Hammond council approves public safety bond, alley vacation and development incentives; multiple measures pass unanimously

Hammond’s Common Council on April 27 approved a slate of ordinances and resolutions to fund public safety equipment, prepare a site for a future fire station, update travel rules and advance economic development in the city.

The council passed Ordinance 26-10, a public safety bond authorization described by the mayor as a not-to-exceed $6,000,000 issue (the administration estimates closer to $5,200,000) to replace 12-year-old police and fire radios and to purchase a new fire engine. The mayor said the city expects a roughly 6% interest rate over a five-year term, with annual payments of about $1,200,000 beginning in 2027; repayments will come from water sales revenue as existing Station 2 debt falls off. The ordinance passed by roll call, 9–0.

Councilmembers also approved Ordinance 26-11 to vacate a 125-foot portion of an east–west alley south of 175th Street in the 7500 block of Linden Avenue to clear the site for a future Fire Station Number 7. The mayor said the site is in the design phase and construction will proceed once funding is identified; the ordinance passed 9–0 on final reading.

Ordinance 26-12, an update to Title 3, Chapter 37 of Hammond’s municipal code governing travel rules and regulations for employees and elected officials, passed on final reading after brief discussion as a modernization of prior policy. The council also introduced Ordinance 26-13, which creates four new fund accounts (3384, 3326, 3327 and 3343) to distribute previously authorized food-and-beverage tax revenue; sponsors said the move does not raise taxes but allocates existing collections for projects such as the Sportsplex and the Downtown Hammond Station.

On resolutions, the council adopted Resolution 26R-07, which ratified a good-faith offer and authorized the redevelopment commission to initiate condemnation proceedings under IC ch. 32-24-1-5 to acquire roughly seven acres of underused land in North Hammond for redevelopment. The mayor said the parcels have sat vacant for decades and the city seeks to put them to “highest and best use.” The resolution passed 9–0.

Councilmembers also approved Resolution 26R-09, authorizing a development agreement among the city, the redevelopment commission, USCO Industries, Inc., and Bogie Club LLC for a $25,000,000 project at 5009 Calumet Avenue. As presented to the council, the project would build a 70,000-square-foot industrial building, create about 100 jobs, and request a 10-year, 100% real-estate and personal-property tax abatement subject to an annual 15% imposed fee. Councilman Salinas and the mayor framed the package as a major investment and argued it would bring long-term benefits despite the delayed tax revenues; the resolution passed 9–0.

The council also adopted Resolution 26R-08, a transparency measure committing to the advanced posting of meeting agendas and supporting documents on gohammond.com, and unanimously passed Ordinance 26-14, designating the 100 block of Mason Street as honorary Thomas J. Burns Street.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 26-10 (public safety bond): Passed, roll call 9–0. Sponsor: councilman Spitelli (final passage). Mayor described amount not to exceed $6,000,000; administration estimate ~$5,200,000. - Ordinance 26-11 (alley vacation for Fire Station 7): Passed, roll call 9–0. Sponsor: councilman Emerson. - Ordinance 26-12 (travel rules update): Passed, roll call 9–0. Sponsor: councilman Wartpole. - Ordinance 26-13 (food & beverage tax fund accounts): Introduced and passed on first/second reading, 9–0. - Ordinance 26-14 (honorary Thomas J. Burns Street): Passed, roll call 9–0. - Resolution 26R-07 (redevelopment/condemnation authorization): Passed, roll call 9–0. - Resolution 26R-08 (open meetings/agenda posting): Passed, roll call 9–0. - Resolution 26R-09 (USCO development agreement & tax abatement): Passed, roll call 9–0.

Why it matters: The bond and capital moves fund equipment and site preparation for public safety; the development agreement aims to spur private investment and jobs but delays tax revenue for a decade under the proposed abatement. The condemnation action opens a formal acquisition path for a long-vacant parcel the administration says is poised for commercial redevelopment.

What’s next: Funding and implementation steps remain. The bond repayment is planned to begin in 2027 using water sales revenue once Station 2 debt ends. For the USCO project and the condemned parcels, the redevelopment commission and city staff will proceed with the terms in the approved agreements and any required follow-up steps.