City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL JULY 10, 2017 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on July 10, 2017, in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Janet Venecz presided. Clerk Joann Textor facilitated. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all. Moment of Silence. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz ABSENT: Spitale, Kalwinski TOTAL: 7 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to accept the minutes of June 26, 2017 and place them on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved to approve the claims from June 22, 2017 though July 5, 2017. Claim #4014 through claim #4191, inclusive. ROLL CALL VOTE (approval) AYES: Markovich, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Spitale, Kalwinski Motion carried 7/0/2 CLAIMS APPROVED PUBLIC HEARINGS None COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Higgs read correspondence from our sitting Judge Amy Jorgensen in response to the Council’s request for her attendance. Councilman Higgs presented Councilman Markovich with a plaque for his support of the annual 3 on 3 Who’s got Game Event. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 10, 2017 COMMITTEE REPORTS Community and Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Upcoming meetings: Tues., July 18; East Hammond Pullman C.W.; 6:30 p.m.; Ophelia Steen Center South Hammond Crime Watch; Thur., July 20; Hammond Housing Authority; 7:00 p.m. Whiting/Robertsdale Crime Watch; Thur., July 13; Calumet College; 6:30 p.m. National Night Out will be on Tues., Aug. 1, at the Wolf Lake Splash Pad from 5 to 8 p.m. There will me many activities. It will be a family friendly evening for all. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES None RESOLUTIONS 17R-25 Resolution Opposing Massive Deportations by Federal Government Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Torres, moved for adoption. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved to table. Councilman Markovich rescinded his motion. Councilman Woerpel rescinded his second. Mayor McDermott - I’m trying to figure out, you know, first off, Hammond’s got 25% of our population is Hispanic. It’s obviously an important part of our city. Very complicated issue nationally. I’m an attorney. In fact I went to one of the top law schools in the country and I couldn’t even tell you, I don’t know enough to scratch the surface in regards to immigration law, how it works. Quite frankly, I’ve been the Mayor for fourteen years and I’ve never had a single issue about immigration come up before the Hammond City Council or come across my desk. I’m trying to figure out the purpose. Maybe every council meeting we should float a resolution about, you know, abortion, and just all these other issues and just put everybody on the spot and how do you feel about abortion? How do you feel about recreational use of marijuana? I mean, let’s just throw topic after topic up here. I’m having trouble. Councilman Markovich and I found a rare occasion where we totally agree with something. I’m having trouble finding out what the purpose behind this is. You know, are we gonna send it to President Trump? Are we gonna send it to the Governor? You know, because quite frankly if you pass this resolution and I sign it, it means nothing. If it fails and this resolution doesn’t pass, same effect, so? Councilman Higgs - Seeing that I’m the sponsor of the resolution, the fact remains that there are a number if immigrants that live in my district and their concern is about the deportation. I have a strong stance of everyone’s equal rights and if someone chooses to on this council to address any political issue or any issue affecting the community or the city as a whole, I’m ready and prepared to vote on it. Whether or not I feel comfortable about it, well, that’s up to you to feel that way. But the reality of it is there are a number of people that feel uncomfortable with the fact of them being deported and not even being questioned as to what’s really Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 10, 2017 RESOLUTIONS cont. Councilman Higgs cont. - going on. Why is the system being implemented. It’s a simple resolution. If they want to vote it down, they’re more than welcome to do so. Just like any other issue that was voted on, gay rights, or whatever it is. It’s the same thing. You just had a resolution that was passed when a young lady came to a Mayor’s Night Out, she spoke about the issue. Councilwoman Venecz came up with a solution to it and presented one to the council and they voted yes. So, what’s the problem with saying that I oppose deportation? Mayor McDermott - Councilman Higgs, in all cases, nobody should get deported ever? Could you answer that question? In all cases? Murderers shouldn’t get deported? Councilman Higgs - We’re not talking about murderers. Murderers should be convicted if they commit a crime of that such. Mayor McDermott - Could you explain to me, you’re saying nobody should get deported. No, I’m asking a question, councilman. Councilman Higgs - I’m not here to argue with you. Mayor McDermott - This is a complicated issue, councilman. Councilman Higgs - It’s complicated to you, it’s not complicated to me. I feel comfortable with it. That’s why I sponsored the resolution. Mayor McDermott - Councilman Higgs, this is your resolution, so I’m asking you a question. So you’re saying nobody should ever be deported? Is that what the resolution says? Under every circumstance? Councilman Higgs - That’s not what this resolution says. Mayor McDermott - Then, what does it say? Councilman Higgs - You read it. Mayor McDermott - I didn’t get a copy of it. Councilman Higgs - You didn’t get a copy of it? Mayor McDermott - No, sir. Councilman Higgs - Have the clerk read it. Clerk Joann Textor read the proposed resolution in its entirety. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 10, 2017 RESOLUTIONS cont. Mayor McDermott - I don’t think there’s one single instance where the Hammond Police Department’s gotten involved in immigration issues at all. In fact, we don’t. This is a federal government thing. I just have a lot of questions about this resolution. Councilman Woerpel - My concern is how much of the budget we have is funded with federal dollars and they, I mean, it’s known that you guys want to go ahead and make sanctuary cities or pass stuff like this, we could lose federal dollars. Mayor McDermott - I absolutely agree with Councilman Woerpel. I mean, are we becoming a sanctuary city? Is this a step towards that? We do that, we’re putting ourselves on a list. Councilman Woerpel - I was on the street for 37 years and never saw one person get deported. Mayor McDermott - I’ve been the Mayor of this city for fourteen years, I don’t know a single person that’s been deported, ever. It seems to me like we have a lot of things to do. We have a lot of business to do. We’re trying to run a city that’s fifty square miles, eighty one thousand people, thirty thousand homes. We’ve got financial challenges. We’ve got crime problems. We got little kids getting hit by bullets. And we’re talking about an issue that has nothing to do with anything that we do. It’s a total distraction and a total waste of time, quite frankly. This should be something Congressman Visclosky is talking about. Something the General Assembly’s talking about. Hammond City Council, the Hammond Police Department, and the Hammond Mayor have nothing to do with this issue. It’s a total distraction, Councilman Higgs. Let’s float one about abortion. Let’s further confuse the issue. Councilman Higgs - As I stated previously, this council has the right to vote yes or no on anything that’s brought up. I feel comfortable with this resolution. I don’t feel as though the federal funding will be cut by voting yes or no on this issue. It’s simply stating how I feel and how the massive amounts of immigrants that are moving in my district, and you are welcome, as well as my colleagues, to walk my district and hear their concerns at any given time. They can vote yes or vote no. Councilman Torres - There are a lot of Hispanics on edge that are legal or here legally and they are on edge and it is up to, at least when I was on the force, up to the individual policeman to make a judgement and some of them would and most of them didn’t. But it’s still up to them whether they would enforce that since it is law. So, I believe that the Hispanic community would feel a lot better if they felt that they were getting some protection from their elected officials on that issue. Mayor McDermott - So this is a directive to the Hammond Police Department then? We are basically declaring ourselves a sanctuary city without saying the words. Is that true? You’re saying that this is a directive to the Hammond Police Department. I mean, I’m the boss of the Hammond Police Department, you guys got to tell me what’s going on here. Because I have to go talk to my Hammond Police Officers, two hundred and ten of whom are gonna be wondering what this means. I don’t know what it means. This is something that hasn’t obviously been answered. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 10, 2017 RESOLUTIONS cont. Councilman Torres - I would feel comfortable if we were declared a sanctuary city. Mayor McDermott - Okay, then why don’t we just make it easy and just make that motion then, Councilman? I’m glad you admitted it. Councilman Torres - We have to have the proper resolution which we do not have tonight. Councilman Woerpel - Again, we get CDBG money. We have a department, I believe upstairs, that’s pretty much their budget comes from federal dollars and I don’t want to sit here one day and say, “Well, Councilman Higgs didn’t think so.” When we lose that money. Just like you said, we’ve got all kinds of issues staring us right in the face coming up and a lot of them have to do with money. Most of them have to do with money and we’re gonna risk it. I mean, if I understand Councilman Torres right, he said legal citizens are concerned about being deported. What’s right is right and I’m sure we can all agree we are all against deportations but I know we talked about this subject a couple of weeks ago but I don’t want to take a baseball bat and hit a bee hive. I mean, we could be causing ourselves trouble and loss of dollars if this passes. Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to table. ROLL CALL VOTE (tabling 17R-25) AYES: Markovich, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: Torres, Higgs ABSENT: Spitale, Kalwinski Motion carried 5/2/2 RESOLUTION 17R-25 TABLED Mayor McDermott - If we’re gonna talk about issues we have no control over, we should be talking about gun control. Okay, I mean, you want to talk about an issue that really affects us that we have no control over, let’s talk about the 2nd Amendment. Okay, we could do resolutions on the 2nd Amendment all day long and it’s really not gonna matter. But that seems to me way more appropriate right now and I appreciate the Council tabling that. Councilman Markovich - To reiterate what the Mayor said, when we try to do gun control here in the city and we saw where we were gonna get sued. Where the only place where you can not really carry a gun is in this building as long as there’s a judge in here. Once the judge is gone it’s you know. Mayor McDermott - True story. Councilman Markovich - So you can’t stop anybody from carrying a gun in the parks or anything like that. Because it’s a violation of the constitution and their rights. So he brings up a good point in that respect. Councilman Higgs - As it reflects to guns, you have to have a gun license to carry a gun in the state of Indiana. You can’t just walk around with a gun without having a license. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 10, 2017 RESOLUTIONS cont. 17R-26 Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Janet S. Evans as a Commissioner of the Hammond Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Hammond, Indiana Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved for adoption. Councilman Emerson - This is a re-appointment to the Hammond Historic Preservation Commission. Ms. Evans was present in caucus and I copied her resume for everyone to look at and that’s the end of my comment. Councilman Higgs - In the future it would be nice if someone would reach out and see if there’s anyone in my particular district interested in serving in that capacity. Councilwoman Venecz - I do believe Debbie passes out a list of all the positions when they do become available. Councilman Higgs - Not true. I haven’t received a list this year, last year and the year before. Councilwoman Venecz - Well, I have one so .... Councilman Higgs - Well, you have one but I don’t have one. Councilwoman Venecz - Well, I’d be more than happy to give it to you. Councilman Higgs - Well, don’t give it to me after the fact. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption of 17R-26) AYES: Markovich, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: Higgs ABSENT: Spitale, Kalwinski Motion carried 6/1/2 RESOLUTION NO. R26 ADOPTED 17R-27 Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Chelsea Button as a Commissioner of the Hammond Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Hammond, Indiana Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for adoption. Councilman Emerson - This is a re-appointment to the Hammond Historic Preservation Commission of Chelsea Button and she is currently a law student. Could not be here tonight and as all reports that I have say she’s done a great job. So I’m happy to sponsor. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 6 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 10, 2017 RESOLUTIONS cont. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption of 17R-27) AYES: Markovich, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Spitale, Kalwinski Motion carried 7/0/2 RESOLUTION NO. R27 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Mayor McDermott - I wanted to talk about the court, what is going on currently and see if anybody has any questions. At the last council meeting the council pulled a claim for Ice Miller for $5 thousand, which was the second of three claims that were supposed to be paid to Ice Miller. We found out shortly before last council meeting that Ice Miller was using the money that we gave to them in the three $5 thousand installments to prepare a lawsuit against the city of Hammond. Naming me, Clerk Robert Golec and all nine of you as defendants to try to enjoin the closure of the Hammond City Court. I wanted to update you where we are currently. January 1st, right after the passage of the ordinance we stopped filing all criminal misdemeanor cases in the Hammond City Court. All those criminal misdemeanor cases for the past 6½ months have been filed in County. They go to the County Division. That’s involved more trips, honestly, for the Hammond Police Department to go back and forth to Crown Point. They’re currently making three to four trips daily back and forth to drop prisoners off at the Lake County Jail. As of July 1st the Hammond Police stopped filing all infractions with the city. We worked out an agreement with the Chief Judge, Judge John Pera, that we worked out an agreement where all local ordinance violations are going to be filed in Judge Villapondo’s court on 200 Russell Street. All infractions that are written by the Hammond Police are gonna go into the case rotation system. The good thing about infractions, first off, Hammond Police Department’s getting a lot better about writing more local ordinances, especially because they know they get to stay in Hammond. Secondly, once these hit, the infractions hit the County Circuit, they’re allowed to be paid off through the internet which has never been allowed before also. So we imagine, I was talking to the police chief just before the meeting so I could give you guys the latest information, we imagine most people are given the option of appearing in court to try to fight an infraction or paying off over the internet, or paying it off early without court appearances. 85 to 90% of them are gonna pay it off without a court appearance. So, we’re anticipating far few visits by Hammond Police Officers to go to court than when the Hammond City Court was operating. Because when the Hammond City Court, you could have been a traveler passing through Hammond from Nebraska, get a ticket in Hammond, you had to appear in court. You know, that kind of stuff is gonna go away under the new system. It has gone away. So, I just talked to the Police Chief right before the Council Meeting today so I could give you guys the latest information. As of July 1st all infraction cases have been files with the county. So right now the Hammond City Court isn’t getting new cases. They have thousands and thousands of cases to resolve still, but they’re not getting new cases. So we cut off the flow. I imagine over the next couple of years they’ll slowly wind down. So, I just wanted to come and answer any questions. I know there’s a lot going on right now. Talk to you why we asked the council and the council pulled the claim two weeks ago and at the time we weren’t really talking about it. Now that it’s out in the open I’m here before you. I know the Judge is supposed to appear and I thought she would be here, obviously something came up. So, I’m here to answer any questions if you have it. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 7 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 10, 2017 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Markovich - I just liked to comment what you just said, I have a friend that lives in Colorado and he left his house and while he was driving he put his seatbelt on, got pulled over because he didn’t have it on at the time he got pulled over, gave him the ticket, but when he got pulled over he had the seatbelt on. So he went ahead and paid the $25. But somebody gets a hold of the list, all these attorneys saw where he was out of state, didn’t know he paid it, and they’re calling him wanting to know if they want him to be represented by them because he’s not coming all the way back from Colorado to go ahead and go to court. Mayor McDermott - You’re right. Councilman Markovich - So there is fallacies in that respect. Mayor McDermott - A lot of the tickets, a lot of the people you see lining up in the halls were from when we were doing blitzes on the highway. I mean, think about it, we’re giving somebody a ticket on 80/94 odds are very likely that the person is getting the ticket doesn’t live in this area and have to come to the Hammond City Court for resolution of their case. So, I mean the option to be able to pay off your ticket over the internet is long needed and it’s now active, the County offers that. Councilman Woerpel - Mayor, the way you seen the contract and that and with the stories in the paper, during this two week period before she comes in front of us, is there a chance we could be paying for a lawsuit against ourselves? Mayor McDermott - I guess there’s a chance. I’m not sure what her intentions are. I mean, anybody can file a lawsuit. I mean, I can file a lawsuit against you. I can make up a reason and file a lawsuit, the lawsuit might not be successful. It probably won’t be if I’m making up a reason but the thing about the law is anybody can file a lawsuit. It’s not whether or not that lawsuit has merit. That’s a whole separate question. You know, she sent us a brief. She sent me, I don’t know if you guys got it, in fact I forwarded a copy to you of the complaint but you were listed as defendant on there, just like Clerk Golec, just like myself. So, I imagine if you prepare a complaint you’re basically $120 away from filing a lawsuit. We paid for it ourselves, that’s the classic part. Councilman Woerpel - I mean, my question, I guess, is we gave a two week notice and I understand people have things come up but I see something that basically threatens a lawsuit and then I read something that says, “Oh no, I didn’t mean that, don’t worry about that.” Mayor McDermott - Well, the traffic to and from St. John is pretty tough this time of year, so. Councilman Woerpel - And I’m just, you know, the thought has crossed ... is there anything we can do to prevent here until she comes before us of filing a lawsuit against us? Mayor McDermott - I don’t want to file a lawsuit. That’s crazy. I mean, if she files a lawsuit there’s nothing we can do about it. But I promise you we’ll defend it and we’ll also challenge her status as a judge, if she files a lawsuit, and we have legal grounds. We talked to her very early on after she was appointed. We felt early on that Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 8 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 10, 2017 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Mayor McDermott cont. - if we challenged her status as a judge, because she does not live in the city of Hammond, she may have an address here but she doesn’t live there and we can prove she doesn’t live there. So if she files a lawsuit against us we can challenge her status as a sitting judge. Because a city court judge is supposed to live in the city, and she does not live here. She lives in St. John. So, if she files a lawsuit, I guarantee you there will be counter claims to challenge her capacity to even sue us. She’s not even legally a city court judge is we challenged her. Councilman Woerpel - I guess my concern is it would like if one of your dogs bit me and I decided to sue you it’s kind of like, “Hey, can you give me the money to sue you?” That’s what I’m worried about. Mayor McDermott - Right. Well, Ice Miller already got the $5 thousand. This whole thing, Ice Miller started the litigation, the big litigation with the Sanitary District. That was the lead law firm against the city of Hammond’s Sanitary District. So when I saw a $5 thousand claim going to Ice Miller, it was like why are we paying money to Ice Miller? Thought maybe we hired Ice Miller. You know we followed it up and realized it came from the Judge’s budget. Then we followed it up and the description of the claim was to facilitate the transfer of the Hammond City Court cases to the county. We had already done that. Why are we paying Ice Miller? Ice Miller wasn’t at the table when these cases were transferred. We sat there with a lot of judge’s, a lot of staff, there was probably thirty or forty people involved. The Corporate Council was involved. I mean there was a lot of people that had to do with this and quite frankly, I think Hammond got a really good deal. I really do. I was happy. I think Chief Judge John Pera bent over backwards to try to make it ... and I think Judge Pera wants Hammond’s cases. So, they gave us a good deal. I think all this does, this whole drama that we’re talking about now, is potentially screw up a deal that’s already been worked out with the County, and it’s a good deal for us. So if she files a lawsuit, Councilman, we can’t control that. Anybody can file a lawsuit. But I guarantee you there will be counter claims if she files, guarantee you. Councilman Higgs - I received correspondence from Code Enforcement in regards to 5632 Claude, because I go through my district and monitor every street alley. 5632 Claude, the property is boarded up and on the demo list. 936 Conkey is going to be on the demo list. 6105 and 11, NIPSCO was terminated last year and it is on the demo list. 6120 Willard, the house was purchased on tax sale in 2016 and did not pull permits in the past month for electrical upgrades. 235 Wildwood, the house is on the demo list and bid opening on the property was done on 4-20. 1128 Eaton, we are investigating this and have sent a citation regarding the fence. 6118-20 and 18 Wallace Road, we are investigating this matter regarding the fence on neighborhoods property. 5654 Walter and 56 Erie we are investigating (unclear) the issue of green tubs and tags regarding alley clean up. We’re tagging it for alley clean up. That was all from Code Enforcement. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Torres, moved to send a letter to Public Works in regards to trees that need to be picked up behind New Zion Temple Church, and also at the property at 1118 Drackert, between Drackert and Eaton. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: July 11, 2017 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 9 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 10, 2017 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Markovich - I can understand what Councilman Higgs is doing but we know by the time a letter is generated it’d probably be a week top ten days. I think if you would just call Gary Gleason’s office and give them addresses that it would get done a lot sooner and they could schedule their workload that if there is a truck going by there in the next couple days they can do it but if they drive by there then the letter comes out, now they have to double back and go get it. So, I mean, it’s just a suggestion. I mean you might want to try it and see how that works. Because I’ve done that a couple times about branches because of a storm and they’re in the alley and instead of waiting for them just call it in and they know it’s on their list and a lot of times the district foreman, if he’s with his pickup truck, if he’s got it he’ll pick up the stuff and throw it in the back end of his truck. It’s just a suggestion. I’m not telling you what to do but you might want to try that too also. Councilman Higgs - I’ve done that on several occasions and have been doing it for fourteen years, Councilman. If I thought it was easier than not identifying the properties on the council floor and having a record of it so when my constituents call my home I can present them with a letter saying not only did I call but I also put it on the list at the council meeting. And you’re more than welcome, Councilman, as at Large to go throughout my district and I could show you some of my concerns and you could help me get them done. It would be so helpful. Thank you so much. Councilman Higgs - Seeing the department head is here, Mr. Button, I’m just wondering when are they gonna start on my project on Van Buren, from 165th to Conkey, if you could just a brief letter to my office as soon as possible would be greatly appreciated. Councilman Torres, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to have a letter sent to Code Enforcement. I’ve got about fifty tires sitting on the property just west of the Glidden Paint Company empty lot there, or wooded lot. This is my second request. The tires are still there. Residents in the 1500 block of Summer are worried about mosquitos. Mosquito season, with the hot weather and the rainy season, is gonna breed mosquitos and they’re worried about. Those tires have been there for months that I know of. So, I’d like a letter sent to Code Enforcement as to why those tires aren’t getting removed. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: July 11, 2017 Councilman Markovich - When they contact Code Enforcement maybe what they ought to try and do is see if there’s any businesses that have security cameras and maybe we might catch somebody dumping, with a license. I mean I know it’s a far fetched request but if we catch somebody doing it, we get them one time maybe we could have them pay for the cost and so forth and that. But it’s just a suggestion and comment. Councilman Higgs - I was glad to see in the 2nd District, I was riding down, Councilman Torres, that business is vacant where they have the big fish, they were cutting the grass finally, which was an eyesore. I guess a gentleman from Gary was hire to clean that area up. But behind the fence, I don’t know what they’re waiting on to demo the property, and you probably know the address. I don’t know it off the top of my head. But I did see the gentleman last week over there cleaning it up. So, that’s a plus. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 10 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 10, 2017 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Torres - Lights are being put up in my district and people, Doty, the 100 and 200 blocks, are extremely happy with their new lights. They’ll be even more happier when NIPSCO turns on the switch. But Beall Street, Chestnut, their working on that list. So work is being done, I appreciate it, Mr. Button, our Engineer. Now, if we could just get some grating done I will further appreciate it. Councilman Markovich - In regards to the Light Program, and I know I had discussions and been to several meetings and we’ve had meetings with Leopardo. There’s an article on the front page today of the Times where professor Kramer from Purdue has been doing a study on LED lights for the last five years. The article did not mention Hammond in there at all that they’re online with NIPSCO replacing their street lights. I don’t know what’s going on there. Whether we’re part of the process or not or whatever, but it did not mention Hammond having any of their street lights changed to LED by NIPSCO. Even though they’re NIPSCO lights, we’re paying the bill to NIPSCO for them. So why that’s not being pushed or whatever, I mean that’s just a sideline of what’s going on in that respect. So, I mean, the Engineer’s here, whether they’re getting involved in it or whatever, I know we’ve got that program for Leopardo. We started it. I know I talked to that guy at Leopardo that they’re gonna hire the contractors or whatever but I also contacted a guy to get a hold of Dr. Kramer because they’re gonna set the specifications for these lights because even though they may tell you the LED’s are gonna last for ten years, we might get five years. But, hopefully, being that it’s Leopardo’s project I’m sure they’re gonna investigate that and look at it. Councilman Higgs - I just wanted to personally thank PK, Johnny Williams, Camelia Robinson and a number of my family members for helping out with Hammond Day. It was a huge success at MLK Park. There were so many people that were originally born and raised here that came home for Hammond Day and we had a superb, excellent, homegoing. It was just phenomenal just to see so many people come home for that particular day and to eat and enjoy themselves. A whole pig was roasted by the Addison family who moved to Indianapolis and came home for Hammond Day and it was just phenomenal and I just really appreciate their help for making that a huge success. Hopefully next year it will get bigger and we’ll do more things in MLK Park. Thank you all if you’re watching or listening. Councilman Woerpel - My next door neighbor finally cut his grass. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Leslie Phemister - I’m a new resident and what I do for a living is I’m an a Bicycle, Pedestrian and Transit Advocate and Planner. I would love to be a part of my new community and be able to help in any way that I can. George Stoya - Questions whether any contemplated action by the Judge here about this court in Hammond is addressing a political issue. As a political issue it is non-justiciable. That is to say she can’t get jurisdiction because it’s strictly a political question. There is no legal merit on which they can make claim, because it’s political. Your decision was a political decision. The same thing happened with Judge Harkin but there was an accommodation reached. Secondly, for the some of the councilmen who are constantly asking for letter to the Hammond Code Enforcement, why don’t you try the Streets & Sanitation Department if you want something Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 11 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 10, 2017 PUBLIC EXPRESSION cont. George Stoya cont. - picked up. Lastly, 17R-25, you’re subjective feelings aren’t enough. You are here in an official capacity. You need some type of evidence. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL ________________________ Janet Venecz, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: ________________________ Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Time: 6:55 pm cb Minutes approved at the Common Council Meeting of July 24, 2017. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 12