02252025 Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 25, 2025 35 being done. The effort is tremendous out there to remediate. He hopes that the EPA recognizes those efforts. AGREEMENTS/CONTRACTS/PROPOSALS/ADDENDA Attorney Schmidt was present to discuss item 7.H.: Release of Easements for HP Blackbird LLC. He noted that at the last board meeting he brought forward a resolution for the Board to adopt that reaffirmed some deeds of dedication associated with the Crow Chizek minor subdivision that occurred back in 2003 and a second one that occurred in 2024. He added that this is the second part of that resolution and will be releasing some pedestrian easements. Once these documents are negotiated, you'll see some depictions that are legal, but it'll also have a depiction of what's being released along that property way. In the City's review there is no further need of these pedestrian easements, and this property is subject to future development, so those easements are vital to HP Blackbird LLC, the current owner's ability to transfer and convey a clear title to as much of that land as possible to the future developer. There'll be two (2) separate easements that will be in front of the Board on Tuesday and he asks for their execution. AGREEMENTS/CONTRACTS/PROPOSALS/ADDENDA Mr. Gilot offered his historical insight for item 7.F.: Professional Services Agreement with Black & Veatch Corporation, Engineering Servies for the Study of Cellular and Radio Signal Strengths for Remote Lift Stations to Support SCADA Upgrade. He remembered the contractor attempting a radio connection of remote sewer lift stations to the SCADA system and they failed and the City never paid them because they never met the specification requirements. He noted that there was a problem with the initial set up due to leaves and changing wind conditions that they couldn't get the signal through. He added that it was a reputable company, but he couldn't remember the name. Project Manager Gemma Stanton stated that the City is doing a radio frequency study and it is a desktop study, so it doesn't account as much for weather. Right now, all the backup that we have is radio frequency on a license frequency, so something is communicating by radio right now. This study is just going to confirm what the strengths that we're operating with are and if we are very close to having failures of communication with the radio signal or are they doing okay. Mr. Gilot asked if they would be studying cellular backups for the ten (10) critical stations that the City has. He added that there's a significant urban forest and other wireless doesn't get through during certain wind directions with leaves on. Ms. Stanton noted they would need to raise the antenna high in certain conditions. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Board Member Gary Gilot thanked the Engineering team for inviting him to a Teams meeting about biofilters at Fredrickson Park. He found it interesting that South Bend is being used for research that might have significant impacts with closing out wells and other gas wells. What they're learning here in South Bend could have broad implications, so it's nice that the City is partnering up research. He was very impressed and thanked the Engineering team for the invite to listen in as a retired environmental engineer. Lastly, Mr. Gilot stated thanked the IT department for their assistance with helping him access the Team files after some technical difficulties. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, President Maradik adjourned the meeting at 10:47 a.m. CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Elizabeth A. Maradik, President Gary A. Gilot, Member Joseph R. Molnar, Vice President Breana Micou, Member Murray L. Miller, Member Attest: Theresa M. Heffner, Clerk Date: March 11, 2025