Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sportsplex Expansion Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council advances Sportsplex expansion financing, adopts CDBG/HOME/ESG appropriation and approves $10.1M in claims
Summary
Council set committee review and hearings for a Section 108 loan to expand the Sportsplex, passed a resolution authorizing the Section 108 application, adopted the annual action plan appropriation for CDBG/HOME/ESG, and approved claims totaling $10,110,277.02.
Hammond City Council members moved key budget and financing items on Feb. 10, advancing a planned expansion of the Hammond Sportsplex and approving routine financial measures.
The council adopted a resolution authorizing staff to file a Section 108 loan guarantee application to finance an expansion of the Sportsplex (Resolution 25-R-02). The motion for the resolution was made by Councilman Spitali and seconded by Councilman Emerson; the clerk recorded the motion as carried, 8 in favor. Earlier in his mayor’s report, Mayor McDermott described the Sportsplex expansion as “around a $10,000,000 expansion,” and estimated the Section 108 loan would cover “probably 40 to 50% of the total cost,” with the balance coming from the city’s food-and-beverage-tax revenue.
The council also gave final passage to Ordinance 25-01, appropriating proceeds from the annual action plan (CDBG, HOME and ESG funds) for program year 2025. Councilman Spitali moved for final passage and the motion passed on roll call (the clerk’s record indicated nine votes in favor and one absence for that measure).
Council members set the Section 108 ordinance (the loan ordinance) for first and second readings and scheduled a council-as-a-whole committee hearing and public hearing for Feb. 24. Councilman Tyler and Mayor McDermott described program elements: the loan funds will support a new Sportsplex section with a taller roof for volleyball tournaments, relocated soccer fields (5v5 and 3v3 configurations) and wall-to-wall turf. Kim Roberts, the Sportsplex director, explained the plan: “soccer courts will be relocated… It is going to be a 5 v 5 field, and then on the sides, it’s going to be a 3 v 3… There will be no more walls. It’ll be wall to wall turf.”
The council also introduced Ordinance 25-03, a technical correction to the municipal vehicle excise-tax classification identified by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles; council members said the correction adds two vehicle classes (mini trucks and military vehicles) the city did not include in the original ordinance. The measure was placed on the Feb. 24 agenda for committee review.
During the consent portion of the meeting, the council approved claims dated Jan. 28–Feb. 5, 2025 (claim numbers 877–1376), totaling $10,110,277.02. Councilwoman Venez moved the claims approval and Councilman Spitelli seconded; Clerk Golik recorded the roll call vote.
What’s next: the Section 108 ordinance will be considered in committee and by the full council on Feb. 24, and staff will continue to develop design details and financing steps. The council did not alter the loan percentage split described by the mayor at the Feb. 10 meeting.
