Boards & Commissions

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Board of Safety

Board of Safety meetings concentrate on issues related to the Police and Fire Departments. Typical agenda items may include discussions of policy changes, approvals for new equipment, employment and personnel matters, and other items relevant to the needs of both departments.

Member	Email	Affiliation	Term Starts	Term Ends	Appointing Authority
Charlie Kaper	charlie.kaper@cedarlakein.gov	R	01/01/2026	12/31/2028	Town Council
Barbara Littles	blittles@cedarlakein.gov	R	01/01/2025	12/31/2027	Town Council
Norman Stick	norm.stick@cedarlakein.gov	D	01/01/2024	12/31/2026	Town Council
David Villalobos	david.villalobos@cedarlakein.gov	D	01/01/2025	12/31/2027	Town Council
Chuck Becker	chuck.becker@cedarlakein.gov	Liaison	01/01/2024	12/31/2027	Elected
Bob Carnahan	robert.carnahan@cedarlakein.gov	Liaison	01/01/2023	12/31/2026	Elected

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Board of Zoning Appeals

The Board of Zoning Appeals reviews requests for variances from zoning ordinances, applications for special use exemptions, and appeals. The Town of Cedar Lake Board of Zoning Appeals has five members: three citizens appointed for a four-year term, one appointed annually by the Town Council, and one appointed by the Plan Commission.

Member		Email	Affiliation	Term Starts	Term Ends	Appointing Authority
Eric Burnham		eric.burnham@cedarlakein.gov	R	01/01/2023	12/31/2026	Town Council
Ray Jackson		ray.jackson@cedarlakein.gov	R	01/01/2026	12/31/2029	Town Council
John Kiepura (Plan Commission Appointment)		john.kiepura@cedarlakein.gov	R	01/01/2026	12/31/2026	Plan Commission
Jerry Reiling		jreiling@cedarlakein.gov	D	01/01/2023	12/31/2026	Town Council
Peter Swick		pswick@cedarlakein.gov	D	01/01/2026	12/31/2026	Town Council

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Joint Management and Oversight Board

The Joint Management and Oversight Board (JMOB) is the oversight committee for the Lowell Waste Water Treatment Plant. Cedar Lake and Lake Dalecarlia both use the Lowell plant to treat sewage. The JMOB is responsible for overseeing the cooperative efforts to manage the plant.

Member	Email	Affiliation	Term Starts	Term Ends	Appointing Authority
Mary Joan Dickson	maryjoan.dickson@cedarlakein.gov	Town Council	01/01/2024	12/31/2027	Elected
Rich Thiel	rich.thiel@cedarlakein.gov	Town Council	01/01/2024	12/31/2027	Elected

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Park Board

The Parks and Recreation Board presides over the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department and oversees the development and maintenance of the parks and recreation programming.

Member	Email	Affiliation	Term Starts	Term Ends	Appointing Authority
Gayle Brannon	gbrannon@cedarlakein.gov	R	01/01/2025	12/31/2028	Town Council
David Jostes	david.jostes@cedarlakein.gov	D	01/01/2026	12/31/2029	Town Council
Gregory Marquardt	greg.marquardt@cedarlakein.gov	D	01/01/2024	12/31/2027	Town Council
Paul Rodriguez	paul.rodriguez@cedarlakein.gov	R	01/01/2023	12/31/2026	Town Council
Julie Rivera	julie.rivera@cedarlakein.gov	Liaison	01/01/2023	12/31/2026	Elected

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Plan Commission

The Plan Commission reviews requests to rezone land, subdivide properties, and change zoning and subdivision regulations. It also approves site plans, preliminary plats, and final plats for residential and commercial developments within the town.

The Cedar Lake Plan Commission consists of seven members: four citizens are appointed for a four-year term, while the Town Council appoints three members annually.

Member	Email	Affiliation	Term Starts	Term Ends	Appointing Authority
Chuck Becker	chuck.becker@cedarlakein.gov	Town Council	01/01/2024	12/31/2027	Elected
Robert Carnahan	robert.carnahan@cedarlakein.gov	Town Council	01/01/2023	12/31/2026	Elected
Jim Hunley	james.hunley@cedarlakein.gov	D	01/01/2024	12/31/2027	Town Council
John Kiepura	john.kiepura@cedarlakein.gov	R	01/01/2022	12/31/2025	Town Council
Greg Parker	greg.parker@cedarlakein.gov	Town Council	04/17/2025	12/31/2027	Elected
Peter Swick	pswick@cedarlakein.gov	D	06/01/2025	12/31/2028	Town Council
Jerry Wilkening	jerry.wilkening@cedarlakein.gov	R	01/01/2026	12/31/2029	Town Council

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Redevelopment Commission

The Cedar Lake Redevelopment Commission (RDC) is focused on enhancing the Town’s economic vitality and expanding its tax and employment base. Additionally, the Commission manages the Town’s Tax Increment Financing district and oversees projects within those districts.

The members of the Cedar Lake Redevelopment Commission are the elected members of the Town Council.

Initiatives

Explore Everyday Community Recognition

The Cedar Lake Redevelopment Commission recognizes businesses and local entities that make the Town a better place and align with the “explore everyday” motto by cleaning up and/or restoring a location.  If you know of someone you would like to nominate for recognition, please complete this form and return it to a Redevelopment Commission member, drop it off at Town Hall, or drop it off while attending an RDC meeting.

• Explore Everyday Community Recognition – Nomination Form

 Previous Explore Everyday Community Recognition Recipients:

Nominated	Business	Person
2019-July	Cedar Lake Farmers Market	Kelly Dykstra
2019-August	Tech Credit Union	Bert Kullerstrand
2019-September	Anytime Fitness	Tina Cole
2019-October	Dragobobs	Dennis Portega
2019-November	Top It Off	Gina Hardesty
2019-December	Frank’s BBQ	Rob Schrum
2020-January	Cedar Lake Florist	Charlie Kaper
2020-February	Great Oaks Banquet Hall	Thomas McAdams
2020-March	True Value Hardware(s	Al & Jeff Bunge
2020-June	Pine Crest Marina	Bob Gross
2020-July	Vito’s Italian Ice	David & Amy Larson
2020-August	Grit Fitness	Bo DePaoli
2020-September	Henn Construction	Richard Henn
2020-November	Sandbar Grill	Michael Conn
2020-December	Harry O’s	Tomas Jaimes
2021-January	The Dock	Denise Slevnik
2021-February	Beach Palette	Lynette Kubal
2021-March	TJT Tire	Lynn Clements
2021-April	Nagy’s Automotive	Larry Nagy
2021-May	Cedar Lake Kitchen	George Poponas
2021-July	Sheehy Well & Pump	3rd Generation Sheehy Family
2021-August	Action Plumbing	Andrew Bultema
2021-September	Strack & Van Til	Amy Gorman, General Manager of SVT Cedar Lake
2021-October	Rise’n Roll Bakery-Cedar Lake	Bob and Nikki Van Kalker
2022-January	BP	Charlene Vidaurri, Store Manager
2022-March	Aurelio’s Pizza	Alex Popplewell
2022-April	La Gaviota Supermercado	Armando and Teresita Barajas
2022-May	Yancey’s House of Carpet	Linda Sharp
2022-June	Lighthouse Restaurant	Shane Keeton, General Manager
2022-August	Midwest PGM	Richard Theil and Jorge Rangel, Co-Founders
2022-Septembr	LM Premier Dance	Lynn Gelatka, Owner
2022-October	All Tire Services, LLC	Jeff Fraze, Owner
2023-January	James Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Cedar Lake	Jim Reveliotis, Owner
2023-February	Bugaboo’s Bar & Grill	Don Frey, Owner
2023-March	Hoosier Postal Plus	Mike Quirk and Lynn Sarkisian, Owners
2023-April	PhysioPoint Physical Therapy	Nate Kloosterman, Founder & Blake Anders, Clinic Coordinator
2023-June	Holiday Liquors	Brian Kubal
2024-March	Biggby Coffee	Nick and Donna Lackey, Owners
2024-June	Melody Hill Resort & Marina	Marie Sumara
2024-September	Kelly’s Kernels	Kelly Hansen

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Stormwater Management Board

The Stormwater Management Board oversees the Town’s Stormwater Department. It holds public hearings and takes residents’ comments about drainage issues.

The Town of Cedar Lake Stormwater Management Board consists of 3 members appointed by the Town Council for a 3-year term. No more than 2 members shall be from the same political party.

Member	Email	Affiliation	Term Starts	Term Ends	Appointing Authority
Jeff Biel	jbiel@cedarlakein.gov	D	01/01/2026	12/31/2028	Town Council
Robert Groszek	rgroszek@cedarlakein.gov	R	01/01/2025	12/31/2027	Town Council
Ben Kincheloe	ben.kincheloe@cedarlakein.gov	N/A	01/01/2024	12/31/2026	Town Council
Julie Rivera	julie.rivera@cedarlakein.gov	Liaison	01/01/2023	12/31/2026	Elected

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Unsafe Building Commission

The Cedar Lake Unsafe Building Commission is the hearing authority for unsafe properties in the town. The commission hears official orders from the unsafe building department and appeals from property owners. The Town of Cedar Lake Unsafe Building Commission consists of 3 members: the Plan Commission appoints a member annually, the Town Council appoints a member annually, and a citizen “Hearing Officer” shall be appointed by the Council for a 1-year term.

For additional information about the Unsafe Building Department, please contact the Building Department at 219-374-7400.

Member	Email	Affiliation	Term Starts	Term Ends	Appointing Authority
Jim Hunley	james.hunley@cedarlakein.gov	D	01/01/2025	12/31/2025	Town Council
Richard Layman	rlayman@cedarlakein.gov	R	01/01/2026	12/31/2026	Town Council
Rich Thiel	rich.thiel@cedarlakein.gov	Town Council	01/01/2025	12/31/2025	Elected

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Utility Board

The Cedar Lake Utility Board oversees the Water and Wastewater Utilities. The members of the Cedar Lake Utility Board are the elected members of the Town Council.