Lake County Council Regular Meeting – April 14, 2026
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Lake County Council Regular Meeting – April 14, 2026
The Lake County Council met on April 14, 2026, at 10:00 AM in the Commissioners Court Room, Crown Point, Indiana. The meeting included approval of minutes, two resolutions, numerous appropriations and transfers, a lengthy discussion regarding a Property Tax Replacement Credit (PTRC) error and the absentee elected auditor, and several interlocal agreements. All votes were unanimous (7-0) unless noted.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of the March 10, 2026 regular meeting.
- Approved Resolution No. 26-24 proclaiming April as Autism Awareness Month and April 2, 2026 as World Autism Awareness Day.
- Approved Resolution No. 26-25 proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month.
Discussion Items
- PTRC Fund Error and Auditor's Office Oversight: Mike Weezer, a contractor, explained that over the past three years, a critical step in the PTRC process—transferring cash from the PTRC fund to the treasurer—was missed. This caused the credit to be overstated by approximately $40 million in one year, leading to taxpayers receiving larger credits than entitled. The error was discovered during an audit, and this year's credit will be reduced. Council members expressed frustration that the elected auditor, Peggy Catona, has been absent for nearly four years with no deputy clearly in charge. The council passed a motion (7-0) to send correspondence to the County Commissioners requesting a joint meeting to discuss the situation and seek action before the June meeting.
- Clerk's Office Holidays: The council discussed a state mandate requiring the clerk's office to close on election days. After debate, the council decided to allow the clerk to close as required but not to change holiday schedules for other county employees. A motion to that effect passed 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- All appropriations, transfers, and revisions for the following departments were approved 7-0: Recorder, County Assessor (including Calumet, Center, Hobart, Ross, St. John Township Assessors), Circuit Courts, Lake Superior Court IV, Lake Superior Court County Divisions (Room 1, Room 3), Juvenile Court, Juvenile Court/CASA, LADOS Division 2 (SAFE grant renewal), Planning Commission (Ordinance No. 2599, A-1 to RR rezoning with favorable 9-0 recommendation), County Highway ($1,800,000), Cumulative Bridge ($2,000,000 plus ordinance creating matching grant fund), Local Roads & Streets ($402,000), Sheriff (grants and CHIRP program), Animal Control (equipment repair line item and $50,000 appropriation), Parks and Recreation (new grant application, resolution for $138,937.60 transfer, and $515,000 appropriation), Data Processing Agency ($400,000 appropriation and reduction), Health Department (multiple appropriations, reductions, ordinance for donations fund, grant applications, and Autism Trauma grant totaling over $2 million), and Lake County Commissioners (Howe Park/Gleason Club House interlocal agreement).
- Interlocal agreements approved: City of Gary (Graffiti removal task force), City of Hammond (Cameron Street Light Project), Town of Lowell (Route 2 traffic lights and fire equipment), and Tri-Creek School Corporation.
- Council passed Resolution amending Resolution No. 21-33 and Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 1459C (dormant fund procedures) on first and second reading.
- The council approved a motion to send correspondence to commissioners for a joint executive session regarding the auditor's office situation.
- No public comments were made.
- Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Now in order, um please rise for a moment of reflection, followed by the pledge of allegiance, thank you. One nation under God and justice for all okay roll call, madam secretary first district second district round brewery he's carriedly close here, district Charlie Brown, yeah, four district features motor present district for C here six districts and fifty seven district ninety marching present thank you uh minutes I'll entertain a motion motion approve the minutes of March 10th this year, second motion's been made and seconded. All in favor signify by aye opposed motion passes awards and resolution who has it I think this might be that there's no it is two oh yeah chairman. I'll make a motion which one I'll make a motion to approve resolution number twenty-six twenty-four. This is a resolution proclaiming April as autism awareness month and April second, two thousand twenty-six is World Autism Awareness Day. Second motion's been made and seconded discussion. All in favor signify by aye. Aye opposed, motion passes. Madam Chairman, we have a second resolution, resolution number twenty-six-25. This is a resolution proclaiming April as fair housing vote. Second. Motion's been made and seconded. Discussion. All in favor signify by aye. Aye opposed, motion passes. Thank you. Um the councilman have any um acknowledgments or announcements. Okay, we are going to move uh uh judge McDermott uh item number twelve councilman Ham. Thank you for the courtesy, madam to the code. Thank you for the first amount of the number twelve um Madam Chair. I move for approval revised one forty-four in the general fund. And one two two one six dash zero zero one domestic relations director, currently at seventy-seven thousand two hundred and eleven dollars. Proposed at seventy-nine thousand four hundred and sixty-one dollars for a difference of twenty-two hundred and fifty dollars and one-four four zero seven dash zero zero two court bail of 48,790 dollars, proposed fifty-one thousand forty dollars for a difference of two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars for uh total of two hundred and seven thousand four hundred and forty-one dollars. Proposed at two hundred and seventeen thousand nine hundred and forty-one dollars for difference of ten thousand five hundred dollars. Second. Motion's been made and seconded, discussion. Roll call, please. Pam. Yes, brewer. Yes, brown, yes, legendar. Yes. Bill's key? Yes. Me minor. Yes. Motion passes. Madam Chair. I move for approval or revised 144 domestic relations counseling bureau fund. Four two three four. Supplemental pay. General fund four two three four currently at two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars proposed at zero. Three nine zero zero two-zero one one supplemental pay. Let's see. $4234 currently $2,250. Proposed at 0. And finally, $39-002-012 supplemental pay, $6,000. Proposed at 0 for a difference of a negative $10,500. Second. Motion's been made and seconded. Discussion.
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