St. John Council unanimously approves routine purchases, salary ordinance changes and fire-truck lease

The Town Council of the Town of St. John on March 12 approved a slate of routine financial items, amended the town’s 2025 salary ordinance to add seasonal parks help and additional IT staff, and authorized a lease-purchase agreement for two fire trucks.

The actions matter because they move money and staffing decisions into place for the coming months: the council authorized combined purchase requests, approved an accounts-payable voucher totaling $1,538,219.41, and cleared a lease arrangement that covers two fire vehicles the town intends to accept into its fleet.

Council business opened with approval of minutes for the Feb. 12 and Feb. 26, 2025, meetings. The council then approved seven purchase requests with a combined total of $210,404.4 and an Accounts Payable Voucher dated March 12, 2025, representing payroll, supplies, services and equipment for the Town of St. John totaling $1,538,219.41. Each of those motions carried by a recorded voice vote of 4 to 0.

The council considered Ordinance 18-58, described at the meeting as an amendment to Salary Ordinance 18-42 (the 2025 salary ordinance). The amendment adds seasonal help for parks programs and adds at least one additional information-technology position to support work at new and replacement town buildings; council discussion also referenced needing an additional full-time position related to fire and police staffing. The ordinance was moved, seconded and approved 4 to 0.

The council moved to adopt a resolution authorizing the Town of St. John, Lake County, Indiana, to enter into a lease-purchase agreement for certain fire trucks. Staff told the council a previous draft contained a typo that omitted one of the two vehicles; the corrected resolution names both vehicles and was resubmitted for approval. A council member asked whether the town had compared a dollar-buyout lease to a fair-market-value option; staff indicated they had considered options. The resolution passed 4 to 0.

Council members also approved Resolution 2025-O32B, described at the meeting as a transfer of monies within the 2025 budget, and authorized payment to Tri Town Safety Village Incorporated in the amount of $36,400 after staff and the safety-board trimmed the organization’s proposed budget to hold the amount at last year’s level. Both measures passed by voice vote, 4 to 0.

In reports, a council member said two dump-truck chassis have been delivered to Linco and that, once outfitted with plows and spreader boxes, the trucks are likely to be available by September. The meeting concluded with an unanimous motion to adjourn.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes (Feb. 12 and Feb. 26, 2025): Approved, voice vote 4–0 (mover/second not specified in the record). - Purchase requests (7 requests; combined $210,404.4): Approved, voice vote 4–0 (mover/second not specified). - Accounts Payable Voucher (dated 03/12/2025; $1,538,219.41): Approved, voice vote 4–0 (mover/second not specified). - Ordinance 18-58 (amending Salary Ordinance 18-42, 2025 salary ordinance): Approved, voice vote 4–0 (mover/second not specified). Amendment adds seasonal parks help and an additional IT position; discussion referenced need for an additional full-time position for fire/PD. - Resolution (lease-purchase for two fire trucks; cited in meeting as “Resolution 20 20 five-three-twelve A”): Approved, voice vote 4–0 (mover/second not specified). Staff corrected the resolution to list both vehicles; council discussed lease-term options. - Resolution 2025-O32B (transfer of monies within the 2025 budget): Approved, voice vote 4–0 (mover/second not specified). - Payment to Tri Town Safety Village, Inc., $36,400: Approved, voice vote 4–0 (mover/second not specified).