By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Decatur’s Board of Works and Safety has signed a contract with Brooks Construction Co., the final step to another huge street resurfacing project in the city next summer.
The Fort Wayne firm, which spent several weeks in Decatur resurfacing streets and alleys last year, was awarded the project via its low bid of $886,747.00 submitted several weeks ago.
Wayne Asphalt had bid $903,291.25 and E&B Paving was high at $910,559.75.
The latest street resurfacing project is being funded by another state Community Crossing grant, this one amounting to $810,508.10 awarded Decatur. The city provides a match of some $253,300, boosting funds available for the work to over $1 million: $1,013,135.12.
Brooks milled (removed top layer) and repaved stretches of 11 city streets last summer via another CC grant and city match, plus two other streets and six alleys done through additional city funding.
In other business at the recent meetings of the board of works and city council:
* Wastewater Superintendent Karey Fuelling asked for and received permission to sell at auction some items no longer used. The items include a fuel tank, generator “and lots of little things,” she said.
Other departments will be given an opportunity to see if there is anything they can use, then the stuff will go to Krueckeberg Auction & Realty and be sold via an online auction.
* Fire Chief Jeff Sheets said his department has been involved in their annual public education program in the schools. The program is expected to wrap up by the end of the month.
* Clerk-Treasurer Kevin Hackman asked for and was given permission to write off uncollectible checks which are over two years old and total $2,760 and change.
* The Indiana AIM’S (Accelerate Indiana Municipalities) annual legislative dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, which is the date for Decatur’s next council and board meetings. So council voted to delay the meetings one day, to Wednesday, February 21.
Some new members of the city administration recently received training provided by AIM and will be attending the banquet, along with Mayor Dan Rickord.
Following a Mayors Institute last year, AIM awarded certificates to eight Indiana mayors. Rickord was one of four to earn a gold certificate and Berne Mayor Gregg Sprunger was awarded a bronze certificate.