Board approves promotions, permits and CIB allocations including $1 million for resurfacing

The Hammond Board of Public Works and Safety on April 10 approved a slate of administrative actions including two police promotions, several permit requests and multiple capital funding allocations, the board secretary said.

The board approved the promotion of Officers Ronald Davidson and Jeremy Sandilla to corporal with pay adjustments effective April 17, 2025, on a voice vote.

The board also approved advertising dates and a bid opening for repaving the Euryl Lackawanna Trail from the interstate to Sibley; staff said the work may be phased depending on available funding.

Capital Improvement Board (CIB) funding requests approved included: $30,600 for intersection improvements at 165th Street and State Line Avenue with a corresponding professional services agreement with First Group Engineering; $16,552.50 to supplement a pavement condition survey (reprocessing video to add streetlight and right-of-way tree inventory); $5,097.60 as a balancing change order to complete Marble Street reconstruction; $6,100 for Kennedy Avenue tree clearing with Howard's Tree Service; $6,851.38 to repair a sinkhole at city property at 255 Russell Street; and an appropriation of $1,000,000 for the city's 2025 annual resurfacing program, which staff said the city controller advised at the CIB meeting.

The board approved a license agreement renewal with SES Environmental to allow monitoring access on city property adjacent to 7305 Kennedy Avenue for soil and groundwater monitoring related to a 2022 release at the former Golo gas station, consistent with an ongoing state monitoring requirement.

Event permits approved included a Lakeshore/Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth parade on April 25, 2025 (with Hammond Police Department suggestions; the PD recommended a west-side start to avoid crossing Calumet) and a church Stations of the Cross live procession on April 18, 2025 at 10:45 a.m., both approved contingent on following the police department's recommendations.

The board approved multiple routine items submitted by engineering and other departments including right-of-way permits (three from NIPSCO for gas-line investigation and two from Buckeye), garage sale permits, and a late rental-registration hearing set for April 24, 2025. The board also approved a rescind-and-release order tied to a demolished property at 943 Sibley Street after a title company payoff was reported.

Several status hearings and enforcement matters were set for future meetings (see separate articles for property-enforcement items). The board frequently voiced 'aye' to move items; formal roll-call tallies were not read into the record for each motion.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Promotions: Officers Ronald Davidson and Jeremy Sandilla to corporal; approved (voice vote). - CIB allocations: 165th/State Line $30,600; Pavement survey supplement $16,552.50; Marble Street change order $5,097.60; Kennedy Ave tree clearing $6,100; Sinkhole at 255 Russell $6,851.38; 2025 resurfacing $1,000,000; all approved (voice votes). - License agreement with SES Environmental (7305 Kennedy Ave) to allow monitoring access: approved (voice vote). - Parades/procession permits (April 25 Babe Ruth parade; April 18 Stations of the Cross): approved with PD suggestions. - Right-of-way permits (NIPSCO, Buckeye): approved. - Rescind/release for demolished property at 943 Sibley: approved.

The approvals were routine in form and advanced the administration's construction and permitting agenda for spring and summer work.

What happens next: staff will post advertisements and bid documents where required, finalize and present the First Group Engineering agreement and construction contracts when available, and proceed with the resurfacing procurement and the other approved allocations.