Michelle Arnold

The meeting agenda included roll call, public comment periods, and the approval of previous meeting minutes from November and December 2025. Old business involved deferring two case discussions (Aichner v Garza Etal and Barnhart v. Cavazos) to April and discussing the East Chicago Early Voting location. New business covered a poll location change for a merged precinct and a candidate lottery drawing. Significant discussion occurred regarding documents presented by a County Council member alleging issues such as political work on government time, ghost payrolling, improper voter registration, lack of dual control in the ballot room, and training provided only to certain employees. The Board agreed to have its attorney review specific items pertaining to election controls, such as dual control, for discussion in the March meeting. The Board unanimously approved a polling location change for precincts G3-26 and G4-03 to 2456 Chase Street (Love Feast Church), and deferred the East Chicago Early Voting location request to the next meeting.

The meeting agenda included opening proceedings such as the Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance. Key items involved several resolutions honoring high school girls wrestling state champions and recognizing February as Black History Month. Significant financial discussions involved transfers within the Surveyor's Corner Perpetuation Fund and various appropriations and reductions across departments including the County Assessor, multiple Township Assessors, Superior Courts, and the Health Department. Specific legislative actions included an ordinance amending copy/map generation fees for the Surveyor's office, ordinances related to salary restructuring and position reorganization in the Health Department, and petitions for stop sign installation. The agenda also featured a resolution to approve the transfer of funds for Lake Debt Service and resolutions concerning paying outstanding 2025 invoices from the 2026 budget for various courts and the Prosecutor's office. Additionally, the agenda noted ordinance considerations regarding project labor agreements and responsible business practices for projects receiving economic incentives, and citizen appointments to the Unsafe Building Authority and the County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team. A specific agenda item detailed the request to apply for renewal of the 2026 Adult Guardianship Services Grant (VASIA) where the Lake Superior Court, Civil Division, acts as a pass-through agency for $76,000 to the Franciscan Health Foundation.

The meeting agenda included Old Business items such as the approval of Election Precincts, requests for poll location changes for specific precincts (G3 26 & G4 03, East Chicago Early Voting), and the ongoing case Crane v. Gore 2025-17. New Business covered the County Certification of Voting System and Electronic Poll Book Inventory, notification of poll location changes (CCT 01 & CCT 09), and authorization forms for new Precinct Committeemen. Significant discussion during the meeting involved the status of the Aichner v. Garza matter, specifically addressing the pending motion to dismiss the original complaint and the complexity introduced by an subsequently filed amended complaint concerning election law violations related to campaign signage disclosure and poll worker obstruction. Additionally, the Board addressed the Segert v. Flores case, which involved a pending motion to dismiss regarding the use of a portable road information sign displaying 'Flores For Sheriff' and alleged violations of disclaimer law, leading to a vote on denying the motion to dismiss.

The agenda for this Special Board Meeting covered several procedural and substantive items. Key discussions revolved around the Election Equipment Bid Process and the 2025 May Special Election Reconciliation Report. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the reprecincting process, including detailed considerations of Map Proposals 1 and 2 to achieve cost savings while adhering to statutory limitations regarding precinct boundaries and size (specifically discussing precincts under and over the 600-voter threshold). Discussions also involved approving specific staff recommendations for precinct consolidations, such as those affecting Cedar Lake, Hobart, St. John, and various Crown Point precincts. Further deliberation occurred regarding precinct consolidations that would result in increased voter density at polling locations, raising concerns about voter convenience and potential ballot complexity due to municipal district splits.

The regular meeting agenda included several key administrative and legislative actions. Administrative items involved the approval of minutes from prior meetings, including a Budget Workshop and Regular Meetings from September and October 2025. The Council was scheduled to consider three resolutions: designating November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month recognizing Hospice Of The Calumet Area, honoring the Hobart High School JROTC Raiders for their State Championship wins, and recognizing Tom Clark and the Lake County Veterans Museum in honor of Veterans Day. Legislative items included an Ordinance establishing the Auditor's SRF Construction Fund for tracking wastewater infrastructure activity, several fund transfers across various county departments (Surveyor, Criminal Courts, Lake Sup. Ct. County Div. Rm. 1, Juvenile Court, Jail, Prosecutor, Health Department), appropriations, and several budget revisions affecting positions such as Probation Officers. The Council also planned to consider ordinance amendments regarding the Salary Ordinance for the Juvenile CASA Department, repealing a fund ordinance for the Prosecutor's Violence Against Women Stop Grant, and recommending the 2026 Tax Rate, Levy, and Proposed Budget for the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority.