as far as what we were gonna be doing. And I understand from the street department, you don't need to close the road to do the work. You're playing on flagging traffic round while you're working. So it's should be able to do temporary flagging, yes. So you as far as the uh the the day of operation, it would be from 9 a.m. We suspect less should be out of there before 4 p.m. Nine to four. And when did you want to do it? Uh sometime next week, just depending on your office approval. Do you have a map or anything for us? Uh no, I do not. Since David said he wouldn't need to uh close your road. I think I told you couldn't really be bringing any for the drawing. It's the uh handrail that got knocked off right there at all before you get to Grand Line Road. It's been knocked off a couple times before just a little goals over that creek. So it's just a grand rail there. It's I guess he's just replacing the handrail, but when it got damaged and knocked off, the concrete that the rail was in broke off too. So he's gonna have to put that wall back so that they'll have something to put the handrail into it. So he's gonna have to put that wall back so that they'll have something to put the handrail into it one day, uh and they don't like say they'll put on clothes but they just flag they'll just flag track it around the monitor and it's be down to one way. I do have a drawing of the handrail if that if that would help. I'm sorry. I I do have a drawing of the handrail. That would help. We'll see it, yeah.
openpublica.com