Gary buys emergency equipment for Fire Department
By Michael Gonzalez Post-Tribune correspondent September 5, 2012 11:30PM
Updated: October 7, 2012 7:59AM
GARY — The Board of Public Works and Safety approved a sizable purchase of emergency equipment for the Fire Department and a contract to help Community Development come up with a comprehensive housing plan for the city.
Community Development, which has been snapping up dozens of properties in key areas of the city through county tax sales and other means, won the board’s approval for a $6,245 contract with the Indiana Association of Community Economic Development to build “a comprehensive framework for the implementation of housing strategies.”
The Indiana group is an association of economic development organizations throughout the state. Locally, under director Arlene Colvin’s tenure, Community Development has used federal HUD money to buy and repair distressed properties or those on sale for delinquent taxes. The agency sells the properties and returns the proceeds to department coffers.
Physio-Control, an emergency supply company in Washington state, landed a $233,770 contract from Gary’s Fire Department for six defibrillators/monitors and four compression devices.
The Board of Works, which approves city contracts and expenditures, also approved an amendment to a contract with Monroe Pest Control, adding the Washington Park and Pittman Park pavilions and the Diamond Center, the second-floor hall over the former Bennigan’s Restaurant and part of the U.S. Steel Yard.
The amendment also canceled Monroe’s work at Fire Station No. 3. The amended contract increases the one-year contract from $11,436 to $11,784.
