[0:00] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,

[0:04] and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with

[0:10] liberty and justice for all. >> If you would all still remain standing

[0:16] for a moment of silence, uh in honor of Joe Bogusevich, who was

[0:22] on our Disabilities Commission. He passed away this past week. And also

[0:29] Susan Alexander, who was a part-time secretary in our council office, who a

[0:36] couple of years ago, who passed away this week. Thank you.

[0:45] Thank you.

[0:55] All righty, Carmen. Roll call vote, please.

[0:58] » Alexander? >> Present.

[1:00] » Spadatelli? >> Here.

[1:02] » Kolwinski? >> Here.

[1:04] » Salinas? >> Here.

[1:06] » Tyler? >> Here.

[1:08] » Emerson? >> Here.

[1:10] » Warpole? >> Here.

[1:11] » Racos? >> Here.

[1:13] » Banez? >> Here.

[1:15] » Uh nine in chambers, zero absent. Moving on to mayor's address.

[1:23] Good evening, mayor. >> Good evening. Thanks, Councilwoman. Good

[1:26] to see you all. It's good to be back. Um it's keeping in the spirit with

[1:31] the remembrance and the moment of silence you just discussed. I was at a

[1:35] wake for a former employee, Ty Edwards. He worked

[1:40] in the park department for a long time. He retired a few years ago. And then his

[1:44] wife, Andrea, who worked for us up until a few weeks ago and retired, as soon as

[1:50] she retired, she lost her husband. So, I attended on behalf of the city.

[1:56] Um you know, we're all thinking about you, Andrea. It's very sad and she's a

[1:59] great lady and they're a great couple. They've been together a long time, so

[2:03] you know, it's a been a rough couple weeks in City

[2:06] Hall, so thank you for recognizing them, Councilwoman.

[2:09] » thank you. >> Uh other meetings I've held, I don't

[2:11] have a lot today, so if you have questions, I'm open, but I don't think

[2:15] my report's going to be very long. I met with US Senator Jim Banks municipal

[2:19] liaison, Leanne Engerman. Leanne used to uh I know her from a previous life. When

[2:25] I was the chairman of the Democratic Party, I met her and she was always one

[2:28] of the leaders of the Republican Party on the election board and she was

[2:31] promoted to become Jim Banks' area liaison, basically. So, it's nice

[2:36] to have good contacts with the senators. Um attended Okay, attended a meeting at

[2:42] Central Firehouse with my executive team and shift one.

[2:45] Uh we have those meetings usually once every couple months. All chiefs as well

[2:48] as multiple captains were in attendance at that meeting. Real good meeting.

[2:53] Um We were We learned at that meeting that

[2:56] we're having issues with one of our truck one of our engines and one of our

[2:59] trucks and we got to do something about radios, also uh police and fire and

[3:05] that's something we're going to be discussing with you guys in the near

[3:07] future cuz it's a public safety issue, but it's nice to have meetings with the

[3:12] men and the women of the fire department and the police department find out, you

[3:15] know, what's going on on the ground. You know, I talk to the chiefs a lot and I

[3:19] talk to the bosses sometimes. Talking to the men and women that work every day

[3:23] for us is much better for me cuz I learn a lot more. So, uh also met with the

[3:27] captains, the chief and the assistant chief of the Hammond Police Department

[3:30] for our regular monthly meeting. We do that often at the Police Department. Um

[3:35] Met with the meeting with the Festival of Lakes team, discussed the particulars

[3:39] of the Jelly Roll concert. We announced Jelly Roll on Friday. Not a country

[3:43] music guy, but from what I understand, he's going to sell out and it's

[3:47] um our previous biggest concert we've ever had at the Festival of Lakes was

[3:51] Lil Wayne. Uh Lil Wayne, excuse me. It's not Lil,

[3:54] it's Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne sold over 100,000 tickets in the first 24 hours

[3:59] they went for sale. And Jelly Roll sold that in 2 hours and 50 minutes. He

[4:05] already set the record for the first day. He sold over $250,000 worth of

[4:09] tickets in the first day. So, that that show is going to sell out. So,

[4:13] so I advise the people that are listening,

[4:17] I wouldn't wait till the last second for this one. This one's going to sell out.

[4:20] Twice as many gold tickets were going as opposed to silver tickets. Gold tickets

[4:24] are right on the stage. Those are the expensive ones. Once that sells out,

[4:27] people are going to start focusing on silver.

[4:30] And then they're going to be gone. So, that one's going to sell out. Which is

[4:33] good news for us. That means it'll be a free night for us cuz

[4:37] if it sells out, that means we're doing well.

[4:39] Um Uh took three interview requests over

[4:42] the possibility of the Bears moving to Hammond. Three out of like 50 requests.

[4:46] I'm literally picking and choosing. One of them was for students from Crown

[4:50] Point Public High School. I thought that was a cool one to do and it was really

[4:53] great interview. It's pretty impressive. Uh met with Brian Howey from Howey

[4:57] Politics, talked about it with him and Fox 32 News Chicago. I've been turning

[5:01] down 90% of the requests I get cuz really there's no update. I'm willing to

[5:05] talk to you all if you have a question, but

[5:07] um read to Miss Cindy Heinz's second grade class at Saint Casimir School in

[5:11] North Hammond. Great school, great kids, great teacher.

[5:15] Uh it was fun. Represented the city of Hammond at Taste of the Region event in

[5:18] Hobart. I was there with Scott and a few other people from the city. And that's a

[5:22] fundraiser benefiting the Service League of Northwest Indiana.

[5:25] Um I know resolutions that you guys are hearing tonight, uh I'm going to go

[5:30] ahead and cover this if you don't mind about the Core Weaver extension.

[5:34] I don't ever want to extend it. If you guys approve this,

[5:37] I don't want to ever come back to you and and say I need another extension.

[5:40] I'm done. They I think it's

[5:43] We said, "What do you need?" They told me June 30th. I don't want to come back

[5:47] in. I've done this two times already. This is the third time I'm asking you

[5:50] guys for extension. We've been in this project a long time. [clears throat] I

[5:54] It's hard to close the door. It's hard to say goodbye. If they're not here by

[5:58] June 30th, I'm going to say goodbye and we're going to go on and I'm going to

[6:01] try to emulate what the mayor of Hobart did with the data center in Hobart

[6:05] because Hobart's the richest city in Northwest Indiana now. And we have a

[6:09] great data center location where the residents aren't complaining.

[6:13] It used to be a coal plant. And if we close the deal, it could help us out

[6:17] with SB1 and a lot of the financial pressures we're facing. So,

[6:21] guys, if you give us this 4-month extension,

[6:24] this is what they're saying they need. I promise you I will close the door if

[6:28] we're if [laughter] we're not done by June 30th. I'm done with this. I've been

[6:31] This has been three, two and a half years. It's been a

[6:34] long time. So, um

[6:37] They're asking for a 4-month extension cuz we didn't want to keep coming back

[6:40] one month to one month. They said it's more than enough time to get the power

[6:43] agreement done with NIPSCO. They need to also work on the lease agreement between

[6:47] Court Reeve and Diceniel. Once Once the power agreement's done, the lease

[6:51] agreement could be done. Planning and Development's monitoring this closely

[6:54] cuz I told them I'm done. It's embarrassing to keep coming back at to

[6:58] you asking for extensions. I don't like doing this. But I There's lots and lots

[7:03] of money at stake. I feel like it would be negligent if we close the door on

[7:06] them at this phase. It's literally from what they're saying, we're like right

[7:09] there. So, I hope you please accept that extension request and that'll be the

[7:15] last time hopefully we have to talk about this. I don't have any other thing

[7:18] else, Madam President, unless you all have questions. I'm more than happy to

[7:21] answer them. >> I do have a question.

[7:25] » Wow, I don't know. >> Uh

[7:27] I'm looking for uh your comments on the

[7:32] Grand Avenue pedestrian bridge. >> Oh, the pedestrian bridge. Thank you. I

[7:36] should have put that in my report. I apologize, Councilwoman.

[7:38] » That's okay. >> So,

[7:40] this goes Now, we had two projects going in Nashville. Governor's Parkway, which

[7:44] is being funded by the state, and we're on the long list, obviously, before

[7:48] they're going to commence work on it. That's the vehicular and pedestrian

[7:52] bridge uh that gets you basically from 173rd to 171st. And then this other

[7:57] project was in response to an article that came out in ProPublica. I know you

[8:00] guys remember this. Hammond was all over the national news

[8:04] cuz they showed kids that were going to Scott Middle School, and they were

[8:07] crawling through stopped trains. Now, if you remember correctly, the world came

[8:11] to an end in Hammond when that happened. Everybody is like, "We need to fix this

[8:14] now." It was one of those rare times where

[8:17] Norfolk Southern was calling up saying, "What can we do to help?" City Hammond

[8:21] was like, "Where have you guys been all of our life?" And then I got a phone

[8:24] call from the Secretary of Department of Transportation, who I used to know as

[8:27] Mayor Pete, Pete Buttigieg. He wanted in on the action. Everybody wanted to help

[8:31] Hammond. So, if you remember correctly, guys,

[8:35] at that time, I talked to the CEO of Norfolk Southern. He said, "Mayor, I

[8:38] want to help. What can I do?" I said, "We can build a bridge and get us over

[8:42] it, and the kids will take the bridge, and they'll never have to cross the

[8:45] stopped trains again." He said, "I got you, Mayor. I'm going to pay for that."

[8:49] God bless America. So, we hired an engineering firm. We

[8:53] designed the pedestrian bridge. And then when the Department of

[8:56] Transportation jumps in, Buttigieg wants some action out of this. It was a big

[9:00] story. Everybody wanted to help. So, we're like, "Hey, we can pay for 80% of

[9:04] it, and the 20% will be paid by Norfolk Southern."

[9:08] And I was thinking to myself, "This is going to slow it down from a one-year

[9:11] project to a five-year project." But Norfolk Southern was really excited

[9:14] about 80% being paid for by Mayor Pete and Department of Transportation. So, we

[9:19] agreed to go along with it. So, they designed this project. Norfolk

[9:22] Southern's paying it, and 80% coming from the feds, 20% coming from Norfolk

[9:28] Southern. And then the guy I talked to from Norfolk Southern got fired.

[9:33] And the new guy had amnesia. What? I don't remember anything about

[9:37] that, Mayor. I don't remember ever saying we were going to pay for this,

[9:40] Mayor. So, we're sitting there and now we're

[9:42] stuck. Engineering's been paid for by Norfolk Southern. 80% being paid for by

[9:47] Mayor Pete and the Feds. 20% of a $5 million project is like $2 million.

[9:52] Excuse me, our local match ends up at around $2 million.

[9:57] So, we start doing some analysis. Is this worth $2 million

[10:02] of city [clears throat] money that's hard to come by for a bridge that's

[10:05] going to be used once a year, maybe?

[10:09] And then 364 days a year sitting there unused. And I talked to the Councilman,

[10:14] Councilman Scott, this guy I could see it already, Mayor Tom's bridge to

[10:17] nowhere. The bridge that nobody ever uses. We paid $2 million for. Feds paid

[10:22] for the other 80%. And we just made a decision. It's

[10:27] when Governor's Parkway is built, it will solve a lot of these problems in

[10:30] itself. And we made the decision that the

[10:32] pedestrian bridge wasn't worth it. We got all of the partners that were

[10:36] partnering with us bailed on us. One got fired. The other one's got amnesia. And

[10:40] it would have cost us $2 million for a bridge that's used maybe once a year.

[10:44] So, I gave up on it. I made the decision.

[10:47] It's not easy. But, that's how it went down, Councilwoman.

[10:51] » Okay. Thank you. I think it's just good for

[10:56] some of the people who come and ask questions about that every Council

[11:01] meeting to be aware of exactly what the situation

[11:05] » I'm glad you asked me. I should have put it in my report that came out last week.

[11:08] So, I should have caught that. Thank you for asking.

[11:10] » Mhm. >> So, any other questions?

[11:12] » Councilwoman Benas.

[11:14] » Yes, Councilman. >> to elaborate on that because this is in

[11:18] response to what we hear a lot after we can't say nothing. And um

[11:25] over the years that I've been on the Council since this project started, this

[11:28] has gotten so convoluted with the the the public are telling us.

[11:33] This started out as a way to get cars around trains.

[11:40] People have taken it taken it in 19 different directions. At

[11:46] one point they said, "Well, no, this is a pedestrian bridge and a pedestrian

[11:49] bridge only." It's not.

[11:54] This, you know, being a lifelong resident of Hixson

[11:58] and 65 years in Hixson, I don't remember a

[12:02] time when trains weren't a problem in Hixson.

[12:07] You know, I stated a long time ago my opinion on it, but

[12:12] it just it gets old after a while when we just after the meeting's over

[12:17] we're asked, "When we going to vote?" when we already have.

[12:20] We're asked, "Why are you guys doing this with kids

[12:24] crossing the railroad tracks?" and I've gone over those tracks a lot during

[12:30] school hours and everything and you might see a kid every now and then

[12:36] do something like it wound up on the TV, but it's not a huge issue. I mean,

[12:42] any one kid's a huge issue, but it's not like there's 20 kids a day

[12:46] doing that.

[12:49] And it just frustrates me as a council

[12:52] person that has been in support of this from day one

[12:56] to hear that hear this get all twisted around and you guys don't care about the

[12:59] residents cuz I know what my residents want.

[13:03] And it's a way to move around Hixson when the trains are blocking like they

[13:09] still do

[13:13] 3 4 hours a day. >> Councilman Dev, I don't want to like cuz

[13:17] the pedestrian bridge and Governor's Parkway go I'm still 1000% committed to

[13:22] Governor's Parkway and we're going to get that project done once the state

[13:25] green lights it, so >> I'm making the comparison. Yeah, we

[13:29] since we passed this twice, three times, whatever it was.

[13:33] It's just the story changes every meeting on what we're supposedly doing

[13:36] and how we're not listening to the residents and there's no truth to that.

[13:41] » So, the bottom line is there was a press release Hammond

[13:47] suspends Grand Avenue pedestrian bridge project project Hammond, Indiana.

[13:52] » That's how it went down. >> That's it.

[13:54] » I didn't think it was worth $2 million of city money. And you when you consider

[13:58] I if I remember correctly the local match on the the bridge that holds

[14:02] traffic is around $3 million. And we would have to pay $2 million for

[14:05] a bridge that's hardly ever going to be used. It wasn't worth $2 million. It was

[14:09] worth it if Norfolk Southern was paying the bill like they initially told me,

[14:12] but that guy got fired. So.

[14:16] » Right. >> Any other questions?

[14:20] » Any other questions for the mayor? >> Great to see you. Have a nice meeting.

[14:24] Thank you all. >> All righty.

[14:28] Uh moving on to approval of minutes. >> Make a motion that we approve the

[14:33] minutes from the February 23rd meeting and place them on file.

[14:37] » Second. >> Motion by Councilman

[14:39] uh Selena, second by Councilman Emerson.

[14:43] Any discussion? Any discussion?

[14:46] Any discussion? All those in favor?

[14:50] » Aye. >> Aye.

[14:50] » Opposed? Motion passes.

[14:55] Moving on to approval of claims. >> Madam President.

[14:59] » Yes, Councilman Reikos. >> I move to approve register of claims

[15:03] beginning with claims dated 22726 and ending with claim

[15:07] dated 3426. Claim number 1655

[15:13] through claim number 2011 inclusive in the amount of $7,954,604.22.

[15:24] » Second. >> Motion by Councilman Recos, second by

[15:28] Councilman Warpel. Any discussion? Any

[15:33] Was that you? >> I heard my voice.

[15:36] » Oh, I'm sorry. >> [laughter]

[15:39] » Uh and the second was by Councilman Tyler.

[15:42] Any discussion? Any discussion?

[15:46] Any discussion? Carmen, roll call vote, please.

[15:51] » Alexander? >> Yes.

[15:53] » Spatelli? >> Yes.

[15:54] » Kelwinski? >> Yes.

[15:57] » Salinas? >> Yes.

[15:59] » Tyler? >> Yes.

[16:00] » Emerson? >> Yes.

[16:02] » Warpel? >> Yes.

[16:04] » Recos? >> Yes.

[16:06] » Velez? >> Yes.

[16:09] » Um claims passed nine in favor, zero opposed.

[16:13] Moving on to public hearings, there are none. Communications.

[16:18] » Madam President. >> Yes, Councilman Warpel.

[16:21] » I would like the statement on the suspension of the pedestrian bridge made

[16:24] part of the record and recorded.

[16:28] So I'll >> Okay.

[16:29] » No vote's needed. >> Is there a second?

[16:32] » I second. >> Okay. Motion by Councilman Warpel,

[16:35] second by Councilman Salinas to make the uh press release about the

[16:42] uh Hammond suspends Grand Avenue pedestrian

[16:46] bridge project part of the record. Any discussion?

[16:51] Any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor?

[16:54] » Aye. >> Aye.

[16:55] » Opposed? Motion passes. Carmen.

[17:02] Carmen. >> There we go.

[17:05] » Okay. Thank you.

[17:08] Any other communications? >> [clears throat]

[17:11] » Any other communications? >> Madam President.

[17:14] » Yes, Councilman Recos. >> Uh EC3 is having annual St. Patrick's

[17:18] Day parade on Saturday at 1:00. We're starting

[17:23] at Hessville Park at Orchard Drive at Kennedy and going to 165th.

[17:28] It'll be at 1:00 on Saturday, March 14th.

[17:32] » Thank you. Any other communications?

[17:39] » Madam President. >> Yes.

[17:40] » The Hammond Sports Hall of Fame is having their 40th annual

[17:43] » your pardon? >> The Hammond Sports Hall of Fame is

[17:45] having their 40th annual indiction tomorrow night at the Hammond

[17:51] Civic Center beginning at 5:00. Um I don't remember all of them. I do know

[17:55] that former fireman um Ray uh Cook

[18:00] not Ray. Um Charlie Cook's being inducted and um

[18:06] Dave Sitkowski, I think everybody knows. He's long-time baseball guy around here

[18:10] and whose team's never beat us, but that's a different story.

[18:13] And uh there's

[18:17] close to being sold out of 350 people. So

[18:21] » Nice. Nice.

[18:24] » All ready. Any other communications? I I just wanted to remind everybody that

[18:30] their animal license is due by March 31st. Uh

[18:37] $5 uh unless your pet is not neutered or

[18:42] spayed, it's $10. Uh after March 31st, there will be um a $10 fee. So, any

[18:51] other communication?

[18:54] Councilman uh Kilwinski.

[18:57] » Thank you. Yes. Uh fish fries are happening

[19:00] everywhere in my district. Uh St. John Baptist in Robertsdale on Fridays from

[19:06] about 3:30 till 7:00. St. Cas, same thing about that same

[19:11] time. And the Hamon Mohawks also are having their fish fry every Friday

[19:16] throughout Lent from 3:45 to 7:00. Thank you.

[19:23] » Thank you. Any other communication? Any other communication?

[19:29] Any other communication? Communications are now closed.

[19:34] Uh committee reports. >> Madam President.

[19:38] » Councilman Salinas. >> The Capital Improvement Board met on

[19:41] March 2nd and we had three funding allocations

[19:45] that I'll cover right now. >> [clears throat]

[19:47] » The first funding allocation number 307 is to replace benches and trash

[19:52] receptacles on Homan Avenue. This includes the forms and the surfaces

[19:57] in the amount of $18,567.

[20:03] Second funding allocation number 308 J.F. Mahoney ditch improvements

[20:10] to construction uh since construction engineering. This is to Nice

[20:14] uh engineering in the amount of $16,425.

[20:20] The third and final funding allocation number 309

[20:23] is to restore the street lighting on Sibley supplemental to Homan to the Nick

[20:28] D line to Hawk Enterprises in the amount of $1,985.55.

[20:36] » Thank you, Councilman. Uh and uh I would like to read off the

[20:41] upcoming community and crime watch meetings.

[20:45] Uh community watch at Mount Zion Pleasant View Plaza will meet tomorrow,

[20:50] Wednesday, March 11th. Not tomorrow. That's Wednesday.

[20:55] Wednesday, March 11th uh at 1:00 p.m. Harrison Park Crime Watch will meet

[21:02] Tuesday, April 7th, 6:00 p.m. at the VFW on Homewood Avenue, across from Harrison

[21:10] Park. Jefferson Crime Watch will meet Wednesday, March 11th uh 6:00 p.m. at

[21:18] Jefferson School. Hessville Crime Watch will meet

[21:22] Thursday, March 19th, 6:00 p.m. [cough]

[21:27] at [clears throat] the HC3 Community Center.

[21:30] Irving Community Watch will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10th, 9:30 a.m.

[21:37] at Irving School. And the Whiting-Robertsdale Crime Watch

[21:42] will [clears throat] meet Thursday, March 12th, 6:30 p.m. at uh Calumet

[21:48] College. Uh I always say, community is not just about me, it's about us. And I

[21:57] just want to say, over the weekend, we had an incident in our neighborhood that

[22:03] the the the police were notified by a 911 call, and they came and addressed

[22:11] the issue. So, it is not just about me, it's about all of us working together to

[22:19] keep our city safe. So, thank you, Madam President.

[22:23] » Thank you, Madam President. >> Uh

[22:28] Committee reports are now closed. Oh, Councilman, you need to speak up.

[22:34] » Yes, the Finance Committee that I'm the president of did not meet this week.

[22:39] » Okay. >> has nothing to report.

[22:41] » Okay. >> But being a standing committee, we

[22:44] should report out every meeting. >> Yes, we should.

[22:48] » So, I will have something next next meeting.

[22:50] » We will begin that in earnest next uh Council meeting. So, thank you.

[22:56] » Madam President. >> Yes.

[22:59] All righty. Any other committee reports? Committee reports are now closed.

[23:06] Moving on to ordinance third reading final passage, there are none.

[23:11] Uh introduction of ordinances. >> 2607

[23:18] an ordinance establishing electric vehicle EV charging rates for an EV

[23:23] charging station owned and operated by the city of Hammond.

[23:30] » Councilman Spatali >> Yes. Vote for first and second reading.

[23:34] Referred to finance committee. >> Second.

[23:37] » for March 23rd at 5:15. >> Second.

[23:44] » Thank you. Motion by Councilman Spatali, second by Councilman Rikos for first and

[23:50] second reading of 2607, referred to finance with a uh

[23:58] committee meeting on March 23rd 5:15 p.m.

[24:04] Any discussion? Any discussion?

[24:08] Any discussion? Clerk, I'll do roll call vote, please.

[24:13] » Alexander >> Yes.

[24:15] » Spatali >> Yes.

[24:16] » Kelwinski >> Yes.

[24:19] » Salinas >> Yes.

[24:20] » Tyler >> Yes.

[24:22] » Emerson >> Yes.

[24:24] » Warpel >> Yes.

[24:25] » Rikos >> Yes.

[24:26] » Vance >> Yes.

[24:30] Uh 2607 passes nine in favor, zero opposed.

[24:39] » 2608 an ordinance amending ordinance number

[24:43] 4508 and amended ordinance 7023,

[24:48] otherwise known as section 30.25 of the Hammond municipal code regarding

[24:54] common council order of business. >> Madam President.

[24:58] » Councilman Warfel. >> I move for first and second reading with

[25:02] no committee hearing on this. >> Thank you. Is there a second?

[25:07] » Second. >> Motion by Councilman Warfel, second by

[25:11] Councilman Spatola [clears throat] for first and second reading of 2608.

[25:17] Any discussion? >> Madam President.

[25:19] » Yes, Councilman. >> This is a change to the actual ordinance

[25:23] on the putting together of the agenda for

[25:27] Council meetings. Um

[25:30] we are adding, I think it's line 13 for the special zoning action adopted under

[25:36] IC code 36-7 and we are also making the mayor's address part of the ordinance.

[25:43] The only thing I will say is

[25:47] just because we're doing it this way, that we never have to really go in

[25:51] order. If we have somebody that has to leave or whatever, there's really no

[25:54] suspension of rules needed. That we can go in whatever order we need.

[25:59] But other than that, it's just a changing it by ordinance.

[26:03] » Thank you. Thank you.

[26:05] Uh who was the second on that? Was there a

[26:09] second? >> Yes.

[26:11] » Yes. Motion by Councilman Warfel, second by Councilman Spatola.

[26:17] Uh uh for first and second reading of 2608,

[26:22] no committee meeting. Any discussion? Any discussion?

[26:27] Any discussion? Clerk, can you roll call that on that,

[26:31] please? >> Alexander.

[26:32] » Yes. >> Spatola.

[26:34] » Yes. >> Kelwinski.

[26:36] » Yes. >> Salinas.

[26:38] » Yes. >> Tyler.

[26:39] » Yes. >> Emerson.

[26:40] » Yes. >> Warfel.

[26:42] » Yes. >> Racos.

[26:43] » Yes. >> Velez.

[26:45] » Yes. 2608 passes on first and second reading, nine

[26:50] in favor, zero opposed.

[26:55] Moving on to resolutions.

[27:00] » 26 R-4 A resolution of the Hammond Common

[27:05] Council approving the second amendment to development agreement among the city

[27:10] of Hammond, Indiana, the city of Hammond Redevelopment Commission,

[27:15] 301 Digital Crossroads LLC, Decennial Group LLC, and Coreweave

[27:21] Incorporated regarding the project at 100 Digital Crossroads Drive.

[27:27] » Madam President. >> Yes, Councilman Worpell.

[27:30] » I move for adoption of ordinance 26 R-04.

[27:34] » Second. >> Motion by and that is a resolution.

[27:39] » Yes. >> Okay.

[27:40] Uh motion by Councilman Worpell uh

[27:44] and second by Councilman Spitalli uh for approval of 26 R-04.

[27:52] Any discussion? >> Madam President.

[27:55] » Yes, Councilman. >> Thank you.

[27:57] I was happy to hear the mayor speak during his presentation

[28:02] at the council meeting uh strongly about this will be our last uh likely our last

[28:08] uh uh time that we grant an extension uh up

[28:14] to and including June 30th. So, I'm glad to hear that and glad to see that that's

[28:18] on record. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman. Any other

[28:23] discussion? >> I think the mayor covered it all during

[28:26] his speech. >> adequately, yes. Any other discussion?

[28:31] Any other discussion? Carmen, roll call vote, please.

[28:36] » Alexander >> Yes.

[28:38] » Spitalli >> Yes.

[28:39] » Kelwinski >> Yes.

[28:41] » Salinas >> Yes.

[28:43] » Tyler >> Yes.

[28:45] » Emerson >> Yes.

[28:46] » Worpell >> Yes.

[28:48] » Raikos? >> Yes.

[28:49] » Pena? [clears throat] >> Yes.

[28:52] Uh 26 R-04

[28:57] passes, nine in favor, zero opposed. Moving on to new and unfinished

[29:03] business. Any new and unfinished business?

[29:08] Any new and unfinished business? Any new and unfinished business? New and

[29:14] unfinished business is now closed. Moving on to special zoning action

[29:21] adopted under Indiana Code 36-7. Uh we do not have anything.

[29:29] Public expression. We have

[29:34] uh one guest, Mary Shones. You have 3 minutes.

[29:39] » Yes, I'd like to give public expression. >> Uh

[29:43] » Or >> On my first.

[29:45] » Okay, I cannot see. Uh Mary, if you will hold one moment, please.

[29:51] Uh who is that?

[29:54] » Who am I talking to? >> Uh Champion. I'm on the Zoom.

[29:57] » Oh, I see that. >> Did you tell driving? You look like

[30:00] you're driving. >> name and address?

[30:04] » Um I uh

[30:08] I don't want to give my address publicly.

[30:10] » And do you live in Hammond?

[30:16] » Um I don't want to I want to uh value my

[30:20] Fourth Amendment right to be secure in my person's papers and effects, and I

[30:24] just like to petition um and um give uh my public comment.

[30:29] » Uh may we have your name? >> A Champion.

[30:34] » Okay, Champion, go right ahead. >> Thank you. Uh thank you, everyone, for

[30:40] your service. I was just going to and you know, great meeting, uh great

[30:43] information. It seems like the gentleman who was discussing he got

[30:48] lied to, that was the mayor. Um, and he was lied to and told that he

[30:53] would, um, you know, the organization group was going to pay

[30:56] for the bridge. I was going to say what would have been great to hear cuz it

[30:59] seemed like, you know, possibly we moved forward as a city off of that

[31:05] word and maybe missed the step of securing that word, um, contractually,

[31:09] you know, so before we go to B, C, D, E, F, G,

[31:13] you know, uh, this individual told me this, if we had secured it

[31:16] contractually, just as a step,

[31:19] um, then, you know, that's why we take steps to,

[31:22] you know, secure things so that, you know, obviously if this happened, now,

[31:27] you know, it's what he say, she say. Not saying I don't believe, uh, the mayor,

[31:31] but, uh, just, uh, I thought that would have been a great, uh, just in in in in

[31:35] pointing out maybe what could have been done better or what we'd look to do in

[31:39] the future should we find ourself in this situation to make sure that we take

[31:43] that step. And I didn't hear that and I just wanted to share that and thank you

[31:46] so much for taking my comment. >> Thank you.

[31:51] » [clears throat] >> Already, Mary Shones.

[31:55] » Oh, there's also somebody else that has their hand raised on the on the

[31:59] » George >> online.

[32:01] » George Stoya. Stoya. >> Uh, Evelyn, would you like to speak?

[32:06] » George Stoya. >> George Stoya?

[32:09] » Yes. I would after Mr. Stoya.

[32:12] » We're going to go with Evelyn first. >> Fair enough.

[32:17] » Uh, okay, good good evening, everybody. Um, I I've been coming to the meetings

[32:23] for a couple of times. Um, okay, start my video. Sorry about

[32:26] that. Uh, good evening, everybody. Uh, I wanted to just say thank you for taking

[32:30] my question. I've been listening and I'll keep coming in in order to listen

[32:34] to everything that's been transpiring in my, uh, neighborhood and and in the

[32:39] city. But, I did have a question with everything happening the way that it's

[32:43] happening, not just the war that's going on, but previous to this, all the

[32:50] the prices of food and everything like that. And I know it's probably a simple

[32:54] question, but I just want to know, why are we not allowed to have chickens or

[32:59] rabbits for meat in in this particular area?

[33:05] » Evelyn, this is your opportunity to ask questions of us. We do not respond to

[33:14] questions in this portion of the meeting.

[33:18] I I suggest that you write an email, contact one of us, and

[33:26] we'd be more than happy to have a discussion on it.

[33:31] » Okay, thank you for elaborating on the rules. I didn't know that. Thank you so

[33:35] much. >> Thank you.

[33:38] George Stroia. >> Can you guys hear me?

[33:42] » Yeah. >> Yes.

[33:44] » Okay, cuz I don't know I I usually mess up the mic.

[33:48] Just uh one quick note, well, two quick notes. I'm personally

[33:52] still opposed to turning Hammond into a barnyard, but that's me. Uh

[33:56] all those little critters and animals, this is a city, not a farm. Anyway,

[34:01] um we still have week weeks to go of

[34:04] meetings to go. Mark Kalwinski mentioned uh

[34:08] uh something about we were going to get some of the ordinances and resolutions

[34:12] posted before the meeting, so we could review them, and nothing's happened

[34:16] about that. What's going on with that? Anything

[34:19] you guys going to do anything with that, or that's just

[34:21] cuz I caught you red-handed doing that one thing,

[34:25] and you know, you just said a few words and abracadabra, and and now it's in the

[34:30] you guys forgot all about it, and don't give a damn about informing us of uh

[34:34] cuz you guys got it on computer and I all this stuff about all it's going to

[34:39] cost too much to put it online. I don't buy a word of it. Anyway,

[34:43] that's all. >> Thank you.

[34:46] » Thanks, George. >> Thank you.

[34:51] Is there anyone else there? No. Okay.

[34:55] Mary, thank you for being patient.

[35:06] » Hi, good evening. Hope you're all doing well.

[35:09] » Thank you. >> So I saw the I saw the same you know

[35:14] press release from from Hammond about the about the bridge.

[35:19] And and then then late like later like like in the last paragraph of the

[35:26] um of the press release it says that the

[35:29] governor's the governor's Parkway bridge is fully

[35:33] funded. So the governor's

[35:37] pedestrian bridge that's not located near Morton High

[35:41] School is fully funded. But we're about what two

[35:47] not quite three million dollars short of a pedestrian bridge where it's actually

[35:51] needed. So it turn So do we have the money or don't don't we?

[35:57] You can answer me. I won't >> I'm sorry. No, I cannot answer you. But

[36:02] I yeah. Is anybody ever happy? That's all I have to say.

[36:06] » Well, people usually don't come to public expression because everything is

[36:11] going great, right? I mean that's if you don't want the job, I have a simple

[36:16] solution for you. I mean it's it's your choice.

[36:20] So So if we have the bridge, if we have the money for the bridge, why Why we put

[36:25] it where it makes the most sense? Where the kids are going to cross, but

[36:30] we know we need the but we need the pedestrian bridge and

[36:34] the mayor's condo scheme. I'm never going to call it you know, Governor's

[36:38] Parkway, whatever. Mike Brown's not going to be tooling

[36:41] around Hammond, okay? It's it's this is all the mayor's pipe dream to create

[36:47] condos where we don't need them and spend millions of dollars putting a

[36:52] pedestrian bridge in the wrong place and call that all in the name of safety.

[36:57] That's just not that's not serving the residents of Hammond well at all.

[37:02] I have I have more to say, but I'll leave it on that and again, I do I do I

[37:08] do wish you well, but I do have serious concerns.

[37:11] » Thank you. I appreciate

[37:14] » And yeah. >> All right.

[37:15] » Thank you. Have a good evening.

[37:17] » skill. With that, I make a motion we adjourn.

[37:21] Second. >> Second.

[37:24] » All those

03/09/26 - Hammond City Council Meeting

Transcript