Board of Public Works & Safety Meeting – New Albany, Indiana – June 2, 2026

The Board of Public Works & Safety of New Albany, Indiana, met on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in City Hall. The board approved several utility encroachment permits, directed replacement of a dead-end street sign, approved curb cuts for a Security Parkway property, denied a request for reserved public parking for Dough Boy Pizza, and authorized a temporary closure of the east City Hall pedway and stairs for tuckpointing. No approved minutes were included with the meeting materials; all recorded votes were unanimous voice votes.

New Business

• Cedar Bough Place street sign: Dana Gaudin, a resident of Cedar Bough Place, asked the board to replace an older dead-end sign at the street entrance with a more reflective “Dead End” or “No Outlet” sign, noting that motorists often miss the current sign and there is no way to turn around. The board directed the street department to inspect and replace the sign, using a “No Outlet” designation.

• IAWC/contractor encroachment permits: Pat Hauersperger, speaking for Dave O’Mara/IAWC, requested encroachment permits for three water-system repair sites: a valve replacement at 423 Beharrell Ave. requiring cuts of 6'x3' and 6'x2' in the asphalt; an emergency service repair at 2313 Shrader Ave. requiring a 6'x8' street cut; and an emergency water main break at 100 Alpha Court requiring removal of a sidewalk section of approximately 4'x5'. The board approved the permits. The agenda listed only the Beharrell and Shrader locations, but the testimony also included the Alpha Court work.

• Premier Homes water service across Glenmill Road: Scott Koukola of Premier Homes, accompanied by Will Hurst of Premier Land Development, requested an encroachment permit for a six-foot cut across Glenmill Road east of MaCherie Reserve to tap into the water main. Hurst said the work would be done with flaggers and road plates, traffic would not be stopped, flowable fill would be used, and the street would be repaved. The work is planned as a one-day job next week, with road plates in place for two to three days. The board approved the permit.

• CenterPoint Energy gas permits: A presenter stood in for Caleb Vance of CenterPoint Energy to request two encroachment permits: one to repair gas service near the corner of Grant Line and Cherokee (agenda location: 711 Cherokee Dr.), with a 5'x5' patch area kept as small as possible and traffic control in place; and another for work described on the agenda as retiring gas service at 2751 Briarwood Rd., which the presenter clarified is actually the installation of a test station. The board approved both permits.

• Duke Energy permits: A Duke Energy representative requested three encroachment permits: a new transition pole near 3417 St. Joseph Rd. for improved reliability on an underground circuit, with work estimated to be complete the week of July 13 and flaggers provided; replacement of two poles and installation of a pedestal for a five-home Millennium Builders development at approximately 1730 Division St.; and installation of a new backyard pole and aerial wire at approximately 604 W. Spring St. to reroute two services, with a possible future underground conversion for a nearby property. The board approved all three permits.

• Dough Boy Pizza parking and outdoor tables: Dustin Mason of Dough Boy Pizza requested two reserved parking spaces on Fifth Street in front of his business at the Breakwater building, as well as two small outdoor tables. He said parking is difficult downtown and that two back-lot spaces are already reserved for delivery drivers. Board members expressed concern about the Fifth Street spaces’ proximity to a stop sign, street width, and the city’s upcoming uniform outdoor-seating plan; one member noted the previous A Street Pizza request for the same area. A motion to deny the reserved parking request passed. The tables request was deferred until Mason submits a detailed drawing showing dimensions, locations, and ADA compliance.

Unfinished Business

• Security Parkway/Foundation Boulevard curb cuts: Nick Woodcock, for Nathan Grimes, returned to the board after the item was tabled for planning review. He requested approval for two proposed entrances/curb cuts on Security Parkway and Foundation Boulevard. Woodcock said planning staff agreed that slightly staggered entrances were acceptable given low traffic on Security Parkway and expected site traffic, and that the alignment improved internal circulation. The board approved the curb cuts.

Communications from City Officials

• City Hall pedway and stairs closure: Sherri Baker requested approval to close the east side of City Hall, including the pedway ADA ramp and stairs leading from Main Street to the parking lot, for tuckpointing repairs. Work would take approximately three days, from about 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weather permitting, starting Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Temporary sidewalk-closed signs would be posted and ADA access coordinated with nearby businesses. The board approved the closure.

• Street department update: An official reported that Mount Tabor Road paving began the previous day and was expected to be completed today, with striping either late today or tomorrow. Later in the week, patching would begin on Camp Avenue and Cherry Street Hill, and riprap would be installed in eroded ditch areas. Concrete work was underway along Eakin Avenue, East Fourth Street, Bentbrook Drive, and Drawbrook Circle. A board member asked about a dumpster on Drawbrook Circle; the official said he would check it. The official also noted that the Oak Street/Pearl Street storm line project required the gas company to keep a closure in place for relocation work, with both Pearl and Culver closures active at the same time; the gas relocation was reportedly expected to take about two weeks.

Key Outcomes

• Directed the street department to replace the Cedar Bough Place dead-end sign with a “No Outlet” sign.
• Approved IAWC encroachment permits for 423 Beharrell Ave., 2313 Shrader Ave., and 100 Alpha Court.
• Approved Premier Homes’ encroachment permit for the Glenmill Road water-service crossing.
• Approved CenterPoint Energy permits for the Cherokee Dr. gas repair and the Briarwood Rd. test station.
• Approved Duke Energy permits for 3417 St. Joseph Rd., approximately 1730 Division St., and approximately 604 W. Spring St.
• Denied Dough Boy Pizza’s request to reserve two on-street parking spaces on Fifth Street; deferred the outdoor-tables request pending a detailed drawing.
• Approved curb cuts for the Security Parkway/Foundation Boulevard entrance request.
• Approved the temporary City Hall east-side pedway and stairs closure for tuckpointing.