August 25, 2014 – Rob Earnshaw The City Council on Monday passed a resolution reducing its tax levy in the amount of $1,158,871, which will be transferred to Lake County to help fund the consolidated county emergency dispatch center. Hammond, which has already entered into the county E-911 agreement, previously used a portion of its tax levy to fund salaries …
Hammond raises towing fees
August 11, 2014 – Rob Earnshaw More revenue is headed Hammond’s way after the City Council on Monday passed an ordinance raising city towing fees. All police-ordered tow fees have gone up and will go into effect on Jan. 1. A regular tow/flat bed tow will cost $180, an increase of $55. Service calls will rise from $75 to $100. …
Hammond considers raising towing fee
July 28, 2014 8:39 pm – Rob Earnshaw The city may increase its towing fees. An ordinance was introduced at Monday’s City Council meeting that would raise the standard towing fee from $125 to $180. Hammond currently has four towing companies operating without a contract. Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said those companies would continue to receive the $125 fee while …
Council approves refinancing sanitary district bonds
June 23, 2014 8:55 pm – Rob Earnshaw The City Council on Monday approved an ordinance refinancing four sanitary district bonds with an outstanding debt of $11.9 million. Marty Wielgos, sanitary district manager, said the bonds were taken out in 1997 and there is an opportunity to refinance them at a lower rate. The current rate of the bonds is …
Hammond Council paves way for new hotel
June 11, 2014 – Rob Earnshaw The City Council voted Monday to grant a 10-year tax abatement for the construction of a new Hampton Inn at 2842 Carlson Drive near Kennedy Avenue. A $12.5 million project, the new 120-room hotel will employ about 20 to 25 people, said Phil Taillon, executive director of Hammond Planning and Development. “We think it’s …