Lake County Council Regular Meeting – May 12, 2026

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.