MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — The Merrillville Redevelopment Commission on Nov. 25 approved Resolution RDC 25-20 to move $395,072.74 from the Merrillville Road allocation-area TIF to the Community Center BCRA Lease 2019 fund to meet upcoming lease payments.

Mister Griffin, speaking for the commission's counsel or finance team, described the transfer as a routine, lawful consolidation of allocation-area subfunds established to manage debt and lease cash flow. "The Merrillville Road TIF has to be decreased in a cash balance by $395,072.74 in order for the community center lease to be covered," Griffin said, adding that the transfer conforms to the commission's consolidated economic-development-area structure and is necessary to meet the lease payment schedule.

Commissioner Margaret Uselac moved to approve Resolution RDC 25-20 and Commissioner Leona Chandler Felton seconded. Madam secretary recorded aye votes from Commissioners Shauna Haines Edwards, Leona Chandler Felton, Margaret Uselac, Keisha Hardaway and President Sean Peddle; the motion carried 5-0.

After the vote, the chair said staff (Angie and Joanna) prepared a report on tax abatements and proposed a redevelopment-commission workshop to review historic abatements and current policy. The chair proposed holding the workshop before the Dec. 9 town council meeting at 6:00 p.m.; staff said the session would likely take 30 to 60 minutes and the commission agreed to invite two additional council members to attend.