Jasper Board of Public Works and Safety August 25 meeting brief

In a meeting frontloaded with special requests for construction, street closures and events, the Jasper Board of Public Works and Safety met on Tuesday and took the following actions.

Approved closing the sidewalk and two parking spaces on the corner of Jackson and 6th Street to replace shingles and repair the awning and soffits on the rear of the Dubois County Title Company. Scaffolding would extend over the sidewalk and into the adjacent parking spaces, one of which is a handicap spot and one dedicated to veterans visiting the Veterans Service Office. The contractor estimated the work would take up to three days, with Monday through Wednesday the following week as the target window.

Glen Buecklein, representing Kerstiens Companies, requested to close a short section of East 6th Street in front of the fire station on September 9, 2026, between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. for a community event called the Patriot Challenge. The event is organized around a 9/11 theme and features seven team-based challenges including a stair climb, a bucket brigade, and a culminating 50-foot fire truck pull. Nine local teams are registered, including entries from Springs Valley Bank, German American Bank, Deaconess Hospital, and others. Teams can participate through an entry fee or sponsorship tiers ranging from $100 to $500, and donations are also accepted. All proceeds go to the Jasper Fire Department. The road closure covers only the section between McCrillis and Mill. The motion carried unanimously.

Whitney Lubbers from DC Multisport presented plans for an event called Puzzled at the Parklands: Quest for the Flag, scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026 at the Parklands. Teams of four will navigate through the park, completing timed puzzles and physical tasks to collect flags; the team that earns the most flags in the least time will be declared the winner. There are two divisions: an elite division requiring at least three members aged 16 or older, and a family division with two members under 16. Roughly 12 spots are available per division. Setup runs from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., and teardown is completed by 2:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Tri-County YMCA. The parks department had already granted permission. The motion carried unanimously.

Jasper Arts Director Kyle Rupert returned to seek permission to sell beer and wine at the monthly gallery reception at the Cultural Center, this time for September 3, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A question was raised about whether these approvals could be batched annually rather than handled month by month. The response was that the process is still being established and that a consolidated annual approval may be considered in the future. There was also a brief discussion about which signatory the state’s temporary alcohol permit paperwork requires. The board approved the request and authorized the mayor to sign off on the relevant state documentation. The motion carried unanimously.

Barry Dunlop presented a request to place four wall-mounted tables with two stools each along the sidewalk on Mill Street outside the soon-to-open Emerald Greens Cafe and Gastropub near 4th and Mill Street. The tables and stools are designed in a Scandinavian black minimal style and will be brought in and out each business day. The full sidewalk width is 7 feet 10 inches, with the tables protruding roughly 24 inches from the building and a rope barrier placed approximately 3 feet from the wall, leaving adequate pedestrian clearance. The business plans to open within four to five weeks and will store the furniture over winter. The board approved the four-table setup, noting any future expansion would require a new request. The motion carried unanimously.

Christy Rogers from The Social Pour presented paperwork for a temporary alcohol vendor permit for the next Alive After 5 event on September 4, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The setup location is near the fire pit in the downtown area, consistent with previous events. The paperwork includes a section requiring the mayor’s authorization for the DORA designation. The board approved the request and the mayor’s sign-off on the relevant documentation. The physical paperwork was left with the board at the close of the item. The motion carried unanimously.

A resident of 990 Brandon Avenue requested a road closure for a block party on Brandon Avenue between Justin and Fromus Streets on Friday, September 18, 2026. After some back-and-forth on timing, the closure was set from 4:00 p.m. Friday through midnight, running into the early hours of Saturday. The start time was adjusted from 3:00 p.m. after it was noted that a school bus route runs through the area at approximately 3:30 p.m. The street department will provide and place barricades at both ends. Brandon Avenue is noted as the last Street in that area, with no through traffic behind it. The motion carried unanimously.

Police Chief Chad Dick brought two letters of resignation from part-time dispatchers for the board to accept. No further discussion was required on either resignation. The board accepted both resignations by motion, which carried unanimously.

Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang presented the code enforcement report covering recent weed violations and declared nuisances across multiple properties. Most violations were resolved quickly by owners, with the street department stepping in where necessary. The most persistent issue involves Creek Rose Bob LLC, responsible for the area around the Welcome to Jasper sign, which has required city maintenance three times this year and has accumulated $350 in fines. A new address in Newburgh and a possible phone number for the owner were recently located, and a direct call is planned. A broader question was raised about how many outstanding liens exist across various properties. It was noted that fines under approximately $100 are likely uncollected, while larger amounts typically indicate filed liens recoverable at property tax time.

The board was informed after the fact that Knies Construction closed a section of 15th Street between the park west of the Parklands entrance and east of Emily Drive during working hours on the Monday and Tuesday of that week to install a water main for the Regional Wellness Center. The trench crossed the full width of the road in the eastbound lane. The closure ran from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day, with the road covered overnight and expected to reopen by the end of Tuesday. The street department has deliberately deferred a planned paving project on 15th Street to the end of the paving season to accommodate this work. No further closures on 15th Street are anticipated at this stage.

The board approved a request to begin the bidding process for a full replacement of the City Hall heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. The building has approximately 30 internal units and two rooftop units. The plan is to bid the project as a single package to take advantage of bulk material purchasing, but to spread installation across multiple years based on budget capacity. Funding will come from EDIT funds, with the project included in the 2026 budget as passed at the previous week’s budget meeting. Any available EDIT funds for City Hall repairs this year may be used to begin work earlier if possible. The motion carried unanimously.

The board approved several street department items in quick succession. The board accepted a low quote of $20,625 from Schmidt Contracting to replace the gas-fired boiler in the vehicle storage building, coming in under the $25,000 budget. The board also approved seeking quotes to replace a beyond-repair vibratory compactor plate, estimated at around $3,000, with funds to be transferred from savings on the recently ordered one-ton truck. A special purchase approval was granted for a replacement army-style dump bed for truck number 40 from Memphis Equipment Company at a total cost of $4,900 including freight, with a site visit planned before any order is placed. Two additional items were approved: a dumpster placement at 214 West 14th Street until noon the following day, and a sidewalk closure on the north side of the Old Millhouse Restaurant to repour concrete.

The board formally ratified emergency gutter repairs completed at City Hall before the meeting. According to City Engineer Chad Hurm, they worked with Helming Brothers, who were available to complete the work before the meeting date. The repairs were authorized in advance given the urgency and the contractor’s availability, and the work is now complete. The total cost was $9,626.78, funded from the City Hall repairs budget. The board approved the expenditure retrospectively. The motion carried unanimously.

A brief note was also made that building permit volumes remain low, with most permits being for additions and yard barns rather than new home construction, though no cause was identified.