The board approved an agreement for administrative assistance assembling FEMA reimbursement documentation; counsel said the contract price is $100,000 but that much of the fee is expected to be reimbursed through the FEMA process.

Lake Station councilors postponed action on Resolution 2026-01, a temporary transfer intended to extend repayment of an outstanding sanitary-district loan, after hearing that the district has repeatedly renewed portions of a $1.2 million obligation and that a recent $200,000 payment reduced the balance to $400,000; councilmembers asked staff for detailed fund reports before deciding.

Street superintendent Dwayne told the Lake Station City Council that IDEM has lifted the city's long-standing agreed order but that the sewer system still lacks capacity for planned housing; council members discussed redirecting a force main that engineers estimate could cost about $2.5 million to $3 million and debated extending sanitary-district loan funds.

The Lake Station City Council approved first reading of Ordinance 2026-21, an emergency appropriation tied to natural-disaster expenses, after staff warned that payroll and emergency costs required prompt action and discussed FEMA reimbursement and reimbursement limits.

The board reviewed and ratified an independent-contractor agreement with Degree Tech LLC to handle storm- and ice-related debris removal, with a stated contract start date in the record of August 15 and a contract cap noted by counsel.

The board ratified a local disaster-emergency declaration for Salem Station, with Attorney Caprino saying the declaration references an effective date of May 9, 2026 and an initial 60-day period; members recorded aye votes by roll call.

City staff told the council a contractor has removed roughly 66,000 cubic yards of storm debris and is mulching material at a staging site; residents should place debris at the street, call the mayor’s office for dumpster appointments, and document volunteer hours and donated goods for FEMA reimbursement.

The Lake Station City Council approved acceptance of a $75,000 Development Catalyst Grant from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, with the city providing a previously appropriated $25,000 match to fund a 10–20 year comprehensive plan and related reporting requirements.

Members discussed a state-driven phaseout of ceded funds and certain income-tax streams that will reduce local revenue by 2028–29; staff recommended a countywide planning exercise and the council agreed to prepare scenarios for a possible municipal income tax.

Lake Station council added an emergency item to the agenda and approved ordinance 20 26-15 to purchase additional road salt after staff warned INDOT could not supply municipal needs; staff outlined a plan to mix untreated and treated salt to cover winter demands.