A Massachusetts-based company was awarded a pair of contracts to handle the installation of new exterior lighting on the outside of two of Gary’s fire stations.
The Gary Redevelopment Commission on Wednesday awarded contracts to EDI-2 Electrical Dynamics Inc. The company in North Reading, Mass., will receive $6,840 to handle the work for both the Fire Station No. 1 , 200 E. 5th Ave., and Fire Station No. 4, 1620 Adams St.
Redevelopment Executive Director Joseph Van Dyk said the commission had reached an agreement to cover the cost of the exterior repairs for the Fire Department, which maintains 14 fire stations across the city.
He said the new lights to be installed at both stations will be LED lamps that are energy-efficient.
Both contracts were approved by the commission without opposition. Commission member Marion Johnson was absent.
In other business, the commission voted 4-0 to advertise bids for the demolition of 17 pieces of property scattered across Gary. Bids will be opened in October, with contracts likely to be awarded later that month.
Van Dyk said this bid letting, along with another to be done later this year for 41 plots of land, will be the last of the demolition projects to be done during 2016.
Money to cover the costs of demolition is coming from Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination grants the city has received to support its efforts to try to clear large plots of land to permit future development within Gary.
The commission also voted without opposition to approve a memorandum of understanding with city government, the Gary Housing Authority, the Economic Development Commission, Gamong Construction Services, American Structurepoint Inc., and the Indiana Development Corp.
Officials hope to turn the site at 11th Avenue and Chase Street into an industrial park, and Van Dyk said the memorandum is the first step toward that goal.
Gregory Tejeda is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
