Alrighty good evening This is Adam Wason public works director for the city of Bloomington. It is Tuesday,
October 20th 2026 and it is 5 30 p.m. Here
City Council chambers there is a zoom link on the Board of Public Works agenda for today posted on the
website With a meeting ID and a passcode if we have any members of the public that are online for the
meeting If you have public comment to offer for any of the items or and are part of any of the items
on the agenda We will unmute you as needed for comment or discussion for those agenda items
For public comments, you can use the raised hand function, and we will unmute you at that time as well.
We have all three board members present, and I will turn it over to Elizabeth Carone for tonight's meeting.
Thank you, Adam. I welcome everyone to tonight's meeting of the Board of Public Works for October 20th,
2026. First, we have messages from board members. Are there any messages tonight? All right. Next, we
will go to Title VI abatement.
First we have the request for continuous abatement for 1610 South Dorchester. I Am Joe stong I'm one
of the neighborhood compliance officers in hand housing a neighborhood development We wrote tickets
notice as a violation for this property on September 18th September 25th and October 9th
The dumpster was overflowing and there was a lot of furniture etc around it It was that way for several
weeks and I went by today and it was pretty cleaned up But this has been a problem property. So we were
asking for a continuous abatement through September 18th 2027 Thank you before we go to questions from
the board I will just say that I will need to recuse myself from this item as I have a family member living in
and a property owned by this owner. So I will pass it to the Vice President, Kyla Cox-Decker to run
this vote, please. Thank you. Questions from the board on this item? Any public comment on this item?
None on Zoom. All right, seeing none. Is there a motion on this item?
I'll move approval of the request for a continuous abatement for the property at 1610 South Dorchester
All right, and I second that motion. I will call the roll. We have Krone as a recusal Roach I Cox Deckard
I Motion passes Thank you. Thank you very much Next we'll move along to the order to to seal for unsafe
at 601 North Monroe Street
I'm Jack Arnold from Housing and Neighborhood Development. 601's a property that's been vacant for a
couple years. Recently, there's been some windows that have been broken out on this property, so we're
costing your uphold the order to seal for more than 90 days. Since it's been vacant for so long, we
expect it'll be vacant for more than 90 days. Thank you very much. Questions from the board on this item?
Public comment on this item again, if you are in zoom, you can use the chat function or raise hand None
on zoom. All right, is there a motion? I Move that we approve this order to seal for unsafe at 601 North
Monroe Street Second with the motion in a second. I will call the roll Roach. Hi Cox Deckard. I Korone.
I motion passes. I
Next is an order to seal for unsafe at 602 North Morton Street. This is a property that's been vacant
for several years, probably over 10 years at least. The front door on this property is slightly ajar
and the neighbors were concerned about people getting into the house. So we're requesting orders to
seal for more than 90 days because there doesn't seem to be any movement on this house being modified
or remodeled for vacancy.
We're requesting that you uphold the resolution to seal this structure as well Thank you any board questions
on this item I just wanted to note that though these two residents are in very close proximity. They're
not owned by the same. That's correct property owner Thank you public comment on this item None on zoom
all right is there a motion I
Move that we approve the order to seal for unsafe at 602 North Monroe Street second I Will call the
roll Roach. I Cox Decker. I Perrone I motion passes. Thank you. Thank you Next on the agenda is petitions
and remonstrances. This is a time for anyone from the public to approach the podium and Make comments
about anything that is not on tonight's agenda Is there any public comment tonight?
Whether in-person council chambers or on zoom None on zoom Thank You Miranda moving on to the consent
agenda. The item tonight is payroll. Does the board have any questions on payroll? Seeing no questions.
Is there public comment on payroll? None on zoom. All right, is there a motion? I move that we approve
the consent agenda for October 20th of 2026 second
I will call the roll Roach. Hi Cox Decker. I Caron. I motion passes Now we'll start the new business
agenda first is resolution 2026 dash zero five zero art on a traffic box for downtown Bloomington, Inc
at Kirkwood Avenue and Roger Street Good evening Christina with ESD
So the DBI wants to paint a traffic box. This would be a Kirkwood and Rogers. There'll be traffic cones
placed in the right-of-way During the hours that the art is being installed This design has been approved
by the legal department and installation will be between the end of October to mid November Thank you
questions from the board Is there any public comment on this item
None on zoom. All right, is there a motion? I move that we approve resolution 2026 dash zero five zero
art on a traffic box for downtown Bloomington Inc at Kirkwood Avenue and Roger Street Second I will
call the roll Roach. I Cox Decker. I her own I motion passes Thanks Next is a right away special event
for the 2026 canopy of lights. I
Good evening Cassie, we're new with public works Downtown Bloomington Inc is requesting a closed Kirkwood
Avenue between walnut and college on Friday November 27th for canopy of lights in addition 10 parking
spaces in front of Fountain Square Mall are also needed starting Wednesday, November 25th to accommodate
the parks mobile stage This is the typical footprint that is used for this annual event Thank you questions
from the board
Is there any public comment on this item? None on zoom Seeing none. Is there a motion? I move that we
approve the right-of-way special event for 2026 canopy of lights Second I will call the roll Roach.
I Cox Decker. I Korone I motion passes Next is the right-of-way special event for the 2026. Hello queer
dance party. I
Backdoors requesting to close the alley behind their establishment between fourth and third streets
Saturday October 31st into Sunday, November 1st for the hella queer dance party. This is the same Footprint
that the back door and the blockhouse bar use whenever they have the annual Bloomerang music festival.
So it's that same alley Thank you Any board questions on this item?
They don't have a noise permit. Is that correct? It is Part of the music will be inside They're not
planning on any music outside. I'm just gonna scroll through. Okay, just to make sure it's not identified
Yeah known It's indoors. Okay. Yeah, it is a typical
From a music standpoint, it will be kind of the typical music that they would have at the back door
and block house All right, it's a public comment on this item None on zoom is there a motion I move
that we approve the right-of-way special event for 2026. Hello queer dance party Second I will call
the roll Roach. Hi Cox Decker. I Korone. I motion passes. I
Next is a right away special event for the 2026 holiday market The Parks and Recreation Department is
requesting to close The following streets on Saturday, November 28th for the annual holiday market Morton
Street north of 8th and south of the City Hall parking lot entrance the City Hall parking lot and then
a street between Morton Street and College Avenue This is the typical footprint to of the holiday market,
which usually is the day after canopy of light
Any board questions on this item? Any public comment on this item? None on zoom. All right.
Is there a motion? I move that we approve the right-of-way special event for 2026 holiday market Second,
I will call the roll broach. I Cox Decker. I Korone I motion passes Next is a contract for in-shelter
veterinary services with Laura Soto DVM. I
Good evening Virgil Sadler with Bloomington Animal Care and Control This will be our second year of
doing a contract with dr. Soto for in-shelter veterinary services This allows us to see 15 to 25 animals
per week at the shelter rather than having transport them off site also allows for phone and
video consultations in between as well as being the veterinarian on record for all of our medical procedures
and purchasing of antibiotics and other veterinary supplies and
Questions from the board Okay, is there public comment on this item None on zoom seeing none. Is there
a motion? I Move that we approve the contract for in-shelter veterinary services with Laura Soto DBM
Second, I will call the roll Roach. I Cox Decker. I grown I motion passes. I
Next is a preliminary engineering contract with Crossroads engineers PC for summit phase one improvements
Evening Michael Bitsky from engineering this new contract with Crossroads will provide plenary engineering
Services to prepare construction plans for the relocation of South Lima Road from West Wapahane Road
to the intersection of West malls to South Vanguard Parkway and the engineering assessment of improvements
at the intersection of West Bloomfield Road and
Thank you any questions from the board Okay, is there public comment on this item again if you are on
zoom you can use the raise hand function or chat None on zoom Seeing none is there a motion? I move
that we approve the preliminary engineering contract with Crossroads engineers PC for summit phase one
improvements Second I will call the roll Roach
Cox-duckard, I Korone I motion passes. Thank you. Thank you Next on the agenda is the right-of-way closure
request for Duke energy at West 3rd Street and Fairview Drive I sense the beginning of the Zach Bell
show. That's right Hello, Zach Bell field specialist from engineering Duke energy is requesting approval
of a temporary right-of-way closure at 120 South Fairfield Drive and
Accommodate utility work the request includes temporary closure of a travel lane and sidewalk is necessary
to safely complete the work Closures are proposed from October 26 through October 28 During
normal construction hours pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be maintained shifted rerouted in accordance
with the approved maintenance of traffic plan Sidewalk closure will be on the north side of the sidewalk
along West 3rd Street with the detour to the south side of West 3rd Street and
The travel lane will occupy the westbound lane of West 3rd Street petitioners sound stall Maintain and
all required signage barricades traffic control devices and maintain access to adjacent properties and
limit the closure To the minimum area and duration necessary to complete the work Thank you questions
from the board
Just wanted to clarify and confirm. This is West 3rd Street in Fairview. It also said Fairfield in the
Staff report. So I just wanted to confirm. It's fair. I made a mistake on that. Yeah, I apologize so
that So like basically in the near Hopewell area. Oh, no, this this is close to 69 and
I'm trying to remember exactly what's around it. I think there might be like a McDonald. Yeah, I think
that's Franklin right, right? Is that what we're Yeah, Fairview would be like McDole Gardens and Fairfield
I thought was Just give me a quick second I believe this is
Fairfield on the application 120 South Fairfield This is actually out off Fairfield Drive is the Drive
that is one block due east of Franklin. So where Texas Roadhouse Cheddar's Ruby or Maya
All the restaurants the old Pizza Hut holiday and it's the one right behind them. And yeah, it is there
over on the west side So it is Fairfield not Fairview. Okay, right Thank you for that clarification
is there any public comment on this item None on zoom seeing none is there a motion I
I move that we approve the right-of-way closure request for Duke energy at West 3rd Street and Fairfield
Drive Second I will call the roll Roach. I Cox Decker. I Korone. I motion passes Next is a right-of-way
closure request for extension for Duke energy for the I you loop work on Kirkwood grant and done Hello
again from engineering Duke energy is requesting an extension of
Previous approval of temporary right-of-way closures associated with the IU Lou project permit
ROW 2026-02-2266 This permit has been given two extensions for a current total of about 12 weeks over
the initial permit durations This includes a sidewalk closure on grant That has remained unpermitted
since September 30th 2026 Duke is requesting to extend this closure until November 13th 2026
That means this project could haven't have extended impacts to pedestrians vehicles and businesses for
over four months past what was originally requested Engineering staff has requested a detailed plan
for approval as of October 14th 2026 engineering did not receive information sufficient enough for approval
Associated with this work Duke energy is also requesting closures associated with the IU loop project
to bring it to a close and
They have submitted three permit applications listed here Each was similar lane and sidewalk requests
But it is still unclear to me if these permits will add closures or if this work is within the request
for an extension Hopefully by the time of BPW meeting occurs. I have more information from Duke So I've
listed below the descriptions of the permit applications that I received I don't know if that's necessary
to read all of that, but basically it's engineering's
We're all in agreement that we're not for approval of this, but we want to bring what we have to you
guys Just so that we have made sure that we touch base here and then we can move forward with Duke So,
can I ask a question yes Right now the sidewalk is
Closed But not permitted is that correct? Yes. So the previous permit lapsed drew do kind of in my opinion
did not pass the baton well and We are left with an unpermitted closure right now They need to come
back and get into that hole to complete the work But this handoff between their sub and this these new
permits. It's hard to discern What exactly is their game plan?
So I'm just literally presenting the evidence. We've been we are able to And then are there any dates
associated with these three additional requests have they given I requested that information and have
not received it You know the most of the information that we have is that Duke wants the permit for
Extended for ROW 20 26-02-20
266 they want that extended until November 13th. Like I said, it's still unclear if these three permits
Are associated with the work that needs to be done like in the extension But I'm under the assumption
that it's going to be quick and it would wrap the project up But we it's still yet to be determined
How long that sidewalk closure is going to be? open we have
Received detailed schedules like we've requested basically that's kind of a pickle So what what action
are you requesting of us? Are you asking us to approve this? Are you asking us to deny and table it?
What what is your recommendation, right? So I just in this case I feel like in order to move forward
correctly I have to bring it to you guys to make sure that I've at least
Brought it to you guys with what I've been given versus missing the chairs for approval. I Actually
need you to answer James question. Do you want us to approve this? Do you know the table this? No, I
don't I cannot support approval Okay with the information that we've been given but out of My due diligence
for my position I want to bring the information forward that I have so it can't come back and say well
we didn't take this whatever could happen just kind of following through the process and
So if we were to let's say we were to table this What would you expect to happen between now? I would
be talking to Duke about a notice violation for an unpermitted sidewalk closure Ultimately, I probably
should have issued one earlier, but I've been trying to work with as a good community member with them
Compared to that answer if we table this instead
Did you ask tabling or I'm sorry then if we deny what would be the different response? It would basically
be the same I Would be talking about issuing a notice of violation for the unpermitted work given that
we don't have the exact information needed to ask for your approval I'm gonna ask that you table the
agenda item will bring it back again at the next meeting knowing good knowing that
It's very likely they're going to continue this work to try to get this project wrapped up in the meantime
and continue working with engineering what we need to do is get I believe there is Zach I think I what
I need you to do is explain to the board what happened with the subcontractors on this so I don't believe
the original sub correct me if I say anything go ahead absolutely I believe the original subcontractor
contractor on this job is no longer on the job
I am under the impression that their work is complete, but that has not been fully verified and I we
would like a schedule to Work with the businesses etc. So that we can get the closures mapped etc So
we're gonna ask that you table this for tonight. We'll follow up again with Duke energy first thing
tomorrow get some updated information We will update the board via email on anything that we learn in
the meantime, but just
Do ask that you table this this has been an ongoing back and forth as you can hear From Zach and we
just need some clarification when this gets wrapped up and how it's going to get wrapped up There's
a large hole on Grant Street in the sidewalk about four sidewalk panels. So these impacts are pretty
pretty significant and So yeah, we'll just ask that you table this for this time at this time question
I know I had missed one of our
Somewhat recent meetings was this item on our agenda in a previous? meeting and then removed I Was thinking
we had this on an agenda, but I didn't remember any action It was taken off because they did not give
us enough material so we've gotten to a point with them where I want to bring it back here and Express
to you what I have and then we can move forward. Okay Okay, is there a motion on this item then?
Move that we table the item on right-of-way closure requests for extension for Duke energy for the IU
loop work on Kirkwood grant and done Second with a motion in a second. I will call the roll Roach. I
Cox Decker. I Korone I motion tabled Motion passed item tabled. Sorry. I
Next on the agenda is the right-of-way closure request for City of Bloomington utilities at the intersection
of 6th Street and Lincoln Street Hello Zach Bell engineering again CBU is requesting approval of a temporary
right-of-way closure at 202 North Lincoln Street to accommodate utility work the request includes temporary
closure of the intersection at East 6th Street and North Lincoln Street as Necessary to safely complete
the work closure is performed
Proposed for four to six hours and will occur between October 21st and October 31st 2026 during overnight
hours vehicular traffic will be maintained shifted or rerouted in accordance with the approved maintenance
of traffic plan The intersection closure will take place adjacent to 202 North Lincoln Street with local
access to be maintained The detour route will be North Washington Street East Kirkwood Avenue and North
Grant Street and
questions from the board Based on this report I take it the utilities will determine the best day for
the work between the 21st and the 31st and then when they do that work it will be Approximately four
to six hours in one It's not as I read that I can feel the awkwardness I'm good at that. No, it makes
sense Any other board questions, all right, it's their public comment on this item I
None on zoom. Is there a motion? I move that we approve the right-of-way closure request for city of
Bloomington utilities at the intersection of 6th Street and Lincoln Street I will call the roll Roach.
Hi Cox Decker. I'm Caron. I motion passes real quick So I just want to go back to agenda agenda item
number eight the right-of-way closure from requests from Duke Energy in the title of that agenda item
we refer to this as the I you loop work and
I do want to clarify something there. We were in our monthly coordination with Indiana University and CBU today
This this work is associated with lines that feed into the university But what the work that's actually
occurring is removing services from lines that service the university to be separate lines so it's not
that I use getting lumped into this as a By title, but they're not actually a party on the project and
I just wanted to clarify that just so folks knew Thank you
Okay, next is a right-of-way closure request for Mitchner excavating on Madison Street exact bell engineering
Mitchner excavating is requesting approval of a temporary right-of-way closure at 1119 North Madison
Street to accommodate utility work The request includes temporary closure of a sidewalk and traveling
as necessary to safely complete the work The closures are proposed from October. This is actually going
to be October 26 through October
I'm sorry about that during normal construction hours Pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be maintained
shifted or rerouted in accordance with the approved maintenance of traffic plan Sidewalk closure will
be on the west side of the sidewalk along Madison Street with the detour to the east side of Madison
Street The traveling closure will occupy the southbound lane of Madison Street Thank you questions from the board
Is there any public comment on this item? None on Zoom. Is there a motion? I move that we approve the
right-of-way closure request for Mitchner excavating on Madison Street. Second. With a motion and a
second, I will call the roll. Roach? Aye. Cox-Deckard? Aye. Caron? Aye. Motion passes. Next
is the right-of-way closure request for Double Down Dirtworks at 1119 North Madison Street. I believe
I made a mistake.
And this is actually 1617 West 8th Street. The previous one was Madison Street So this will be 1617
West 8th Street, correct? 17 Thank you Zach Bell engineering Double down dirt works is requesting approval
of a temporary right away closure at 1617 West 8th Street to accommodate utility work
Request includes temporary closure of a sidewalk and the traveling as necessary to safely complete the
work The closures are proposed from October 21st through October 23rd During normal construction hours
pedestrian vehicular traffic will be maintained shifted or rerouted in accordance with the approved
maintenance of traffic plan The sidewalk closure will be on the south side of the sidewalk along West 8th
with pedestrians guided safely around the job site via a pedestrian guide during construction The sidewalk
will be reopened nightly The traveling closure will occupy the eastbound lane of West 8th Thank you
questions from the board Quick question. Didn't we see this once before? Was it on a work session and
then pulled it seems really familiar
There might be a nearby one, but this is it's the first time I've worked with double down there I was
excited just to say the name I'm at the property but Yeah, no, I don't that's very possible and it could
be a sewer lateral and then a water and there could be all kinds of stuff But I I do believe we've had
other permits right either at this address or right nearby recently. Okay, I
Any public comment on this item? None on zoom Is there a motion? I move that we approve the right-of-way
closure request for a double down dirt works at 1617 West 8th Street Second, I will call the roll Roach.
I Cox Decker. I Caron I motion passes Next on the agenda is staff reports Adam Wason public works director
Just wanted to make note that we had a staff retirement recently of longtime staff member Christina
Smith after 35 plus years of service to the city of Bloomington and make sure that the meeting minutes
recognize that
We've appreciated all of her outstanding service and dedication to the city of Bloomington over all
of those years her Friendship her mentorship her being a great colleague all that will be missed but
we wish Christina many nice mornings on her front porch enjoying her coffee and Not worrying about getting
to work on time. So I just want to say thanks to Chris for all her years of work and congratulations
on retirement a couple other things for the board right now
We are working very closely with our partners at Indiana University in athletics. We've had a real successful
weekend with Ohio State in town last weekend. Homecoming is coming up on the weekend of October 30th
and 31st. So we'll have the homecoming parade on the 30th that the board has already heard. The game
is on the 31st. There's some talk about some additional potential right-of-way uses.
In relation to some of the national media outlets that are still being discussed And we'll keep the
board up to speed on anything that arises from that And otherwise we are moving into fall collection
leaf collection So just want to remind residents that on your normal yard work yard waste day Sanitation
staff are picking up bagged yard waste and leaves for our annual fall collection but those do need to
be in brown in the paper bags and
and less than 40 pounds or in city issued or Other either the city issued yard waste container or other
hand containers with handles less than 40 pounds But staffs been busy already picking up leaves and
we're in the throws a bit as they say so that's all I have this evening Adam before we
Finish up the meeting here. There's been a lot of press in the last couple of weeks about the future
of college and Walnut. I wonder if you could just clarify where things stand and where things don't
stand. Yeah, so as this board, well, maybe a little bit before your time, but this board has entertained
a few contracts to study the college and Walnut corridor through the planning and transportation department.
That has been a multi-year study that was taking place.
And the final report was released here in the last several weeks and has garnered a lot of attention
as you've noted Has it right now that is just a it's a consultants report with recommendations a lot
of folks feel like this is a done deal that the college and walnut are changing to two ways and that
there's Funding for the construction and everything that is not the case at this time. I'd recommend
folks take a look at the statement from the mayor's office this
Sets us up for some potential possible future funding But at this time nothing is lined up to actually
implement that project as currently proposed the next opportunity for public Outreach or comment on
that will be on November 16th in these council chambers with the Transportation Commission and I believe
that meeting starts at 530 p.m. And I will
providing some time with delay as I look up exactly when that is. Miranda is trying to get there more
quickly than I can. And it is five
530 p.m. So the Transportation Commission will hear that final report from staff and the consultants
on November 16th 530 p.m. There will be opportunity for public comment at that time as well But again
at this point in time, it's just a study with recommendations and no official path forward for any of
that Thank you All right next on the agenda is the approval of claims and
Does the board have any questions about claims tonight? Is there any public comment on claims?
None on Zoom. Is there a motion? I move that we approve claims in the amount of $1,311,956.55. Second.
Is there a motion? We made our move. Oh, I'm so sorry. It would not be a public works meeting without
me mixing up my words. Sorry.
and second Yes with the motion in a second. I will Call the roll Roach. I Cox Deckard. I grown I motion
passes I'm just glad it's you and not me that has to do Robert's rules of order and such So you do a
great job running these meetings don't with nothing else on the agenda. I will call for adjournment. Thank you