Lake County Board of Commissioners Meeting - January 21, 2026
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Lake County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - January 21, 2026
The Lake County Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in the Commissioners' Courtroom at 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point, Indiana. The board unanimously approved a lengthy agenda that included reorganization, bid openings, numerous contracts, appointments, and resolutions. All votes were 3-0 unless otherwise noted.
Organization of the Board
- Commissioner Repay was retained as President and Commissioner Allen as Vice President for 2026.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the agenda as amended.
- Approved minutes from December 17, 2025 and November 19, 2025.
- Approved bid specifications for 2026 highway and building projects (items 5.1–5.9) and addenda for facade and roof deck projects (items 6.1–6.4).
- Approved permission to solicit proposals for tree replacement in Heather Hills Phase 1 & 2 (item 7.1).
- Approved numerous contracts, including: Powers & Sons for facade improvements ($387,900) and roof deck replacement ($198,800); Sneed Construction for Gary Courthouse water damage repairs ($38,980); DLZ for fairgrounds drainage design ($109,200); American Structurepoint contract increase ($45,000, total $1,247,250.32); Axon Taser subscription renewal ($243,598.12); 2026 fuel award to Petroleum Traders at $2.2606/gallon (vs. Al Warren at $2.3333); and IU School of Medicine chronic disease prevention contract ($75,000). Also approved various utility agreements, road transfer agreements, and other routine items.
- Approved 2026 appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions, including two Health Board appointments and Laura Judge to the Lowell Public Library (item 10.1).
- Approved rejection of the sole bidder for the East Stair Replacement Project and re-bid (item 10.2).
- Approved the updated insurance enrollment change form with LocalPlus (Franciscan) option (item 10.3).
- Approved Calumet Township poor relief decisions (item 10.5).
- Approved legal notice for a public hearing on February 18, 2026 regarding assignment of tax sale certificates (item 10.6).
- Approved ordinances amending the 2026 salary ordinance and the 2026 mileage rate ordinance (items 11.1–11.4).
- Accepted State Board of Accounts items (12.1–12.5), bonds and insurance (13.1–13.2), and staff reports (15.1–15.2).
- Placed items 16.1–16.8 on the public record.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public addressed the board.
Discussion Items
- Porter County MOU (8.1): The board approved a renewed $4,000/year MOU with Porter County for District 1 assets, after noting the amount increased by $1,000.
- Weights & Measures credit card processing (8.45): The board approved the contract after being informed that fees would be paid by consumers or the data department, not the county.
- Fine Arts Building emergency engineering (8.52): Approved a $9,500 contract with McMahon Associates for stabilization/repair engineering. Staff said the work would be completed within 30 days; the building remains fenced off until stabilized.
- Community Corrections credit card (10.4): A representative requested a county credit card for training and travel expenses. The board deferred the item to the February meeting, citing the need for a clear policy to avoid other departments seeking similar cards.
- Ridge Road rehabilitation award (3.5): The board approved the county engineer's recommendation to award the Community Crossing Matching Grant project to Milestone Contractors at $1,567,691.70 (the other bid was $1,635,475.80 from Wreath Riley). The low bid reduces the state matching amount; the project limits cannot be expanded.
Bid Openings
- Bids were opened for five projects. For 3.1 (Oakwood Hills sanitary sewer), 3.2 (Building B toilet upgrades), 3.3 (Jail laundry electric upgrades), and 3.4 (ADA site improvements), the board took the bids under advisement for award at the February meeting. The 3.5 Ridge Road bid was awarded as noted above.
Key Outcomes
- All motions passed unanimously (3-0).
- Community Corrections credit card request deferred to February 18, 2026 meeting.
- Next regular meeting: February 18, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.; agenda deadline February 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
No, there is no there is no um the scene looking for there is no density of population that you can identify the build around there's no the sounds good yeah and then I didn't ask you about Bob Hall has he said anything about parts of Middle Having the Gallery that hasn't been he's out working he's a busy you never met him I love that he's not a socializer he's not a social guy at all he's a busy man that's just kind of funny because you've been around a long time that's right okay are we ready? Ready when you are uh good morning. Please stand for the uh I'll call the meeting to order, please stand for the pledge of allegiance and remain standing for a moment of silence. I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to republic for which stand under guide and this law with Liberty and Justice Riley. Thank you. Um the agenda is uh organization of the board. Happy new year, everybody, and welcome to 2026. Is there a motion from my one of my colleagues to do something? Yeah, I'll make a motion to keep the board the same in 2026 as it was in 2025 with Commissioner Repay as present and Commissioner Allen's vice president. Thank you. Second, well, thank you very much. Let the record show the motion carries three. Oh section two additions, deletions, and corrections. Uh there's a number of additions, commissioners. I don't know if you wish for me to read them or just to take them in omnibus form and approve the agenda as amended. I want to note that that they're uh mostly highway. So I would move to the notebook. I would move to accept the agenda as presented and amended. Second. Let the record show the motion carries through. Section three public opening of vendor responses to request for bids and post 3.1 sanitary sewer collection and conveyance project for Oakwood uh Hill Subdivision 3.2 building V, second floor, toilet upgrades, 3.3 electric uh service upgrades to the jail laundry facility, 3.488 site improvements for the Lake County Government Complex, and 3.5 community crossing matching grant 2026-1 rehabilitation for Ridge Road, uh Colfax Street to Whitcomb Street. Approve agenda item three second let the let the record show the motion carries three zero. You guys can start with me. Section four approval of minutes of prior meetings 4.1 uh for December the 17th, 2025, and 4.2 November the 19th of 2025. Approval minutes move to approve 4.1 and 4.2. Second. Uh section 5 uh approved specification for bids item 5.1 through 5.5 on behalf of uh the highway department. I believe those can be taken in omnibus form, commissioners. I would agree. Is there a motion on 5.1 through 5.5.1 through 5.5 chairman will move to approval. Second. 5.6 commissioners approved plans and specifications we advertise for the HVAC upgrades to Lake County Highway, uh Garage and Crown Point bids to be returned on February the 18th, 2026 by no later than 9:30 a.m. in the auditor's office. 5.7 commissioners uh approved specification uh approved plan specifications of the front end uh for the lake county fairgrounds industrial building roofing project uh to be advertised and returned by Wednesday, February the 18th, no later than 9:30 a.m. In the office of the Lake County Auditor 5.8 Commissioners approved plans and specifications to be advertised uh for the East Stair replacement project to the Lake County government set of bids are due by 9 30 a.m. on February the 18th in the Lake County Auditor's Office and lastly 5.9 approved plans and specifications to be advertised for the masonry maintenance project to the Gary Courthouse. Bids are due by 9 30 a.m. on February 18th in the office of the Lake County Auditor. Chairman, unless there's no objection, then I would move for approval for agenda item 5.6 through 5.0. Second. That's the record show the motion carries 30. Section 6 modification of specifications prior to public opening of bids, quotes, and other proposals. 6.1 commissioners addendum 1 for the facade improvement project at the Lake County Government Center. 6.2 Addendum Number 2 for the facade improvement project for the Lake County Government Center. 6.3 addendum 1 for the roof deck replacement project phase 1 at the Lake County Government Center and 6.4 Addendum Number 2 for the Rook Deck Roof Deck Replacement Project Phase 1 at the Lake County Government Center. Chairman move for approval for agenda items 6.1 through 6.4. Second. Record show the motion carries 30. Section 7, public selection of at least three vendors from whom to see quotes. 7.1 highway department request permission to seek proposals for Lake County Tree Replacement for Heather Hills phase 1 and 2.
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