Residents and nonprofits push safety initiatives and report service gaps at Hammond council public expression

Several residents and nonprofit representatives used the council's public-expression period Tuesday to raise community-safety concerns and describe local programs serving Hammond families.

Georgianne Glavis, speaking for Logan's Love, said the nonprofit — founded after the death of a child who eloped and was killed by a train — is bringing two sensory events to the area and seeks to expand two safety initiatives: "Ben's Blue Bags," which contain communication devices and sensory toys to help first responders, and Project Lifesaver. Glavis said Logan's Love has secured funding for 12 Ben's Blue Bags (about $125 per bag) and the accompanying autism training and invited councilmembers and the public to support upcoming fundraising events including a June 13 golf outing and an August 24 autism walk.

During public comments, Anne Sylvester raised maintenance concerns: an unfinished sidewalk at Martha and Alexander and damaged bollards on Kennedy. Sylvester also said multiple streetlights near her property have been out for more than two months and that NIPSCO's response timelines have been ineffective; she urged the city to explore alternative lighting solutions if service does not improve.

Other speakers included Jeffrey Colby, president of the Hammond Alumni Association, who sought council participation and sponsorship for the association's annual scholarship golf outing, and Anthony Higgs, who thanked the Hammond Police Department for work in East Hammond and requested tree removals on Moore Street and in the 1000 block of Tapper and Miro.

Council members acknowledged the requests; transcript remarks indicate city staff will follow up on sidewalk and tree issues, and the clerk and staff were asked to connect citizens to the appropriate departments. The public-expression period did not result in council votes or formal directives recorded in the meeting minutes.