Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Permits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves officer specialty pay, multiple permits, street closure and event permit
Summary
The Hammond Board of Public Works and Safety on March 13 unanimously approved a package of personnel, permitting and traffic items, including evidence technician specialty pay for Officer Bryce Sherwin and a multi-month street closure for the Summer Street rebuild project.
The Hammond Board of Public Works and Safety on March 13 unanimously approved a set of routine personnel and permitting items including evidence technician specialty pay for an officer, funding for a fencing project, an amended federal grant agreement and several street- and event-related permits.
The approvals include an evidence technician specialty pay allowance for Officer Bryce Sherwin, effective March 7, 2025; a $60,000 allocation requested by Dean Button for a fence project (funds drawn from the mayor’s fund and the Fifth and Sixth district gaming funds); and approval for the board president to execute an amendment to the city’s grant agreement with the Federal Highway Administration related to the Safe Streets and Roads for All comprehensive safety action plan.
Those items were presented as correspondence and approved by voice vote after motions from board members. Dean Button described the FHWA amendment as a finalizing “bow” on a plan that assessed multiple intersections and roadway segments across the city.
The board also approved a request from Reith Riley Construction to close the State Street approach to Summer Street for utility work tied to the Summer Street rebuild project, beginning on or after March 19, 2025. The closure is expected to last roughly three months through mid-May 2025; engineering reviewed and approved the detour plan. Dean Button confirmed that Summer Street itself will remain open east–west and that the closure affects the northern approach only.
Separately, the board approved a request from Corollis Roofing to restrict the right lane of Chicago Avenue near the corner of Chicago Avenue and White Oak Avenue for a 4–6 hour period in April 2025 while work is performed at Bishop Knoll Institute at 1519 Hoffman Street. The board recorded no objection from staff, noting the roadway normally has two lanes in each direction.
The Whiting Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce was granted permission to hold its annual “garage Mahal” event on May 17–18, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with an estimated 200 participants. The board also approved a routine garage-sale permit and a set of right-of-way permits; engineering recommended approval of a Nipsco gas repair at Sheffield and other submitted permits.
Finally, the board agreed to place residential parking signs on 170 Third Place and 170 Fourth Street (Tapper to Calumet) and directed staff to notify City Council and post the required seven-day notice before final adoption.
Most motions were moved and seconded by board members and carried on unanimous voice votes recorded as "aye." The approvals were routine and presented as routine correspondence or new-business permit requests.
