City Council

0 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 22, 2019 ORDINANCE 3RDREADING - FINAL PASSAGE None INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE None RESOLUTIONS None NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Woerpel - Three months ago, 69, 70, 71 ,72 Alexander and Marshall, a lighting project was finished in that neighborhood on those four blocks. Two months ago, 71 and 7200 Alexander and Marshall's lights were turned on by NIPS CO. Beginning two months ago, myself and the Engineering Dept. have contacted, as well as my engineer that is in charge of the project, have contacted NIPSCO on almost a daily basis. I've been getting resident complaints as late as this morning on when are them lights gonna be turned on. I've spoken with Ricky Kalinski at NIPSCO, work orders have gone out, and no lights have been turned on. I'm just making a point tonight that for all those residents of those streets, I'm well aware of the fact that for some reason those two blocks, those poles haven't been powered up yet. NIPS CO, the city of Hammond and myself have been in contact a minimum of twenty times. That's all I got to say about it. Councilman Higgs - I received a correspondence from Ms. Cartwright in regards to a tree removal, and then I got a correspondence that was also given back to me from Devin Wick, Director of Park and Forestry Operations in the Hammond Park and Recreations. It says, "In response to your letter of the 3rd District Councilman Higgs, in regards to the tree removal in the city parkway in front of your house", which is not my house it's in front of her house, "I've investigated the issue and would like to explain the process for the removal of the city trees. We have an outside contractor do the removals. They will take the tree down and then grind and shred below grain. Once the stud is below ground level, the mulch is left on top of the facilitated dispulsion of the roots. Mulch and roots given time will convert to soil. At your request we will spread some grass seeds over the area but we do not sod or otherwise landscape the city owned parkways. We will need to leave the mulch in place at the time to assist in the progress as the sidewalk repair or the replacement in request can be made to the Engineering Dept. at 836-6336." From my understanding, initially, when I went around throughout the district addressing the concerns of some of the trees that were in the parkway. They were basically just cut down. After that I have no knowledge of what they do and this is the first time I've received a correspondence, actually. But, the reality of it is, is that they cut the tree down, I understand, and take it out, and if the sidewalk is broken they replace the sidewalk because we have funding available for that but other than that I don't know. So, whatever she's requesting, I will, again, reach out to her and she probably has to contact him direct. I just wanted to put that out there. Councilman Markovich - We've got one thing here for introduction for the draft master plan for the Downtown Hammond from this Mr. Speck. I guess it almost like that Brittany Spears song, "Oops, I did it again." The last time we had a Council meeting and they scheduled this Mr. Speck at the H.A.S.T. Academy. So going between the Council meeting and going to H.A.S.T. Academy, you know, it made it hard for a lot of the Council persons Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 22, 2019 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Council President Markovich cont. - to attend. Then they had another one on a Thursday night where the district councilmen and council at large were not notified and the 5th District and 6th District Councilmen were notified. They attended a walk through for Downtown Hammond. Well, here it is again, the Dept. of Planning of the Mayor's Office of Economic Development scheduled this Downtown Hammond plan with Jeff Speck on August 6 which Janet just went ahead and said it's National Night Crime Watch Night. So again, it's gonna be hard to be at two places at the same time. So you can take your pick. I'm just letting everybody know. So August 6th you got two places to go. Either you go Downtown Hammond and look at the new master plan or go see about crime. Thank you. Councilman Higgs - I certainly just want to thank some of, I guess, Facebook watchers or whatever you want to call them, but for their love and support of me in my tenure of being on the council of being on the council. Thank you so much for showing your love and support. Hopefully we can continue to do what's necessary to move the 3rd District in the city forward. I am here for you. It's not about me, it's about us. Councilman Kalwinski - I want to take a moment to thank the Hammond Police Department for a recent Pop Up Party in Pulaski Park. That they sponsored with food, refreshments, cake, music, a number of activities and it was well received by our community. A lot of good interaction. A lot of relationship building went on that afternoon. So I want to thank them for doing that. Second, I want to thank the Police Department again for their professionalism for what they've done at the Festival of the Lakes this year. They were very polite. They were very noticeable. People were complimenting them every night about their presence and handling business and how safe people felt at the Festival. So a shout out to the Police Department for that as well. I want to also say congratulations to the city and Veteran's Life Changing Services for their first annual Stand Down that was held at the Sportsplex last Thursday. A Stand Down is where a day, half day, is devoted to Veterans and active military where agencies come out, put out a table and provide resources, information, and services. This was Hammond's first and it was at the Sportsplex. There was actually a small band of Veteran's playing music there. Over 150 Veteran's came through the door receiving various services and packages ands supplies. A special thanks to Hutamaki and Purdue Northwest for their bags filled with various items for every Veteran that came through the door. It went very well and I'm very proud of the city and Veteran Life Changing Services for sponsoring this event and I'm looking forward to the 2nd annual event next year. So thank you to all people involved there. And a shout out to the Hammond Fire Dept. because they had a table there. They were passing out flyers to Veteran's saying that the Fire Department is actively looking for Veteran's for hire to the Fire Dept. So, kudos to the Fire Department. Nice going, you guys. Thank to everyone for participating in that event. Councilman Emerson - Tonight, even as we speak, they're probably going into the stadium in Whiting. The Military All Stars are playing the Oilmen, and it's at Oilmen Stadium. I believe at 7: 10 and I just wanted to make that announcement if noone's doing anything tonight to come on by and honor the Veteran's at the Whiting Oiler's Stadium, I believe. Veteran's are free. It's a great ball park. This is a 3rd annual, I believe. Councilman Higgs - I just wanted to make sure that we make this part of the record, the correspondence that we received from Kopka Pinkus & Dolin, I guess in regards to the appointment to the South Shore Convention and Visitor's Tourism Bureau Authority for 2019. I just wanted to place that on a record of file so that they know we did receive their correspondence. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3  0 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 22, 2019 PUBLIC EXPRESSION William Anhault - Just purchased the old Crestone Music School building. Planning a 501c not for profit in that building. Has questions about zoning codes. Whether it's allowed in the area. Anything that may go with that. Asked the Council if they could help direct him. Would like to open a science and arts center for the community. Is trying to get a work study from Purdue, college students, to do a robotics program there for the community. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Torres, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL Robert A. Markovich, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: Robert J. Golec,. • y Clerk Time: 6:25 p.m. cb Minutes approved at the Common Council meeting of August 12, 2019. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4