Hobart meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Hobart boards weigh housing deal, firefighter contract, and 2027 salaries

Over the past two weeks, Hobart boards and commissions met on a range of items, but none of the meetings have published minutes yet, so no decisions are confirmed. The agenda items include a housing development agreement, a firefighter contract, and 2027 salary ordinances.

Housing and development

The Redevelopment Commission on Aug. 17 considered a development agreement with Hickory Hollow NWI, LLC for the Hickory Hollow housing project, along with a second amendment to a purchase agreement for a 59.5-acre property at 4010 E. 61st Avenue. The commission also reviewed the final pay application for roundabout improvements at 61st & Wisconsin and 69th & Colorado, a supplemental engineering agreement with Butler, Fairman & Seufert, Inc., and a professional services agreement with Envoy, Inc. for a downtown sub-area plan. After the regular meeting, the commission held an executive session to discuss real property transaction strategy.

Public safety and services

The Board of Public Works and Safety on Aug. 19 considered the 2026 collective bargaining agreement with Hobart Firefighters Local 1641. The proposed contract includes a one-year trial of a 48-hours-on/96-hours-off schedule, a new paid parental leave benefit, and updated wages. The board also considered a resolution to purchase a Braun Chief XL ambulance on a Ford F-550 chassis, a memorandum of understanding with Luke Land II LLC for fire training, and the signing of three subdivision plats.

The Hobart Fire Civil Service Commission cancelled its Aug. 13 meeting due to storm damage and a power outage. A special meeting on Aug. 20 was held to certify promotional lists for Battalion Chief, Engineer, and Division Chief of Fire Prevention, and to review four new hire candidate packets for state approval.

Fees and finances

The Sanitary and Stormwater District Board on Aug. 11 held a public hearing and considered adopting Sanitary Resolution No. 2026-01, which would set new sewer connection fees. The board also discussed a proposed stormwater fee adjustment, a waiver request for stormwater permit fees for the Hobart High School Baseball Field Improvement Project, and STW Bond Disbursement #66.

The City Council on Aug. 19 considered ordinances 2026-26 through 2026-30, which would set 2027 salaries for city employees, police, firefighters, elected officials, and municipal utilities officers. The council also considered a resolution approving a first amendment to a development agreement with Daifuku Intralogistics America Corp., a petition for a use variance for a permanent makeup and tattoo studio at 15 Main St., an ordinance amending the fee schedule for tax abatement activities, and an ordinance correcting scrivener's errors in a previous rezoning.

Other business

The Unsafe Building Hearing Authority on Aug. 17 held public hearings for four properties: 910 Lake St., 924 Garfield St., 933 E 6th St., and 954 State St. The Historic Preservation Commission met Aug. 18 with no new or old business items listed.

Coming up

The Sanitary and Stormwater District Board meets Aug. 25 to consider a proposed stormwater fee adjustment, a dozer purchase, service agreements with BF&S and Lochmueller Group, and a waiver of stormwater permit fees for the Hobart High School baseball field project.

Hobart Roundup: Unsafe Building Board Elects Officers; Council to Vote on $2.8M Hickory Hollow Bonds Next Week

The only board to publish official minutes in the past two weeks was the Unsafe Building Hearing Authority, which elected Mark Kara as President and Matt Claussen as Vice President at its July 20 organizational meeting. Both votes were 3-0. Several other boards met or are scheduled to meet, but their minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Unsafe Building Hearing Authority

At its organizational meeting, members were sworn in and officers were elected. Mark Kara was elected President (3-0) and Matt Claussen was elected Vice President (3-0). The Building Commissioner and legal counsel provided overviews of unsafe building laws and case initiation processes. No specific property cases were listed.

Redevelopment Commission — July 20

Minutes have not been published. The agenda listed a public hearing on the proposed Hickory Hollow Residential Housing Development Program, including designation of the Hickory Hollow Economic Development Area and its TIF Allocation Area. The commission was set to consider Resolution No. 2026-11, a confirmatory resolution for the economic development area, and Resolution No. 2026-12, pledging tax increment revenues toward Economic Development Tax Increment Revenue Bonds for the residential project. A motion to proceed to closing on a real estate purchase agreement with Regional Data Management, LLC for 2711 W. 37th Avenue was also on the agenda, along with consideration of a purchase agreement for a vacant parcel at Rush Place (Parcel No. 45-09-21-351-027.000-045) with Shaquila Bernice Williams.

Board of Public Works and Safety — July 22

Minutes have not been published. The agenda included a request from the Hobart Police Department for unpaid administrative leave for an employee and the award of the annual paving and sidewalks contract, naming Alex Metz, City Engineer, as the awardee.

Sanitary and Stormwater District Board — July 28

Minutes have not been published. The agenda included consideration of a Vactor acquisition through NIRPC, a potential YouTube collaboration with the City of Hobart for public education, an MS4 Program funding request for the Robinson Lake Rain Garden, Stormwater Bond Disbursement #65, and a report on 410 W 37th Avenue.

Maria Reiner Center Board — July 30

Minutes have not been published. The agenda listed mayoral appointments for three-year terms for Kelsey Perry, Carrie Adelman, Pam Ridings, Trey Gilliana, Dee Bedella, and Brian Snedecor. The Executive Director's report covered August programming, including a Community Night Out event on August 4 and new classes: Phones with Pam, Powers Health My Chart, Diabetes, and First Source Bank Fraud.

Historic Preservation Commission — July 21

The agenda consisted of procedural boilerplate with no specific projects, ordinances, or decisions listed.

Coming Up

August 5 — City Council: The Common Council is scheduled to vote on Ordinance 2026-21, a zoning change for the 45-lot Sapper's Garden Subdivision on 15 acres southeast of 10th St and Lake Park Ave; Ordinance 2026-22, designating the Hickory Hollow area (north side of 61st Ave, west of Arizona St) as an Economic Development Target Area; and Ordinance 2026-23, authorizing $2.8 million in Economic Development Tax Increment Revenue Bonds for the Hickory Hollow housing project. The council will also consider the 2026 Firefighters Local 1641 contract and review the 2026–2031 Capital Improvement Plan.

August 5 — Board of Public Works and Safety: The board will discuss a right-of-way permit for 61st Ave restriping and temporary signals for data center construction, a construction agreement with AG Sports Surfaces for pickleball courts, donation agreements with the Hobart Humane Society and School City of Hobart, and a renovation proposal for the Public Works building by Kent Moore.

August 6 — Plan Commission: The commission will vote on several subdivision plats — including the Hickory Hollow NWI, LLC 67-lot subdivision on 32.5 acres — and a rezoning request from Clay 30 LLC to change 30.52 acres from R-2 to M-1.

August 6 — Board of Zoning Appeals: Public hearings are scheduled for a use variance request from Kristina Mejia for a permanent makeup microblading and tattoo studio at 15/17 Main Street, and a developmental standards variance from Mohammad Awad for a proposed repair and used car lot at 3003 W 37th Avenue.

Hobart Board Approves $550,000 Little League Donation, $159,000 City Hall Roof Contract

The Hobart Board of Public Works and Safety approved a Community Impact donation of up to $550,000 to the Hobart Little League and awarded a $159,009 contract to Ross Roofing for the City Hall roof replacement at its July 15 meeting. The board also denied a request for speed bumps on 10th St. and handled several plat-signing items.

Board of Public Works and Safety

The July 15 meeting produced the clearest decisions of the past two weeks. In addition to the Little League donation and roof contract, the board considered a handicap parking sign request for 950 Garfield St. and signed a 1-lot subdivision plat for Crosby Creek at Carother's Bayou as well as a plat of vacation for West Creek Drive near US 30.

A second Board of Public Works and Safety meeting was scheduled for July 22. The agenda listed a request from the Hobart Police Department for unpaid administrative leave for an employee and the award of the annual paving and sidewalks contract to Alex Metz, City Engineer. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published.

City Council

The Common Council had a full agenda on July 15, though only agendas are available so far. Items included Resolution 2026-14, a real property tax abatement for Allied Tube & Conduit Corp adjacent to 2400 E. 69th Ave; Ordinance 2026-21, a zoning change for the 45-lot Sapper's Garden Subdivision on roughly 15 acres southeast of 10th St and Lake Park Avenue; and Ordinance 2026-23, authorizing Economic Development Tax Increment Revenue Bonds for the Hickory Hollow housing project. The council also listed Resolution 2026-13, a petition to appeal for an increase above the Maximum Levy, and Resolution 2026-16, a resolution in support of locked-out members of United Steelworkers Local 7-1 at BP Whiting Refinery. The council held a separate executive session the same day to discuss strategy regarding pending, threatened, or initiated litigation.

Redevelopment Commission

On July 20, the commission held a public hearing on the Hickory Hollow Residential Housing Development Program and the designation of the Hickory Hollow Economic Development Area and its TIF Allocation Area. Resolutions listed included No. 2026-11, a confirmatory resolution for the economic development area and TIF allocation area, and No. 2026-12, pledging tax increment revenues to taxable Economic Development Tax Increment Revenue Bonds for the residential project. The commission also considered a motion to proceed to closing on a real-estate purchase agreement with Regional Data Management, LLC for 2711 W. 37th Avenue, and a separate purchase agreement for a vacant parcel at Rush Place with Shaquila Bernice Williams.

Sanitary and Stormwater District Board

The board met in executive session on July 14 to discuss the sale of district real property and potential litigation. A regular agenda the same day listed Sanitary Resolution No. 2026-101, proposing a new fee schedule for property owners connecting to the district's sewage system, plus discussion items on a portable generator, repair or replacement of the Lift Station #11 pump, a Vactor truck purchase through NIRPC, and a long-term maintenance agreement for Hickory Hollow.

Other Boards

The Unsafe Building Hearing Authority scheduled 10 public hearings on July 20 covering properties on S Delaware St, E 13th Pl, N Colorado St, W 8th St, Lincoln St, W 2nd St, Garfield St, Parker St, W 15th Pl, and E Ridge Rd. The Police Pension Board held a special meeting July 17 for a disability hearing for Casimer Wojcehowski. The Park Commissioners (July 13) and Historic Preservation Commission (July 21) agendas were procedural with no specific items listed. The Contractors Licensing Board's July 15 meeting was cancelled due to lack of additional items after a July 8 special meeting; its next meeting is September 23, 2026.

Coming up

The Sanitary and Stormwater District Board meets July 28 to consider a Vactor acquisition with NIRPC, a YouTube public-education collaboration, MS4 funding for the Robinson Lake Rain Garden, Stormwater Bond Disbursement #65, and a report on 410 W 37th Avenue. Minutes from the July 14 meeting are up for approval.

Hobart Board Approves $550,000 Donation to Little League; Contractor License Revoked Over Driveway Complaint

The Hobart Board of Public Works and Safety approved a Community Impact donation of up to $550,000 to the Hobart Little League at its July 15 meeting, the largest dollar item among recent city actions. The same meeting included a $159,009 contract award to Ross Roofing for the City Hall roof replacement and the denial of a request for speed bumps on 10th St.

Board of Public Works and Safety

The board's July 15 agenda also included a handicap parking sign request for 950 Garfield St., the signing of a 1-lot subdivision plat for Crosby Creek at Carother's Bayou, and the signing of a plat of vacation for West Creek Drive near US 30. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published; the actions are drawn from the meeting agenda.

Contractor's Licensing Board

On July 8, the Contractors Licensing Board voted to revoke the contractor license of Andrew Kats' CC Edition LLC until the company appears before the board again. The board also approved a $300 fine payable to the City of Hobart. The action followed a complaint about a driveway installation at 436 Softwood Drive that was deemed a code violation and poor workmanship. The board noted that CC Edition LLC has not yet applied for a license renewal. A regularly scheduled July 15 meeting of the board was cancelled due to lack of additional items; the next meeting is set for September 23, 2026.

Sanitary and Stormwater District Board

The Sanitary Board held a July 14 executive session at 4:30 PM in Council Chambers at Hobart City Hall to discuss the sale of district real property and potential litigation. A separate agenda listed Sanitary Resolution No. 2026-101, which proposes a new schedule of fees for property owners connecting to the district's sewage system. Additional items up for discussion or consideration included purchasing a portable generator, repairing or replacing the Lift Station #11 pump, acquiring a Vactor truck through NIRPC/HSD, reviewing a long-term maintenance agreement for Hickory Hollow, and considering the award of a former wastewater-treatment-plant asbestos-abatement project.

City Council

The Common Council's July 15 agenda included several economic development items: Resolution 2026-14 for real property tax abatement for Allied Tube & Conduit Corp adjacent to 2400 E. 69th Ave; Ordinance 2026-21 for a zoning change for the 45-lot Sapper's Garden Subdivision on approximately 15 acres southeast of 10th St and Lake Park Avenue; and Ordinance 2026-23 authorizing Economic Development Tax Increment Revenue Bonds for the Hickory Hollow housing project. The council also listed Resolution 2026-13, a petition to appeal for an increase above the Maximum Levy, and Resolution 2026-16, a resolution in support of locked-out members of United Steelworkers Local 7-1 at BP Whiting Refinery. The council held a separate executive session July 15 to discuss litigation strategy.

Other Meetings

The Hobart Fire Civil Service Commission met July 9 to approve its agenda, June 11 minutes, and register of claims, and to discuss the status of August 1 promotional exams and the new-hire application process. The Board of Park Commissioners met July 13 for regular business with no specific projects or ordinances listed. The Police Pension Board held a special meeting July 17 for a disability hearing for Casimer Wojcehowski.

Coming Up

• **July 20 — Redevelopment Commission:** Public hearing on the Hickory Hollow Residential Housing Development Program and the proposed Hickory Hollow Economic Development Area and TIF Allocation Area. The commission will consider resolutions confirming and funding the plan, a motion to proceed to closing on a real-estate purchase agreement for 2711 W. 37th Avenue with Regional Data Management, LLC, and a separate purchase agreement for a vacant parcel at Rush Place.
• **July 20 — Unsafe Building Hearing Authority:** Ten public hearings on properties at 142 S Delaware St, 211 E 13th Pl, 408 N Colorado St, 605 W 8th St, 768 Lincoln St, 1217 W 2nd St, 1229 Garfield St, 3737 Parker St, 4419 W 15th Pl, and 8500 E Ridge Rd.
• **July 22 — Board of Public Works and Safety:** Consideration of a Hobart Police Department request for unpaid administrative leave and award of the annual paving and sidewalks contract to Alex Metz, City Engineer.