Lake County Council Regular Meeting – June 9, 2026

The Lake County Council met on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 10:00 AM in the Commissioner’s Court Room/Council Chambers, Crown Point, Indiana. The council approved proclamations, numerous fiscal transfers and appropriations, four zoning ordinances, dormant-fund resolutions, and appointments. Most roll-call votes passed 6-1 with one council member absent.

Resolutions and Proclamations

• Adopted Resolution 26-33 proclaiming June as National Cancer Survivors Month (6-1, one absent).
• Adopted Resolution 26-32 recognizing June as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.
• Adopted Resolution 26-34 proclaiming June as PTSD Month and recognizing Jim Chancellor of the American Veterans Collection. Chancellor, a Vietnam War door gunner, spoke about educating students and veterans on PTSD.

Fiscal and Administrative Approvals

• Auditor: transferred $160,213 from Professionals to Matching Funds in the County General Fund.
• Hobart Township Assessor: appropriated $2,000 for utilities for the new Leo office.
• Juvenile Court: created a Contractual Services line item and appropriated $1,000 in the LC Community Corrections Grant Fund; appropriated $22,500 for the Juvenile Mental Health Problem Solving Court Grant Fund; approved a revised 144 decreasing probation officer salaries by a net $35,680.
• Juvenile Detention Center: approved a revised 144 decreasing intake probation officer salaries by $36,543.
• Juvenile Court/CASA: appropriated $32,513 from the LC CASA Capacity Building Grant Fund.
• Sheriff: approved line-item creations and transfers in the Firearm Training Fund ($30,000), Public Safety CAGIT Non-Reverting Fund ($385,000), Sheriff’s Sale Program & Service Fund ($81,000), Non-Reverting Federal Forfeiture Fund ($55,000), DCE/SP Fund ($10,000), and Non-Reverting Property Seizure Fund ($198,022). The DCE/SP transfer was initially stated with incorrect line items, reconsidered, and corrected. Also approved a new grant application for Geminus Regional Care’s SAFE Narcan and Essentials Bag.
• Parks & Recreation: approved a new grant application to the Legacy Foundation for an inclusive music-themed playground at Lake Etta.
• Health Department: approved a $5,500 PHEP grant transfer; revised 144 reclassifying a TB Surveillance Liaison to a Public Health Nurse Educator (no net change); revised 144 reclassifying a Health Educator to Health Education Director (net increase $11,844). The ordinance establishing a per diem for Health Department Board members was withdrawn.

Planning and Zoning

• Ordinance 2602 (Johnson Sunnybrook Farm / Dinwiddie Holdings): rezoned from A-1 to M-1, no Plan Commission recommendation (5-3). Approved 6-1. Discussion noted the applicant must still obtain a special exception, likely for a data center.
• Ordinance 2603 (Plank): rezoned A-1 to RR, favorable recommendation (7-0). Approved 6-1.
• Ordinance 2604 (Brill): rezoned A-1 to R-1, favorable recommendation (7-0). Approved 6-1.
• Ordinance 2605 (Van Kalker / Foundry Works Energy Storage): rezoned A-1 to CD, no recommendation (7-0). Approved 6-1. This battery energy storage project will also require a special exception; a plan commissioner called for updating the special exception ordinance.

Note: The council was advised this was not a public hearing; the public hearing had been held by the Plan Commission.

Transportation

• Approved the ordinance petition for a four-way stop sign at Parrish Avenue and 117th Avenue, suspending rules for immediate second reading. A councilman asked that permanent intersection improvements be studied after U.S. 231 construction is complete.

Commissioner and Council Resolutions

• Approved the transfer of $783,845.85 from CEDIT Fund 4012 to the 2026 Crossroads Grant Fund (county match for Ridge Road).
• Approved transfers of $9,193.34 and $6,987.57 from the Health Department COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Disbursements Fund to ELC and CRF/ELC grant funds.
• Approved Resolution Amending Resolution 21-33 on dormant funds.
• Approved the resolution specifying 2027 township tax revenue distributions under I.C. 6-3.6-6-8.
• Approved Ordinance Amending Ordinance 1459C on dormant funds, adopted on second reading after suspension of rules.

Announcements

• The county blood drive was held in the Government Center; 25 veterans graduated from Veterans Court; the property assessment appeal deadline is June 15; offices close June 19 for Juneteenth.

Appointments

• Lake County Study Commission on Veterans Affairs: approved seven appointments (Bilski, Cid, Repay, Kwasny, Dillon, Blanchard, and Gootee), following a recommendation to approve all except Bryan Snyder.
• Convention & Tourism Bureau: Salvador Espino appointed to the Democratic seat; no Republican nominee was offered, with a nomination expected next meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Cody Reynolds (Winfield Township Trustee): thanked the council for approving the township CAGIT allotment, which supports public safety and street lighting.
• Tyler Bridges (Lowell): opposed the data center rezoning, criticized the lack of a council public hearing, and criticized Councilman Niemeyer’s supportive vote.
• Steve Coyle (Michigan City): opposed, calling the project a power plant funded by retirement savings through BlackRock; warned of an AI bubble and taxpayer liabilities.
• Kathy LaRue (St. John Township Trustee): thanked the council for veterans recognition and public safety funding.
• Tom Lincoln: read a proposed constitutional amendment against initiatory force and criticized government actions.
• Randy Schmidt (Cedar Lake): opposed taxpayer support for a future Bears stadium and asked for due diligence on benefits to South Lake County.
• Barbara Cotellus (Hobart): opposed the data center, citing health risks, and requested a health/environmental impact study.
• Mark Corey: opposed the data center, citing family health issues and concerns about well water.
• Patricia Corey (Maryville): opposed, saying residents do not want the data center and warning of election consequences.
• Dottie Warwick: opposed, saying she would not live near a data center and criticizing money-driven development.
• Katie Hurst: cited the Lake County Comprehensive Plan’s goals to preserve agriculture and rural character and limit development outside target areas.

Councilman Niemeyer responded that a public hearing could not be added without violating statute, that the special exception ordinance includes a developer-funded decommissioning surety, and that additional public opportunities would occur before the Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. Councilman Brewer said the Bears stadium could improve emergency response resources along the Skyway corridor.

Key Outcomes

• All four zoning ordinances were approved, allowing the data center and battery storage proposals to proceed to special exception review before the Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.
• The 2027 township tax revenue distribution resolution was approved, supporting township public safety operations.
• The 2026 Crossroads Grant match and multiple COVID-19 related transfers were approved.
• The Health Department per diem ordinance was withdrawn.
• The Republican Convention & Tourism Bureau appointment was deferred.

Note: The agenda listed approval of the May 12, 2026 minutes; no action on the minutes appears in the transcript.