City Council - Regular Meeting

To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Take a moment of silence, please. Thank you. Go with roll call. Alexander, Spatelli, yes. Venez here. Kowinski here. Selenus here. Tyler here. Emerson here. Reikos here. Warpole

here. Let the record show eight present, one absent. Mayor,

hi council. Thanks. December 22nd, 2025. Mayor's address. I want to thank the eight council people in present in attendance as we still have important important information and important things to do before the end of the year. So I appreciate the council having a second meeting this month. I know it's not very common that we have two in December. So I appreciate you all being here. Um I know today we have the data center development ext agreement extension. Uh obviously we hope the council extends. If you'll indulge me for a couple minutes, I want to remind you how we got here in the first place. On June t on June 3rd, 2025, 6 months ago, the city of Hammond entered into a development agreement with Dennial Group and Cororeweave for a new 450,000 square foot AI focused data center on 25 acres at 301 Digital Crossroads Drive. The current development agreement expires on December 31st, 2025, which is why we're all talking today. Tonight, my administration is asking the Hammond Council to approve a 60-day extension to our original agreement. I want to point out that all of our original agreement that our original agreement does allow for unlimited extensions if all parties agree. This proposed extension was unanimously agre approved by the Hammond Redevelopment Commission last week. No terms of the deal are being changed. This is simply additional time to finalize remaining items. Uh I want to go through a few of the parts uh that may be applicable. It's something we want to talk about. Project structure and investment. Dennial will construct the building. Coreweave will be the sole tenant under a 20-year lease. Coreweave is already operating an existing data center at 100 Digital Crosswords Drive and will continue operations there as well. This is a multi-billion dollar investment, the largest in Hammond's history. Further establishes Hammond as the best data center location in Indiana. something I strongly believe in city benefits and financial impact. We've already worked this out in the

development agreement where the city of Hammond receives 4 million a year in community impact payments for the next 20 years for a total of $80 million. That revenue is more than enough to fully fund a collegebound scholarship program for the next 20 years, but that's something we all have to work out once this development agreement is entered into. Dennial is requesting a standard 10-year construction abatement and Coreweave is requesting a 20-year 100% technology deduction in accordance with Indiana law on their equipment both at the existing site and at the new facility. That's standard protocol u uh for a large project 10ear tax abatement something we routinely cover. That's what core dennial is requesting. Coreweave is getting a 100% deduction which is what makes Indiana so appealing to these data centers developers because we abate all the technology uh that they put into these facilities. Power agreement and rateayer protection power negotiations are ongoing between Dennial and NIPCO. I can confirm that a proposed power agreement was submit submitted last Friday by NIPCO to Dennial and that discussions continue with all parties including Coreeave. The developer will pay for all infrastructure and electrical capacity. Hammond rate payers will not be impacted. Additional development commitment. By holding firm to a tight 60-day extension, which we hope you'll all approve, the city has secured an additional $25 million lump sum commitment from the developer. That payment is currently being finalized and will be fully documented during this 60-day period. We intend to use those funds for capital improvement projects throughout the city of pro throughout the city of Hammond. It was pointed out that these payments need to go through a not for-p profofit. So, we're thinking of using HDC as a facilitator. If that does happen, there will be full transparency with the Hammond Council as to what these monies are being used for. Bottom line, this 60-day extension keeps the transformational project moving forward. The terms remain unchanged. The city is protected financially by doing

so, and the benefits to Hammond are historic and long-term. Uh, so we will hope that you'll approve this extension. I don't know if you all want have any questions about this before I go on with the rest of my report or if I should do the rest of my report. Mr. President, Councilman Quinc. Hi, Councilman Mark. Hi, Mayor. So, Cororeweave andor Dennial are in negotiation with NIPCO. Yes, sir. And they're going to pay all the infrastructure dollars to generate more electricity.

Yes, sir. They have to pay for the infrastructure, additional like substations with transformers, circuit breakers, lines, and they also have to make a commitment because NIPCO has to go out and find this power. So NIPCO may find the power in Michigan, may find the power in Kansas at a wind farm. Nipkco has to scout out this power for the next 20 years so that Dennial doesn't just skip town and leave Nipkco holding the bag. So Dino has to come up with 25 to$50 million maybe more right now to NIPCO so that NIPCO could go out and that's really what's been holding this whole project up. announcement.

Here's my concern, and maybe it's not even warranted, but if they're paying for all this infrastructure, and if we start having issues with enough electricity at times for the county or for the city, will they have a pl a special place to stay on if and the residents get turned off?

I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure we're all on the same grid. I I know we're all on the same grid, but even the electrons that go to the data center could also flow to the city, but they're metered separately. That's more of an IPCO question, Councilman. I'm not an expert on the electrical grid, but I did used to work for NIPCO. Everybody's on the same grid. Even Kansas is on the same grid as Hammond is on the same grid as Washington DC. And the electrons just flow freely and they're metered. That's the difference. So, if you put even a solar house puts power onto the grid, you get paid for that because you put power onto the grid. So

I the reason I'm asking is it's a concern and I I've read that in Texas, you know, they had a issue a few years ago and I had a relative out there who sir actually it was elderly and didn't have water, heat, right,

electricity and he deteriorated and really didn't ever come back from that. But what I understand is the state Texas was looking at state laws on the distribution of electric power to make sure residents would stay on uh primarily in the event there was another brown out and if there wasn't enough at the time that residents would be first and then industry and data centers etc would come on as the power was there again. Well, keep in mind that the data center also has emergency backup power because the power can't go out at these data centers. They have to have power. So, if the electric grid fails, which it sometimes does, they're going to have backup generators andor battery power that'll help power that plant and keep it running because they can't lose power. Once they turn it on, it has to stay on. Uh, and another thing I want to point out, something that slowed us down on this project is something NIPCO is doing. I'm not sure if it's consistent with what's going on in Texas, but Nipkco created a subsidiary called Jenko. Jenko only deals with data centers. So Jenko deals with data centers. Data centers deal with Jenko. And even though we're fighting over the same electrons, data centers are treated separately in Indiana. I don't know if that's good or bad for the residents, but I do know that that held us up for quite a while. Councilman,

and then the $25 million bonus, when does that come to the city? We're working on that right now. I mean, do they have to be under construction first? That's exactly what we're working on right now. I think they would prefer to have it as late as possible and I think we would prefer to have it as early as possible. So that's sort of what we're disagreeing over and I'm not I'm not sure if you've had discussions about that, but will that go in the general fund or it can't it needs to go to a not for profofit. That's one thing. I imagine they're using it for a tax write off, but that's one thing that these are things that we're discussing right now, Councilman. Oh, so it would it be nonprofit now?

Yes, sir. It would be for a not for-p profofit. I imagine if I'm a company and I'm donating $25 million to a not for-p profofit, they probably write it off on their books, right? Whereas if they gave it to us, I'm not sure if they get treated the same above my pay grade. So these are all being worked on though. I because right now I think it's a verbal agreement as it stands right now. I think they have to literally be open as a data center before we get paid which is 2028 2020 late 2027. I'd prefer to have it sooner personally. So we're working on that. Councilman, thank you for the questions. Question, mayor. So, this 25 million that councilman asked about, this is um part of the 60 days or not part of the 60-day agreement.

Uh that's what we're going to be working on during the 60 days council because we're voting on it. It's not part of it right now. It's not part of it. Correct. Okay. So, it's not it's a verbal. It's a verbal and we want to paper it. Verbal is great, but papering it up is much better. I didn't see it in here off right now. The commitment over the next 20 years was in there. I want to congratulate my negotiating team for bringing up this signing bonus, so to speak.

So, we're talking big numbers here. So, I know 25 million is a lot of money. We all know 25 million is a lot of money, but this data center when it's all built out could be worth six, seven billion dollars. So, 25 billion to people that are funding 7 billion campus, it's not a lot of money, but I imagine they still want to write it off on their taxes. So, we're gonna work on these issues. Councilman, good job. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Mr. President. Hi, Mr. Hi, Council Mayor Tyler. Um,

excuse me. Sorry, I don't recall. What are the exact next steps? So, like if we do approve this extension, um, I know they need to formally enter into the actual agreement, terms of the agreement, and then what happens after that? Can they just start building? I think DipsCo and them until they get on the same page. There's So, first off, 60 days. Is that enough to finish this agreement? I hope so. But we may be back here asking for another extension. There are unlimited extensions allowed in this. I'm not interested in unlimited extensions. Council people, I want this thing done. And if this group can't get it done, let's get a group in here that can get it done because Hammond has the best status center location in the state of Indiana. So it's frustrating for me watching NIPCO and Dennial fight over power. It's frustrating. We got the best location in the state. So I think if this 60 day window doesn't work out, Councilman, I think we should think long and hard about terminating this agreement, moving on personally. Okay. But we do have a good agreement worked out for the city of Hammond. So I I do want to see it get done. But if it's not if they can't get it done, I I'm seeing multi-billion dollar deals get done all over the state and we have a better piece of property. Yes, sir.

This is an bit of an aside. It's okay. It's a big deal. They're a hyperscaler, so they're large, bigger than usual. And they're not go They told us at when they were here making the presentation that they were not going to use Lake Michigan water to cool the systems, right? Do you know how they going to I think it's a jelly that they use now. When we first started our data center, it was water cooled and they've moved on technology-wise from that. So like if you look at they're proposing a data center in Hobert. There's not water anywhere near that data center they're proposing in Hobert. So I think technology-wise they've moved on to like a gel cold. Is that what it's got?

Yeah. When we when we toured the facility um with Ram Rambo, I think his name was Rambo, he explained to us that it was um all air handlers. Air handlers. All air handlers. And he actually showed us that part of the outside area. I mean, it must have been over 50 air handlers easily, but think about a day like today. Well, it's not as cold today, but over the last week, our ambient temperature could have more than And all that equipment's encapsuled in, you know, thank you. Behind glass and whatnot, but I I know that our current data center uses water, but I believe technology wise they've gone past that. But I still think we have the best location in the state, even though water is not necessarily a part part of it anymore. I answer your question, Councilman Barry. Mr. President,

go ahead. Sorry, cuz my my my actual question was if we do pass this uh extension, let's say that the agreement is agreed upon, what is the next step? Because I for whatever reason, I thought I remembered that it would have to be brought back in front of us again before it could actually move forward. Is that the case or not? I imagine that's probably true. I imagine we'd probably have to go redevelopment again and council again because there are going to be terms that are different than new agreement. That's more lucrative for us. I hope so. I imagine there's no possibility of us not being back before you again, Councilman.

And then my my only other question is uh from an environmental standpoint, I know that we're saying that they likely wouldn't use water. Um I was just reading a couple articles. I know all of the council got them and and there were a couple more because I'm kind of having this conversation uh with my full-time job in Chicago too about use of AI and uh the impact on the environment. Have we done from our environmental department, have we done a study or come up with a set of guidelines of what we as a city deem fit? Even if that's different than, you know, what the state might say um or we just pretty much go in line with what the state is recommending in terms of the formation of data centers and what

we don't have any criteria in hand that the state doesn't have. No, that would be something that I imagine you guys would have to tackle. But if we were going to try to tackle something like that, I'd be very cautious so that we don't make ourselves unappealing. You know, I mean, we're very appealing in Hammond to data centers because we're stones throw away from Chicago. It is surrounded by Lake Michigan, even though it's not used for cooling, but it did used to be a power plant. So, when I first took over as mayor, that was a stinky cold burning power plant that people live next to. So, I think a data center is a welcome relief compared to what it was. So all I would ask if we were going to start chewing on that type of issue is we'd be very careful. So we don't make ourselves unappealing because this is transformational what we're talking about. It's the kind of thing that could help us a lot. So

yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I I think I and may I don't know if the rest of my colleagues uh will want the same thing, but just some type of environmental study or analysis of the impact of this center alone on our community um or on the environment. I think that would be great if we could get that in partnership with this agreement or at least and I know they can't maybe they can um I'm not a scientist. I don't I don't necessarily fully understand all of this but I would just like to be a part of that conversation um if that does happen or or maybe whoever from your administration is having those conversations about the environmental impact because I know you are. Um just if we could get information about what the anticipated impact would be. Um and if there's anything

I'm just sure there's much of an impact. If if this new data center is not going to use water, there's no emissions. There's hardly any noise. I mean, I don't think it'd be very hard. So yeah, I would love to just see that information because if there is an impact, which I'm guessing there there has to be some impact, then we as a as a council can decide if there's anything we need to do to try to counter that impact. Um, so yeah, I would just love to see that and like I said, be a part of But there's nothing like that first of all. Okay. Not right now. Yeah. But like all I ask is to not make us so unappealing that they just skip us and go to Gary

or they skip us and go to East Chicago and East Chicago gets to reap in hundreds of millions of dollars that could have come here. That's all I'm saying. So we're very appealing right now. Um, I I sympathize with you and I appreciate your points, but just be careful. That's all I'm saying. Okay. Any other questions on data centers? The rest of my report will be pretty easy. We good? I can move on. Okay. Uh summary of mayor schedule for the last two weeks. Met with Kelly Talon, the CEO of the Lakes Shore Chamber of Commerce, regarding the date and the venue loces for the 2026 Maril State of the City. It's usually done in conjunction with the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce. Spoiler alert, uh it's going to be on January 29th, 2026 at the Hammond Sportslex. So, we're coming to the third district for it this year. met with the Hammond Police Department regarding an incident that happened on 6434 Cayman Avenue, which is Star Paw Puppies. I'm not sure if Councilman Barry heard about it, but if you want to update, I'm more than willing to tell you about what happened. Uh, we're trying to deal with it right now. It's not very doesn't make me happy when people aren't nice to the Hammond Police Department. So,

sorry, Mayor, what was that address? 6434 Calman Avenue. That's the puppy location.

Okay. Met with Kevin Roach and his executive team at Laborers Local 41 Union Hall in Monster. It's always good to catch up with the union in charge of a lot of our employees. Meeting with meeting with Councilman Councilwoman Janet Venez regarding issues regarding different city departments. Attended meetings with representatives from core construction in regards to the services they want to offer to the city of Hammond. met with Tiffany Shelton, Hammond's fourth district, Tony Hoppitz, Hammond's fifth district, and Don Tolich, Hammond's sixth district, about their reappoint to and the roles they play on the Hammond Redevelopment Commission. Attended a meeting with the team planning the 2026 ICSC conference booth layouts and focus. Met with Monica Rubio and Mike Dye regarding their reappointment to and the roles they play on the Hammond Sanitary District Board of Directors. met with former councilman Michael Pinker regarding his reappoint to and the role he plays on the Hammond Park Board. Met with Sharon Daniels and Paul Walker about my about their reappointment too and the roles they play on the Hammond water department board of directors. Met with a potential customer of the new Hammond data center hopefully customer that wants to be part of the Hammond data center regardless of what happens in the current situation. I choose not to divulge who I met with. Okay, I'll tell you guys oneon one, but I don't feel like doing it on the record. If you guys have a question, please call me. Okay, I don't think it's right to do it on the record, but it's nice to know that there's a lot of interest in our data center site. Okay. Um, attended Hammond's employee annual employee holiday party at the Hammond Civic Center. I know there was a number of council people there. I appreciate you all being there and I know the employees love to see you guys there. So, thanks for coming by. We had over 500 employees and our spouses in attendance. Food was supplied by Freddy's steakhouse and was great. It was great gifts, great giveaways. I thought everybody had a real good time. So, I appreciate everybody that participated with that. Although I wasn't able to attend this swearing in, I was very happy to see the Hammond Police Department swear in the most diverse class of officers I've seen

as mayor. 10 brand new police officers join the ranks of the Hammond PD. Welcome to the force. I usually always make those. I was out of town for that when I couldn't attend. I attended a CL in Indianapolis on Indiana governmental affairs talking about all the stuff going on in the general assembly. While I was there, I had my second meeting of the month with Governor Braun. Pretty. So anyway, it was nice talking to him about economic development projects in our city. Important economic development projects. Last but not least, attended the Southshore Convention and Visitors Bureau Christmas party at the Anana Welcome Center with the former chief of staff of mine, Phil Talon, in attendance. He's running it now. And I appreciate everything that's going on there. That's all I got unless you all have more questions. Thank you, council. Appreciate you all. Happy holidays. Merry Christmas.

Same to you, Mayor. Christmas. Good to see you guys. Thanks. Item number four, approval of minutes. Make a motion that we uh accept the minutes from the December 8th meeting and place them on file. Second. Motion's been made by Councilman Selena, seconded by Councilman Emerson. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. The eyes have it. Item number five, approval of minutes. I'm sorry, approval of claims. Mr. President Councilwoman BZ

I move for approval of claims dated December 3rd 2025 and ending with claims dated December 17th 2025 claim number 11028 through claim number 11396 inclusive in the amount of 12161,79.77. 7 cents. Second. Motion's been made by Councilwoman Venez, seconded by Councilman Reikos. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Hearing none, clerk go. Roll call. Alexander. Spatelli.

Yes. Venezi. Yes. Selenus, yes. Tyler, yes. Emerson, yes. Rikos, yes. Warple, yes. Let the record show. The motion carries. Eight in favor, one absent. Item number six, public hearings. Item A, an ordinance to appropriate monies into the 2025 gaming fund sponsored by Councilwoman Vaness.

Does anybody wish to speak on this issue? Does anybody wish to speak on this issue? Last time, does anybody wish to speak on this issue? Hearing none. Public hearings are now closed. Item number seven, communications. Does anybody have any communications? Mr. President, Councilman Reikos.

Uh, we like to thank uh, Clerk Goolic and all the the Hammond City Council that contributed to the holiday food giveaway. American Legion Post 168. Uh, it was on December 16th from 2 p.m. to 4 pm. They want to give it they want to thank us for uh their contributions and the sponsorship. Thank you. Does anybody else have anything on the communications? Does anybody else have anything on the communications? Hearing none, communications are now closed. Item number eight, committee reports. Councilwoman Vanz.

Uh yes, Mr. President. Uh, I'd like to announce uh one community meeting that's coming up and that is the Jefferson Crime Watch on Tuesday, January 13th, 6:00 p.m. uh at Jefferson School. I'd like to also thank everyone who came uh who participated in and came to pick up their Ring doorbell. Uh this was a a great program for the safety of our city and our neighborhood. So I thank everyone who participated in that. And on behalf of all the community and crime watch groups, uh we'd like to wish everyone merry Christmas, happy holidays, and uh have safe holidays. Thank you. Because community is not just about me, it's about us. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Mr. President. Councilman Selenus, there was no capital improvement board meeting on December 14th, so there's nothing to report. Thank you, Mr. President. Councilwoman Mendez.

Uh, yes. Uh, council as a whole will be bringing out 2533, 2534, 2535, 2536 Thank you. Does anybody else have anything under committee reports? Anybody else have anything under committee reports? Hearing none, committee reports are now closed. Item number nine, ordinances, third reading, final passage. Ordinance 25-33 sponsored by Mayor McDermott. An ordinance fixing the salaries for elected city officials for the city of Hammond, Indiana, commencing January 1, 2026. Be it ordained by the common council of the city of Hammond, Indiana.

Mr. President, Councilman Reikos pass final passage and adoption of 2533. Second. Motion's been made by Councilman Reikos, seconded by Councilwoman Venez. Is there any discussion? Mr. President, Councilman Reikos, it is includes a 2% raise for the mayor, the clerk, and the city council people. Does anybody else have anything under I'm sorry. Is there any further discussion? Is there any further discussion? Is there any further discussion? Clerk Golic Roar. Alexander Spatelli, yes. Venez, yes. Kowinski, yes. Selenus, yes. Tyler,

yes. Emerson, yes. Rikos, yes. Warpel, yes. Let the record show, eight in favor, one absent. Ordinance 25-34 sponsored by Councilwoman Vanz and ordinance to appropriate monies into the 2025 gaming fund. Mr. President, Councilwoman DZ, I move for final passage of 2534. Second. Motion's been made by Councilwoman Venez, seconded by Councilman Spatali. Is there any discussion, Mr. President, Councilwoman BZ.

Uh yes, this is um an annual cleanup. Uh whoever sneezed, God bless you. Um uh this is uh this cleanup should have been done earlier in the year. Um but we're doing it just now uh in time for the end of the year. So thank you. Is there anybody or is there any further discussion? Is there any further discussion? Is there any further discussion? Clerk golic roll call. Alexander. Spatelli. Yes. Vaness. Yes. Kowinski. Yes. Selenus. Yes. Tyler. Yes.

Emerson. Yes. Rikos. Yes. Warpel. Yes. Let the record show. The motion carries. Eight in favor, one absent. Ordinance 25-35. sponsored by Councilwoman Vanz. An ordinance authorizing the city controller to transfer funds from one line one line item to another within various city 2025 budgets. Mr. President, Councilwoman Vanz, I move for final passage of 2535. Motion has been made by Councilwoman Vanz, seconded by Councilman Patali. Is there any discussion?

Mr. President, Councilwoman BZ, once again, this is uh an annual cleanup uh moving items from one line item to another at the end of the year. Does anybody else have any further discussion? Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, clerk gull. Alexander Smithelli. Yes. Venez? Yes. Gowinski, yes. Selenus, yes. Tyler, yes. Emerson, yes. Reikos, yes. Warpo,

yes. Let the record show. The motion carries. Eight in favor, zero opposed. Ordinance 25-36 sponsored by Councilman Rakels and Ordinance respecting and ratifying the actions of the city of Hammond Board of Public Works and Safety related to traffic regulations for 2025. Mr. President, Councilman Reikos, move for final passage and adoption of 25-36. Second. Motion's been made by Councilman Reikos, seconded by Councilwoman Venez. Is there any discussion, Mr. President? Councilman Reikos.

Um, specifically, like the uh like the title says, we're ratifying the actions of the Hammond Board of Works. There's only a few of them here. One-way streets and alley uh 1200 block of Truman looks like it was deleted. Uh resident only parking 173rd place and 174th street tapper to Calat 167th from Alabama west to alley both sides of the street and prohibited parking in there was no parking at 69 and 7,000 block of parish. Thank you. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Clerk gick roll call

Alexander Spatelli. Yes, Vaness. Yes, Kwinsky. Yes, Selenus. Yes, Tyler. Yes, Emerson. Yes, Rikos. Yes, Warpo. Yes. Let the record show. Eight in favor, zero opposed. President Warpole. That concludes the ordinances for final passage.

Thank you, Clerk Goolick. Item number 10, introduction of ordinances. There are none. Item number 11, resolutions. Resolution 25R-26 sponsored by Councilwoman Vanez. A resolution of the Hammond Common Council approving the first amendment to the development agreement among the city of Hammond, Indiana, the city of Hammond Redevelopment Commission 301 Digital Crossroads LLC, the Seeno Group LLC, and Coreweave Incorporated regarding the project at 100 Digital Crossroads Drive. Mr. President,

Councilwoman Vanz, I move for final passage of 25R26. Second. Motion has been made by Councilwoman Venez, seconded by Councilman Spatali. Is there any discussion, Mr. President? Councilwoman Venez.

Um, uh, mayor outlined, uh, exactly what this resolution is. Uh it back in June uh we approved an agreement between Dennial and uh Coreweave and uh for a $450,000 AI focused data center uh at 301 Digital Crossroads in Hammond. Uh the timeline for that agreement uh expires December 30th of this year and uh both Dennial and Coreweave are asking for a 60-day extension of the agreement so they can complete their negotiations. Is there any further discussion? Is there any further discussion? Mr. President,

Councilman Kowinsky, thank you. Just a a quick uh correction. It's it's not approximately $450,000. It's $450,000 square foot for the data center. I beg your pardon. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Clerk Gull, roll call. Alexander Spatelli, yes. Vaness, yes. Kowinski, yes. Selenus, yes. Tyler, yes. Emerson, yes. Reikosl, yes. Warpole,

yes. Let the record show. The motion carries. Eight in favor, zero opposed. President Warpro, that concludes the reading of the resolutions.

Thank you. New and unfinished business. I guess I'll go first. Um, last council meeting of the year and uh, Christmas coming and the new year coming. I just want everybody to take a moment and uh realize that no matter what you see out there in this world, an addict, whatever, rather than ridicule them, realize that they're going through a lot. And uh I can say this with firsthand knowledge. No matter what you're going through, if you give it time, it does get better. So, I just want to wish everybody a merry Christmas and a happy new year

and give the ones you love a hug. There you go. Anybody else got anything they'd like to say? Mr. President, Councilman Tyler.

Uh, I know our colleague, Councilwoman Alexander, is not here right now. She is over at the civic center handing out toys and holiday treats for youth. U, so just want to congratulate her on her fifth annual holiday treats giveaway. Um, and thank you for all the families that that signed up. The event is going on until 7 o'clock. So, if you are GP and have not made it over there, you still have time to get over there and pick up uh your toys for your little ones. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else got anything on the new and unfinished? Anybody else got anything on the new and unfinished business? Hearing none, we'll go to public expression. And I remind everybody this is three minutes for the public to say what they want uninterrupted. Our first speaker is Tom Casmirac and the topic is general complaints. Uh happy holidays council. um issue came up this weekend um that I wanted to I thought about potentially doing it in a more uh private setting at first, but I figured the best way to do it uh is to address the council uh and my councilman specifically um to put it on the record. Uh so go Bears. Uh everybody have a wonderful Christmas.

Um you win one game every 20 years and you got to listen to it. Uh, the next speaker is Mary Jones and it says budget priorities.

Hi, good evening. I we talk about like budget priorities and like shortfalls and you know we need money. We need money, right? You know, I mean every city needs money of course, but I don't know. I mean, we seem to have plenty of money actually because we spend we have what $20 million that we can appropriate for a pedestrian bridge where it's not needed to get speedier access to emergency uh services that no longer exist. So, what are we doing? Right. So, at at a recent mayor's night out event, there was uh the mayor said that that uh funding had not been secured to prevent kids from crawling under the trains at Grand Avenue, which is is a problem. We can all agree that that's a problem. However, we do have thousands of dollars to put around fencing around Brier East Woods because the uh citizens of the of the residents who are concerned wanted to uh pick up trash over there, you know, and so we do have money for some things, we don't have money for other things. And uh so earlier this year when I when I first got a message saying that this was you know this this prior east I I I had been checked out you know I I had not been paying attention to what has been happening in my city and what I saw on that February was after the the day after the Super Bowl was the overflow area was overflowed. I mean, people when people the more people know about what the mayor wants to do with the city to cut down 32 acres of old growth forest and endanger

the the residents of the Hesville area. The more people know about it, the less they like it, which is why a lot of the mayor's nightouts events, particularly the ones in the six sixth district, are curated to make it look like no one cares about that anymore. And we do. We should care. If we cut these down, climate change is happening. We're we're going to be in trouble. And I realize that the things that I've been concerned about nationally are happening right here in Hammond. We We have Well, first of all, I want to I want to pivot to something else. Uh I'm I want to thank uh count Councilman Tyler and Councilman Kolinsky for at least uh asking some questions about this proposed AI data center. What good is 25 or $50 million if it drives up our electricity bills and we can't drink the water? What do we do then? If a company has 25 or $50 million to sp to toss our our way, why aren't they meaningfully contributing to our tax base? We should think very hard about what we do for the future of the city. Is should we not approve anything without an independent environmental review? because whatever we do here will impact our environment for a long time to come, long after your tenure on this council has ended. I want to wish you all a merry Christmas, happy new year. I hate meetings with a passion. I

imagine some of you all do, too. But important things happen in boring meetings. and I want to make it a priority to find out what's going on in my city. Thank you. Got it in. Um I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. Second. All those in favor signify by saying I.