Board of Works 8/26/2026

The City of Gary Board of Public Works and Safety held a meeting on August 26, 2026, focusing extensively on procurement and contracting matters. The board approved multiple ratifications of claims and payroll totaling several hundred thousand dollars, including pension payments. They accepted bids for escrow services from several title companies and approved a guard rail installation contract with Specialties Company for up to $33,000. The board also approved a professional services contract with First Group Engineering for roadway and sidewalk asset management at $116,500, which supports infrastructure planning and state funding eligibility. Several contracts related to storm recovery were approved, including a $2.25 million debris cleanup contract with Ash Britt, a $150,000 consulting contract with Eegis BLN USA, and a $1.4 million contract with Thompson Consulting Services for debris monitoring and FEMA compliance. Additionally, the board approved a $18,000 contract with Policy Analytics for local government revenue forecasting and a $15,000 contract with Atlas Strategy Group for advisory services. The board also authorized a builder's risk insurance policy for a new construction project at a cost of approximately $2,796, opting to exclude terrorism coverage. Lastly, the board approved a $450,000 small business lifeline grant program to support 54 local businesses, with detailed scoring criteria and oversight. Several property transfers and resolutions related to emergency storm response and insurance claims were also approved. Overall, the meeting was heavily focused on procurement decisions supporting infrastructure, disaster recovery, and economic development initiatives.