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Merrillville council advances park department ordinance; discusses dog park site, cameras and bonding
Summary
Council gave first reading to an ordinance formalizing a Parks and Recreation department and discussed a potential sale of the former lumber site for a dog park, camera and ADA improvements, and using food-and-beverage tax proceeds or bonding to fund projects.
The Town of Merrillville council gave first reading to an ordinance to establish a formal Parks and Recreation department and discussed funding and locations for a proposed dog park and broader park improvements.
Councilman Sean Pettit made the motion to give ordinance 25-12 first reading; the motion was seconded by a council member and passed on a 6-0 roll call. The ordinance would amend Chapter 13.5 of the Merrillville Municipal Code and is being considered under Indiana Code 36-10-3. Pettit said the item was suitable for first reading and recommended it go back to the council affairs committee for policy fine-tuning before second reading.
Council members and staff discussed a proposal from a private buyer to purchase the old Merrillville Lumber property (referred to in committee as “Union Park” and the triangle site) where the council had earlier considered placing a dog park. Pettit said the buyer “wants to buy the property from us” and that the dog park could instead be located on town-owned property on Madison near town hall. Staff and council indicated they will review price and proposed incentives and discuss the matter at a June workshop.
Parks staff and council members reviewed possible funding paths. Clerk-Treasurer Eric January told the council the town’s food-and-beverage tax fund balance was $1,626,798.88. Council discussion described using food-and-beverage proceeds to support debt service if the town chooses to bond for park projects; councilors noted camera equipment estimates and an earlier dog park cost estimate. During the parks committee report, a staff member said an individual camera would cost about $20,000 and that a prior estimate for a dog park was in the “vicinity of $750,000 to $900,000.”
Committee members also discussed forming a citizen park board (the draft ordinance currently references four members, with councilors proposing a fifth to avoid tie votes) and adding ADA access points at seven parks. The ordinance was approved for first reading; councilors said they will solicit citizen input and return with a refined ordinance for second reading.
The council did not adopt final project budgets or authorize sales or bonds during the meeting; directions given were to continue committee work and review options at the June workshop.
