The Gary Common Council accepted a $300,000 grant from the Lake County Board of Commissioners to help with graffiti removal throughout the city.
The money will help supplement the graffiti removal project that’s already underway, said Rachelle Morgan Ceasar, Gary’s director of public works.
“We have not used these funds yet,” Morgan Ceasar said. “We’ve just been doing this so far based on resources that we already have or that are available to us.”
Acceptance of the money was approved unanimously at the Tuesday evening meeting. All council members were present Tuesday.
In November, the council passed an ordinance to prohibit graffiti citywide, calling it a “public nuisance which poses a threat to the health, safety and welfare” of residents.
According to council documents, city leadership believe graffiti impairs the value of Gary properties, impinges on economic development effort and remains on public and private property for an excessive period of time. Through Indiana Code, the city is allowed to issue citations, impose fines and remove graffiti from public and private property.
Morgan Ceasar told council members that they started removal last year, and they’ll complete the work throughout the city.
City Controller Chenika Beck told council members that the graffiti removal task force grant will be used to buy paint, equipment, paint sprayers or generators to remove the graffiti.
Councilman Myles Tolliver, D-at large, asked for the city to partner with youth organizations around Gary to also help with graffiti removal. He thanked city leadership for their work as well.
“I saw (workers) actually out painting,” Tolliver said. “I want to commend you and all your efforts for making sure that’s getting done.”
Councilman Dwight Williams, D-6th, asked if private and public property were part of the graffiti removal. Morgan Ceasar said they’re starting with city-owned properties first and then branching out to other buildings.
Councilwoman Marian Ivey, D-4th, also told Morgan Ceasar and Beck to ensure the city keeps a written record of all buildings that are cleaned up.
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Lake County Commissioner Kyle Allen, D-1st, told the Post-Tribune Wednesday that the grant came from discretionary funding provided by Lake County Councilman Charlie Brown, D-3rd. Brown was unable to immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Allen said the commissioners are the contracting authority for the county, so they had to approve the grant funds. There’s no set timeline for the funds to be used, Allen said, as long as they’re used for graffiti removal.
“From blight elimination to demolition to graffiti removal, it’s all quality of life issues and it’s all important,” Allen said.