City Council - Regular Meeting

United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Eternal God, our Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for this time of sharing. We thank you for continuing to keep us and guide us. We ask that you continue to cover our police and our fire, and as our students get ready to get out of school, continue to cover them all summer long. Thank you, in Jesus' name, amen.

Let's roll call vote, please.

Alexander. Present. Spitelli.

Here.

Kalwinski. Here. Salinas. Here. Tyler.

Here.

Emerson. Here. Warple. Here. Rakos. Here. Vanes.

Here. Let the record show nine in chambers, zero absent. Mayor's address. Hi, Mayor.

Hi, Councilwoman. Thank you. Nice to see you all. This is my address for May 26, 2026, the rare Tuesday meeting. So summary of my schedule, and then I'll wait until the other items come up during the council meeting for my comments during that section. I met with attorneys and executives of the Hammond Sanitary District over... upcoming mediation it was court-ordered mediation in regards to litigation involving the town of munster and hammond sanitary district that mediation has since taken place with no meaningful breakthrough in the litigation so if you have any other questions about i could talk to you one-on-one off the record interviewed via zoom by greg braggs from bragg's in the stands over the potential for the bears to choose hammond as the next location for the bears home stadium uh this one i wasn't able to participate myself but i do want to thank the hammond home depot and the hammond parks department as well as the hammond area career center for working together with the area career center carpentry students to build park benches for our community really nice effort a lot of volunteers put in a lot of time and i want to thank everybody involved in that i was trying to get over there that was a really bad day though but I did want to recognize them. I met with the Hammond Sanitary District executive team regarding a potential grievance threatened to be filed against the district by a local 150 over contracted out work in the district. It wasn't anything big. Hopefully we can put this away. We have a really good relationship with that local. Although I wasn't able to participate myself, I want to thank Anthem Church of Hammond for hosting their annual cookout in the parking lot of Hammond City Hall for all City of Hammond employees. This is their second year hosting the event, and I want to thank Pastor Sam Hamstra and his flock for choosing us as recipients of their great barbecue skills. I met with the NIPSCO CEO, Vince Parisi, for an update from NIPSCO's perspective in regards to Hammond's DX data center proposal. If anybody wants to ask me about that, I'm more than willing to talk about it. The summary is NIPSCO has the power for our data center. That's great news. So it's up to DX to close the deal with their customer before the end of this month. But from NIPSCO's perspective, it's a go, which I think is great news for all of us. I want to thank the dozens of Hammond police officers who participated in Cop on a Roof at three Dunkin' Donut locations across South Hammond. The three locations were in the 7300 block of Indianapolis Boulevard, the 7700 block of Indy Boulevard, the new Dunkin' down there, and the 7400 block of Kennedy. All the police officers were raising money for the Special Olympics in Northwest Indiana. The location at the 7300 block of Indianapolis Boulevard raised the top amount. It's always nice when officers give back to the community that they serve. So I want to thank everybody involved in that. It's nice to see the cops raising money for a great cause. meeting with in city hall with councilman janet venez over a variety of topics across the city i appreciate janet for coming in attended the icsc convention in las vegas with a contingent of city employees we had a booth again this year we made hundreds of contacts this is the same convention that we closed the deal with zaxby's last year so we're hoping for another deal like that again this year uh... we did put up the Bears logo on our booth. Somewhat controversial, but I thought it would attract attention. It definitely attracted attention. So hopefully we'll snag some business off of that. I want to thank everybody that went out there. We had four council members as well. It's always nice when we have a council member there as well. So a lot of cases we were talking about their district, so. Interviewed via Zoom by Mary Ann Ahern from NBC Channel 5 News over the potential for the Bears to choose Hammond as the location for the next home stadium. While I was getting interviewed by Mary Ann Ahern, we all know her. We've watched her for years. She's a Hoosier, born and raised in Michigan City, Indiana. So she's privately rooting for us, even though she's over there in Chicago. Don't give her up. Meeting with Father Jeff Burton from the St. John Bosco Catholic Parish. We spoke about Gary Diocese properties across the city of Hammond that the diocese may be interested in granting to the city of Hammond. We wrote a letter to the bishop less than a year ago asking the bishop to keep us in mind if they're going to be getting out of any long-term obligations with the land that they own across the city. And we have received a real positive response back from the Bishop, which I thought was positive. And then Father Burton also spoke to me in particular about it. So we have some opportunities that may present themselves shortly. attended the Mohawks organization annual Memorial Day Parade in North Hammond. Great job, as usual, to the Hammond Mohawks. Great job to Mother Nature. It was gorgeous yesterday. Great crowds, lots of candy. Just really felt good to see a lot of people out there, a lot of council people, bands. It was a great day. So I want to thank everybody involved. Today, I attended Father Rick Erlinski's visitation at St. John Bosco Church. Father Rick devoted more than five decades of priesthood to serving the people of Northwest Indiana, but his deepest impact was Felton Hammond, where he became a beloved spiritual leader and community figure. He is the former pastor for decades at St. John Bosco Catholic Church, which is where I ran into him. Father Rick also served in St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, St. Mary Catholic Church, and later St. Joseph's Catholic Church in downtown Hammond. He's a great guy. It's sad to see people leave, you know, that are, you know, so big in the community. So I just wanted to recognize Father Rick. And anyway, that's my report. Unless you have any questions, I'm going to stay because we have business that I want to participate in as well today. Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Mayor. Next on the agenda is the Common Council Scholarship Drawings. Councilwoman Alexander.

Councilwoman Van Ness, we had 120 applicants this year. We're going to go by, as we talked in our committee meeting, I'm going to go over to Councilman Mark first, since he's in the first district, and so on to each respective district. You're going to pull two. and then an alternate, and then each at large will pull one, and then we'll pull one alternate from there. We have 15 scholarships of $1,000 that will be given away, and then at our next meeting will be the day that we present them, all right?

Thank you.

The first one will be Joy Fish, Hammond Central, from the First District.

And the second one will be Jocelyn Rosado, from Hammond Central, First District. And the next one will be

district. will be Gerardo Maldonado from Wharton. Second one will be Valeria Padilla from Wharton as well. And the alternate will be Ryan Campbell from HATS.

I didn't get, Councilwoman, the second one.

Yes. Valeria Padilla, from the 5th District, for Gerardo Maldonado, for the 5th District, and he also is Ryan Campbell from Pax.

I didn't get that. Still looking for that second. Maldonado was the one, and what was the, Cadiz? That's right under Mount, that's probably why I missed it. Okay, thank you.

Martinez-Villalobos. Wharton. We've got a long angle here.

I said Ariana Williams.

Kristen Rodriguez from Hatch, 4th District.

OK. What was that?

Kristen Rodriguez, Hatch.

Councilwoman, what was the last name?

Juan Moreno, Hammond Central, 3rd District was the alternate.

Thank you.

At our next meeting, which will be June 8th, is when we will recognize these scholarship recipients. They will get a call from the legacy organization, as well as myself or Councilwoman Van Ness to let them know. But we thank you guys for sitting through our drawing. Thank you, Councilwoman Van Ness.

Thank you, thank you and congratulations to all the recipients. Every little bit helps. Okay, moving on to approval of minutes.

I'll make a motion that we approve the minutes from the May 11th meeting and place them on file.

Second.

Second.

Motion by Councilman Salinas, second by Councilman Warple to approve the minutes of May 11th. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Approval of claims.

Madam President.

Councilman Rakos.

We approve claims beginning with the claims that were dated 5-6-26 and ending with claims dated 5-20-26. Claim number 3723 through claim number 4233 inclusive. The amount of $8,944,198.45. Second. Motion by Councilman Rakos, second by Councilman Warple.

to approve the claims. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? Clerk Olic, roll call vote, please.

Alexander. Yes. Spitelli. Yes. Galwanski. Yes. Salinas.

Yes.

Tyler.

Yes.

Emerson.

Yes.

Warple.

Yes.

Rakos. Yes. Vanes.

Yes. Claims passed, nine in favor, zero opposed. Moving on to public hearings. There are none. Communications. All of us did receive this evening a letter from George Stoya, and I would like to give it to the clerk to put on file.

Thank you.

Thank you. Any other communications?

Madam President.

Councilman Rakos.

I just want to remind everybody, Live in the Ville will be happening again this year from Friday, June 12th from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, June 13th from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Right now it's scheduled between 173rd and 169th on Kennedy Avenue. And that's where it will be happening this year.

You still looking for vendors?

No, they've got vendors, I believe. They're still looking for sponsorships.

Okay, any other communications?

Yes, Madam President.

Yes, Councilman.

This Thursday, May 28th, at 3.30 p.m. in downtown Hammond, at the old Dan Rabin Plaza, which is 425 Sibley Street, our Farmed and Forged Hammond Market will be kicking off its summer events. I know they're going to take place monthly every Thursday, but this Thursday they begin there at the Dan Rabin Plaza. So please come on out and check out the different vendors. I bet everyone will have a good time and find something interesting to them. Thank you. they going to have the classic cars again i don't think the classic cars would be out there i don't think so but oh okay i know that they are uh doing a uh three for one for those that have like snap benefit uh recipients three for one on certain items so oh nice yes nice okay it's thursday what time 3 30. downtown hammonds 3 30 this thursday thank you thank you any other communications any other communications

Any other communications? Communications is now closed. Moving on to committee reports. Let's start off with the plan commission. Councilman Spitali.

President. The Planning Commission met Monday, May 18th, 2026, and it was recommended to Reusco, I believe they say, I hope it's right, Reusco Industry Property. On 9009 Calumet Avenue, he re-fellified the manufacturing district, destruct the output and maintain overhead bridge train manufacturing.

Thank you, Councilman. Anything else from the plan commission?

No? Yes, Mayor. Could I summarize real quick? Yes, of course. For the audience that may not be aware, this is a $25 million investment, over 100 new jobs. This is an industrial building, a 70,000 square foot industrial building for crane manufacturing, distribution, and its national headquarters. It's going to be located on seven acres of underutilized parcels at the southeast corner of 150th Street and Calumet Avenue. We have a tax abatement as part of this deal and a hundred new jobs to this corridor along Cayman Avenue. This is a great investment with the big company, another Illinois company moved to our city. So I hope the council supports this and I appreciate you letting me speak, Madam President.

Of course. Alrighty. Councilman Tyler, any report from economic development?

The Economic Development Committee will meet on Monday, June 8th to discuss Ordinance 26-16. That will be our next meeting.

Thank you. Councilman Warple, anything from Finance?

They did not meet.

Thank you. Councilman Salinas.

Yes, our controller, Megan Moore, sent me the details for our Capital Improvement Board meeting. Bear with me just a moment. There were four funding allocations at this last week's meeting. I'll go through them now. The first funding allocation was for a downtown Hammond signage electronic message board site plan. in the amount of $4,250. The second funding allocation was for City Hall restack, a schematic design to American Structure Point in the amount of $79,780. The third, 2026 PACER LIDAR study to the first group engineering in the amount of $57,800. The fourth funding allocation was for the Sportsplex traffic signal change order number two to Milestone Contractors in the amount of $14,175.96. And all four funding allocations passed. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. And as usual, I'd like to read off the upcoming community and crime watch meetings. The East Ham and Pullman Crime Watch will meet Tuesday, June 16th, 6 p.m. at the Ophelia Steen Center. After a brief hiatus, this Crime Watch is starting back up again. So I encourage everyone in the neighborhood to please come over and hear what the police officers have to say in addition to guest speakers. Edison Community Watch is off for the summer while school is closed. Harrison Park Crime Watch will meet Tuesday, June 2nd, 6 PM at the VFW on Holman Avenue across from Harrison Park. Jefferson Crime Watch will meet Wednesday, May 27th, 6 PM at Jefferson School. Hessville Crime Watch will meet Thursday, June 18th, 6 PM at the HC3 Community Center. Irving Community Watch is off for the summer because school is closed. The Whiting-Robertsdale Crime Watch will meet Thursday. June 11th, 6.30 PM at Calumet College. And once again, I urge everyone to attend a community or crime watch meeting. You get a wealth of information that, believe it or not, you just store in your memory bank. And when something happens, you're like, I heard that at a crime watch meeting. I know what to do. So please come out and hear what the community and the police officers have to say. Because community is not just about me. It's about us. Any other committee reports? Any other committee reports? Any other committee reports? Committee reports is now closed. Ordinance, third reading, final passage.

Ordinance number 26-16, sponsored by Councilman Kalwinski. An ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Hammond, Indiana, upon recommendation of the Hammond Economic Development Commission.

Sorry, clerk. Point of order. We're not calling this one out for third and final tonight. It's waiting until June 8th.

That's correct. Correct. There's a echo desk committee meeting on June 8th, and after that, we'll have the vote. I'm sorry.

I apologize. There are no third readings.

Thank you, Clerk Golick. Moving on to introduction of ordinances.

There are none.

So we have 21, 17, right? Oh, that's that one. Okay, so then there are none. Resolutions. And there are none. Okay. New and unfinished business.

Madam President.

Yes, Councilman.

I move for the suspension of the rules so we can consider resolution 26R12. Second.

Motion by Councilman Werpel, second by Councilman Tyler to suspend the rules to introduce 26R12, is that correct? Okay. Clerk Golick, roll call vote, please.

Alexander. Yes. Spitelli. Yes. Kalwinski. Yes. Salinas. Yes. Tyler. Yes. Emerson.

Yes.

Warple. Yes. Rakos. Yes. Vanes.

Yes. Motion carries, nine in favor, zero opposed.

Madam President.

Councilman Tyler.

I'll make a motion that we pass. Sorry.

Resolution 26R-12 sponsored by Councilman Tyler. A resolution supporting the members of United Steel Workers Local 7-1 and urging British Petroleum to end the lockout at the Whiting Refinery and resume good faith bargaining.

Madam President.

Councilman Tyler.

I make a motion that we pass resolution 26R-12. Second. Second.

Motion by Councilman Tyler, second by, who was this over here? Councilman Salinas for final passage of 26R-12. Any discussion? Madam President. Yes, Mayor.

This resolution expresses the City of Hammond's support for the approximately 800 members of the United Seal Workers Local 7-1 who have been locked out of the BP Whiting Refinery since March 19th. The resolution recognizes that many of these workers and their families live, work, worship, volunteer, and raise their families throughout northwest Indiana, including here in Hammond, and that the lockout is creating significant financial and emotional hardship for these working families and the communities that depend on them. It also acknowledges concerns raised regarding the operation of a major refinery facility using replacement workers instead of the experienced local workforce that knows the plant and its safety systems best. Through this resolution, the Hammond City Council and the administration are urging British Petroleum to end the lockout, return to the bargaining table in good faith, and work towards a fair agreement that protects local jobs, respects workers' rights, and promotes the long-term safety and stability of the refinery and the surrounding communities.

Madam President.

I'm not used to applause in this room, I'll be honest.

Madam President.

Yes, Councilman.

I want to ask Clerk Golick to name me as a co-sponsor on this. No, just a co-sponsor on this.

You wanted to read it?

I just want to be added as a co-sponsor on this resolution.

Right. After it passes, we can. Yes. Any discussion on this? Any discussion? Madam President? Yes, Councilman.

Mayor, I just want to thank you and your administration for bringing this to the council and planning this. As you know, this is personal for me as the child of two steelworkers who actually met in the steel mill. So they've been steelworkers since before I was born. My mom, of course, is in the audience tonight as a staff representative. So this does mean a lot. So I just really want to say thank you. I'm a former steelworker myself from USW Local 7234, where I spent a couple years working out of college. So I really feel a deep connection to this, and my heart goes out to everyone who is impacted by this. And hopefully we get you guys back to work. I know it's impacting not only your family, but the entire community. The work that you do is very important to your livelihood, and it keeps our country moving. So hopefully we can, this is only our small part in being a part of this fight, but hopefully this will urge BP to get moving. So thank you. Madam President.

Uh, go ahead.

Uh, the union president, Eric Schultz, and I have been communicating throughout and I brought donuts a couple of times and this seems like it's more significant. Obviously it's the will of the city of Hammond. We support the workers of seven one. Um, it's not right. What's going on. And as mad as we all are at Nipsco, Nipsco started their strike after, uh, the men and women of local 7-1 were locked out, and NIPSCO resolved that strike in the meantime, and the members of 7-1 are still locked out. It's not right. It's not right. And I appreciate the council for spreading the rules and voting unanimously, because this could have been delayed by two weeks if just one person would have stepped up. So, Councilman Berry, you were the right person to carry this. I appreciate you carrying it, and I appreciate all your council for supporting it so that we can get it out. I think time is of the essence. You know, I know that I've read in the paper that BP is going back to the table. I hope that's true. And I hope that they get these types of resolutions and realize that they need to finish this and they need to let these people back at work. So this isn't right. What's going on? So thank you, Councilman Barry.

Madam President.

Yes, Councilman.

As a 47-year member of the AFL-CIO, where I worked, we didn't have the right to strike. We basically went into a cooling off period for 90 days and then management through binding arbitration had up to a year and a half to just give us whatever they wanted. And that sucked because we never got more than a percent or two in a contract. And I applaud these guys for holding out for what they believe in and for their families.

Any other discussion?

I think that's an important point. I actually said that to somebody the other day. One of the workers, I said, oh, it's so bad. You guys would be on strike. I feel so bad for you. He's like, wrong, Mayor. We've been locked out. That's even worse. When you show up to work one day and everything's locked up and all the management's in there doing the jobs you're supposed to be doing, it's not right. So I'm glad you got corrected, and I'm glad I got corrected because these workers were locked out. And then management's not even negotiating. They locked him out and they went home. It's not right. What's going on? We need to stand behind these workers and do everything we can as a city. So thank you, Councilman.

Any other discussion?

Madam President?

Yes, Councilman.

Under the current suspension of rules and under discussion for the resolution, I would love it if we could open up the floor for any of the steelworkers or their families to come to the podium and speak.

Councilman, you want to suspend the rules?

It's already suspended. We're under the same suspension.

We are under suspension, yes. Thank you.

Good evening, Madam President, members of the Hammond City Council, Mayor Tom. Thank you again for your support in this matter. my name is eric schultz and i'm proud to serve as the president united steel workers local 7-1 on behalf of our nearly 800 locked out members and their families i want to sincerely thank this council for standing with working people and passing this resolution on first reading in support of our union The lockout has placed enormous financial and emotional strain on families across northwest Indiana, and your support sends a powerful message that our communities value good jobs, fairness, and safety. Our members want nothing more than to get back to work safely under a fair agreement, and tonight your actions showed that Hammond stands with its workers. Thank you for your consideration, your solidarity, and your leadership. Also, just point of order to Councilman Tyler, you're going to be in trouble when this is over. You gave it to motion to your mother. She's the assistant director for District 7, not a staff rep. You might want to run when you're on your way out of here.

As soon as I said it, I corrected myself in my head, but I know hopefully she's going to come up here and speak and introduce herself, too. Thank you.

Thank you again. Thank you.

Be not dismayed, whatever betides you, God will take care of you. It is very important to speak on this particular issue because it affects families, their well-being, and the betterment of our entire region. So in saying that, I think it's wonderful that this council would present something of this magnitude to exemplify how important it is to get these people back to work. So I appreciate your efforts.

I'm sorry, Mama.

We'll talk. Good evening, Council and Mayor, and I appreciate the opportunity to speak. And it won't be long, but I wanted to say my sisters and my brothers and my siblings over at USW Local 7-1, the workers at BP and Whiting, some of whom are residents of Hammond, have been locked out since March 19th. Locked out means you walk to the door like the mayor said and the door is locked. Even though you're willing to go in and do the good job you've always done, they won't let you in. And they have been not working a day or earned a pay for over two months. They are currently suffering all of the injustices and sacrifices that any and all of us would suffer if we suddenly, through no choice of our own, lost our jobs. We'd all worry about paying our utilities, our mortgages, and feeding our children. British Petroleum has earned billions of dollars, but they demanded that their employees take layoffs that do not follow the agreed-upon contract provisions. The remaining employees take significant wage cuts and that they agreed to an agreement that for the length of at least six years of the agreement won't get them back to their current 2026 wages. The members and family of British Petroleum and the USW appreciate the City of Hammond, Mayor McDermott, and the members of the Hammond Common Council for the resolution speaking to the support of the hardworking members of USW Local 7-1. Thank you.

I just want to remind everybody that we have the billionaires abusing workers and communities and upsetting our economy, which is unheard of the way they're going about this. And we need to fight back as a community, support the union, the workers, and our community, because it's hurting the community too. We have businesses out here that these workers aren't able to support right now because they're locked out. And they're not moving. And the lockout manager who came from Texas worked at a company before where they locked him out for ten months. And they brought that same Texas union busting plan to Whiting, Indiana. And we just can't tolerate it. We have to fight back for this and stand by each other and make sure this stops. And we've got to spread the word all around northwest Indiana. So thank you guys for taking this action. And let's just go forward with it. Let's don't lose the momentum. And let's keep going. Thanks.

My name is Jim and I live at 2004 Davis Avenue. My talk has to do with BP wanting everything. When I moved into my house in Hammond in 1996, we paid $200 real estate taxes that year. This May, my wife and I paid real estate taxes again, $4,000. That's 20 times what we paid the first year we were there. Every one of my neighbors in Hammond, East Chicago, Whiting, all pay better than 20 times what they paid 40 years ago for their property. Except for one neighbor, and that one neighbor is BP. BP does not pay anywhere near what they paid 20, 30, 40 years ago. When Amoco owned the place, they paid their fair taxes and real estate taxes. BP does not. We need to think about what we can do to recover the money so the citizens of Hammond don't support a foreign oil company. Thank you very much. And Mayor, you did a great job on the Pepsi block out also. And hopefully you can do as great a job as you did with BP. Thank you.

Any other comments? Thank you. Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Clerk Golick, roll call vote, please. Alexander. Yes.

Smith-Talley. Yes. Yes. Salinas? Yes. Tyler? Yes. Emerson?

Yes.

Warple? Yes. Rakos? Yes. Vanes?

Yes. Clerk Golick, before I gavel that, I would like to add all of us as a council, as a whole. as a sponsor of this ordinance uh we are in complete agreement with every word uh in the resolution i should say and thank you to all of you who spoke from your heart uh we appreciate it um our heart goes out to you and motion carries nine in favor zero opposed Moving on to special zoning action. Item A. Madam President. Councilman.

I make a motion we go back to the regular agenda.

Second. Motion to return to regular order of business. Second. Second by Councilwoman Alexander. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Aye. Okay. Now, special zoning action adopted under Indiana Code 36-7.

Ordinance 26-17 sponsored by Councilman Salinas. And ordinance reclassifying certain lands in the city of Hammond for zoning purposes and amending ordinance number 8514. which is an ordinance establishing a zoning plan for the city of Hammond, including the regulations and maps to administer the zoning plan in order to provide for orderly growth and development within the city, all in accordance with the comprehensive use plan as amended for a property commonly known as 5009 Calumet Avenue.

I move for final passage and amendment of 2617. Second.

Motion by Councilman Salinas, second by Councilman Rakos. Mayor?

I want to be careful because I know we've missed this step up before. I know we're not supposed to argue, but I'll just reiterate again. $25 million investment, 100 new jobs, 70,000 square foot industrial building for crane manufacturing and distribution, as well as the national headquarters for USCO, located on seven acres of underutilized parcels that I went back as far as my mind could stretch, and I don't remember there being anything on this site other than a city building that was used by Hammond Sanitary District. I think the last time this building was used was in the early 1900s. This land was profitable, meaning taxpaying land in the city of Hammond. We do have a 10-year tax abatement that we've agreed upon as the incentive package for moving this business into Hammond, and it's great, in my opinion, to bring 100 new jobs to this corridor on land that's never really generated jobs for decades. close to a century, if not longer. So I hope the council considers this strongly. I think it's a great move for our city.

Madam President.

Thank you. Yes, Councilman.

And to the mayor's point, I want to add that these 100 jobs are high quality jobs with great benefits that will be hired locally. And to the point that was made maybe during our last meeting during public expression, this is a fourth generation family owned company relocating their business from Illinois where it's been for over 100 years. And they're making a significant investment in a decision to call Hammond their new long-term home for generations to come. So please, everyone, consider this. Thank you.

Madam President.

Yes, Councilman.

To reiterate what Councilman Salinas is saying is 47 years ago I started at the post office and one of the first routes I delivered was that place. There wasn't a business there then 47 years ago. And To reiterate what Councilman Salinas said, I know the people in public expression like to tell us we don't know what we're doing, but a property that's been vacant for 47 years and somebody wants to buy it and redevelop it, I'm 100% for it no matter what it takes to get them here. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other discussion? Any other discussion?

President one more point. Yes, this company here stuck with us. By the way, we had another deal that fell apart We made a decision that didn't go us goes away and they could have easily walked when they stuck with the city Hammond that I do want to point that out that they could have walked months ago when We made the deal with Riverside Christian and they didn't they stuck with us through thick and thin I think it you know, I did want to point that out to the council So they're obviously committed to our city

Madam President.

Yes, Councilman.

One thing I forgot. Yes. One of the things I heard about this property is there were tunnels there so Al Capone could move back and forth from Calumet City to Hammond when it was a distillery. And I'm here to tell you there's no such tunnels underneath that property.

There were tunnels all around, but maybe not there. All righty, any other discussion? Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Clerk Golick, roll call vote, please.

Alexander. Yes. Spitelli.

Yes. There was, Councilman Moon, was there a second on that?

Councilman Rakos. Yes. Kowalski?

Yes.

Salinas? Yes. Tyler? Yes. Emerson? Yes. Warple? Yes. Rakos? Yes. Vanes?

Yes. Thank you. Motion carries, nine in favor, zero opposed. Thank you all, appreciate you all. Yes.

That'll be in my next book called Wives' Tales.

I beg your pardon?

Those tunnels will be in my next book called Wives' Tales.

Okay. Okay. Thank you. Next is public expression. Thank you. First speaker, Tom Kazmierczak.

Evening, council. Saturday, I had the pleasure of accompanying my mother to the free flower giveaway at the Civic Center. It was a good event. As you can imagine, it wasn't overly attended by younger generations in the city. probably one of the bigger events in the city where the older members of our community show up. And one of the issues I noticed was there was no signs directing anybody to the handicap entrance at the rear of the Civic Center. There were quite a few people that were struggling with the stairs. One gentleman I witnessed almost fell because he was forced to walk backwards down the stairs with his walker. I know over the past couple months, the city has been talking about a partnership with, sorry, I'm about to join that organization, so I'm losing my mind. AARP, yes, thank you. So an event like this, I think it would be beneficial if we had some better signage to address that or potentially in the future, maybe use the rear entrance as the main entrance to an event like that where it is more openly attended by our elderly citizens. So thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank you.

Next speaker, Barbara Hargrove.

Good evening to the mayor who stepped out, to the assistant mayor, to respected council members, and to the guests in the audience. My name is Barb Hargrove, always trying to make the world a better place. I'm excited to share some wonderful new plans to create an environmentally park and to honor our veterans. To get this party started, we presented our concept to Purdue University students. Linnea Williams took our concept and with Mark Lewinsky and several others help, came up here, checked out the area, and worked with others to come up with some awesome ideas. The illustrations that Scott is going to pass out to you give you an idea of what this Veterans Memorial Parkway is going to be like. These very same illustrations were on display for all people to see at the Horticultural Building at Purdue Lafayette. This was her senior thesis, and I think she did a wonderful job. These plans include native plants to encourage pollinators, places to relax and enjoy the view of our great lake, plus a bike trail for the mayor and those people who like to ride their bikes. We know that the rewards of being with nature are endless. That's why we are excited to present this to all of you and hope you will agree and sign on for its completion. Thank you so much for your attention. Appreciate it.

Thanks Barb. Thank you. Did you get me? Okay. Next speaker, Gennaro Gallardo. No? Yes? Okay. Terry Stegall, you already spoke or you want to speak again?

Get two shots when you can. Anyway, I brought a brochure here today about a community meeting about green steel that's going to happen in Gary, Indiana. Everybody's invited. It's on the same night as the farmer's market, but you can go to the farmer's market, and if you make it to 5 o'clock to the Gary Library, you get something free to eat, you know, and you can have a town hall on green steel. And why this is so important, you know, as the great Chicago folks have kind of scolded us about our smokestacks, this really helps eliminate that. Because what happens if you go to the new technology called direct reduction iron furnaces, it eliminates the coke plant and the blast furnace. It's a transition process. It's not going to happen overnight, but it's probably about a 15-year transition. So we need to make sure that Nippon is making the right investments in the community because they have the technology and they have the money. And they already invested, just invested in DRI in Arkansas, $1.9 billion. And they still have $2.2 billion left to invest in Gary. So what we're hoping they'll do is start this transition to green steel. And if they do that, you know, they could do something exactly what Hammond did with the old bank in downtown Hammond with the Sinterbank. I mean, the main floor is just like the bank over there. It's a beautiful facility there. And then they could take those other floors and convert them to apartments. And likewise in Hammond, they're right next to the train station. So this will be a wonderful thing. And Gary can't redevelop anything until they clean the environment up. And like I tell people, there's no magic dome over these steel mills. So they impact all of Northwest Indiana. So this is the attempt. Let's clean the environment up. Let's make it a better place to live, better quality of life. We want Nippon and U.S. Steel to do the right thing for the community and be good neighbors and responsible billionaires, not like BP. So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Terry.

Next speaker, Eric Schultz. Okay, George Stoya.

George Stoya, Robertsdale. Yeah, I thought we were going to have a presentation by the Dairy Bell people. Has that been postponed?

I believe that's our next meeting.

Next week? Next meeting, June 8th.

Next meeting, okay, I thought it was this meeting, my bad. All right, I just wanted to, again, reiterate that I find it highly suspicious that the guy that owns the Dairy Bell is exploiting schools to set up shop. I mean, he's got one right next to the one on 171st. And now he's going to put one right next to another school on Calumet Avenue. That's not by accident. That's just opportunistic exploitation of children. And it's going to create a traffic jam. I hope that something with you guys and planners or whoever is engineering, designing this, is taking into account that that's going to be one big, all you're doing is creating a traffic jam so this guy can sell ice cream. And which is great, fine and dandy, but you also have a laundromat going there. And that's, I don't know if that street can handle that kind of traffic because you have residents down there too. And they're not just coming in from Robertsdale, they're coming in from Illinois. They whip around that turn there at the five points and they're going south and that's going to be tough and it's going to be dangerous for kids. So that said, like I said, I just find it highly exploitative of the schools that this guy's setting up shot real conveniently next to the schools. I mean, the kids are easy to bait on an ice cream. What kid doesn't want an ice cream? And the thing is, everybody does it in cars. Nobody stands in line anymore. Anyway, secondly, I don't know how many of you guys read the letter I wrote, but I was particularly, I must say, really... disturbed and frustrated, outright angry that the city, you guys, and the mayor, become so petty that you refuse that your fear or whatever, letting people, let the camera, I guess, view our face or whatever the case may be. And I don't know that it's constitutional. I wrote, if you read the letter, some of you might not find the time for it, or the patience. I know Mr. Kalwinski thinks I write a little too long, but too bad. I seriously find it that taxpayer money's funding this great studio, this forum, and it's designated to us as citizens, and then while reserving privileged access so you guys can get your faces on there. Now, granted, you're the council, but bear in mind, anybody that's addressing you here is not just addressing the council. Otherwise, why bother streaming it?

Next is Mary Shones.

Good evening. I wanted to, during the first public expression we had earlier today, the gentleman whose property tax bill went from $200 a year to over four grand, and maybe one of the reasons why this keeps happening to us is because we keep doing 10-year tax abatements. I, for one, really hope that this business stays 100 years and creates 100 jobs, And I'm glad you're sitting down, Councilman Salinas, when I tell you this, but corporations do lie. And I signed a 30-year mortgage. Where's my tax abatement? But there are a lot of important issues in the city. And one of the other things that... especially in Hammond right now, is we're dealing with the mayor who wants to conflate a pedestrian bridge in Grand Avenue. That project has been canceled for want of $3 million. And instead, we want to use $20 million of state taxpayer money to put a pedestrian bridge in the wrong location. And we get to wipe out Briary's Woods while we do it. And as I started to think about it, I started to think that this governor's parkway project is kind of like the Trump ballroom. You know, it's too expensive by far. No one wants it. And it's going to be responsible for a lot of environmental destruction. And at the March 9th city council meeting, Mayor McDermott says we don't even need it in the first place. It's not up on the YouTube channel that the city has, but it is available online if you Google it, or it will be available until it's been axed for internal review or some such nonsense. But you can see him around the 7 to 10 minute mark just explaining why we don't need a pedestrian bridge in the first place, because there aren't any more stop trains in Hessville. So if that's the case, why are we spending $20 million of state taxpayer money to put a pedestrian bridge in the wrong location? Samuel Johnson once said that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. And that means that often people will hide behind the flag to do all kinds of nefarious things. But I think the first refuge of a scoundrel is to hide behind children and children's safety. So pretending that this is all about children's safety and making sure they get to school safely and putting the pedestrian bridge in the wrong spot is repugnant behavior. And if anyone else feels the same way I do, you can give city council a call at 219-853-6404 and tell them that you don't want Briar East Woods to be torn down. Thank you. Next is Ken Rosick.

Good evening, council. When it comes to public safety, fearmongering is the most used method this city has to take land away from residents. From the beginning of your project, we heard the usual suspects from the city on social media spreading fake rumors demonizing our prior Eastwoods. At mayor's night out, I remember one city official made his best effort to assist the mayor in this. He said, I have lived eight years right across the street from those woods, and I know they're dangerous. That's why I never stepped one foot in them. The irony of his comment seemed to be lost in him. He inadvertently said the quiet part out loud. The guy sitting next to him had to cover his face. I don't think it's right that the mayor put city workers on the spot like that. What do you think would happen if they said something that was against the mayor's position when asked? Do you think they would get that raise, a promotion, or even campaign cash? The mayor, along with this council, fenced in our woods and locked us out of the Briar East woods. We've been locked out. You fenced them in because his feelings got hurt. because a bunch of us got a great story in the newspaper. We finally hit the big time. We were on the cover of the Gary Post Tribune. The mayor was like, I'll teach them. We'll show residents who's the boss. I'll get a couple of councilmen to make up some bogus claims and fence the entire woods. Then I'll get workers to put up the most obnoxious warning signs just to really stick it to them. fear-mongering at its finest. Dozens of signs were installed on this hideous fence. Private property, no trespassing, violators will be prosecuted. How can public land suddenly be declared private property? The first signs must have been too small. So more signs went up, twice as big as the first. You would think this was the site of a secret chemical weapons plant. This fence is nothing more than a blatant land grab, put up out of greed and spite. The message to young people, fear nature, fear government. When we were kids, we used to play in the woods. Police would pass through every now and then. Not good enough today. Now you must cordon off the entire area and destroy it. Hundreds of volunteers cleaned up the woods over five years. Then you all stabbed them in the back by taking it away from everyone, providing again, no good deed goes unpunished. Thank you, counsel.

You're welcome.

Anthony Hicks.

Anthony Higgs, former councilman of the third district of the city of Hammond. Following behind that is quite a bit. I mean, I'm trying to actually get my mind and my thoughts together. It's interesting, but however, for one thing that was brought to this council was to Purdue expansion of the veterans Memorial park. I do have someone that's currently sits on the board. I don't think he stepped down currently. If you get with me after the meeting, we can see, I don't know if it's publicly funded or privately funded, but, certainly I would like to look into that endeavor. Secondly, I would like to, uh, send a message to the mayor that the people from the third district and throughout the city of Hammond are approaching me about a Hammond day. If we can get that restarted, it would be greatly appreciated in the third district. And thirdly, the Memorial park, I mean, that Memorial park, um, Martin Luther King park, which was one of my accomplishments as being the third district councilman, it has our current councilman, um, name on it and the residents are complaining to me that I have no control over it. It's up to the mayor to remove the current councilman name from the plaque. I was very instrumental in making that to come to pass in the third district and I would hope that Chief of staff would take that back to the mayor and present those ideas as well. Thirdly, there are a number of issues that are affecting the third district, and hopefully somehow or another these can be addressed. And I am openly and willing to work with any of you all that are willing to work with me in making our city better and great. Thank you.

Thank you. Next is Joe and forgive me, H-E-T. Okay. Loretta Crackett-Tyler, take a pass. Jim Closchen. There we go, all righty. Thank you very much. Thank you all for your thoughts. Public expression is now closed. Motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn.

Motion by Councilman Salinas, second by Councilwoman Alexander. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Can all the still workers come up here for a photo, please?