CROWN POINT — The union push for more NIPSCO line crews reached Lake County government Tuesday.
A resolution supporting United Steelworkers Local Union 12775, District 7's petition "to strengthen Nipsco staffing, reliability, and storm response in Northern Indiana" was on the Lake County Council's regular meeting agenda. The agenda listed it under the council's own resolutions, sponsored by Councilwoman Christine Cid.
The regular meeting was set for 10 a.m. Central time in the Commissioners Court Room/Council Chambers, third floor of Building A at the Lake County Government Center, 2293 N. Main St. The county posted a YouTube livestream link on its event page.
At 11:30 a.m., in the same room, the council scheduled a special meeting for the second reading of the Lake County Budget Appropriation and Salary Ordinance for 2027. Lake County Auditor Peggy Holinga Katona signed the public notice for that session.
Key facts
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Regular meeting | Tue., Oct. 13, 10 a.m. CT, Government Center Building A, 3rd floor | County event page; agenda |
| NIPSCO item | Resolution supporting USW Local 12775, District 7 staffing petition (Cid) | Council agenda, resolutions |
| Budget session | Tue., Oct. 13, 11:30 a.m. CT, same room | County event page; Auditor's legal notice |
| Budget action | Second reading, 2027 budget appropriation and salary ordinance | Auditor's legal notice |
| Livestream | YouTube links posted on county event pages | lakecountyin.gov |
A petition moving town to town
The Steelworkers local represents NIPSCO workers. Its petition, titled "Keep Utility Jobs Local," asks state leaders, regulators and local officials to assess utility staffing, set workforce growth targets, expand apprenticeships and push local hiring. That is how the petition is described in Valparaiso's version of the resolution.
Lake County's agenda gave only the title of its resolution. The full text was not attached to the posted agenda.
The Michigan City Common Council adopted a resolution backing the petition at its Oct. 6 meeting, the LaPorte Herald-Dispatch reported. Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch wrote that resolution. Portage officials and the Porter County commissioners also sided with the union last week, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Valparaiso's council had its own version, Resolution No. 10, 2026, on its Monday night agenda. A vote record had not been posted on the city's website as of Tuesday morning.
Each resolution is a statement of support. None of them orders NIPSCO or the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to do anything.
Also on Tuesday's agenda
The regular meeting agenda also listed:
- A proposed Lake County Stormwater Management Ordinance, brought by the Surveyor's office.
- A $750,000 Drainage Improvement Fund appropriation for Little Calumet River construction, requested by the Drainage Board.
- A $142,177 appropriation from the Sheriff's FY25 Justice Assistance Grant fund, mostly for equipment.
- An ordinance creating a non-reverting fund for the Sheriff's 2027 Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program grant.
What's next
The council meets at the Government Center on North Main Street, not at the historic courthouse on the square. Vote results were not posted on the county's event page as of late Tuesday morning. Region N3 will update with the council's votes on the NIPSCO resolution and the 2027 budget.
Photo credit
¹ Lake County Courthouse, Crown Point (lead photo) — photo by Soul Chords, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for web; this copy is shared under the same license.
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² Lake County Courthouse, Crown Point — photo by Calvin Beale, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
³ Old Lake County Courthouse, Crown Point — photo by Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. This copy is shared under the same license.
