After voting in April to go forward with a zoning change to the Beckman School property, the Gary Common Council last month overrode a pocket veto from Mayor Eddie Melton that would have blocked the change. The 6-3 vote cleared the way for an industrial business to move into the Midtown neighborhood site near 23rd Avenue and Grant Street. A new business replacing the long-vacated Beckman School has been a flashpoint in the city. While some council members say it will bring needed tax revenue to Gary, some residents worry it will worsen pollution and erode the neighborhood’s character.
In a separate decision, the council voted 6-1 at its most recent meeting to grant a special permit for a new car wash in the Brunswick neighborhood. The facility will be located on Fifth Avenue.
From the Common Council to the School Board to the Gary Sanitation District, local officials are making decisions that affect the daily lives of Gary residents.
Here’s a look at some key government meetings scheduled this month:
Meeting Calendar
Gary Common Council
Date: Tuesday, June 3 and 17
Location: City Hall, 401 Broadway
Time: 6 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 881-1315
* Biweekly on the first and third Tuesdays of each month
* Broadcast on Facebook Live
Parks and Recreation
Date: Tuesday, June 10 and 24
Location: Hudson-Campbell, 455 Massachusetts St.
Time: 10 a.m. CST
Contact: (219) 886-7099 ext. 36900
* Meetings are held at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month
Board of Public Works and Safety
Date: Wednesday, June 4, 11, 18 and 25
Location: City Hall, 401 Broadway, in the Cleo Wesson Lounge on the second floor
Time: 2 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 881-1310
* Weekly on Wednesday
*Residents can join live on Facebook or on Zoom
Board of Zoning Appeals
Date: Thursday, June 12
Location: City Hall, 401 Broadway
Time: 3 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 881-1300
* Monthly on Thursday of the second week
*Broadcast on Facebook Live
GCSC School Board Meeting
Date: Tuesday, June 3 (Policy Committee), Thursday, June 12
Location: Gary Area Career Center, 1800 E. 35th Ave.
Time: 4:30 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 881-5466
*Broadcast on Facebook Live
Gary Redevelopment Commission
Date: Wednesday, June 18
Location: City Hall, 401 Broadway
Time: 4 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 886-1531
* Monthly on Wednesday of the third week
Gary Plan Commission
Date: Thursday, June 19
Location: City Hall, 401 Broadway
Time: 3 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 886-1531 (Residents are encouraged to call before attending to ensure meeting isn’t canceled)
* Monthly on Thursday of the third week
Gary Housing Authority
Date: Thursday, June 19
Location: second floor of the Gary Housing Authority Central Office, 578 Broadway
Time: 6 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 881-6400
Lake County Council Regular Meeting
Date: Tuesday, June 10
Location: 2293 N. Main St., Commissioners’ Court Room/Council Chamber, 3rd Floor, Building A
Time: 10 a.m.
Contact: (219) 755-3280
Gary Sanitation District/Gary Stormwater Management Meeting
Date: Friday, June 6 and June 20
Location: 3600 West Third Ave.
Time: Noon
Contact: (219) 944-0595, x1816
AARP Age Friendly Council Meeting
Date: Monday, June 16
Location: City Hall, Cleo Wesson Lounge, 2nd Floor
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Contact: (219) 881-1311
What meetings are you looking forward to this month? See anything missing that we should have highlighted? Email Capital B Gary’s Government and Politics Reporter Calvin Davis at calvin.davis@capitalbnews.org.
