Council approves interlocal agreement with Hobart, park transfer, fire fund adjustments and LED retrofit contract

The Merrillville Town Council approved several resolutions Tuesday covering interlocal cooperation, park funding, fire-fund transfers and replacement of building lighting.

Interlocal agreement (Resolution 25-41). The council approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Hobart to provide resources for roadway improvements, including right-of-way acquisitions for the Mississippi/60th Avenue roundabout project. Councilman Pettit said the Merrillville Redevelopment Commission previously authorized the item, and the council’s approval allows the town to partner with Hobart and purchase right-of-way inside Hobart city limits as needed.

Park operating transfer (Resolution 25-42). Council approved transferring $200,000 of food-and-beverage tax receipts to the park nonreverting operating fund to support park system and community-center operations. Trista Hudson (referred to in workshop discussion) had discussed the transfer at workshops, and councilors described the transfer as an appropriate use of the fund.

Fire and hazmat transfers (Resolution 25-43). The council authorized intra-fund transfers in the fire and hazmat fund, decreasing two line items by $42,009.38 and increasing 'other equipment' by the same amount; the net effect is zero.

LED retrofit award (Resolution 25-44). Acting as the works board, the council accepted Midwest Lighting Services as the lowest responsive bidder for an LED lighting retrofit at town facilities in the amount of $28,262. Town Manager Griffin noted the town received a $76,000 U.S. Department of Energy grant to support the project. Councilors questioned the bid spread; Griffin explained bidders offered different approaches (some proposing full fixture replacement, others proposing retrofit or tube-change options) and said staff would proceed with the lowest responsive bid and watch for change-order requests. The contract award was approved by the council.