Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lake County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
14 issues in public safety with high priority
Election Day operations and administration
The board met on Election Day itself, with the elections office staffed continuously from 6 a.m. throughout the day. The meeting covered administrative housekeeping while voting was underway countywide.
RJ Anderson procurement protest
A contractor says the county wrongly disqualified its low bid ($334,850) on the Hobart Township Assessor's Office project and asked the board to halt ongoing demolition while it investigates. The board took no action during the meeting, and the contractor says it reserves legal remedies.
E911 operations funding
A remonstrator documented that only Hebron and Lowell fire departments were notified, while Eagle Creek Township holds fire service agreements with four departments. A board member, a former firefighter, pressed the applicant to support local fire departments' equipment needs given the cost of contaminated-gear decontamination.
Lake Ridge Fire funding dispute
The volunteer fire department says its $250,000 contract isn't enough, and its ambulance spends most of its time covering Gary calls, leaving the town uncovered. Council members floated paying off the district's $469,000 building loan with county funds to free up roughly $112,000 a year.
Election Day polling place changes
Seven precincts in Merrillville, Gary and Griffith are getting new polling places for the general election — some because buildings are unavailable or the state merged precincts. Affected voters get a postcard, so watch your mail.
ADA accessibility of East Chicago early voting site
A voter with disabilities complained the Carrie Gosch Early Learning Center isn't accessible, after bad experiences last cycle. The county's fixes (front entrance, no students in the building) didn't fully satisfy advocates, who pushed for the public library instead — but the Board kept the school a week before early voting begins.
Township public safety funding after SEA 1
The council passed a resolution guaranteeing townships specified 2027 tax revenue distributions, which trustees say keeps fire, EMS and intersection lighting running after state legislative changes squeezed their budgets.
Storm damage recovery and FEMA reimbursement
After recent storms, the county approved debris-collection contractors, an emergency declaration, and make-safe repairs at the Fairgrounds — and is pushing residents to report damage via 211 so the county can qualify for state and federal aid. Taxpayers can also file a 137R petition for reassessment of storm-damaged property.
2026 General Election early voting plan
The board locked in satellite early voting sites and hours for the fall election, starting October 6. The East Chicago site stays on the list after ADA parking and safety concerns from school board members were resolved — students won't be there and voters will use the front doors.
Licensing exam integrity
A painting contractor vice president was caught writing down test questions during the county licensing exam, sparking a heated debate about cheating, due process and fitness. The board ultimately granted the license but voted to rewrite its written test instructions to make prohibitions crystal clear.
Health Department reporting practices questioned
A Crown Point resident told the board the county health officer isn't doing statutorily required monthly public reports, and that the officer's renewal was approved before minutes were even posted. She wants the officer's position evaluated when the health board is reconstituted.
Tornado damage to regulated drains
Travel board application deficiencies and nursing home voting
Improperly filled-out travel board applications — mostly from a nursing home — keep bouncing back, and board members warned the same problem could force hard calls in November's general election. The fix: much stricter travel board training on the statutory forms.
Provisional ballot adjudication from the May primary
Twenty-two provisional ballots were sorted into count and no-count categories, hinging on IDs, registration records, and poll book errors. For voters, this decided whether their ballots actually got counted — and several common mistakes, like picking the wrong party ballot on the iPad, turned out to be irreversible.