Hammond council approves $6.52M in claims, creates municipal food-and‑beverage fund and names Lyon Street block for Cecil J. Harper

The Hammond Common Council on Feb. 23 voted to accept claims numbered 1243 through 1654 dated Feb. 4–18 totaling $6,521,802.25 after a motion by Councilman Wuerpel and a roll‑call vote of nine in favor.

Later in the meeting the council approved Ordinance 26‑05 to create fund number 3399 to hold municipal food‑and‑beverage tax revenues. Councilman Warpool introduced the ordinance; Councilman Emerson moved for final passage with Councilman Salinas seconding. The ordinance passed on roll call with nine votes in favor (eight in chambers, one virtual).

The council also introduced Ordinance 26‑06 to recognize Cecil Joseph ("Doc") Harper for his service and to designate the 1100 block of Lyon Street as honorary "Cecil J. Harper Way." After motions to suspend the rules to allow immediate first/second and third readings, the council permitted family members to speak. Kimberly Harper, daughter of Cecil J. Harper, thanked the council. Bernina Harper, a niece, offered personal remembrances and described her uncle’s community work and teaching for the School City of Hammond.

Capital Improvement Board funding allocations announced earlier included: allocation 303 (Homan Avenue phase 1 supplemental tree replacement) awarded to Ruth and Riley for $2,028.27; allocation 305 (JF Mahoney Drive ditch improvement) awarded to H3 Concrete for $120,490; allocation 306 (Willow Court at State Street realignment) awarded to First Group Engineering for $120,500. Council summarized the Mahoney Drive scope as regrading roughly 1,000 feet of ditch and constructing a maintenance pad to improve drainage.

What passed and what’s next: claims were accepted and will proceed through standard finance processing; Ordinance 26‑05 is entered into the municipal budget structure for food‑and‑beverage receipts; Ordinance 26‑06 was advanced and family remarks were recorded on the public record.