The Beech Grove Board of Sanitation and the Board of Public Works and Safety met Monday evening to approve claims, review bids for road projects and handle personnel changes in the police and EMS departments (Photo Credit: GAI consultants).
Board opens bids for Beech Grove road projects funded by INDOT grant
The Board of Public Works and Safety reviewed six bids for roadwork funded through the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Community Crossings Matching Grant program during their meeting on May 19.
[RELATED: Beech Grove awarded $487,810.89 in road funding grant]
United Consulting, serving as the city’s engineering consultant, outlined the scope of the project.
“The streets that we have selected this year for improvement based on their existing conditions are Alton Street from Emerson Avenue to 13th Avenue, Detroit Street from Beechwood Drive to 13th Avenue, Fourth Avenue from Bethel Avenue to Albany Street and Sixth Avenue from Bethel Avenue to Albany Street,” a representative from United Consulting said.
The city has secured approximately $490,000 in matching grant funds to cover about half the projected costs of the work.
“This is scheduled to be under construction next year in 2026,” the representative said. “We are requesting 2025 funds from INDOT, but according to the city’s budget, the project will not be allowed to start until January 1st of next year at the earliest”
City officials opened and read bids from six companies:
- Midwest Paving: $588,569.69
- Grady Brothers: $802,738.48
- Baumgartner & Co.: $844,744.80
- Howard Companies: $870,503.35
- All Star Paving: $918,587.80
- Robertson Paving: $926,651.00
Coffman praised consulting staff involved in the process.
“I appreciate United’s help with this whole process,” he said. “I also want to thank Brad Meriwether, DPW director, for his help in securing these funds. He’s been very successful with this, getting these grants each and every year” (00:04:31–00:04:47).
City engineering officials will review the bid submissions and return with a recommendation at the June 2 meeting.
Police department approves promotion, new hire
Two staffing changes in the Beech Grove Police Department were also approved.
Megan Ferris was promoted to IDACS Coordinator, with a biweekly salary of $2,270.92.
“Megan has done an excellent job and proven herself to be qualified over the past year to fill this position,” wrote Chief Michael Morris in a letter read into the record by Clerk-Treasurer Samantha Stratton.
To fill Ferris’s previous position, the board approved the hiring of Stacy Pina as receptionist and assistant IDACS Coordinator with a biweekly salary of $1,742.08.
EMS employee granted military leave
The board also approved a 10-day leave of absence for an EMS employee who will be on military duty from June 3 to June 13.
“This request would satisfy the differential pay between his military salary and what he would be paid as an active employee,” a representative from the EMS department said. “This is consistent for what we have done in the past for our employees.”
Sanitation board approves claims with no additional business
The Board of Sanitation approved $268,050 in wastewater claims without discussion or dissent during its brief meeting on May 19.
“There’s no public comment this evening, no unfinished business and no new business this evening,” said Mayor James Coffman before adjourning the meeting.
The board unanimously approved the minutes from its May 5 meeting and the five pages of claims submitted for payment on May 19.
The next meetings for both boards are scheduled for Monday, June 2, 2025.