Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lake County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
23 issues in water utilities
2026 Turkey Creek Maintenance Phase 1
The surveyor reported tree removal work underway along Turkey Creek and Lateral 7 after tornado damage, with coordination through the mayor's office on volunteer help.
NIPSCO staffing, reliability and storm response
Councilman Brewer and a public commenter flagged concerns about NIPSCO delivery fees, smart meter accuracy and rising electric rates, pointing to a state investigation into estimated billing from unread meters.
Recurring residential drainage complaints
Winfield Township's rep flagged ongoing flooding at the Marshall property on Route 231 — water still backs up over the road — plus questions on the 145th Avenue drainage project. A St. John-area homeowner (Jason Jansma) needs direction on West Creek drainage changes; the county plans a storm sewer down the rideway to fix it.
Calumet Township sewage operations funding
$170,500 to cover professional services and utilities for the township sewage operation and maintenance fund.
Leroy Community Center drainage project
The 2026 Leroy Community Center drainage project in Winfield Township is moving forward with the Highway Department on board; trees and ecological restoration went in this summer, and the township floated new infrastructure-fund money to help pay for it.
Post-storm emergency drainage cleanup funding
After the August 11 storm, the county has been paying contractors to pull fallen trees and debris out of Turkey Creek, Turkey Creek Laterals 6 and 7, and Schoon Ditch. The committee recommended paying over $76,000 in invoices, plus $200 for beaver removal — the Drainage Board gives final approval.
Emergency obstruction removal on Turkey Creek Laterals 6 & 7
After tornado damage, the county paid $103,875 to clear obstructions from Turkey Creek Laterals 6 and 7 — a sign of how expensive sudden drainage failures can be.
Hanover Tile reconstruction and $1.4M property assessments
The county wants to replace a failing 1886-era tile drain, and the bill would fall hardest on a handful of landowners — some facing six-figure assessments. Residents say the cost is unaffordable and that Illinois runoff, raised roads and county highway culverts made the flooding worse. The board put off any decision to September 16 and wants more information on those outside contributions.
Clean fill and drainage infrastructure concerns near US 41
The long-troubled Sovereign self-storage site on US 41 has had runoff and erosion problems for years; commissioners approved the building site plan only after the new team promised to fix drainage before more construction.
Illinois water and county highway culverts aggravating flooding
Several residents testified that Lake County highway culverts and raised roads channel hundreds of acres of Illinois water onto Indiana farmland with no outlet, and that uncleaned ditches worsen backups. The board asked for a report on the effect of Illinois water and the county's legal standing to address it.
2026 Foss Ditch two-stage ditch project bids
Two bids came in for the Cedar Lake ditch project, with Austgen Equipment the low bidder at $395,033.95 versus $676,700. The surveyor will review and award the contract.
June storm flooding in Schererville Heights and unincorporated St. John Township
St. John Township trustee Kathy LaRue is getting multiple flooding complaint emails from the Schererville Heights area — not regulated-drain issues, but she's forwarding them to the surveyor's office and County Highway for attention.
Lake County sewer conversion delays and bills in Woods Park
A Calumet Township resident says her yard has been torn up since June of last year, her new sewer bill is $85 a month — far above neighboring communities — and no one will give a completion timeline.
Stormwater compliance at US 41 self-storage site
The long-troubled Sovereign self-storage site on US 41 has had runoff and erosion problems for years; commissioners approved the building site plan only after the new team promised to fix drainage before more construction.
West Creek Lateral 4 culvert damage
Spring Street Ditch culvert replacement in Highland
The board approved plans to advertise bids for a culvert replacement in Highland, with funding help being sought from the Little Calumet River Basin Commission. A board member raised whether a traversing property owner should share costs.
Collapsed storm pipe and flooding at 11023 West 80th Court, St. John
A decades-old metal pipe under a homeowner's property collapsed, flooding the road and threatening the home. The county has no easement to fix it, so the Drainage Board declared it a mutual drain — sticking the homeowner with 92% of a $100,000 fix. The homeowner says county road work upstream made the flooding worse and a neighbor may be pumping septic into the swale.
Graper Ditch ponding in Winfield
Mutual drain petition at 11233 W 80th Court, St. John
The board was scheduled to hold an advertised hearing on a mutual drain petition but instead continued it to June 17 after all parties and their attorneys agreed, hoping for a settlement. The dispute is also in litigation, and any board order could end settlement talks.
Hanover Ditch — no federal permit or $3M mitigation needed
The Army Corps and IDEM agreed the Hanover Ditch project doesn't need a federal permit, sparing roughly $3 million in mitigation costs. The surveyor aims to bring options to the July board meeting for property owners to fund.
Groundwater depletion and well failures
Residents testified their wells have gone dry — one man described losing water in 2023 and lowering his pump himself — and questioned the aquifer impacts of a massive data center and quarry pumping.
Stonebridge HOA reimbursement for Schererville Ditch work
The committee signed off on over $300,000 in invoices for streambank and ditch maintenance work in Munster and Schererville, with the Hart Ditch final bill covered by the Little Calumet River Basin Commission rather than local drainage funds.
Fairgrounds erosion control and ditch work
After fill was dumped around the fairgrounds lake without erosion controls, sediment was washing in fast — the committee approved $26,460.77 in emergency work (half reimbursed by the fair board) plus $206,216.80 for the Beaver Dam Lateral 14 project ahead of the fair.