Residents press Hammond on missing garbage‑can lids and 311 follow‑up; city offers replacement and process

Several residents at Hammond City’s Mayor’s Night Out pressed the city about missing or damaged garbage‑can lids and patchy enforcement. The concerns ranged from lids left in alleys and animals scattering trash to complaints that Hammond 311 ticket reports sometimes close without visible remedy.

Felix, who the mayor identified as the Public Works representative, said crews can inspect cans and that, when lids are obsolete, the city leaves a mailbox notice and residents can purchase replacement cans for $65 at Public Works. "If the lids are obsolete, then we will put a note in their mailbox saying that they need to get a new garbage can, and they're $65," Felix said.

The mayor urged residents to file issues through the Hammond 311 app or call constituent services so requests are tracked; he said 311 requests routed to the correct department are prioritized and that he would convene a 311 review meeting to examine outstanding tickets and closure integrity. The mayor also asked Alex (constituent services) and Felix to follow up with individuals who raised problems and to review supervisor patrols of alleys to improve enforcement.

City staff noted operational constraints — crews handle thousands of houses daily — but said supervisors and code enforcement will coordinate to address repeat offenders, and that some structural remedies (replacement lids, targeted patrols) are part of ongoing operations. Residents were encouraged to document problems with photos and submit them through Hammond 311 so staff can track and close tickets with evidence.