Columbia City’s Board of Works and Safety on Jan. 14 unanimously approved a set of permits, payments and a marketing agreement affecting public events, a park project and utility customer outreach.

The board approved an encroachment agreement for the Whitley County Historical Society to install a sign at Main and Jefferson; accepted pay request No. 8 for Chapel Construction in the amount of $82,967.90 for work on park amenities; modified and approved a street-closing permit for the Wheels of Whitley County car show to end at the alley south of the post office; and entered into a marketing agreement with Utility Service Partners’ private-label program to offer a service-line warranty to city utility customers. The board also approved multiple accounts-payable disbursements, including a checks batch for $1,235,854.68 and several payroll and benefit-related payments.

Why it matters: the approvals clear the way for immediate vendor payments and for a private, voluntary warranty program marketed to city utility customers. The street closure change preserves post-office access; the sign encroachment lets a local historical society replace a corner sign; and the construction payment advances work on the city’s park project.

Encroachment agreement: Board members reviewed photos and size sketches of the proposed Whitley County Historical Society sign at Main and Jefferson and discussed sight lines and utility conflicts. A board member noted the sign “looks wider” than the existing sign but that line of sight appeared acceptable and that the sign would generally occupy the footprint of the previous sign. A motion to approve the encroachment agreement carried unanimously.

Park contractor pay request: The board approved pay request No. 8 for Chapel Construction (invoice 6263) for $82,967.90, described in meeting material as the remaining payout for the first phase of park work. The board noted retainage will be held for sidewalks connecting to the skatepark; the remaining work noted in the packet included the skatepark itself and adjacent sidewalks and drainage.

Street-closing permit: The board approved a street-closing permit for the Wheels of Whitley County car show, with a modification limiting the closure to the alley south of the post office so the postal facility remains accessible. The motion to approve the modified closure passed unanimously.

Utility marketing agreement: The board approved entering into a marketing agreement with Utility Service Partners’ private-label program (National League of Cities-endorsed service-line warranty program). The contract language was amended to restrict the vendor’s use of city branding and to clarify data-sharing limits; board members were told the initial agreement term is three years with automatic one-year renewals. The motion to enter the agreement carried unanimously.

Accounts-payable approvals: The board approved a checks batch totaling $1,235,854.68. The board also approved additional disbursements and payroll/benefit payments discussed in the meeting, including a paid-file total of $292,782.80 for the pay period ending 12/27/24, an HSA payment batch of $202,000, and clothing allowances of $12,875. One accounts-payable amount in the public record was unclear in the transcript and is recorded as not specified in the clarifying details.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in meeting minutes):
- Approve minutes from prior meeting — outcome: approved unanimously.
- Approve encroachment agreement, Whitley County Historical Society (Main & Jefferson sign) — outcome: approved unanimously.
- Pay request No. 8, Chapel Construction (invoice 6263) — $82,967.90 — outcome: approved unanimously; retainage held for sidewalks to skatepark.
- Street-closing permit, Wheels of Whitley County (Columbia City Connect) — modified to end at alley south of post office — outcome: approved unanimously.
- Enter marketing agreement, Utility Service Partners (private-label/NLC service-line warranty) — outcome: approved unanimously.
- Accounts payable: checks batch $1,235,854.68; paid-file $292,782.80; HSA $202,000; clothing allowances $12,875; one EFT amount in the transcript unclear (not specified) — all approved unanimously.

The board took no contested votes at the meeting. Following the motions, department heads provided routine operational reports and scheduling notes. The full set of motions and amounts is reflected in the formal meeting minutes and the city’s voucher records.