Lake County Council Regular Meeting – November 18, 2025
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Lake County Council Regular Meeting – November 18, 2025
The Lake County Council convened its regular meeting on November 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the Commissioners Court Room/Council Chambers, Crown Point, Indiana. The meeting covered a wide range of items including resolutions, ordinances, budget revisions, transfers, grant applications, and citizen appointments. Notable discussions included the approval of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority budget, a failed motion to eliminate vacant positions, and the introduction of a report on county organizational needs. Public comments raised concerns about the health department's responsiveness and vaccine availability.
Consent Calendar / Minutes
- The council approved the minutes from the September 4, 2025 Budget Workshop, September 16, 2025 First Reading, October 14, 2025 Regular Meeting, and October 14, 2025 Second Reading, all by unanimous voice vote.
Awards/Resolutions
- November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month – Council adopted Resolution recognizing Hospice of the Calumet Area. Council members expressed personal appreciation for hospice services. Approved unanimously.
- Hobart High School JROTC Raiders – Resolution honoring the team for capturing individual and overall team titles at the 2025 Indiana Raiders State Championship. Students were recognized individually. Approved unanimously.
- Tom Clark and Lake County Veterans Museum – Resolution recognizing contributions in honor of Veterans Day (previously read at a ceremony). Approved unanimously.
Acknowledgments/Announcements
- Prosecutor Bernard Carter was congratulated on his induction into the East Chicago Athletic Hall of Fame on September 21, 2025. He shared personal remarks about the role of sports in character development.
- County Council employee Carol Cody was recognized as Volunteer of the Year by The Blind Social Center of Gary. Center representatives described the organization’s mission and thanked Cody for five years of service.
Auditor – Ordinance (Item 5A)
- Council unanimously approved an ordinance establishing the Auditor’s SRF Construction Fund to track SRF Construction activity. The ordinance passed first and second reading after suspension of rules.
Surveyor (Items 6A, 6B)
- Transfer: Approved a transfer of $18,500 from equipment repair and maintenance accounts to professional services for the Surveyor’s Corner Perpetuation Fund.
- Grant Application: Approved a grant application to the Indiana Office of Technology for the IGIO SEED project – Address Point and Centerline Cleanup.
Criminal Courts (Items 7A, 8A, 8B)
- Revised 144: Approved a reduction in a Probation Officer salary from $60,607 to $40,548, effective November 24, 2025.
- Revised 144 (Dept. 4002): Approved an increase in a Probation Officer salary from $50,669 to $56,628, effective November 2, 2025.
- Transfer: Approved a transfer of $9,587 from professional services, travel, and mileage to part-time and other professional services.
Juvenile Court (Items 9A, 9B, 9C)
- Approved transfers from other services to supplies and clothing accounts totaling $12,000 from the General Fund, $157.19 from the Family Recovery Court Grant Fund, and $4,000 from the Juvenile Mental Health Problem Solving Court Grant Fund.
Juvenile Court/CASA (Items 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D)
- Ordinance: Approved an ordinance amending the 2025 Salary Ordinance to establish pay increases for five positions and create one new position in the Juvenile CASA Department. Passed first and second reading.
- New Line Item: Created line 61130 (Technicians) in the General Fund.
- Appropriation (10C): Withdrawn per agenda.
- Transfer: Approved $35,000 transfer from part-time to professionals and technicians.
Sheriff (Items 11A, 11B, 11C)
- Appropriation: Approved $7,000 from the Sheriff’s Firearm Training Fund for other equipment.
- Transfer: Approved a $100,000 transfer from protective services and lateral pay to overtime, professionals, and technicians.
- Transfer (CHIRP Fund): Approved a $7,950 transfer from official salaries to overtime.
Jail (Item 12A)
- Approved a $60,000 transfer from protective services, supplies, and testing to holiday pay and professional services.
Prosecutor (Items 13A, 13B)
- Transfer: Approved a $20,000 transfer from office/clerical and group insurance to part-time from the Pre-Trial Diversion Fund.
- Ordinance: Repealed Ordinance 1435B, which created the Prosecutor’s Violence Against Women Stop Grant Fund. Passed first and second reading.
Health Department (Items 14A, 14B, 14C)
- Transfer: Approved transfer of $28,000 from paraprofessionals to official/administrators in the County Health Fund. Councilman Niemeyer asked for confirmation that the payment was for former administrator Nick's accrued time and salary adjustment; Health Department confirmed it excluded comp time.
- Grant Applications: Approved four new grant applications: (1) Engage 360: Building Bridges from Opioid Settlement Fund, (2) Engage 360: Youth Empowerment (same fund), (3) Indiana Department of Health Injury Prevention – Water Safety & Drowning Prevention, (4) Injury Prevention – Autism Elopement Kits.
- Revised 144: Reduced an Information Technology Technician salary from $84,179 to $65,000, effective November 3, 2025.
County Council (Items 15A through 15G, plus additions)
- New Line Item: Created line 63830 (Matching Funds) in the CEDIT Non-Reverting Fund.
- Appropriation: Approved $50,000 from the CEDIT Non-Reverting Fund for matching funds. Don Popovic thanked the council, noting the funds would provide a good foundation.
- Resolution (Item C): Noted as “No Action” on agenda; withdrawn.
- South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority Budget: After discussion with SSCVA representatives, council approved the recommended tax rate, tax levy, and proposed budget for 2026. Discussion included the Gary Air Show (fully sponsored with $550,000 budget), legal costs for ongoing litigation (~$300,000), and a note that Lake County’s innkeepers tax is the lowest among top five Indiana counties. Approved after suspension of rules and second reading.
- Citizen Appointments: David Pastrick was reappointed to the County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (forensic pathologist/coroner position). David Innes was reappointed to the Alcohol Beverage Board.
- Revised 144 (Auditor): Added to agenda late. Council approved reducing the Comptroller of Finance salary from $168,000 to $1, effective immediately. Councilwoman Hamm explained the original salary was based on the previous employee’s qualifications, and the position now requires a candidate with comparable skills. Passed 6-1.
- Discussion/Action Item – Elimination of Vacant Positions: Councilman Niemeyer moved to eliminate all vacant positions not covered by collective bargaining agreements dating from January 1, 2025, and back. Discussion included concerns from Councilman Bilski about level 3 assessor vacancies that may remain unfilled for training periods. Hobart Township Assessor Lena explained typical timelines for level certification. The motion failed on a 3-3 vote (Brown, Bilski, Hamm voted no; Lindemulder, Niemeyer, Cid voted yes).
- Report Introduction: Councilman Niemeyer entered into the record a press release and the “Lake County Organizational Needs Report” compiled by former Comptroller Dan Saserski, CPA. The report details deficiencies in internal controls, technical expertise, recruitment/retention, and political patronage. Niemeyer stated the report was requested to address issues leading to the state’s “unauditable” designation and loss of bond rating. He expressed that the comptroller’s skills were not valued, leading to his termination.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Barbara Cotellas (Hobart) requested that a council member serve as liaison to the Health Board meetings. She criticized the Health Officer for unresponsiveness regarding querstions about data center emissions and noted that health board meetings often start late. She also stated that vaccine costs have increased from $10 to $25, but Health Department later countered that they did not receive raises and insurance may cover costs. Council thanked her for input.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Multiple transfers, revised 144s, ordinances, grant applications, and budget approvals as listed above. All votes passed 6-1 (one member absent) unless noted.
- Failed: Motion to eliminate vacant positions from January 1, 2025, and back (3-3).
- Appointed: David Pastrick to Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team; David Innes to Alcohol Beverage Board.
- Public Record: Lake County Organizational Needs Report and associated press release entered into the record.
- Next Steps: SSCVA budget approved; convention center expected summer/fall 2028; litigation expected to conclude by summer 2026.
- Announcements: County serving as food drop-off site through Friday; financial director to speak on Senate Enrolled Act 1 at a forum on November 20.
Meeting Transcript
Providing compassionate care that honors the dignity, comfort, and wishes of patients and their families at the end of life. And whereas hospice of the Calumet area operates under the guiding philosophy of cherishing life, prioritizing compassionate care. Holistic support and community connection to ensure every patient's final journey is met with dignity and respect. Whereas the Lake County Council designates November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month in an effort to increase public awareness of care for hospice patients and the benefits of interpreting palliative care and to recognize the care and dedication of the millions of family caregivers and tens of thousands of palliative care and hospice staff and volunteers. And recognizes hospice of the Calumet area for its unwavering commitment to care education, volunteerism, veteran support, and community partners partnership. Now, therefore, let it be revolved that the Lake County Council designates November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month in Lake County and recognizes hospice of the Calimut uh CaliMet area in its mission to provide palliative care and hospice services to the residents of Lake County resolved this fourteenth day of November twenty twenty-five. Signed by our president, Christine Sid, Dave Hamm, Brandy Neemeyer, Pete Linda Muller, Charlie Brown, Ron Brewer, and Ted Filski. And uh there's a few others. Um that was the motion when there was ever a second. Seconded. All in favor signify by I. I'm not sure. As it said in the resolution has been providing hazardous care in this community for nearly forty-five years now. And one of our resolutions that our board adopted when we first started was to take care of individuals regardless of the ability to have and we've done that all and it's very important to us and because of support like you know, the local governments and the community we've been able to do that is to make that mission a reality. So we are really honored to help people on the science and multiplying the recognition for our efforts. Personally, in the last two years, I've been fortunately or unfortunately. And one was my mother and one is my mother-in-law, and that's all in the last two years. The quality of work that you posted was phenomenal. I I can't say one. So I know that maybe some of my colleagues Yeah, I couldn't agree more. I mean, my uh with my parents the same uh hospice was there for us, and it's a very difficult time to um observe your parents losing their life, and uh you you make it bearable. And uh thank you. You're um you can there's not enough words to describe really the work that you do, so I'm very thankful for you. Very well, uh very appreciative. I think all of us have been touched at one time or another by the services that you provide. I had a great opportunity last year to really learn about it out on a campaign trail a little more in depth, and you're truly doing the Lord's work. And thank you for your contributions to uh the quality of life of those who have lived their lives and are on their way uh to the next step. And um thank you to the for what you do for the families in making sure that that journey is comfortable and uh bearable, as Christine said. So uh thanks for your service. And with dignity, and that's the most important thing. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Madam Chair. Now we will go back to the minutes. If we could make uh someone could make a motion to appear, motion to approve the minutes as presented. Second. Motion's been make it made and seconded to approve the September 4th, September 16th, October 14, and October 14 minutes. Discussion, all in favor signify by aye. Aye, opposed. Motion passes. All right, Councilman Bilski. Uh Madam Chairman, I'd like to ask the uh Hobart Junior R O T C major if you could please bring your your group up and we would line up in front of the dais. And uh we've got some awards and resolutions, guys. We're gonna read into the minutes and then um I have some awards with their names on them if you want to call then render make them render a salute and get their reward. I'm not sure how you want to do it, but any practical work. Yeah, I guess we'll figure it out. That work and I please read it right from here. Should we stand?
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