The Hammond City Board of Public Works and Safety on Jan. 30 approved four promotions in the Hammond Fire Department, authorized a state-local resurfacing agreement with the Indiana Department of Transportation, renewed an amusement-device license for Mister Joe's Inc., approved multiple unsafe-building demolition liens and bond releases, set a rental-registration hearing and imposed a late fee for a rental property.

The board approved promotions recommended by Fire Chief Bernard Grazolia that take effect in late January 2025: Senior Captain Brian Robson to battalion chief effective Jan. 27, 2025; Captain Wilbur Kearney to senior captain effective Jan. 28, 2025; Engineer Brian Karch to captain effective Jan. 29, 2025; and Darnell Walker to engineer effective Jan. 29, 2025. The board voted to approve the promotions by voice vote.

The board also authorized the board president to electronically approve an agreement with the Indiana Department of Transportation for the "2024-2 Community Crossing INDOT LPA project" to resurface two segments: Columbia Avenue from 160 Seventh Street to Summer Street, and Fifth Street (160 Fifth Street) from Kennedy Avenue to Parish Avenue. Dean Button introduced the item and staff member Jonathan told the board the agreement follows the standard Community Crossings matching process and will be a roughly 50–50 local-state match. The board approved the authorization by voice vote.

The controller's office requested and the board approved renewal of the amusement-device license for Mister Joe's Incorporated.

On property and code-enforcement matters the board approved demolition liens under the city's unsafe-building law for 7352 Nebraska Drive and 940 Field Street. The board also approved an order to rescind findings for property listed as 1633 through 1637 Roberts Avenue after staff reported the basement apartment subject to the order had been removed and the property owners were closing the following day; staff agreed to provide written documentation to the title company. The board released bonds for properties at 1933 Maiden Lane and 1152 Michigan Street; board members noted 1933 Maiden Lane has a lengthy history before the board and that exterior work is in good shape, while staff confirmed paperwork supported release.

Engineering presented right-of-way permits vetted by staff, including several residential NIPSCO gas service permits and one permit for sidewalk closure at 5231 Hohman Avenue to support storefront improvements; engineers said no street closures were required and the permits were approved. The board set a rental-registration hearing for Feb. 13, 2025, on a separate late-registration matter and approved a garage-sale permit for an address on Kennedy Avenue.

During a late-registration hearing for 1138 Morris Street — a three-unit property with one owner-occupied unit and two rental units — no representative appeared. Staff said the current owner purchased the property in 2022 and that the previous owner had been in collections but paid registrations through 2023. The board denied the owner's appeal and imposed late fees for both rental units for 2024; the motion passed on a voice vote.

The board opened the meeting for public comment and received none. The meeting then adjourned.