The Michigan City Common Council on June 17 took first reading of an ordinance to appropriate funds from the city's rainy-day fund to pay for emergency and other repairs at City Hall, including replacement/repair of HVAC piping and a cooling tower. The ordinance was introduced by Councilwoman Monica Lee and Councilwoman Tillman and described by sponsors as an urgency item.

Council staff said the appropriation would not exceed $200,000 from the rainy-day fund. Councilman Lee noted the immediate contractor quote on file was from Wey Mechanical for $102,905 for the new cooling tower. "The only contractor who provided the city with a quote was Wey Mechanical in the amount of $102,905," a council speaker said during the presentation.

City Controller Mary Lewall told the council that state Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) requirements mean the city must hold a public hearing as part of the additional-appropriation process and supply DLGF documentation listing the public hearing dates. "When I fill out the additional appropriation to the DLGF, it's gonna ask specifically for the public hearing dates and all that documentation," Lewall said. She advised that the council complete the required public hearing and said second and third readings could be completed at a subsequent meeting to meet the documentation timeline.

Council members asked for an itemized summary of planned uses for the requested funds beyond the HVAC work; sponsors said they would provide a summary before the next meeting. Councilman Brian Dabney asked if emergency rules would permit three readings in one night; Lewall said the DLGF process and documentation require a public hearing and that the council should expect to conduct second and third readings at the next meeting.

During public comment, resident Tommy Kolovic urged the city to consider building a new City Hall but did not oppose or endorse the appropriation; his comments focused on the building's age and condition. After discussion, the council voted to hold the ordinance for second reading so the required public hearing could be scheduled and appropriate documentation prepared.

The rainy-day fund balances were presented earlier in the meeting: the combined riverboat/rainy day fund ending balance reported on June 17 was $4,250,354.73, with a rainy-day fund balance of $1,830,213.71 and a riverboat fund balance of $2,420,141.02.

Council staff said maintenance funds had already been used for initial HVAC work and that the additional-appropriation request reflects continuing repair needs. The council did not adopt the appropriation on June 17; it was held for formal public hearing and second reading at the next meeting.