In a special meeting Tuesday, the Lake County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved scheduling a public hearing for the Lake County Convention Center.
The commissioners are seeking a professional advisor to help with legal services for the negotiation of the convention center’s development agreement, said Commissioner Mike Repay, D-3rd.
A public hearing is scheduled for the commissioners’ Feb. 19 meeting.
Part of the convention center statute calls for either a public meeting or hearing when selecting advisors, Repay said.
“We wanted to make sure we were in full compliance, so that’s why we’re doing this,” he said. “It’s to fully comply with the statute.”
A professional advisor hasn’t been selected, Repay said, and he’s expecting commissioners will “get some level of returns” at the February meeting.
Commissioners requested advisor submissions earlier in the process, but it was before Gary and Hobart and their developers had submitted proposals.
“Now we kind of know better what we need based on the two (proposals),” Repay said. “So, we’ll be better suited to select some help with regard to that.”
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed Senate Bill 434 into law in May 2023, which created the Lake County Convention and Economic Development Fund. The fund has been designated for the convention center’s creation, the Blighted Property Demolition Fund, and the revitalization of the Gary Metro Station to complement the South Shore Double Tracking project, according to Post-Tribune archives.
In May, the commissioners issued a request for proposals from potential developers that need to meet a completed specification package. The proposals were due Oct. 16, and Gary and Hobart were the two communities that presented a bid.
The city of Gary and Hard Rock Casino proposed a convention center next to Gary’s existing casino. The proposal would be for a 145,000-square foot building, which includes a 40,000-square foot exhibit hall, an 18,000-square foot ballroom and two pre-function rooms.
Garfield Public/Private LLC and the city of Hobart proposed a convention center at Patriot Park. The entities proposed a 150,000-square foot building with a 250-room hotel. The complex would include 48 units of 3-story multi-family and eight units of 2-story multi-family homes.
County commissioners are expected to make a decision on the proposal by May 31. In November, Repay said he would like the board to make a decision within the first quarter of the year.