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Record of Proceedings

Board of Public Works & Safety Meeting - May 19, 2026

City Council & Boards — Tuesday, May 19, 2026
BodyNew Albany, Indiana
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateTuesday, May 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 47:37

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
1:43

Hi, good morning.

1:45

I was here today to request a permit for a dumpster permit.

1:50

For 520 drawbrook circle.

1:52

We are in the final stages of the rehab on that and would like to have one for for two weeks starting.

1:58

Oh, I'm sorry.

1:58

520 drawbrook circle.

2:04

The dumpster request is for the final on the remodel.

2:09

So we'll need it probably about two weeks and hopefully to set on Tuesday the twenty sixth.

2:19

Is that what that is?

2:21

For two week period.

2:24

What's the company?

2:25

Uh gotta go dumpster.

2:28

Gotta go dumpsters.

2:50

Yes, I think in March you approved one for a two-week for the initial uh cleaning out of the property.

3:13

Oh yeah, this is the one with the driveway that's slowed.

3:21

Two weeks.

3:29

So it'd be removed on June nine.

3:45

Make a motion to approve dumpster being placed May twenty-sixth through June ninth.

3:53

Same.

3:54

Motion's been made moved by second.

3:55

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

3:58

Aye.

3:58

Aye.

3:58

Aye.

4:02

Thank you for your consideration.

4:03

Thanks.

4:12

Oh yeah.

4:34

Heather Hartwick.

4:43

Hello, my name is Heather Hartwick.

4:45

I am here today to request a safety mirror to be placed out by my road.

4:50

Um my neighbor is a public nuisance, and he has been causing nothing but issues.

5:00

He has been parking his vehicles very close to the road, making it to where I have to pull into or back into my driveway.

5:08

And then in order to leave my driveway, I have to pull very close to the road to the white line in order to safely see from both directions.

5:17

Well, are you requesting?

5:18

I'm sorry.

5:22

It's for a safety mirror.

5:23

A safety barrier.

5:25

A convex, one of those convex mirrors that we put out when you can't see something coming down the road.

5:31

We place them with a couple places.

5:32

She's requesting one for uh across the street from her address on Old Fort Road.

5:40

So I'm requesting one.

5:41

Um I have children of driving age as well.

5:44

Um and if I'm unable to safely see the exit my driveway, I worry about their safety and others that do enter and exit my driveway.

5:51

Um down Old Ford Road, cars do fly very quickly.

5:55

Um if you are able to approve me to get one, I would greatly appreciate it.

6:01

So one of the mirrors is that's that's the request?

6:04

Yes, she wants to wants to sit city will put one in the neighborhood has a drug vehicle that they parked at the driveway, in the driveway, which makes it hard for her to see to get out.

6:16

They also are in the process of planting through trees that she feels will state which you're not being an issue too.

6:24

But right now it's a vehicle that he's parking in the driveway.

6:28

It's her address.

6:30

Uh 1599 is it?

6:32

Um it's 1599 is my own drive.

6:35

My address, his is um 1597.

6:38

He has also planted a bunch of trees um that are those uh emerald greens that get to be about 15 feet tall, four to feet, uh fortified wide, and they are very close to the road.

6:49

Um they are staggered, meaning that as they do get bigger and taller, um, I will no longer be able to see from that direction.

6:58

He did it intentionally.

6:59

He also parks his cars in his uh um in his driveway and in his yard, both sideways, um, adminally, whichever way um he intentionally does it to block my view on purpose.

7:12

Is there anything that code enforcement can do as far as the trees and sites?

7:15

We have after she called, I went out and did a site visit and spoke to them and explained that they can plot couldn't plant them in the city's right-of-way.

7:26

Um they assured me that they've had their property surveyed and the intent was to point on their property, not in our rightway.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation████████████████████████████28%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Public Engagement████████████████████20%
Public Safety███████████████████19%
Legal█████5%
Waste Management████4%
Tree Preservation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Board of Public Works & Safety Meeting - May 19, 2026

The New Albany Board of Public Works & Safety met on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at City Hall. The board considered multiple permit requests, public safety concerns, special event applications, and routine city business. All motions passed unanimously unless noted.

Dumpster Permits

  • 520 Drawwbrook Circle: A two-week dumpster permit was approved for May 26 through June 9 to complete a remodel. The request was made by the property rehabber, and the board noted a previous approval for initial cleanup. Motion moved by Brewer, seconded by Cotner-Bailey; all ayes.
  • 414 Wedgewood: A dumpster placed on the street from May 15 to 29 was approved retroactively due to a family emergency. Motion moved and seconded; all ayes.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Safety Mirror Request: Heather Hartwick of 1599 Old Fort Road requested a convex safety mirror to help see oncoming traffic when exiting her driveway, citing a neighbor's vehicles and recently planted trees that block her view. She noted the neighbor intentionally parks vehicles and planted emerald green trees that will grow tall. Code Enforcement Officer Mickey Thompson confirmed a site visit and explained the neighbor appeared to be within property rights unless growth extends into the city right-of-way. The board approved installation of a mirror on a new post, advising Ms. Hartwick to contact code enforcement if trees or vehicles encroach. Motion moved by Brewer, seconded by Cotner-Bailey; all ayes.

Discussion Items: Sandwich Board Sign for Logical Cooking

  • The board reviewed a request from the owner of Logical Cooking for a temporary sandwich board sign on Bank Street. Citing city ordinance 99.35F, the board discussed appropriate placement near the business entrance rather than the Underground Station entrance. After discussion about four-foot clearance for ADA compliance, the board approved a single sign placed on Bank Street, exact location to be determined with Mr. Thompson. The sign is permitted for business hours (Fridays 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), must be taken in at night, and is valid for one year with automatic renewal. Additional pop-up dates require separate approval. The applicant expressed concerns about inconsistent enforcement of signage ordinances; the board noted that code enforcement acts on complaints and invited her to report violations. Motion moved and seconded; all ayes.

Special Event Permits

  • Ruck on the River – July 18, 7–11 a.m.: Alex Lostscher of Harmon Leatherworks presented the event supporting Big Fish Foundation, a veterans’ nonprofit. Participants (80–120) will gather at the amphitheater for a 6.2-mile ruck/walk to Upland Brewing in Jeffersonville. Safety notified police in three jurisdictions. Approved with condition to leave the venue clean. Motion moved and seconded; all ayes.
  • Freedom’s Footsteps Gospel Music Celebration – September 20, 10 a.m.–9:30 p.m.: Reverend Joyce Marshall of Second Baptist Church requested use of the amphitheater. The event marks America’s 250th anniversary and the church’s 159th year, featuring performances from local high schools and gospel artists. No food/beverage sales; attendees encouraged to patronize downtown restaurants. Security plan still being finalized; board approved contingent on finalizing security with the police department. Motion moved and seconded; all ayes.
  • Bicentennial Park Summer Concert Series – May 29–July 31 (Fridays, 6:30–9:30 p.m.): Approved with partial road closures on Spring Street from 2–10 p.m. and blocking the left turn lane on State Street. Alcohol sales included, same setup as prior years. Motion moved and seconded; all ayes.
  • Rockin’ for Recovery Rain Date – May 30: Breakaway Recovery’s concert was rained out on the original date (previously approved April 7). A new rain date of May 30 was approved without other changes. Motion moved and seconded; all ayes.

City Official Communications

  • Memorial Day Service – May 25: Requested closure of Market Street between the alley and East 11th from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Approved. Motion moved and seconded; all ayes.
  • Paving and Trail Update: Director Larry reported no new paving progress on Mount Tabor Road pending subcontractor coordination, but work expected within the next two weeks. Trail work along Fourth Street is proceeding well.

Approval of Minutes

  • The regular meeting minutes from May 12, 2026 were approved as presented. Motion moved and seconded; all ayes.

Key Outcomes

  • All motions passed unanimously.
  • Dumpster permits granted for 520 Drawwbrook Circle (May 26–June 9) and 414 Wedgewood (May 15–29).
  • Safety mirror approved for Old Fort Road.
  • Sandwich board sign for Logical Cooking approved with location and time restrictions.
  • Four special event permits approved (Ruck on the River, Freedom’s Footsteps, Summer Concert Series, Rockin’ for Recovery rain date).
  • Memorial Day street closure approved.
  • Minutes of May 12 approved.

Meeting Transcript

Hi, good morning. I was here today to request a permit for a dumpster permit. For 520 drawbrook circle. We are in the final stages of the rehab on that and would like to have one for for two weeks starting. Oh, I'm sorry. 520 drawbrook circle. The dumpster request is for the final on the remodel. So we'll need it probably about two weeks and hopefully to set on Tuesday the twenty sixth. Is that what that is? For two week period. What's the company? Uh gotta go dumpster. Gotta go dumpsters. Yes, I think in March you approved one for a two-week for the initial uh cleaning out of the property. Oh yeah, this is the one with the driveway that's slowed. Two weeks. So it'd be removed on June nine. Make a motion to approve dumpster being placed May twenty-sixth through June ninth. Same. Motion's been made moved by second. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Thank you for your consideration. Thanks. Oh yeah. Heather Hartwick. Hello, my name is Heather Hartwick. I am here today to request a safety mirror to be placed out by my road. Um my neighbor is a public nuisance, and he has been causing nothing but issues. He has been parking his vehicles very close to the road, making it to where I have to pull into or back into my driveway. And then in order to leave my driveway, I have to pull very close to the road to the white line in order to safely see from both directions. Well, are you requesting? I'm sorry. It's for a safety mirror. A safety barrier. A convex, one of those convex mirrors that we put out when you can't see something coming down the road. We place them with a couple places. She's requesting one for uh across the street from her address on Old Fort Road. So I'm requesting one. Um I have children of driving age as well. Um and if I'm unable to safely see the exit my driveway, I worry about their safety and others that do enter and exit my driveway. Um down Old Ford Road, cars do fly very quickly. Um if you are able to approve me to get one, I would greatly appreciate it. So one of the mirrors is that's that's the request? Yes, she wants to wants to sit city will put one in the neighborhood has a drug vehicle that they parked at the driveway, in the driveway, which makes it hard for her to see to get out. They also are in the process of planting through trees that she feels will state which you're not being an issue too. But right now it's a vehicle that he's parking in the driveway. It's her address.

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