Public Meetings - Lake County, Indiana

The Lake County Council held its regular meeting on May 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM in Crown Point. The council approved a wide range of fiscal items, resolutions, ordinances, and tax abatements with near-unanimous votes. A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to public comments from correctional officers and union representatives detailing severe understaffing, safety issues, and alleged bad‑faith bargaining at the Lake County Jail. Consent Calendar - Minutes: Approved the April 14, 2026 regular meeting minutes. - Awards/Resolutions: Approved Resolution proclaiming May as Mental Health Awareness Month and Resolution recognizing Lonnie Randolph Jr. for Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. - Court Items: - L.C. Superior Court IV: Created line item and appropriated $25,000 for Supplemental Adult Probation Fund; approved grant application for Problem‑Solving Court Grants CY 2027; passed resolution to pay outstanding 2025 invoice. - Lake Sup. Ct. County Division Room 1: Approved Rev. 144 increasing Probation Officer salary by $6,434. - Lake Sup. Ct. County Division Room 2: Approved Rev. 144 reallocating funds between Office Manager and Chief Court Reporter (no net change). - Lake Sup. Ct. County Division Room 3: Appropriated $1,903 from Veterans Court Endowment Fund for travel/lodging. - Juvenile Court: Transferred $5,750 from contractual services and food/lodging to supplies. - Juvenile Detention Center: Approved Rev. 144 increasing Intake Supervisor salary by $10,291. - LADOS Division 2: Created line item and appropriated $10,690 from SAFE Grant Fund for professional services. - Planning Commission: Approved Ordinance 2600 (Martin Butler, R‑3 to B‑1) and Ordinance 2601 (Greg Jessup, CD to R‑1), both having favorable 6‑0 recommendations. - Local Roads & Streets: Created line item and appropriated $1,567,691.70 for the 2026 INDOT Community Crossing Matching Grant Fund. - Sheriff: Approved new grant applications for DOJ FY25 Edward Byrne JAG and ICJI FY27 CHIRP; approved two resolutions to pay outstanding 2025 invoices (Johnson Controls and Franciscan WorkingWell). - Prosecutor: Created line items and appropriated $13,300 from the Careful Carter Gun Safety Literacy Grant Fund. - Health Department: Approved Rev. 144 eliminating a Planner position and adding a Sanitarian position (net reduction of $7,008). - Lake County Commissioners: Appropriated $742,811.31 from the Opioid Restricted Fund for professional services. - County Council: Created line item in Gambling Tax Admission Fund; transferred $425,000; appropriated $519,000 for matching funds; passed Resolution amending dormant fund declaration; passed first and second readings of two ordinances amending dormant fund ordinances; approved United States Cold Storage tax abatement compliance forms for 2025‑2026 and 2026‑2027 (investments of $73.5 million in real property and 63 jobs). Public Comments & Testimony - Naomi Fresh (attorney for IUPA Local 11): Stated the county has not bargained in good faith since February 2025, violating Lake County Ordinance 32.029. Noted the jail is understaffed by approximately 70 officers, with average overtime of 40 hours per 28‑day cycle. Reported the county’s response to a proposed 6% raise was zero. Demanded the council enforce its own ordinance and send representatives with authority to the bargaining table. - Christopher Rock (correctional officer and union VP): Described 16‑hour workdays, shifts with 17‑21 officers instead of the required 25, overcrowded sections (32 beds holding 42 inmates), and a recent stabbing of an officer with a broomstick. Asked for higher pay to recruit and retain officers. - Chris Akey (FOP president): Noted many officers leave for better pay on the police side. Suggested an ordinance to lower flags at half‑staff for correctional and police weeks. Urged council members to visit the jail to see conditions. - Thomas O'Srauskin (former correctional officer): Cited Indiana Code 5‑11‑1‑27 giving the fiscal body authority to enforce ordinances. Recommended the council form a committee or send a letter to commissioners. Also raised lack of recorded contracts. - David Crane (former police cadet): Called conditions deplorable since the 1980s and warned of a potential federal mandate. Urged investigation. - Officer Brooks (classification department): Noted the jail regularly holds over 1,000 inmates and physical conditions have deteriorated. Feared a mass escape like Orleans Parish. Begged for assistance. Discussion Items - Council members clarified that collective bargaining authority rests with the county commissioners, not the council, due to separation of powers. They expressed strong support for the officers and pledged to use their influence. - Councilor mentioned earlier meetings with judges to address overcrowding and the sheriff’s successful lawsuit removing commissioners’ contracting oversight, complicating intervention. - Councilor stated the council is not ignoring the union; they had not been contacted before the meeting. - Councilor noted that the prior CBA signed by the council gave the largest raise in history for correctional officers. - Council asked about the union’s economic proposal; Fresh reiterated the 6% offer and the county’s zero counter. Key Outcomes - All agenda items passed with votes of 6 in favor and 1 absent (or 6‑0 for some items). - No formal action was taken on the public comment issues, but council members committed to further communication with the commissioners and sheriff to address jail conditions and bargaining. - The council adjourned after public comments. The meeting was adjourned following the conclusion of public comments.

The Lake County Board of Elections convened on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM in the Commissioners Courtroom on the third floor of 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point, Indiana. The meeting was livestreamed via the county website and social media channels. No transcript or minutes were provided, so only the agenda items are available for this summary. Agenda Items (as listed) - Call to Order & Roll Call – Attendance by Clerk Brown, Ms. Candelaria Reardon, Mr. Mellon, Mr. Reed, and Chairman Smith. - Public Comment – Limited to agenda items per Indiana Code. - Approval of Minutes – No details available. - Old Business – No details available. - New Business – No details available. - Correspondence – No details available. - Counsel Reports / Purchase Orders – No details available. - Next Meeting Notice – Date and time not specified in agenda. - Adjournment – No details available. Key Outcomes No decisions, votes, or discussions are recorded due to the absence of meeting minutes or a transcript. The agenda indicates that the meeting was held, but substantive outcomes cannot be reported.

The Lake County Board of Elections convened on Saturday, May 2, 2026, with four members present (President Mike Brown, Kevin Smith, Charlene Boss, and one absent member Ms. Pendular who was delayed). The board addressed routine approvals, media credentials for the upcoming election, rejected voter registrations, and staffing adjustments for polling places. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes: Minutes from March 31, 2026, were approved by a motion from Clerk Brown, seconded by Mr. Reed, passed unanimously. - Media Credentials: Credentials for the upcoming election were approved for the Times, Post Tribune, AP, and DC Universal. Motion by Clerk Brown, seconded by Mr. Reed, passed unanimously. - Voter Registration Rejections: A 10-page list of voter registrations that were rejected due to missing information or PO box addresses was approved. Voters had been notified by phone and mail. Motion by Mr. Reed, seconded by Clerk Brown, passed unanimously. Discussion Items - Staffing Shortages at Polling Places: Jessica and Michelle reported that some polling locations are short of workers. The board approved proceeding with normal protocol: first offer vacancies to the other party, and if unfilled, double up or triple up boards as needed. It was clarified that this will not affect voter experience, polling hours, or locations. Pay adjustments will be made accordingly. Motion by Mr. Reed, seconded by Clerk Brown, passed unanimously. Correspondence - President Brown acknowledged an email from Jessica and Sherman Demeyer noting that the Republican Party had successfully filled travel board and other positions. The board thanked them. Next Meeting - The next meeting will be at 6 a.m. on Election Day. Public Comments - No public comments were made. Key Outcomes - All motions (approval of minutes, media credentials, voter registration rejections, staffing protocol) passed unanimously with no opposition. - The board will continue filling worker vacancies over the weekend and follow the established procedure.

The Lake County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on April 23, 2026, with a single agenda item: awarding a contract for the Lake County Fairground Drainage Improvement Project. The meeting lasted briefly, with no public comment or commissioner discussion beyond the action. The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 20, 2026. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public spoke. Discussion Items - Commissioner Attorney Fetch presented the item: At the prior regular meeting, the bid was opened. Engineer John Kirk from DLZ reviewed the tally sheets and recommended awarding the contract to the lowest most responsive bidder, Grimmer Construction, Inc., for the amount of $377,065.00. The question was clarified that the motion should cover both award and contract. A commissioner moved to approve the award and contract, and another seconded. Key Outcomes - The motion to award and contract with Grimmer Construction, Inc. for the Lake County Fairground Drainage Improvement Project in the amount of $377,065.00 carried 2-0-1 (with one commissioner absent). The meeting was then adjourned.

The Lake County Board of Elections and Registration met at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in the Commissioner's Courtroom, 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point, Indiana. The board heard two election complaints, placed the primary-election legal notice on the record, acted on campaign finance fines, adopted Resolution 2026-05, corrected a group of travel-board applications, took action on a travel-board staffing shortage, approved purchase orders, and heard public comment. The meeting adjourned at 12:27 p.m. Note: the raw transcript begins mid-proceeding and does not show the separate approval of the 3/17/2026 minutes listed on the agenda. Old Business: Jarzombek v. Kill - Petitioner Jarzombek presented a complaint against Kyle Kill, a St. John Sanitary Board appointee. Jarzombek said Kill kept his voter registration at his former Schererville address, moved to St. John, and then voted in person in the November 2024 general election and in the 2025 Lake Central referendum using the old address. - Jarzombek acknowledged Indiana's 'one last time' prior-precinct allowance but argued Kill should have updated his address after that first vote. - Respondent's counsel, Michael Jessitis, argued that every applicable statute requires a knowing violation. He said Kill mistakenly believed Indiana's fail-safe procedure allowed him to vote at his former precinct because the ballots were identical, and called it an honest mistake rather than fraud. - Kill testified that he did not update his registration, immediately updated it after hearing about the complaint, and voluntarily resigned from the sanitary board so that he would not be a distraction. - The board sustained the respondent's objection when Jarzombek tried to question Kill about his college degree, ruling it was irrelevant. - Mr. Reed moved to dismiss the complaint for lack of the required 'knowingly' element, joined by Mrs. Candelaria-Reardon. The motion carried and the complaint was dismissed. Old Business: Spangenberg v. Murphy - Dr. Spangenberg said she filed the complaint for clarification rather than to punish Ms. Murphy. The issue centered on reused yard signs displaying a committee-to-referen disclaimer that, in her view, made it appear an active committee existed when the related committee may have been closed for many years. - Sandra Murphy testified that she formed a committee in 2004, bought signs for less than $500, bought additional signs in 2006, never spent over the reporting threshold, and believed that the signs shown in the complaint were all paid for by the committee to elect her. - Murphy's counsel moved to dismiss, saying the complaint did not assert a real violation. Election counsel noted that the only plausible statutory issue was whether the required disclaimer was truthful, and that there is no legal duty to revalue old signs or reopen a committee based on their current value. - The board dismissed the complaint. Mr. Reed moved and Clerk Brown seconded, and the dismissal carried. New Business: Primary Notice, Campaign Finance Fines, and Administrative Disbandment - The legal notice of the primary election, already published, was placed on the record. Clerk Brown explained that the notice states when and where the election and early voting will occur, and lists polling places and candidates. - Staff presented a campaign finance fine schedule. The board first voted to impose the statutory fines on the listed committees, then made a unanimous roll call vote to reduce the fines in the interest of justice because the committees had supplied written explanations. - The board administratively disbanded a committee identified as Mr. Fontanez's committee. Staff reported the committee filed no reports after the 2022 pre-primary, had an account balance of $375, and owed fines of $1,125. The chairman noted administrative disbanding closes the committee but does not waive the remaining fines. Resolution 2026-05 - The board adopted Resolution 2026-05, titled a resolution to use a direct-record electronic voting system for disabled absent voters in the office or at a voter's confined location. - Staff said the resolution updates the earlier 2015 resolution, incorporating post-COVID legal changes that allow the use of an iPad travel board, on-site grant of an afflicted, hand-delivered curing of signatures, and acceptance at the confined location. If the two-member travel board disagrees, the matter returns to the election board. - The board adopted the resolution unanimously by roll call. Travel-Board Applications and Staffing Shortage - The board reviewed a stack of travel-board applications from one Gary skilled-nursing facility. Members agreed the forms appeared filled out in good faith by a facility staff member, but the bottom assistance/affidavit section had been left blank. - After contacting the Indiana Election Division, the board voted by one motion in favor of a 'cure' approach: reject the applications, but hand-deliver new applications to the facility with the travel board in place of mailing them, pre-fill the top section, and require the voter to complete the personal section. If the voter needs assistance, the assistant must sign the affidavit. - The board also discussed severe staffing shortages: of roughly 25 travel-board workers, only about 3 were Republican, making it difficult to send out two-person, one-Democrat-one-Republican travel teams. A letter to the Republican county chairman set a deadline of noon on March 20, 2026, and the board said enough names had not arrived. - Ms. Candelaria-Reardon raised a motion allowing staff to use the board's statutory authority to fill travel board and counter positions if Republicans were not provided. The motion was framed as Republicans-as-available and Democrats-as-needed, and it carried 4-0, with the chair noting Mr. Reed was absent at that time. - Board members stressed that alternative options were meant to prevent voter disenfranchisements, not to bypass the party. The next board meeting is Inspector's Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. Correspondence, Counsel Reports, and Purchase Orders - No correspondence was presented. Counsel reported nothing further. - Purchase orders over $1,000, listed in the board's packet under item 8.1, were moved by Clerk Brown, seconded, and approved by the board. Public Comment - Curtis Pearson, a Maryville resident and Lost Township Board member, complained about a ballot directive that read 'vote for three only.' He said seven voters who intended to vote only for him ended up voting for three candidates because of the wording. The board agreed to look at the sample. - Dr. Linda Peterson, an NAACP executive committee member and Democratic travel board worker, raised concerns that an application could get rejected because a caregiver checked 'illness' instead of 'disability,' and that requiring signed travel-board comparisons, including signed ballots against motor vehicle-vehicle signatures and an 'X' signature, could disadvantage some voters. - Bruce Curley, a Gary NAACP member, urged all parties to work together and to improve voter participation, saying people died and were killed for the right to vote. - Dr. Vanessa Allen-McDowell of the Urban League and Stephen Mays, past president of the Gary NAACP, praised the travel-board resident applications, calling it a strong positive answer that prevented voter suppression. Allen-McDowell announced a planned NAACP-Urban League phone bank. - Robert L. Bucks, a United States Army sergeant, said technicalities should not be used to disenfranchise veterans or older voters. - Benita White-Arnold, president of the newly revived East Chicago N.A.A.C.P., detailed problems at East Chicago's early vote location: the polling place name had changed from a K-12 school to the West Side Early Learning Education Center, transportation drops voters at a distant walking route, and wheelchair ramps at the entrance had no handrails, and were not stable. She asked the board to inspect future sites before selecting them. - Darien Collins, a Maryville resident and Gary NAACP member, urged the county to use the online voter portal more for travel board applications, noting residents can apply by phone using the state portal. - Levita Sparks Wade, a candidate for the First Congressional District, praised the board for its transparency in the travel-board matter and thanked them for a fair process. - Will Miller, chairman of the Gary Republican Party, said the Republican Party is responsible for filling vacancies and capable to do better. He asked for grace as the party works to step up. - Dr. Spangenberg, who made a buying earlier complaint, thanked the board and asked that they create a agreed backup list of travel-board workers, so that no election-day emergency would prevent travel boards from being sent out. She also said that if the complaint process is the only mechanism available for clarification, the process should remain available. Key Outcomes - Jarzombek v. Kill was dismissed for want of the 'knowingly' element required by statute. - Spangenberg v. Murphy was dismissed because the board found no election violation and the disclaimer appeared legally adequate. - The board adopted Resolution 2026-05 to update the direct-record electronic-absentee procedure for disabled voters. It was adopted unanimously. - Campaign finance fines imposed and then reduced by the board were imposed, then the board unanimously reduced them. - The Fontanez committee-related campaign committee was administratively disbanded; its fines remain unpaid. - The travel-board applications and assistant section from the Gary facility were rejected, but the board ordered immediate hand-delivering of corrected with travel-board visits rather than mailing them. - The board authorized filling travel-board and counter vacancies with Democrats as needed, with Republicans as available, where positions remained unfilled. The motion carried 4-0. - Purchase orders over $1,000 were approved. - The next board meeting will be Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in the Commissioner's Courtroom.

The Lake County Contractor's Licensing Board convened on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 3:00 PM UTC (local morning) to consider contractor license applications. The board approved multiple licenses, deferred one application, and added an item via agenda amendment. Consent Calendar - (No consent calendar was used; all items were considered individually.) Public Comments & Testimony - An individual asked to address the board regarding "multiple task holder" license issues. The board declined to hear the matter at this meeting, directing the individual to submit a written request at least ten days in advance of the next meeting to be placed on the May agenda. Discussion Items - Deferral Request (Item 3): Coran Contracting Company, Graydon M. Hoff petitioner for a general contractor's license, requested a deferral to May 15, 2026. The board unanimously approved the deferral. - Agenda Amendment: The board noted that Dikes Plumbing LLC (Scott Dykstra, petitioner for a plumbing contractor's license) was inadvertently omitted from the agenda. A motion to amend the agenda to add this item was made and seconded; the amendment was approved, and the license was subsequently granted after review. License Approvals The board approved the following licenses (all by unanimous voice vote unless noted): - Bounder Electric of Indiana Inc. (Barry Vanderhoek) – Electrical contractor. Company established 1973, 24 employees, residential/commercial. - B & T Home Improvement LLC (Mark Talbot) – General contractor. Home improvement, 2 employees. - Great Lakes Contracting LLC (Nadil Nabhand) – General contractor. In business 9 years, no employees specified. - Hosier Home Repair LLC (Lane Hosier) – General contractor. Crown Point, IN, 1 employee, beginning 2026. - KSM Homes LLC (Yay Ting Me) – General contractor. In business 21 years, new home construction. - MGM Construction LLC (Miguel Gonzalez) – General contractor. Portage, IN, residential remodel, no employees. - SWATS Design Build LLC (Timothy A. Dykster) – General contractor. Crown Point, IN, 2 employees, residential. - Assured Energy Solutions LLC (Bill Ward) – HVAC contractor. Frankfort, IL, 44 employees, service/installation. - Myers Company Inc. (Matthew Starsevich) – HVAC contractor. Griffith, IN, residential/commercial. - Transform Sears Home Services LLC (Roy Michael Foster) – HVAC contractor (d.b.a. Sears Heating and Cooling). Nationwide, approximately 1,000 employees. - TBR Construction LLC (Tyler Roski) – Carpentry contractor. 15 employees, residential framing, Illinois-based. - International Decorators Inc. (Brian Hossey) – Drywall contractor. Barrington, IL, 247 employees, commercial. - MVP Plumbing Corp (Matthew Weiss) – Excavation contractor. Montgomery, IL, 110 employees, 28 years. Approved contingent upon providing the front page of the bond. - Rock Solid Stabilization and Reclamation Inc. (Joe Armbruce) – Excavation contractor. Kenosha, WI, 130 employees. - Harris Glass Company Inc. (Tim Rich) – Glass and glazing contractor. Logansport, IN, 11 employees, 80 years in business. - Lynn Painting LLC (Kyle Livingston) – Painting contractor. New business (1 month), residential. - Cornejo Demolition LLC (Maria Yessenia Cornejo) – Demolition contractor. 4 years, husband and temporary workers. - JM Industrial Services Inc. (Jeffrey McKernan) – Demolition contractor. Fair Oaks, IN, 12 employees, 4 years. - Green Tree Environmental Services Inc. (Joseph White) – Lead abatement contractor. Portage, IN, 6 employees, since 1996. - Dikes Plumbing LLC (Scott Dykstra) – Plumbing contractor. Added via agenda amendment; St. John, IN, 2 employees, in business since 2012. Key Outcomes - Deferral granted for Coran Contracting Company to May 15, 2026. - All licenses were approved, with MVP Plumbing Corp's approval conditioned on submission of the bond's front page. - The board declined immediate public comment on a licensing policy issue, directing the individual to submit a written request for the May meeting. - Meeting adjourned after all business was completed. Note: The date of the meeting is April 17, 2026, as stated in the call to order and adjournment. The time is given as "Good morning" local time; the timestamp provided is 15:00 UTC.

The Lake County Board of Commissioners met on April 15, 2026, at 16:15 UTC with two members present (Commissioner Chippy absent) to consider a lengthy agenda including public hearings for federal and local funding, approval of numerous contracts, and opening of bids. Public Hearings - 2026 CDBG Monies: The board opened a public hearing for the Community Development Block Grant program. County Attorney Joe Irak explained that Lake County's allocation for 2026 is $75,000, typically used for infrastructure, demolition, or accessibility projects in low- and moderate-income areas (at least 47% LMI per HUD). No public comments were offered. The hearing was closed, and the board approved Resolution 10.2 authorizing submission of the grant proposal. - County Cumulative Bridge Fund Re-establishment: A public hearing was held to re-establish the rate of the County Cumulative Bridge Fund. The proposed rate is $0.0171 per $100 of assessed valuation (approximately 1.71 cents). No public comments were offered. After closing the hearing, the board approved Resolution 10.5 setting that rate. - County Major Bridge Fund Establishment: A public hearing was held to establish a new Major Bridge Fund at a rate of $0.0071 per $100 of assessed valuation (less than one penny). No public comments were offered. The board approved Resolution 10.6 establishing the fund. Consent Calendar - Contract Approvals The board approved a large number of contracts and agreements in omnibus motions, all passing 2-0 with one absent: - Highway Items (8.1-8.7, 8.9-8.16, 8.53-8.60): Included awards for salt barn repairs ($35,400), Sleepy Hollow sewer project ($2,950,000), tree services ($80,890), weather services, tree replacement in Heather Hills ($47,510), multiple utility road cut agreements and permits (NIPSCO, AT&T, Level 3), a parcel quitclaim to the Town of Dyer, an on-call engineering services master agreement with DLZ ($100,000), purchase of a Canon printer ($10,995), and several change orders (including $56,464 for Calumet STEP project, $370 for Buckhill Estates sprinkler repairs). - Sheriff Items (8.30-8.39): Approved awards for upfitting various police vehicles (drug interdiction, marked patrol, unmarked, CSI, and HCU) to Federal Signal Corporation and others, totaling over $400,000; also approved vinyl decals, painting, fire extinguisher service, mat service, and managed IT services. - Commissioner Items (8.40-8.52, 8.61-8.64): Approved change order 1 for fairgrounds roof replacement ($150,839), hot water heater purchase ($2,550), professional services for fairgrounds 4-H building roof design ($57,500), emergency masonry stabilization for Fine Arts Building (multiple contracts totaling $43,650), ADA improvements in Treasurer's office ($28,000), new HR door ($9,500), Veterans Service Office remodel ($48,500), cafeteria improvements ($52,251), coroner window replacement ($78,310), two elevator repair orders ($11,164 and $9,160.26), and purchase of a walk-through metal detector ($2,750 including installation). - Other Approvals: Assessor contract renewal with Nearmap ($334,000 for 2 years), Public Defender legal services ($40,000), LCEC subscriptions and service agreements (totaling $15,964), Juvenile Court contracts ($25,644), Elections moving contract, Fairgrounds equipment purchases ($61,320), Treasurer's tax sale agreement, Auditor payroll and accounts payable, Council ordinances (1519A, 1519B, 1459C-16), and four interlocal cooperation agreements (Gary graffiti removal, Hammond lighting, Lowell traffic/fire equipment, Tri-Creek school bus purchase). Public Comments & Testimony - Jacqueline Slannowak addressed the board, thanking Commissioner Matt Fetch for his diligence in reviewing her proposed legislative amendments for health legislation with the state. She invited the board's endorsement and noted plans to meet with Dr. Weaver on April 20. She expressed appreciation for Fetch's prior help. Key Outcomes - All votes were unanimous (2-0, Commissioner Chippy absent) except where noted. - Bid Opening (Item 3.1): Two bids received for the Lake County Fairgrounds Drainage Improvements Project: Grimmer Construction ($377,006) and Gary of Construction ($527,500). The board authorized award based on the engineer's review, with potential need for a special meeting given the fair deadline. - No Bids (Item 3.2): No bids were received for the disposal of real property (5266-72 Maryland Ct., Gary). The county attorney and staff will confer on next steps. - Next regularly scheduled meeting: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Agenda deadline: May 6, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

The Lake County Drainage Board convened at 9:00 AM (Advisory Committee met at 8:00 AM) in the Commissioners Courtroom. Board members present included Chairman Michael Repay, Jerry Tippy, and Kyle W. Allen Sr. The meeting addressed a new petition from the Lake County Highway Department, approved two financial payments, and scheduled a public hearing for May 20, 2026. Discussion Items - Petition 134-04-26 – Lake County Highway Department (private drain near 80/94 and Chupa property): A representative (likely the Drainage Administrator or County Surveyor) explained that a private drain on the Chupa property had failed, causing water to stand on a county road and creating a hazard. The Highway Department sought to repair the drain, but because it is a private drain with no easement, the proper procedure is to set a public hearing under Indiana statute (IC 36-9-27) to determine responsibility and cost. The board voted unanimously (2-0-1) to schedule a public hearing on May 20, 2026, at 9:00 AM. - MS4 Water Quality – Juvenile Detention Center Restoration and 2026 Leroy Community Center Drainage: No action items were required on these two projects. However, the board approved a payment of $1,000 to Tom Larson (wildlife control specialist) for beaver removal and dam relocation at Kaiser Ditch near Calumet Cemetery. The motion carried 2-0-1. - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Invoice – Septic Infrastructure Master Plan: The board approved payment of $53,948.88 for a prior PAS study (circa 2016-2017) related to the Lake County Indiana Sanitary Septic Infrastructure Master Plan. The Drainage Administrator noted the invoice was valid despite personnel changes at the Corps and that the study had led to beneficial ARPA-funded projects. The motion carried 2-0-1. Key Outcomes - Scheduled a public hearing for May 20, 2026, at 9:00 AM to address the Lake County Highway Department’s petition regarding the private drain (Petition 134-04-26). - Approved $1,000 payment to Tom Larson for beaver removal at Kaiser Ditch (motion carried 2-0-1). - Approved $53,948.88 payment to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the septic infrastructure master plan study (motion carried 2-0-1).

The Lake County Drainage Board convened on April 15, 2026, at 9:00 AM (Central Time) following the Advisory Committee meeting at 8:00 AM. The meeting was held in the Commissioners Courtroom at the Lake County Government Center, with virtual participation via Granicus. The board considered a range of agenda items including approval of minutes, reports, applications/petitions for drainage work, MS4 water quality projects, financial matters, and bids/contracts. Consent Calendar - Approval of the minutes from the March 11, 2026 meeting. Reports and Correspondence - Advisory Committee reports by township. - Little Calumet River Watershed: Notice of Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission meeting, NIRPC press release on 2026-2030 TIP, IDNR workshop announcements. - Kankakee River Watershed: KRBYRBDC email regarding State Line Bridge, monthly clearing & snagging report, Foss Ditch IDNR certificate approval for Crossroads YMCA, Cedar Creek obstruction/washout report. - Current projects: 2021 Main Beaver Dam Ditch Maintenance, 2025 Hart Ditch Stabilization, 2025 Schererville Ditch Maintenance (with Delta III invoice $395,250.00), 2025 Schoon Ditch Maintenance, Beaver Dam Lat 14 (Delta III invoice $40,800.00), 2023 Singleton Ditch Maintenance Phase II, 2025 Brown Levee Ditch Maintenance. Discussion Items - Applications/Petitions: - Turkey Creek Lateral 5 (David Kubik) – request to install temporary pathway for debris removal. - Spring Run Ditch (Brooker Family) – request to install culvert pipe for access. - Cady Marsh Ditch (NIPSCO) – request to install gas/electric service for new townhomes, no crossing of regulated drain. - Cedar Creek (Town of Cedar Lake) – request to replace failing twin 48-inch CMP culverts with RCP at same invert elevations. - West Creek Lateral 2 (Trkulja Properties, LLC) – request to reduce easement from 75 ft to 25 ft for detention pond, with perpetual maintenance agreement. - MS4 Water Quality: - Capital projects: Juvenile Detention Center Restoration, 2026 Leroy Community Center Drainage. - Financial: - Little Calumet River Watershed: Recommendation for payment of $1,000 for beaver relocation/dam removal at Kaiser Ditch. - Kankakee River Watershed: US Army Corps of Engineers invoice for PAS study ($53,948.88) for septic infrastructure master plan. - Bids and Contracts: Items for receiving and opening bids, awarding contracts, and ratifying actions by County Surveyor were listed. Key Outcomes No transcript or minutes were available to confirm votes, decisions, or actions taken on any agenda item. The agenda indicates that the Advisory Committee provided recommendations to the Drainage Board, but final board decisions are not recorded in the provided source material. The next scheduled meeting is May 20, 2026. Note: This summary is based solely on the agenda. Actual discussions, public comments, and outcomes are not included due to lack of a transcript or minutes.