[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6031056,"mediaKeyId","5494285-0467aca242a9d64a5b36b57b04ca8742","parentId",5494285,"title","Merrillville council approves Rosenbaum Community Garden pilot, with hold-harmless and food-donation plans","audioSeconds",192,"startMs",1846000,"endMs",2038000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5494285-0467aca242a9d64a5b36b57b04ca8742&start=1846&end=2038","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5494285-0467aca242a9d64a5b36b57b04ca8742/thumbnail_1846000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6031056/Town-of-Merrillville/Lake-County/Indiana/Merrillville-council-approves-Rosenbaum-Community-Garden-pilot-with-hold-harmless-and-food-donation-plans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6031056-0bcd821757ef8ba4d18da3d5af05f1e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193867&Signature=oXKMduw9ajSVB5w9nWAeltCffGeZbUrIqMYNj6Y5Fo~8AK9SsoNQqDHDd5eHGW3QYzSrLWG48FGFimmqO3wTpxaAt6YJU74AVFWyewJL9XVma4LxirWb2SGacblDDgkeYJUZTGJxzoAqMFOD5TJv7oV4IBqMbBLuUCRVdVu3UZKbo-FenqfALL-zUlaro--0ZWykkf-DSgI3i1c3ZbLQl8ertzCLpMUttWOe-oUrSREdZwSHaz9f7528HHI1-EgiETE4VHQ-gywSRquyk6ehmFgaIR5nNbQGIoU5NDL1Hc~UTV5UCfBFS0pGKU~JXNRNgzwfGnLQB~e9VdH2ZpRc5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Merrillville, IN","date","2025-04-09T20:50:25Z","article","MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — The Merrillville Town Council on April 8 approved a motion to create the Rosenbaum Community Garden pilot project on town property in the Fourth Ward, including a hold-harmless participation clause and an initial plan to channel surplus produce to the Northwest Indiana Food Bank.

Councilman (name listed as) Fettig moved the proposal during the Parks and Recreation committee report; Councilor (second and supporting council members) seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The council asked town attorneys to review a draft participant waiver and hold-harmless clause before garden plots are assigned.

Brian (no last name provided), a community volunteer and garden organizer, told the council the plan calls for individual plots, a sign-up sheet, and bylaws that will include a hold-harmless, participate-at-your-own-risk clause. “We have a sign-up sheet for residents that’ll have our bylaws… at the end is a hold harmless, participate at your own risk clause,” Brian said. He said the project will encourage gardeners to donate surplus produce and noted the Northwest Indiana Food Bank could accept those donations subject to their stipulations.

Parks staff said the garden would be treated as a pilot project with space for individual plots and the potential to expand if successful. Council and staff discussed basic liability protections; town attorney Michael Griffin and town counsel will review language to ensure volunteers and the town are appropriately protected. The parks committee indicated it will coordinate with the town to place the garden on town property and ensure insurance and liability questions are resolved.

The council also discussed water access: committee members said they’d look to coordinate a well and solar pump for irrigation and to support a possible nearby orchard project. The motion passed without recorded opposition.

Implementation steps recorded in the meeting include drafting the garden bylaws, finalizing a hold-harmless agreement with town counsel, and coordinating donation logistics with the Northwest Indiana Food Bank.

Organizers said they hope the garden will provide fresh produce for participants, community engagement opportunities and additional donations to local hunger-relief efforts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Merrillville Town Council Meeting - April 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved creation of the Rosenbaum Community Garden on town property; organizers will use individual plots, sign hold-harmless waivers and coordinate surplus donations with the Northwest Indiana Food Bank.","taxTitle","Town of Merrillville, Lake County, Indiana","taxId",56783,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6031061,"Merrillville approves multiple special exceptions: two car washes, used-car lot and Mexican restaurant",1106,3776000,4882000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5494285-0467aca242a9d64a5b36b57b04ca8742&start=3776&end=4882","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5494285-0467aca242a9d64a5b36b57b04ca8742/thumbnail_3776000.jpg","/articles/6031061/Town-of-Merrillville/Lake-County/Indiana/Merrillville-approves-multiple-special-exceptions-two-car-washes-used-car-lot-and-Mexican-restaurant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6031061-16134eee61db80108634d880993ea86d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193867&Signature=iWHIB9F7cnyzqzfUarigR~2~WBQdfOB8xuWK7ki0Hy9GwD3VwcDatf6RCslaDAbNJlNH5RQuXS-M~YPfoAh-9pGFef1Ifx8cNDzHEw3K3AANow9Lx3-kqUC~lSqJMqzTprcWlZ70aCfQeeXXzSr0sFRW4aNkd3bukmX2x9dm1mmFMUsOoCy0olWjuXGnnOE6KqDLW9yCV63ahCNIA4NAUmUPMQa9n5FWZp4WoGdMoCLT3xLUz~yolT7t6M6zME-FHnZjRY9s6uIYwDSMppkaZCALN4pLHfsRTwHI2cXL4JwB9Xj~MLODAdoLXO5qbxW0rWQGSWXIAQJpFx730CCEOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — The Merrillville Town Council on April 8 approved four special-exception requests from the Board of Zoning Appeals for commercial uses at or near U.S. 30 and West 80th Avenue and other corridors: two car washes, a used-car lot and a Mexican restaurant.

Drive and Shine, proposing to convert the former Old Chicago restaurant at 740 East 80th Avenue into a luxury car wash with an enclosed two-story indoor vacuum building and an attached lube center, received approval conditioned on a traffic study satisfactory to town engineering. The council voted 5 in favor with one abstention — Councilman Sean Pettit declared a conflict and abstained, stating he had a financial relationship with Drive and Shine’s billboard holdings.

Jeff Ban, principal with DVG Team (engineering and surveying), told the council the Drive and Shine project represents roughly $15 million of planned investment, including land and equipment. “The investment that is being proposed here is about $15,000,000,” Ban said. He said the facility would include indoor vacuums suitable for Northwest Indiana winters and estimated traffic at “200 to 600 per day,” with an average around 200–300 vehicles depending on weather.

Drive and Shine’s representative, Frank Otami, described the customer pricing and membership options. “It starts at about $10,” Otami said for a single wash; the company also offers unlimited-membership tiers he listed in the meeting record.

Family Express sought and received approval for an on-site car wash addition at its convenience store and fueling station. Peter Andreu, vice president of development for Family Express, described the operation as an energy-efficient, low-water-use facility with an estimated average of 40–50 cars per day at similarly sized sites. The council approved that special exception by a 6–0 roll call.

A used-car dealer petition by AJZ Merrivill LLC for the vacant Subaru dealership site at 1777 West 80th Avenue was approved 5–1; Councilwoman Haines Edwards voted no. The petitioner said the operation would hold roughly 200–220 vehicles on the 2.61-acre site and employ 10–15 workers; service bays on site would be used primarily for vehicle preparation and warranty work, not heavy engine or transmission overhauls.

Finally, a special exception to operate an El Jimador Mexican restaurant at 2225 West Lincoln Highway — a location previously used as a restaurant — was approved unanimously. John Mathewson, broker for the applicant Amador Gutierrez, said the business already operates a larger footprint in Winfield and plans limited refurbishing of the existing building to open quickly for customers.

Sheila Shine, planning and building department director, told the council the Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously recommended approval for several of the petitions and that engineering-level traffic work remains a condition for Drive and Shine.

Votes and conditions (selected):
- Drive and Shine (740 E. 80th Ave) — Approved with condition of satisfactory traffic study; vote 5 in favor, 1 abstention (Councilman Pettit declared conflict of interest).
- Family Express car wash (location on Broadway/101 area) — Approved, vote 6–0.
- AJZ Merrivill LLC used-car lot (1777 W. 80th Ave) — Approved, vote 5–1 (Councilwoman Haines Edwards voted no).
- El Jimador restaurant (2225 W. Lincoln Hwy) — Approved, vote 6–0.

Council members and staff emphasized that conditional approvals will require engineering and traffic submittals before building permits are issued. Shine and engineering staff said any required drainage, interceptors or queuing modifications would be part of the plan-review process.

All four petitions were reviewed publicly with at least one public presence from the petitioners and engineering consultants. The council asked petitioners to coordinate final engineering submittals with the town’s planning and engineering departments before construction.","The council approved special-exception requests for two car washes, a used-car dealership and a Mexican restaurant; Drive and Shine’s approval includes a required traffic study.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6031066,"Merrillville council adopts fee and fund changes, approves cleaning contract and park grant assurances",493,3276000,3769000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5494285-0467aca242a9d64a5b36b57b04ca8742&start=3276&end=3769","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5494285-0467aca242a9d64a5b36b57b04ca8742/thumbnail_3276000.jpg","/articles/6031066/Town-of-Merrillville/Lake-County/Indiana/Merrillville-council-adopts-fee-and-fund-changes-approves-cleaning-contract-and-park-grant-assurances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6031066-a4b80a4111fb3464110a7d8c9d31a155/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193867&Signature=Eb9KHWAnSj~cy-wQG5k1JHqcpKM9mooc9FqHI7vWelSkVL8sQB6is9-xWeYu40Mpp1w8t8EaQzA~Z5J1QhfqOLSg5OkudIiJlFhxnhEiCQoOyOChfHxgrSFOHosTZLr4wWwhVYeDssLq~~avjPJf3kqApQxsq9teQxMvW4NlJVHpZSBj62YNtB-~sBxodBENuL7LQrZR~Wybu7pvIwuudYyLkXKOIN1cxZhVTKFNkJuAu4asmPV04DRysi9O4Sp0U4imlGths5PSyg22Oc9q1okhJc15lfmyI3G-EKk9SPph4jfxLPlSswRHKAaPBn7ze3Co0OST-A5KVGcsJLpfTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — The Merrillville Town Council on April 8 adopted a package of municipal updates and contracts affecting town finance and parks, voting in favor of new fee rules, revised fund language and a cleaning contract for the Dean and Barbara White Community Center.

The council passed Ordinance 25-06, which amends Planning and Building Department fees; Ordinance 25-07, which clarifies advance payment for board/commission allowances related to parks and recreation; Ordinance 25-09, which separates federal and local forfeiture/seized-asset funds; and Ordinance 25-10, which updates the town’s rainy day fund language under Indiana Code 36-1-8-5.1. All four ordinances were approved on second reading with roll-call votes recorded as six in favor.

Town staff and council members said the changes were largely housekeeping to align local code with state law and to make the town eligible for federal grant programs. “If you pass this ordinance, you’re going to fix all of that,” Michael Griffin told the council about the forfeiture fund split, describing it as necessary bookkeeping to match external-audit and federal expectations.

The council also approved Resolution 25-20, adopting assurances required to be eligible for certain federal recreation grant programs. Griffin said the inclusion of the U.S. Department of the Interior assurance in the resolution is intended to make Merrillville eligible for the upcoming round of grant money from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Separately the council authorized a new custodial contract for the Dean and Barbara White Community Center. Councilor Keisha (Jerry/first name not specified in the record) described the contract as a pilot deep-clean service; the council moved to begin with the “basic” plan, which a council member read as $3,068 per month, with a higher “deluxe” option also listed in the contract documents. Council members emphasized the in-house custodial crew will continue daytime duties and the contract covers overnight deep-cleaning tasks and reach work for high areas.

The council acknowledged receipt of the Redevelopment Commission annual report — a statutory filing that requires only acknowledgment on the public record — and approved the consent agenda, which included accounts payable registers and minutes.

What the council voted on (selected items):
- Ordinance 25-06 (Planning & Building fees): Adopted, roll call 6–0.
- Ordinance 25-07 (Advance payment of board/commission allowances): Adopted, roll call 6–0.
- Ordinance 25-09 (Federal vs. local forfeiture/seized asset funds): Adopted, roll call 6–0.
- Ordinance 25-10 (Rainy day fund language per IC 36-1-8-5.1): Adopted, roll call 6–0.
- Resolution 25-20 (Park authority grant assurances including Architectural Barriers Act recitals): Approved, voice vote; signed documents to follow.
- Custodial contract for Dean and Barbara White Community Center (basic service pilot): Approved, motion carried.

The council heard regular committee reports, including updates on gateway signage invoicing, street department paving and speed-hump installations, stormwater MS4 reporting and an upcoming audit, and special events such as Easter and Fourth of July planning.

The council will meet next on April 22; the Redevelopment Commission meets April 22 at 6:15 p.m.

Note: This article reports formal actions and vote tallies as recorded in the meeting minutes and roll-call votes. It does not infer future spending beyond motions approved by the council.","On April 8 the Merrillville Town Council approved several municipal code changes, a cleaning contract for the community center, and a resolution that enables federal park grant applications.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Merrillville council approves Rosenbaum Community Garden pilot, with hold-harmless and food-donation plans

Merrillville approves multiple special exceptions: two car washes, used-car lot and Mexican restaurant

Merrillville council adopts fee and fund changes, approves cleaning contract and park grant assurances