New Albany Board of Public Works & Safety – July 28, 2026

The Board of Public Works & Safety met on July 28, 2026, at New Albany City Hall; the agenda listed a 10:00 a.m. start. The board approved multiple encroachment permits, a dumpster request, a wastewater repair, and a revised traffic-control plan. Two requests were deferred. Unless otherwise noted, all votes were unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No unscheduled public comments were made. Scheduled applicants, consultants, and city staff addressed the board during the business agenda.

Discussion Items

• CenterPoint Energy gas main and services: The board approved an encroachment permit to retire and replace gas mains on Oak Street between E. 3rd and E. 4th Streets, at E. Oak Street and Bank Street, and at E. Oak Street at the alley between Bank and Pearl Streets. The board also approved new gas service to 319 and 321 E. Main Street.
• Sean Fore dumpster at 1822 Conservative: The board noted that the applicant did not provide a placement plan or dates and that the rear of the property appeared unsuitable. Approval was made subject to the applicant supplying the dumpster company and dates.
• CenterPoint emergency gas repair at 1916 Beeler Street: Approved emergency repair/replacement of the gas service, including cuts in the intersection and sidewalk.
• Vertical borings at E. Spring Street, Beharrell Avenue, and Providence Way: The agenda credits Alex Dodson of SME; the transcript presenter was Aaron Sutherland of Prime AE, speaking on behalf of SME geotech. Sutherland described nine soil borings: six in Spring Street, one in Providence Way, one in North Beharrell, and one in South Beharrell. Work was proposed for August 11-12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., with August 13 as a weather/delay backup. The board asked Sutherland to confirm access with the adjacent business; he had not personally contacted it. Approved.
• AT&T fiber installation via Broadband of Indiana (BOI): Mike Boone of BOI requested permits for fiber optic underground and aerial work around 203-205 W. Market Street, from Washington Place to Bank Street and from Elm Street to Main Street. Board approval was conditioned on AT&T maintaining cabinets and restoration, no unapproved road closures, coordination with businesses, and addressing an overlashing/pole issue near Main Street so the planned pole removal is not blocked. Boone said AT&T wanted to start sooner than the October 5-January 2027 estimated dates.
• Oak Street traffic-control changes: CJ Ransom of Dan Christiani requested approval to modify traffic control for the Oak Street project. The contractor arranged to cross private property with permission to avoid moving heavy equipment on Pearl and Culver. The plan called for closing Pearl at the Oak intersection for about two weeks while curb and asphalt were installed, a soft closure on Bank for approximately 45 days for emergency vehicles, then a full closure for pipe work, and 45-60 days of Oak Street work between Oak and Bank. The board approved and asked the crew to monitor detour signs and keep the board informed about relocating the post office mailbox.
• Second Opinion Plumbing item at 1621: No action was taken because the applicant had not responded to follow-up and did not appear.

Communications - City Officials

• Special event permit: Krystina Jarboe (listed on the agenda; the transcript identifies the speaker as "Christina Darwin") deferred a special event permit for the Arts Alliance of SoIN Monarch Fest, scheduled for September 11-12, until Brian Bell arrived. No vote was taken.
• Handicap parking at 726 Lincoln Street: Mickey Thompson, listed for Rowena Longworth, asked to defer the request to unfinished business because the site had not been inspected and eligibility was unconfirmed.
• Wastewater lateral repair at 110 Greenaway Place: Approved. The crew planned to start the following morning at 8 a.m. and expected the work to take 6-7 hours, with an alley detour if needed. The board requested that loud work wait until about 9 a.m. because the area is residential.
• Curb cut at 511 E. 7th Street: Approved for the alley behind the car wash to create additional parking, after review through planning/zoning and the building commissioner's office.
• Street and trail updates: City staff reported continuing striping on State Street and Grantline Road, milling and patching on St. Joe Road, milling of Scribner and the new police lot on July 31 with paving expected early the following week, and Eakin Avenue milling next week if weather permits. The trail project is continuing with curb/sidewalk work between Market and Spring streets, excavation between Spring and Elm, and fence and paver installation.

Key Outcomes

• Approved all CenterPoint encroachment/gas requests, the dumpster request, the vertical-boring permit, the AT&T/BOI fiber permit, the Oak Street traffic-control revision, the wastewater lateral repair, and the 511 E. 7th Street curb cut.
• Deferred the Monarch Fest special event permit and the 726 Lincoln Street handicap parking request.
• Approved the July 21, 2026 regular meeting minutes at the end of the meeting.