City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL JUNE 12, 2017 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on June 12, 2017 in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Janet Venecz presided. City Clerk Robert J. Golec facilitated. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all. Invocation by Councilman Emerson. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz ABSENT: None TOTAL: 9 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes of May 22, 2017 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to accept the claims from May 17, 2017 through June 7, 2017. Claim #3229 through claim #3578, inclusive. ROLL CALL VOTE AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 CLAIMS APPROVED PUBLIC HEARINGS 17-15 Amending and Fixing the Schedule of Sewer Rates and Charges to be Collected by the Hammond Sanitary District from the owners of Property Served by the Sewage Works of the District George Stoya - Understands the necessity but keeps hearing that we have the lowest rates in the state and hopes that it doesn’t turn into a situation where it’s believed that there is still room to raise rates. Jim Tufford - Multi-unit buildings are not mooching off of the Sanitary System. They actually pay more in taxes than single family homes. We don’t mind paying but we only want things to be fair. Asked the council to vote down the ordinance and let the IAURC handle it. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 PUBLIC HEARINGS cont. Mary Ellen Slazyk - There’s a lot of people in Hammond that can not afford an increase, even of a few dollars. Many are on fixed incomes or just making ends meet. Maybe there can be something worked in where people that are low income or a fixed income can get a little bit of a break on this. COMMUNICATIONS Councilwoman Venecz read correspondence addressed to herself regarding “Attendance Requested”. “Dear Mrs. Venecz, this response is written on my behalf and members of the Board of School Trustees. It is a response to your letter requesting the attendance of Mrs. White and me at the Hammond Common Council meeting to provide an update and all information regarding a proposed school city referendum. Please be advised that it is my understanding that a number of council members attended the 1028 hearing held on May 30th, 2017 where tentative information was given on the provisions of the referendum. We will be meeting later sometime this week with a consultant to finalize what direction the board will take relative to the referendum. After our plan is finalized and we will move forward with what has developed we will be happy to plan a meeting where the finalized contents are shared with the city council members. I will contact your office in the near future regarding when this proposed meeting will take place. We would like to thank you in advance for your interest in learning more about our efforts in the school system. Respectfully, Walter J. Watkins.” Councilman Higgs - I realize that you read the letter from Dr. Watkins but, to me, I thought he should address me seeing that I am the councilman of the 3rd District of the city of Hammond and it’s going to affect the students that attend Hammond High School and I did attend the meeting and I was really, really, upset the fact that they didn’t have enough information to give to the general public and the people that were in attendance on the new proposed high school. However, I think the kids do deserve to have a quality education and a school that accommodates the needs of the students. I understand, from the film that they presented that there are a number of problems that exist in the current high school. However, to me, I feel as though the new high school need to remain where the current one is. Just for clarity of that. I think all the councilmen should have received a copy of that letter, not just ... Council President Venecz - And you will. I received it today and I will make copies and distribute it to each of the council people. Councilman Markovich - In regards to the letter you received, you said you just received it today but even though he mentioned in the fact in that letter that there were several councilmen at that meeting, we were invited to be there just like they were invited to be here tonight. So, we went to their meeting, several councilmen. I believe Councilman Spitale, yourself, Councilman Emerson, Councilman Higgs and myself went to his meeting, their meeting, we invited them to come to our meeting and they send a letter saying that just because we attended their meeting everything’s okay now. Well, really, no, because I had constituents asking me questions, how much are their taxes gonna go up. You know it and I know it, the information that they didn’t have and what they were voting on, they didn’t even know what they were voting on because they had no project in front of them yet and several people got up and spoke about it. If you look within this last week everybody talked about Hammond High, a new school, new school, this passed week there was a legal notice and they’re listing Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 COMMUNICATIONS cont. Councilman Markovich cont. - every piece of property they have, as far as the building, that they’re probably wanting to do work in. They talk about a new high school but now they’re telling you, “Well, what about all the other buildings?” Are they falling apart or what’s going on? I mean, $100 thousand home, is your taxes gonna go up $800? $200 thousand, $1,600? $250 thousand home in Hammond, $2 thousand a year more in taxes? Just for schools. I mean, nobody knows that. They never even said that. They put a slide presentation on that you couldn’t even read it with a magnifying glass. Although, I’ll give them the disclaimer, they apologized that nobody could see anything. But they had no handout. When it came down to a vote, there was no individual vote. It was all in favor signify by saying aye. So they can all say, “I didn’t vote for it. My name’s not registered.” They didn’t even do a roll call vote on that. So, I mean, it’s an open ended thing here. But, you know, just to send a letter and not show up. I mean, they want our help, but then again, we have to answer to our constituents because our meetings are being televised and people can go back and see it. There’s no communication between the schools and the constituents. You know, Dr. Watkins was at a realtors breakfast and I believe they said they had like they were the biggest employer in the city of Hammond. Like with 2700 employees. I’d like to know how many of those employees live in Hammond. You know, they got 13000 kids going there, do they have 1500 kids that don’t live in Hammond that come here because of that new state law? You can go anywhere. So we’re gonna build a new school for 1500 to 200 kids that don’t even live in here that aren’t gonna pay any taxes on that? That’s the questions that need to be answered. If you heard on the radio yesterday in Chicago, the Chicago Public Schools are gonna close four schools and build one new high school for $80 million. Now they didn’t say for how many enrollment or anything, you know, but they’re gonna close four high schools and make one new one in one area over there for roughly $70 to $75 million. We’re talking $110 million here for just one school and we’re not really closing any schools, supposedly, maybe Gavit? Then whatever they’re gonna do as far as making an elementary school, a kindergarten to 6th grade and so forth. So there’s a lot of questions out there, but, you know, the fat that he states in his letter, just because we attended their meeting, we didn’t get up and ask any questions, other than Councilman Higgs and a few other people. We were there for information. We didn’t get no information. So there’s a lot to be answered for, but if you’re talking about $800 for a $100 thousand home, I mean, it’s crazy, so. Mayor McDermott - I really would be shocked if it’s on the ballot in November. You know, I understand people are up in arms. I tell you, I had a meeting with the School City about a month ago and from everything they told me in that meeting a month ago, they publicly unveiled the plan and it changed within two days. Which is ridiculous when you’re talking about raising people’s tax bill and you present a plan to the public and then you feel the backlash from that and then all of a sudden you retreat from everything you’ve told people and you tell them, okay, this is what we’re doing instead. It’s in such disarray, Councilman Markovich, I don’t see them going forward in November. I really don’t. I’d be shocked. They have strict deadlines that are, I think they may actually be passed the deadlines with the election board. Because they have to get that language approved by, locally they get the language for the referendum approved down state. I think they may have already missed their deadline. So, you know, I understand everybody’s shock and I agree, my house, I’m looking at a couple thousand extra dollars a year, I’m not thrilled about that either but I’m not getting fired up about it because a) we’ve got a ton of work ourselves to do and b) I don’t think it’s gonna be on the ballot in November. I think maybe on the ballot in 2018, you know. Maybe they re-double their efforts and come up with a new plan and approach us in November and try to get it on the ballot next May. I can see that happening. I’d just be shocked if it was on the ballot in November. So, I just wanted to point that out. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 COMMUNICATIONS cont. Councilman Higgs - I think what was discussed at the meeting, they said they had a deadline to get this completed, so I don’t know where they are but I know one o of the school board members, Mr. Janek, is here so maybe he wants to speak on behalf of the School Board. Mayor McDermott - I agree with Councilman Higgs, and from what I understand, that deadline’s passed. So, I’m pretty sure they missed that deadline. They had some type of deadline last week, I believe, that they had to follow through on and it never happened, so. This has to go through the local election, it’s got to go through the state election board, they got to do a campaign, and the voters have to approve it. Even if they got it on the ballot and they didn’t do a good enough job persuading the public that this is necessary, if it fails we have nothing to worry about. I think every question and concern that is brought up is legit. It’s not our job to answer the question, it’s the School City’s job to answer these questions. If they put a plan to the public, it’s their job to sell it to us, you know, and I think all of your concerns are completely valid. I can tell you that the plan I was told, it’s already different. Already. So I don’t know what plan is going forward. Councilman Higgs read a correspondence thanking him for his kindness and sympathy from the family of Juanita Cross. COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole Committee - Councilman Markovich - Brought out 17-15 Council as a Whole Committee and Finance Committee - Councilman Woerpel - Brought out 17-14. Council as a Whole Committee - Councilman Rakos - Brought out 17-12. Human Relations Committee - Councilman Woerpel - Brought out 17-13. ORDINANCE 3rd READING - FINAL PASSAGE 17-12 An Ordinance Amending Ord. 7431, known as Section 91.036 of the Hammond Municipal Code, as it pertains to Bees Councilman Rakos, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved for final passage. Councilman Rakos, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved to amend out Section 6 on page two and renumber Section 7 as Section 6. Councilman Rakos read Section 6 in its entirety. Councilman Rakos - This no longer applies. The state of Indiana does not register, or require registering, or even have Indiana Beekeepers Association classes anymore. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE Councilman Emerson - I think, agreeing with Councilman Rakos, this puts at least some guidelines on people that want to raise bees in Hammond. Because before they weren’t supposed to be doing it at all. At least now we have parameters of what they can do. Councilman Kalwinski - As I mentioned in caucus, only one other town or city has an ordinance in Lake County, I believe, and the one that does listed that the nearest resident would be no less than 200 feet away from the residents with the bees. It’s just for information and for anybody to consider whether they want to make a restriction on that point. Councilman Torres - Because of that there’s no restriction to the property line, I understand there are a few bee hive owners in the city of Hammond and I’m sure most of them are responsible but there are some that are not responsible. Because of that fact, there’s no restriction of how far it can be from a property line, I know I wouldn’t like the owner to be next to my property. There are people that are terrified of bees and some people are allergic to them. Even though I agree there should be some kind of ordinance in the city restricting the keeping of bees, for those reasons I won’t be able to support this ordinance at this time. It’s vague on that, I believe. Councilman Higgs - It amazes me that there is so much discussion about bees and no one had anything to say in regards to losing the court in our city. I mean, bees are one thing but to lose a court in the city of Hammond is just amazing. It just amazes me that all this conversation is about bees when something of so much importance to our city, such as keeping our courts here, I didn’t hear all this conversation. I’m kind of lost. Councilman Woerpel - Call for the vote on the amendment. ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 AMENDMENT ADOPTED Councilman Markovich - I have a little bit of confusion here because at the caucus a new one was passed out and on page two, item number 6, it says, “nothing in this ordinance shall prohibit members of beekeepers association from entering the city to remove hives or swarms”. So I’m just wondering if the new thing that was passed out at caucus is this gonna be like a 17-12A amendment then. Because I don’t have a copy of the original where we just took out that item No. 6. Councilman Rakos - I had our secretary make new copies of the ordinance as it would state without No. 6 and assumed everybody would have 17-12 from last time. That’s why I read No. 6, what was in the original No. 6. So now everybody has a copy of it as amended. Councilman Markovich - So the one you passed out that’s like 17-12A and that’s what we’re voting on, correct? Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE Councilman Rakos - No. That’s 17-12 with No. 6 taken out of the original one. Councilman Woerpel - I guess to answer your question, Councilman, we’re not amending the entire ordinance. He passed out 17-12 with line 6 missing. We’re not voting on a new ordinance. We’re still voting on 17-12 as amended, right? Council President Venecz - Yes. Councilman Higgs - I guess my question would be, by amending this, what is actually being taken out of the ordinance so the general public has clarity as to what’s being changed. Councilman Rakos read Section 6 in its entirety. Councilman Rakos - The amendment was to remove that number and that automatically moved No. 7 up to No. 6. Council President Venecz - And we voted on removing No. 6 and it passed 9 to 0. You voted for it. ROLL CALL VOTE (as amended) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs ABSENT: None Motion carried 6/3/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9376 PASSED (as amended) 17-13 An Ordinance Amending Various Ord. Numbers 3706, 4460, 4920 and 5087 also known as Section 34.231 of the Hammond Municipal Code, pertaining to the Addition of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity to the Powers and Duties of the Hammond Human Relations Commission Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE NO. 9377 PASSED Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 6 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 17-14 An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 8514, also know as the Hammond Zoning Ordinance, for purposes of Rezoning Property at 6600 Indianapolis Blvd to Planned Unit Development District (PUD) and Adopting a Planned Unit Development District Ordinance for Hammond Sportsplex Planned Unit Development District as a Supplement to the Zoning Ordinance Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved for passage. Councilman Higgs - This particular ordinance is for the new sports complex which will be placed where Woodmar Shopping Center is. Hopefully it will attract some new businesses because I do believe economic development is key resource to making a city better. Hopefully, I’m hoping, seeing that Walmart left and we have a vacant lot just sitting there and now semi’s seem to utilize that as a parking space but I’m hoping this will encourage other businesses to come in my district. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9377 PASSED 17-15 An Ordinance Amending and Fixing the Schedule of Sewer Rates and Charges to be Collected by the Hammond Sanitary District from the owners of Property Served by the Sewage Works of the District Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for final passage. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved to suspend the rules to allow Marty Wielgos, Sanitary District Manager, to speak on 17-15. ROLL CALL VOTE AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RULES SUSPENDED Marty Wielgos, Sanitary District Manager - I just want to clarify a couple of things. First of all the Sanitary District is rate based. We don’t receive taxes from any taxing body, whether it be Munster, Hammond. There are minimal taxes we receive like the gas tax and things like that. So I wanted to clarify that and the other thing is I’d be remiss if I didn’t come before you to talk about what it is the district needs in order to continue to function in the manner that we do. Without also letting you know that if and so you do grant the raise to the District, it’s still the lowest in the state of Indiana and I just wanted to say that because I think there were some Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 7 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE Mr. Wielgos cont. - comments made that there are other places that are lower. We researched a lot of districts across the State so that the information I passed out to you is true and correct. I think it’s important that you know if you grant this rate increase of where we stand among other districts in our State. I think it’s important that you know that. So that’s why we point that out. I would never come here before you to ask for revenues that would at the end of the year have me in a cash balance of excess revenue. I think that would be wrong. The revenues that I am asking for today gets the District flush, to the tune of about $4 million. The District, as any other business, and that’s the way I look at the District. It’s a business. We take in the waste from all of our customer communities, the city of Hammond and the town of Munster. We process that. Our cost today, are more than they were last year or two years ago, our electric costs, the costs for some of the chemicals that we use, our labor costs. So I have to be able to run the District in a manner that keeps it one, responsible and two, to make sure that every time you flush your toilet, it flushes, and that’s what this is actually all about. So, what I’m here asking for tonight is a recap of two weeks ago. An average family of four uses five thousand gallons a month. The city of Hammond bills every two months, so that’s ten thousand gallons. Currently for ten thousand gallons it’s $26.75. With the rate increase that will go from $26.75 to $35.89. It’s an increase of $6.57. That’s what I’m asking for here tonight. And I’m asking for your help. The town of Munster, I met with their Town Council two weeks ago. They passed it on 1st and 2nd. They understand, just as much as I’m sure all of you here understand, that we’re running a business and currently our business is short on funds. We do not receive tax money, we’re rate based. So that’s why I’m here tonight asking for that increase. Councilman Higgs - I guess my question would be, in regards to this particular ordinance. The purpose of this and the reasoning for this happening is the federal government had mandated this to happen, am I correct? Mr. Wielgos - It’s a combination of both. The real answer to that is, we, since 1993, have been negotiating with the federal government on limiting the number of times that we dump into the Grand Calumet River. We have finally reached an agreement. Approximately five months ago now. We reached a consent agreement with the federal government, pretty much spelling out that we will make improvements to the pant over the next eighteen and nineteen years and major improvements so that we can eliminate dumping into the Grand Calumet. We originally negotiated for four, it’s now almost down to one time a year that they’ll allow us to dump into the Grand Calumet. If you think about it, it makes sense. Because of the fact that not only for us today but for all of those that come after us in the next twenty, thirty, forty years. We will be looked at as the folks that stopped dumping into the Grand Calumet River with waste and cleaned up the waters that eventually get into Lake Michigan of which we draw out to drink. Why would we not want to do whatever we can to fix those problems. That’s what the federal government started saying back in 1993, and that’s the agreement that we reached a few months ago. So, to answer your question, Councilman, these improvements to the plant, this money, this rate increase, will get us flush for operation. But also the maintenance that I’ve had to take away from all kinds of ties in with some of the demands that we’ll have to be meeting in the next eighteen to nineteen years. So, does some of this money help? Yes, it does. Is it the final amount? As I said two weeks ago, it is not. I will be back in the next few years talking about the start of those construction projects that we are now mandated by the federal government, to start doing and must be finished in eighteen years. Otherwise we’ll be penalized heavily. So, hopefully that answers your question, Councilman. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 8 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE Councilman Higgs - Can you identify some of the projects that have been completed thus far? Mr. Wielgos - Well, we’re getting credit for that 33 million gallon basin that we put in on Columbia Avenue right across from the plant. Once again, that’s a 33 million gallon basin at a cost that was originally when we first came to you a couple of years ago to be able to bond out for was about a cost of $73 million. It actually came in a $43 million to build that basin. The basin has been a tremendous asset to the District. No question about it. It’s done two major things. It’s eliminated a lot of basement flooding in heavy rains. I do not get those calls anymore. In fact, several weeks ago when we had that heavy rain, we did not receive any calls of basement backup, that’s number one. Number two, it allows us to hold it into the basin, by law we’re required to have it emptied in 48 hours so that we can treat it. So that as the plants running, trying to get through the rain, we’re pumping into the basin to store and hopefully, timing wise, we have enough time, depending on the amount of rain that falls, to be able to keep the plant running at 100% capacity. What you have to remember, we’re rated for 43 million gallons. That’s what we’re rated for. We want to take that up to 68 maybe even 72 million. At any given time in a heavy rainstorm, because our rain patterns have changed. Our rains used to last all day long in a drizzle. That doesn’t happen any more. We get heavy, heavy, amounts of rain and now very centralized parts of the city. We may be getting heavy rain in Central Hammond, and up where Councilman Markovich lives, nothing. It’s just a change of the patterns and our system was not built to handle that. Our system, our catch basins, were all built to accomplish taking care of these lighter rains. So, what we’re trying to do is know what the new rain falls that we are getting and to be able to design the plant as we move forward to be able to handle these new rain patters. So, to answer your question, some of the money is going to be used in projects .... let me talk about one other project. The basin, which I just talked about, and two new clarifiers that we’re putting into the plant as we speak. Which will allow us to treat more so that we could it through the process more quickly, handle more volume, until it gets back into the Grand Calumet River. But, many of you took the tour of the plant a couple years ago. Had a chance to see how it functions and what we do. Knowing what comes into the plant at the front end and what we end up putting back into the grand Calumet. It’s truly amazing in how that process works. I see it every day, I never get tired of looking at it. And seeing the wildlife that’s actually come back to the Grand Calumet. Way different than it was 25, 30 years ago, as we all remember. You wanted nothing to do with the Grand Calumet River because it was so polluted. So, I think all of these are good things and it’s never easy to come here before all of you ask for more money, but it’s just a fact of life and I know that I need to do it and I do it working with a great group of people who have been on aver age with the plant of 25 plus years. They are very dedicated. We run 24/7. We are never off. No holidays. Somebody is always at that plant making sure that it’s running. For not only the benefit of the city of Hammond but also our customer communities, which the Mayor talked about a little bit earlier. We’ve gone, over the last four years, the District has gone through all types of changes. Having a battle between Whiting, Highland and Griffith. That I knew we had to take on because the rates were too low. There’s no way that I would be able to come to you to ask for more money or go to the town of Munster, our partner, and ask for more money when the fact our customer communities weren’t paying their fair share but they had long term contracts. So, we did what we knew was right and at the end of the day we end up coming on top. They agreed to pay us more money. It’s not the final number that I would’ve liked but, hey, I’m a realist. I’ll take anything more than what you’re paying me now. Just so that I’m getting more than what you’re really contracted for, and we accomplished that. Absolutely amazing. But we didn’t do that all by ourselves. We did that with great attorney and Indianapolis, that worked Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 9 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE Mr. Wielgos cont. - really hard. Also, believe it or not, with the Department of Justice. They saw what we were faced with and they said, “You know what? These customer communities are getting away with murder. We’re gonna help you.” And they did, and that’s why we have those agreements today. They also paid for past capital improvements that were part of their contracts, but they never paid. So we ended up collecting that money. So, I was very proud of the fact of all the hard work that process took. That same as we were dealing with them, we were also dealing with the federal government with this long term control plan and how much money can we spend? All of this was happening simultaneously. My staff and myself were meeting privately with the customer communities while it was going through the court system because we wanted to have face to face meetings to try to get these things accomplished. So that they understood why I couldn’t agree anymore to the rate that they were paying and why they had to pay more. So, at the end of the day it all worked and it did what we need to do which brings me standing here again before you today in the fact that that’s my shortfall. After everything’s said and done. After we got Whiting, which has not paid anything more than they have under their contract, but they’re such a small player when you look at everybody else, it’s not gonna make any big difference to the district. In principle it would. It’s be nice if they would pay more like everybody else. But at the end of the day it’s the big volume people who are sending me the volume that I needed to get the right amount. Highland and Griffith did do that. And I met with both of their town councils. Really good people. Really dedicated, just like all of you are, to their job and why they are there. They were very gracious after I met with them in front of an open body and I’m thankful for that. So this is the last piece of this puzzle for now. But I will be back, there’s no doubt about it. Then I’ll be asking for more money for the long term control plan. It’s mandated by the federal government. Unless President Trump pulls some big trick and is able to dissemble it, which I doubt’s gonna happen, we’re gonna be obligated to do that. So, I’m just telling you that now so that when I’m back here in a couple of years and you say, “Wait a second, we just gave you a rate increase. What are you asking for?” It’s the long term control plan. Councilman Spitale - Is our pump capacity okay right now, or are we gonna need new pumps shortly? Mr. Wielgos - Where part of the long term control plan talked about building more basins in the south part of the city, right at the borderline of Hammond and Highland. After experiencing the operation of the basin that we have across from the plant, I’m not a believer of building any more basins. I don’t want the city of Hammond to be tagged as the stinky city in the State. They’re unsightly, they smell, and they’re very costly to operate. The one across the street from the plant makes it easier because it’s right across the street. I can monitor it. My staff is right there at what we call headworks, the main building on Columbia Avenue. It’s where everything comes into the plant, that’s that location and it can be monitored. There’d be no way that now I would be convinced, along with my staff, to build another 33 million gallon basin in the south of Hammond. Kiss development goodby. Who would want to build by a basin? And some of our prime real estate is still available in the south. It’s never gonna happen. So I have a meeting with the federal government next week. Mr. Button and I and my staff will be meeting with the federal government, the town of Highland, to talk about commitments that we made to take more of their volume. They need to send us more, not less. Because of the fact that they’re dumping into the Calumet River. So, under these new agreements and under the agreement with the federal government we have the ability to treat more as long as it kind of fits all of these parameters and how much rain comes down and what time frame and how long is that time frame? Is it an hour? Is it half hour? All of these Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 10 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE Mr. Wielgos cont. - variables that we have no control over is what we’re dealing with. So, we have the ability to update the pumps at headworks, which will help us in the long run, because they do need to be updated now even if I didn’t have to do anything for our customer communities. But our plan that we put together is to eliminate all basins. Because not only was there gonna be one in the south, there was actually gonna be two, and a third one on Kennedy Avenue. So, the city of Hammond would have three basins. It doesn’t make any sense. And so I have to be able to make economical sense of if you’re not gonna build a basin how do you get it to the plant? Well, part of our plan is to put in a new line from the south end of Hammond all the way directly into the plant. To me, we’re putting the numbers together, but to me it makes sense. I’m not disturbing what we already have. Look at all that work that was done in South Hammond, as the Mayor’s Chief of Staff, when we were tearing down the old Kennedy Park Apartments we had nothing but heartache. Because everybody said, what are you gonna do with that? All that money you’re paying. Well, I’m very proud to say look at it today and look what it’s done. And that’s happening across the city. Why would I want my name tagged or any of your names tagged to building more basins. So that’s kind of the battle I’m gonna have next week with the federal government because I’m gonna have to convince them that I can pump all of this waste from the south end of the city into our plant. I have some of the best engineers working on that. They agree with me. My staff agrees with me. It can be done. Is it going to be a little more costly? Of course it is but you know what, I’d rather see us pay a little bit more now because of the fact that when you build basins you’ve got to empty them. You’ve got to treat it with chlorine while it sits there waiting to come to the plant. And they’re unsightly. So there goes all economic development anywhere around it, and they stink. So, I just don’t feel that that’s in our best interest. And they’re costly to run. The basin across the street from the plant costs us about a million dollars a year to run. We have to clean it. We have to treat it. And remember, that all used to go in the river. I didn’t have to worry about doing anything just dump it into the river. Well now we’re treating it. It’s coming back into the plant. And manpower, it’s easier there because of the fact that it’s right across the street. Anything remote, I’m gonna have to staff it. I’m gonna have to have more employees. Nothing is good about it in my opinion. So that’s the next thing I’m gonna be coming in the fact that, yeah, we started on to answer your initial question, Councilman, about have we done things already and current construction projects we have going. Those the federal government is counting against that big number, that $250 to $300 million, that they want us to spend in the next nineteen years. They’re counting that. So I’ve got a big jump on what we’ve already spent and getting credit for. But we have all more to do and it excites me because the plant was initially started in phases back in the late forties, and thank god our forefathers had foresight to give me enough land twenty three acres there on the one side, the west side, and on the east side we acquired that about ten or fifteen years ago and that’s where we put the basin. So, thank god they had the foresight to allow me to keep adding on as we were taking more and more waste so that we could fulfill some of our agreements, not only to the federal government but also to our customer communities. So, this excites me. It excites me for the fact that what we are doing today will be for the future, twenty, thirty years from now. So that the plant is updated. The pumps that need to be replaced will be in place and allow more capacity. Another forced main coming from the south of the city all the way up to the plant to bring all that waste water here other than storing it remotely. So, I will be back and I hope that I will have the same support that I’ve always had from all of you, that I’ve had in the past. Councilman Higgs - I guess my last question would be in regards to the gentleman that spoke previously in regards to the increase in the rates. He gave me the impression that people that have town homes or rental properties pay less than those that actually own their homes. That’s the impression that I got. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 11 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE Mr. Wielgos - Mr. Tufford, I’ve got to know over the last many months both here in Hammond and in the town of Munster. He happens to live in a condominium. When we did the commercial rate a little over a year and a half or so ago, two years, we looked at it very closely and said multiple units, more than four units, because of the fact that they have one water line that comes into the unit, would be considered commercial. So when we passed that commercial rate they were put into that category. After many conversations with the town of Munster and with staff, part of our agreement with the town of Munster was the fact that we would reverse that. We would take them out of the commercial rate category and put them back into the residential rate instead of that multi-unit building which holds ten or fifteen condos, they charge one administrative fee that each of those units would pay an administrative fee. It’s only fair. People living in a unit just like you’re living in your residence. They weren’t charged that before. So our agreement with the town of Munster is pretty much a wash. You take the commercial rate away, they were only paying one administrative fee. Now we’re changing that commercial rate, taking them back to residential and now each of those units will pay that administration fee. It’s very fair. We believe in it because it’s a wash and we have agreed to do that. Councilman Markovich - So. A four unit’s going to a residential rate with one administrative fee or four administrative fees? Mr. Wielgos - Actually, each unit will be charged administrative fees so that they’re all equal now. They’ll be charged a residential rate and an administrative fee, each unit. Councilman Markovich - So, what’s the difference between a residential and commercial rate then on each one of the individual condominiums? Mr. Wielgos - I can tell you that. Commercial rate is currently $3.28, it will go to $4.91. So, basically, the commercial rate jumped up a little over a dollar for the new rate increase. Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to return to the regular order of business. AYES: ALL Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to amend in 17-15A in it’s entirety. ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 AMENDMENT ADOPTED ROLL CALL VOTE (as amended) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9379 PASSED (as amended) Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 12 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 17-16 An Ordinance creating a new non reverting fund (Fund #222) entitled Bond Monies Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Finance Committee. AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS 17R-22A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Hammond, Approving the Issuance of Bonds by the Hammond Redevelopment Commission to Refund Certain Outstanding Bonds and Pay the Costs of Issuing the Bonds Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved for adoption. Councilman Higgs - This particular ordinance refers to the debt in our city and so get a lower interest rate and pay off the debt early. Councilman Spitale - I’d like to have Atty. Shanahan please come up. Atty. Shanahan - The resolution for your consideration this evening authorizes the Hammond Redevelopment Commission to issue debt to refinance existing bonds relating to the Potash project. Because the Redevelopment Commission is an appointed body, their actions relating to debt need to be approved by you. The refunding is being considered to take advantage of lower interest rates for the benefit of the allocation area and everyone who could potentially access that in the future. By lowering the interest rates and the debt service it will free up allocation areas money for other projects in the future. Councilman Higgs - How much money will that save our city in the course of that? Atty. Shanahan - The financial consultant, in caucus, mentioned around $800 thousand with a net present value of $300 or $400 thousand as a percentage of debt services around 4½% and the standard is to undertake a refunding if you can achieve at least 3% savings. Councilman Higgs - And you said the consultant? Atty. Shanahan - Yes, Cender & Co., a financial advisor. Councilman Higgs - You know how much he gets paid an hour? Atty. Shanahan - No, I do not. Councilman Spitale - What’s the rate at now and what’s it gonna go down to? Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 13 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 RESOLUTIONS cont. Atty. Shanahan - I believe the rates between 4 and 5% and the new rates are being estimated between 2 and 2½%. Councilman Spitale - When is the final payment due on this? Atty. Shanahan - I believe in your resolution there’s a date and that date is the date of the current bond’s payoff. The state statute prohibits extending maturities so that current date is the maximum parameter for the new bonds as well. Councilman Spitale - I have a date of 2/1/2024. Atty. Shanahan - That’s the last payment of the existing bond and so we can’t go further than that date. We can go earlier but we’re likely not gonna save enough to (unclear) early or rather lower each payment for each semi- annual payment. Councilman Woerpel - Potash is that big building when you go over the bridge on Indianapolis Blvd.? Okay. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION R22 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS City Clerk Golec - Item A? Council President Venecz - Clerk, we do not need to address that this evening because we already passed the ordinance. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Torres, moved to send a letter to the Superintendent of Parks. We had a meeting a couple weeks ago in regards to try and to eliminate the problem with the flooding there at the park and I was in the process of trying to get someone to find out what needs to be done but seeing that the School City may possibly buy the property, I don’t want to invest anything in it at this point. So I would like them to cease doing anything in regards to the flooding situation at Harrison Park. I so move. LETTER SENT: June 13, 2017 Councilman Markovich - This Saturday at the Pavilion at Wolf Lake they’re gonna have Sinatra Forever starting at 6 p.m. Bring your own food. Bring your own drink. Bring your blankets. Bring your girlfriends, boyfriends and whatever. Enjoy the night. They have a twenty something piece band and enjoy yourself. It’s only $10. Hopefully it’s hot and doesn’t rain. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 14 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Higgs - On this Saturday I’ll be giving my annual 3 on 3 Tournament for the kids and the community throughout the city and we’ll also be giving away bikes. So, it’ll be a fun filled day and hopefully the kids will come out and enjoy thereself and play some hoops. It begins at 8 a.m. At twelve noon we will have the Chicago Drill team performing. Councilman Kalwinski - I’d like to announce there will be a community shredding event on Saturday, June 24 from 9 a.m. til noon. Sponsored by Dover Chemical Corp. at 3000 Sheffield Avenue. Dover invites residents of the Hammond Community to the 2017 Shredding Event to help fight identity theft. Community members are encouraged to bring old tax returns, health records or other sensitive documents to be securely shredded on site. Voluntary canned good donations will be accepted and donated to the local food pantry, but it’s not a requirement and you can stay and watch you material being shredded if that’s what you desire. Councilman Kalwinski - There will be a meatloaf dinner at the American Legion Post 80 on Thursday, June 15 at 2003 Indpls. Blvd. from 4 to 7 p.m. Cost are $10 adults and $5 children. Dinner includes meatloaf, mashed potatoes, brown gravy, green bean salad, bread and butter, dessert, coffee and milk. They are asking to come out and support our veterans. Councilman Kalwinski - At the last meeting, the Hammond Common Council under my motion requested that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management hold a public hearing on the renewal of the Whiting Metals Air Permit and offer an opportunity for the community to voice an opinion on that permit. I have also asked the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to provide us with all the public comments made thus far on the Whiting Metals Air Permit. I’m gonna see that as much information is available on the proposed permit as possible so that residents can form their opinion and decide whether or not they want to speak at or submit comments at the public hearing. I made an unannounced visit to the Whiting Metals Plant a week ago to see what was in the plant and how it was operating. I was taken around the receiving, shipping, melting, raw material storage area, along with the bag house. I saw the lead metal melting area with melting furnaces along with the fume collection hoods that were vented to the outside bag house. I thought the plant operations would be much bigger due to the size of the buildings, actually the metal melting furnaces were much smaller than I expected. I didn’t notice any fumes during my visit but I was there for a short period of time and others, such as State and Environmental Inspectors would probably see more than my eyes could see. However, I do want to encourage the public, especially 1st District residents to be aware that a public hearing has been requested and we’re waiting for a response. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Theresa Torres - A substantial number of Hammond residents are senior citizens and 20% of your citizens are people with disabilities. Lots are on fixed incomes. They require the ability to reach public transportation. Many people begged for you not to give the transit system away. People lost a service that was absolutely essential to their ability to survive. Hammond does not financially support the Township Trustee’s service. Gary has included parts of Hammond and the surrounding areas. With just a little bit of help from the city they could expand services to include North Hammond as well. The Mayor gives money to the RDA, but they refuse to Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 15 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 12, 2017 PUBLIC EXPRESSION cont. Ms. Torres cont. - give any support that would benefit the residents of Hammond and surrounding communities. Please recognize the important role of the transit system. Rene Jackson - Gets calls at the center everyday from clients and their dilemma about transit and para-transit in this area. Without funding there is a possibility of losing the routes that are already in place. I don’t only go to the doctor, I go to many places, I live life. Without transit we can’t access our daily life. Without access to transportation you lose my financial contribution. If I can’t get there, I can’t spend my money. Maria Bryson - Concerned about four wheeled dirt bikes and racing cars up and down a residential street. It is getting out of hand. There are children, elderly and ill people on our block. We deserve quality of life and peace. Please have ordinances enforced. Lorrell Kilpatrick - Program Director at Everybody Counts - The two concerns are the accessibility or the ability for people to access housing for people in which they could maneuver around in terms of disabilities for it to be accessible and accessing transportation. We are new here in Hammond and those issues have been the majority of the calls that we have dealt with. There have been improvements in making Hammond a walkable community but walkable is not the same as accessible when your talking about people who do not have the ability to walk as their main transportation. Encourage council to take a look at the accessibility of the community. George Stoya - Regarding the bees, I don’t think it’s good legislation because that 200 foot limit to me would have been more rational. Everyone has a right to enjoyment of your residence and this allows people to bring bees which nobody can control. If they get out of control you can’t control them. I think there a lot of risks that haven’t been addressed. I think it’s a possible 5th Amendment invasion here. In the sense that your right to quiet enjoyment is a property right. You don’t have to be subjected to the risks. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL ________________________ Janet Venecz, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: ________________________ Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Time: 7:40 pm cb Minutes approved at the Common Council Meeting on June 26, 2017. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 16