New Albany Board of Public Works & Safety Meeting – August 25, 2026

The Board of Public Works & Safety of the Civil City of New Albany, Indiana, met on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at New Albany City Hall. The board approved routine encroachment permits for Indiana American Water, Duke Energy, and Hutchins/Spectrum; a special-event permit; a dumpster request; claims; and the minutes of the August 18, 2026 regular meeting. City officials also provided updates on paving, trail, sidewalk, park, and water/sewer construction. No bids were presented, and no unfinished or tabled items were considered.

Consent Calendar

• Approved Indiana American Water / O’Mara Contractors encroachment permits for water repairs at: 355 Vincennes St.; 700 Pearl St.; Pearl and Culbertson Ave.; 105 Daisy Ln.; 1638 E. Spring St. (Vincennes St. side); 117 E. Oak St.; 1824 E. Main St.; 2313 E. Market St.; 2125 Culbertson Ave.; 2560 Charlestown Rd.; 2324 Green Valley Rd.; and 223 W. 9th St.
• Approved Duke Energy encroachment permits for Monon South Freedom Trail lighting work (999 E. 4th St., 99 E. 4th St. near 34 E. 4th St., and 99 E. 10th St. area) and for replacing a pole at 3785 Charlestown Rd. on the St. Joe Rd. side.
• Approved Hutchins Telecom Solutions’ (Spectrum) encroachment permit to install 270 feet of aerial fiber and pull 140 feet through existing conduit from 211 E. Market St. to 223 E. Main St.
• Approved the Kentuckiana Medieval Faire special-event permit for Saturday, November 14, 2026, 2–9 p.m., with rain date Saturday, November 21, 2026.
• Approved claims from August 11–24, 2026 totaling $2,989,893.46, plus a separate claims list totaling $3,500.
• Approved the minutes of the August 18, 2026 regular meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Shane Foster requested a dumpster at 1301 E. Market St. He explained the property is on the corner of 13th and Market, there is no parking on the Market Street side, and the dumpster could not go on the property; he agreed to place it on the 13th Street side. He said ICA would deliver it Friday, August 28, and he would fill it and remove it as quickly as possible. The board approved the request for August 28 through September 11 and asked him to put reflective or caution tape around the dumpster.

Discussion Items

• Water-main repair permits: Pat Hauersperger of O’Mara Contractors, on behalf of Indiana American Water, described asphalt and sidewalk cuts made for main breaks, valve replacements, hydrant work, meter work, and valve-box locations. He said two permits in the packet should not have been cleared because the work was on private property, and those applications were sent to the clerk’s office. He also described IAW’s customer-notification system for main breaks; no cause was identified for the recent cluster of breaks. Asphalt restoration is contracted to BNG, concrete work had been completed, and restoration is generally targeted within 30 days of application.
• Special-event permit: Krystina Jarboe presented the request by Raven’s Roost and Floyd County Brewing Company to close West First Street between the YMCA and the brewery for the Kentuckiana Medieval Faire. The event will include vendors on both sides of the street, performances in the Enchanted Forest, and the same security group used in the prior two years. This will be the sixth year of the event and the first under the brewery’s new owners. The board asked staff to reiterate the expectation that trash be removed and the area be left in the same or better condition; the brewery will provide trash boxes and empty them throughout the day.
• Utility encroachment permits: Mickey Thompson presented Duke Energy permits for three Monon South Freedom Trail lighting projects and a pole replacement at 3785 Charlestown Rd. The trail projects involve tree trimming and replacing two spans of wire near the pageant area at 999 E. 4th St., installing one span of overhead wire crossing 10th St., and installing a pedestal at 99 E. 4th St. to combine new trail-light service with existing service to 33 and 34 E. 4th St. The pole replacement will support the new retail/office development by Chalavant Industries. Thompson also presented the Hutchins/Spectrum fiber request.
• Paving, trail, and Oak Street updates: Mr. Summers reported that MAC Construction’s subcontractor is finishing concrete on Greenview Dr. and Roanoke Ave.; paving is being coordinated so completed portions of 4th St. are ready before Harvest Homecoming. Roanoke and Sheller are scheduled to be milled and resurfaced the following week, including a Saturday milling request; the board asked that work not start before 9 a.m. The trail project is continuing sidewalk, curb, fencing, and paver work, and Oak Street contractors are installing storm and sanitary sewer and forming new sidewalks on Culbertson and Pearl. Indiana American Water is planning to replace a water main under the sidewalk along Pearl and Oak to avoid entering the reconstructed roadway. Mr. Summers also said he followed up on a resident voicemail issue with the paving notification letter.
• Redevelopment and parks update: Ms. Johnson reported that the redevelopment commission recently completed sidewalk projects on East Market, Vincennes, and Eakin, with yellow curb paint and striping still to be finished. The commission is evaluating proposals for potential housing developments on those sites. Bicknell Park improvements under this year’s Community Development Block Grant are in the final phase, including fencing, pickleball courts, and an asphalt pathway connecting to the existing pathway; completion is expected within a couple of weeks.
• Emergency sinkhole repair: City officials reported an emergency repair at Fourth and Oak after a sinkhole opened up and was traced to a storm-line problem. Christiani, working on the Oak Street project, made the repair; concrete capping was being completed and large road plates were used. The existing Oak Street detour was expected to return to its prior configuration after the repair.

Key Outcomes

• Approved all encroachment permits and the special-event permit by unanimous voice vote.
• Approved the dumpster request for 1301 E. Market St. for August 28–September 11, with a requirement for reflective/caution tape and a possible extension if needed.
• Approved the Kentuckiana Medieval Faire permit with the condition that trash be removed and the street/space be left in the same or better condition.
• Asked that Saturday milling work on Roanoke and Sheller not begin before 9 a.m.
• Approved claims totaling $2,989,893.46 and $3,500 for August 11–24, 2026.
• Approved the August 18, 2026 regular meeting minutes and adjourned.