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Council approves 2026 appropriations and tax‑rate ordinance and advances several land‑use and bond measures
Summary
At its Oct. 31 meeting the Chesterton Town Council approved Ordinance 2025‑22 (2026 appropriations and tax rates) on second and final reading, held first readings or introductions for ordinances 2025‑24 (PUD amendment), 2025‑25 (street vacation tied to a YMCA project) and introduced Ordinance 2025‑26 (GO Park bond); several routine motions including a change order and park charging revenue reimbursement also passed.
The Chesterton Town Council approved its 2026 appropriations and tax rates (Ordinance 2025‑22) on second and final reading at the Oct. 31 meeting and advanced multiple other land‑use and capital finance items for later consideration.
Councilors voted by voice to approve Ordinance 2025‑22, the budget and tax‑rate ordinance for 2026. The motion for first reading and the subsequent motion for second and final reading were both moved and seconded; the council recorded the voice votes with no roll‑call tally provided in the transcript.
Council also considered Ordinance 2025‑24, an amendment to the Rose Hill Estates planned‑unit‑development to reduce the rear yard setback for one lot. That ordinance passed on first reading, but council said it lacked sufficient votes to suspend rules for second reading and will return the item at the next meeting.
The council held a public hearing on Ordinance 2025‑25, a petition to vacate two alleys and one street connected with redevelopment of the former gymnasium site adjacent to a YMCA lease. The petitioner, represented by Greg Babcock with YMCA representatives Dave Casarda and Amy Curtis present, described the vacation as a cleanup step to allow a parking area and a new building in support of a "healthy living campus." No public opposition emerged during the hearing; the council closed the hearing and will bring the ordinance back for second reading at the next meeting.
Ordinance 2025‑26, authorizing issuance of general obligation bonds to fund park capital improvements (a GO Park bond), was introduced and scheduled for further consideration at the next council meeting in November.
Other formal actions included approval of change order number three for the town hall/fire remodel (new contract price stated) and a motion to reimburse the parks department from future EV charging revenues until the park department is made whole. All of these were approved by voice vote as recorded in the meeting minutes.
The council did not provide named roll‑call tallies in the transcript for the ordinance votes; actions were recorded as voice votes with no opposing votes reported.
Next steps: Ordinance 2025‑24, 2025‑25 and 2025‑26 will return for further readings; the street vacation (2025‑25) and the GO Park bond are scheduled for second hearing/action at upcoming meetings.
