Lake County Council Regular Meeting – September 9, 2025

The Lake County Council met on September 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM in the Commissioners Court Room in Crown Point. The meeting began with a moment of silence for the anniversary of 9/11 and the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call showed five members present (Hammond, Brown, Bilski, Meyer, Cid) with two absent (Brewer, Lindemulder initially). The meeting was delayed due to technical issues and a member joining remotely. The council approved several resolutions, transfers, appropriations, and a hiring freeze ordinance.

Awards & Resolutions

• Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (Resolution A): Unanimously adopted. Donna Krainer, co-founder of the Northwest Indiana Cancer Kids Foundation (NICK), spoke about the ongoing challenges. She noted that over 15,000 children are diagnosed annually, and while survival rates have increased from 10% to 85% over 40 years, rare cancers still have lower survival. She described the failure of federal funding bills (Creating Hope Reauthorization Act, etc.) in December 2024 due to a Senate objection, which halted research projects and trials. She urged council members to contact federal legislators to restore funding. The council expressed support.
• Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (Resolution B): Unanimously adopted.
• Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (Resolution C): Unanimously adopted.

Public Hearing – Crown Point Community Library

• The council moved up item 19A for a public hearing on an additional appropriation from the Crown Point Community Library’s Rainy Day Fund (Fund 201), Library Improvement Reserve Fund (Fund 400), and Excess Welfare Distribution Fund (Fund 226) pursuant to IC 6-1.1-18-5. One person spoke in favor. The hearing was closed and the ordinance was approved on first and second readings (5-2 absent).

Discussion Items

• Coroner’s Office (Item 5): Creation of a new line item and appropriation for the Motherhood & Infant Health Initiative Program grant ($2,383.16) were deferred to the next meeting because a new line item requires six votes, and only five members were present.
• Property Tax Board of Appeals (Item 6): Ordinance establishing a per diem for PTABOA members was approved on first and second readings (5-2 absent).
• Lake Superior Court Division III (Item 7): Creation of new line items and appropriation ($1,000) for travel expenses under the VTC All Rise Mentor Court Network Fund were deferred to the next meeting due to lack of six votes.
• Juvenile Court (Item 8): Revision of a probation officer salary from $81,719 to $42,311 (savings of $39,408) was approved (4 yes, 2 absent, with one member unable to vote electronically but motion passed).
• Juvenile Detention Center (Items 9A & 9B): Two transfers were approved: $85,000 from professionals and telephone to overtime and other supplies; and $10,000 from motor vehicles and other equipment to clothing. Both passed 5-2 absent.
• Highway Fund (Item 10): Appropriation of $1,250,000 for construction and reconstruction was approved (5-2 absent).
• Sheriff’s Office (Item 11):
  • Transfer of $288,000 from various accounts to overtime, officials, technicians, skilled craft workers, part-time, and clothing. Approved 5-2 absent.
  • Ordinance establishing the Sheriff’s Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program (CHIRP) Grant Fund, a non-reverting fund. Approved on first and second readings (5-2 absent).
  • Two new grant applications (FY25 State Homeland Security Program – Enduring Needs and National Priority) approved (5-2 absent).
• Jail (Item 12):
  • Transfer of $580,000 from overtime regular, protective services, clothing, inmate clothing allowance, employment testing, and other professional services to overtime, part-time, and food & lodging. Approved 5-2 absent.
  • Transfer of $12,500 from maintenance and service to office/clerical and FICA deductions. Approved 5-2 absent.
  • Items 12C and 12D (creation of new line item and transfer from Public Safety CAGIT Non-Revert Fund) were deferred to next meeting after waiting for a missing member.
• Animal Control (Items 13A & 13B): Two transfers ($10,000 from health care supplies to other services, and $8,000 from health care supplies to other services from the shelter non-revert fund) approved 5-2 absent.
• Sheriff JAG 2022 Grant (Item 14): Transfer of $13,120 from travel-training to other supplies approved 5-2 absent.
• Prosecutor (Item 15): Items 15A and 15B (creation of new line items and appropriation for Gun Safety Education and Gun Safety Locks Fund) deferred to next meeting. Item 15C (appropriation of $7,300 from Careful Carter Gun Safety Literacy Grant Fund for printing and other services) approved 5-2 absent.
• Criminal Div. Public Defender (Item 16): Appropriation of $50,000 for court reporter per diem from Supplemental Public Defender Fund approved 5-2 absent.
• Emergency Management (Item 17): Two grant renewals (2025 State Homeland Security Grant Program and Emergency Management Performance Grant) approved 5-2 absent.
• Lake County Commissioners (Item 18): Resolution to transfer $1,233,234.25 from CEDIT Fund to Roads & Bridges Matching Grant Fund approved 5-2 absent.
• Hiring Freeze Ordinance: Councilman Bilski moved to add an ordinance restricting the hiring of new county employees until September 30, 2026. The ordinance includes exemptions for positions covered by collective bargaining agreements and allows departments to appeal to the council for refilling critical positions. It was added to the agenda and approved on first and second readings (5-2 absent) after suspending the rules.
• Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Update: Mr. Popovic, the council’s appointee, reported that the board has held two meetings, elected officers (Chair Jay Wilkinson, Vice Chair Mayor Tom McDermott, Treasurer Phil Tallon), and is seeking nominal funding from local governments until state funding is secured through Representative Harris. He noted a $5,000 donation from the City of Hammond for operations.

Key Outcomes

• All three awards resolutions were unanimously adopted.
• The Crown Point Community Library additional appropriation ordinance was approved.
• Several transfers and appropriations were approved as listed above.
• A hiring freeze ordinance was passed, restricting new hires until September 30, 2026, with exceptions for CBA-covered positions and council-approved appeals.
• Items requiring six votes (new line items) were deferred to the next regular meeting (October 14, 2025, or earlier study session).
• Eric Legazowski was appointed to the County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team as a Child Protective Services employee.
• The council will reconvene for a budget workshop on September 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM.