Town of Cedar Lake, Lake County, Indiana
Minutes of the Town Council

Pledge of Allegiance & Moment of Silence

Roll Call

*Chief Deputy Margo Nagy was present.

Public Comment

None

Consent Agenda

1. Claims: All Town Funds: $688,658.27; Wastewater: $269,973.21; Water Utility: $16,482.57; Storm Water: $14,360.89; Payroll (11/20/25 & 12/1/25): $320,951.72;

A motion to accept and waive the reading of the minutes and accept the consent agenda as listed was made by Greg Parker with second by Chuck Becker. Mr. Carnahan discussed a claim for Milestone for AA and AB for the street behind Premier Fitness. It was in the amount of $507,094.62. He asked if it was a partial payment or final payment. He noticed there were no wastewater claims for Lowell. Mrs. Nagy stated she did not believe they received an invoice for the month. A brief discussion continued on the docket.

Vote 7 – 0.

Ordinances & Resolutions

1. Ordinance No. 1521 – Y2026 Salary Ordinance

Mr. Parker read Ordinance No. 1521 by title only. Mrs. Haase gave an overview of the ordinance. She stated the ordinance sets forth the verbiage for items such as longevity pay and holiday pay. Exhibit A is the document that shows the maximum amounts for each position. She discussed the Clerk-Treasurer’s Department and putting in for a clerk-treasurer with no credentials. She stated that is bookkeeping for if an inexperienced clerk-treasurer were to come in at a lower salary than a credentialed clerk-treasurer. The other is the most recent credential for the clerk-treasurer and chief deputy clerk-treasurer. The deputy clerk no credential and deputy clerk with IAMC is same as last year. The utility account specialist is moved out of the Clerk-Treasurer’s Department and under the Town Council/Administration. There are no increases. There was the rounding of a penny in one item. Mrs. Nagy stated it was for the paramedic. Mrs. Haase stated everything is virtually the same. On page A3, in the notes, they have made it clear that all wages for hourly employees may be lower than stated. Bi-weekly wages for salaried employees may be lower than stated. Bi-weekly amounts stated are not to exceed. It does state that hourly and bi-weekly rates shown may be rounded. The distributions may be adjusted. That statement stayed the same. She stated there are no other changes to allocations. Keeping with what was placed in the budget for the year. They have not yet heard back on the 1782 Notice for the budget. There were no increases as stated in October. That was all done out of caution due to what they heard in the Redevelopment Commission as far as Senate Bill 1. No one is quite knowledgeable on what the impact will be. Mr. Recupito stated it is the reality of the situation that they do not know. He is thankful there are no cuts. He stated they talked about the tax settlement and how it goes to see where they are at. That is data they do not have now. Mrs. Haase stated she spoke with Tim Berry and they were hoping to see more data so they could better anticipate. They just do not know. Mrs. Nagy stated there was a change with non-exempt employees going to hourly instead of salary bi-weekly. Same pay amount but it will be from the set salary to hourly. Better bookkeeping.

A motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 1521 was made by Richard Thiel with second by Mary Joan Dickson.

Vote 7 – 0.

A motion to suspend the rules and allow for a second reading was made by Chuck Becker with second by Richard Thiel.

Vote 7 – 0.

Mr. Parker read Ordinance No. 1521 by title only.

A motion to adopt Ordinance No. 1521 was made by Richard Thiel with second by Mary Joan Dickson.

Vote 7 – 0.

2. Ordinance No. 1523 – Amendatory Ordinance to Cedar Lake Town Board of Safety Town Code Section 34.182

A motion to remove the item from the agenda was made by Greg Parker with second by Chuck Becker.

Vote 5 – 2.

New Business

1. Boards and Commission Appointments

Mr. Recupito stated they have seven openings. He is looking for a motion to appoint the following:

• Charlie Kaper, Board of Safety
• Ray Jackson, Board of Zoning Appeals
• David Jostes, Park Board
• John Kiepura, Plan Commission
• Jerry Wilkening, Plan Commission
• Jeff Biel, Storm Board
• John Hojek, Unsafe Building Commission

A motion to appoint the individuals listed was made by Richard Thiel with second by Chuck Becker.

Vote 7 – 0.

2. Favorable Recommendation from the Board of Safety to Proceed with Purchase of 2026 Vehicles

Chief Gruszka stated they are looking to proceed with three (3) 2026 Dodge Durango’s. He stated they met with Ms. Sandberg prior to her going on leave. They discussed what was available in the capital fund. They are pretty close to three vehicles. He would ask for the motion to be up to three vehicles. Mr. Carnahan stated he supports continuing to get vehicles. Mr. Becker asked if there was money left from the squad that was totaled. Chief Gruszka stated they do. These are unmarked. The upfitting will be less. He stated the total cost is around $61,000. He discussed some of the equipment may be more. He thinks it is doable but he believes they should safeguard and say up to three. Mr. Recupito discussed equipment moving between vehicles.

A motion to approve was made by Robert Carnahan with second by Chuck Becker.

Vote 7 – 0.

3. Favorable Recommendation from the Board of Safety to Proceed with Purchase of Firearms

Chief Gruszka stated it is time to replace handguns. He stated he is not a gun guy. He brought Corporal Huppenthal in to discuss. Corporal Huppenthal stated they are out of handguns, pistols and need to buy more. They are getting obsolete. They are not compatible with optics on the top such as red dots. They are looking to purchase thirty for the department. Mr. Recupito asked if funding had been cleared through the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office. Chief Gruszka stated they discussed it the same day they discussed the cars. It is another one if they do not have the money, they will scale back.

A motion to approve was made by Robert Carnahan with second by Julie Rivera.

Vote 7 – 0.

4. Approval of Y2026 Hanover Township Contract

Kevin Toth, Hanover Township Trustee, stated it is the same thing they do every year. They have had multiple discussions about the contract. They have made a few changes that he believes they are all aware of. They have also changed the contract price to reflect some of the changes. He hopes they will accept it. Mr. Carnahan stated it is two payments of $92,500 semi-annually for a total of $185,000. Mr. Toth stated yes. Mr. Recupito stated he is okay with it. He is grateful for the relationship with the board. It seems to be mutually beneficial. Mr. Austgen stated he has reviewed it and it is good.

A motion to approve was made by Robert Carnahan with second by Richard Thiel.

Vote 7 – 0.

Reports

1. Town Council

Mr. Carnahan reported on December 9^th will be the Chamber Luncheon at Great Oaks. The speakers are the Town Manager, Police Chief, and Fire Chief. Mrs. Rivera thanked Public Works during the snow event. Mr. Carnahan stated they did a terrific job. Mr. Recupito requested a report be added to the agenda to report on new businesses coming to Town. He spoke with the Town Manager about it recently. He suggested using the occupancy permits as a way of flagging it. Mr. Becker discussed an email sent regarding Summer Winds. He swore he made a motion to pull the bond on December 10^th, not wait for renewal. Mr. Parker stated he made a motion and it carried. Mr. Carnahan stated the email stated the motion was to pull if they did not renew. Mr. Parker and Mr. Recupito disagreed with that. The motion was to pull it. Mr. Recupito stated he is tired of fielding calls. People are justified in calling and coming to meetings. Mr. Becker discussed finding out that when they ask engineers to go back to projects lasting years, the developer only pays a certain amount. It ends up on the taxpayers to pay engineers. Mr. Recupito stated that is something they need to work on. Make sure they are made whole. Mr. Parker asked if they need action on that. Mr. Austgen stated action would be ratification of the Plan Commission meeting. Surety is required under the subdivision control ordinance. Mr. Austgen discussed the actions that occurred and how they should proceed.

A motion to amend the agenda to consider the item was made by Mary Joan Dickson with second by Richard Thiel.

Vote 7 – 0.

A motion to ratify the action of the Plan Commission to pull the letters of credit for each of the Summer Winds residential parcels with pull dates of December 10^th was made by Richard Thiel with second by Chuck Becker.

Vote 7 – 0.

2. Town Attorney

No report.

3. Clerk-Treasurer

Mrs. Nagy reported the DLGF approved the excess levy appeal. That has come through. Travelers Insurance walked through all the buildings and asked questions for risk management. Hopefully, they will sign them up.

4. Town Manager

Mr. Eldridge thanked the street department for doing a great job. He walked with Travelers Insurance to all of the facilities. The comment was made by them that Cedar Lake has it together. The Town has all of their policies and procedures where they need to be. It went very smoothly.

Written Communication

None

Public Comment

Todd Wilkening, 12315 Kennedy Street, stated he wants the Council to know and understand that he knows all of them and they know a lot of people in the community. He stated on numerous occasions in the past nine months he has been trashed by individuals in this community that sit in positions in the community. He voiced concerns with individuals being intoxicated in establishments and trashing him. He voiced concerns of character assassination. He stated he had a hard time finding a job because of the talk of him after he went on a leave of absence. He stated he was going to have to put people on notice that he will have to protect himself legally if it continues. He voiced concerns with financial information being discussed. He discussed his house being stalked. He discussed recordings of commissioners and council members talking about him and being recorded and played back to him. He stated he had proof. He stated he would not tolerate any of this.

Jake Huppenthal, PO Box 216, asked if there were increases next year for health insurance, dental, or vision. Mrs. Nagy reported dental is going up 10% and Anthem for medical is going up 8.4%.

Joyce Ivy, 13874 Hatteras, stated she attended the Parade of Lights for the first time. She stated she had a great time. Her granddaughters had a great time. She praised the event.

Adjournment

President Recupito called the meeting to adjournment at approximately 8:45PM.