Five days after she was elected Calumet Township trustee, Tai Adkins resigned as president of the Gary Common Council.

Council members also unanimously supported a resolution against House Bill 1136, which calls for a school district to dissolve if more than half its students in the legal settlement area attend school elsewhere by the fall 2024 student count data. Rep. Jake Teshka, R-North Liberty, filed the bill.

Adkins, D-4th, oversaw her final council meeting Tuesday, and she resigned from her position afterward, said Jim Wieser, chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party.

A caucus has to be held within 30 days after Adkins’ resignation, Wieser said, but one hasn’t yet been scheduled.

“As we come to the close of time as president of the Gary Common Council, I must take a moment to reflect on the journey and express my deepest gratitude to serving the city and fourth district,” Adkins said.

Adkins highlighted her work with the budget as a high point during her time on council.

She helped implement a zero-based budgeting strategy, Adkins said, which “helped reduce indirect operational costs to support a historic 12% increase in dollars” for police, fire and public safety officials in 2022.

Members of the Gary Firefighter’s Association Local 359 thanked Adkins for her time on council and recognized her as an honorable member.

Local 359 President Kevin Benford said Adkins worked to make them feel heard within the local government. She listened to their concerns, Benford said, and understood they know what matters to the city.

Adkins, among other council members, fought for better pension and wage increases, Benford said.

“A lot of work still needs to be done, but you heard us, and that means a lot,” he added. “Even when you don’t get exactly what you want, just knowing that you’re being heard, that’s what builds up morale and helps us do a better job.”

Gary council members thanked Adkins for her service, including Vice President Lori Latham, D-1st.

“You’ve led this council with strength, wisdom, with courage, with grace, with poise and undeniable beauty,” Latham told Adkins Tuesday. “We’re going to miss your leadership. We know you’re not going far, but we wish you the best in everything that’s to come for you and your future.”

Adkins was elected as Calumet Township trustee in a Jan. 16 caucus. She won the seat with 25 votes after two voting rounds.

She had until Jan. 23 to be sworn in as trustee, Adkins said in a Jan. 16 email to the Post-Tribune. Adkins was sworn in as trustee following her resignation from the council.

Adkins takes the position from ex-Trustee Kim Robinson, who is the third Calumet Township trustee to face federal charges. Robinson resigned from the position and pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in Hammond’s U.S. District Court. Federal prosecutors alleged she used $11,200 in township funds to pay her rent.

If her plea deal is accepted, Robinson will serve one year of probation and have to repay $11,200, plus an $8,700 fine, according to Post-Tribune archives.

While Robinson was trustee, the township paid Adkins’ company, ARC Group Contractors, $38,400, according to a nonemployee compensation form sent to the Post-Tribune.

The company was hired to support and implement park initiatives, which former Gary Deputy Mayor Trent McCain alleges Adkins needed to get approval from the parks department to do. McCain said Adkins never received approval.

In an email to the Post-Tribune, Adkins said the company was not hired for a “park project” and was instead hired to identify a possible recreation project as well as various avenues and stakeholders.

Gary council members Tuesday unanimously supported a resolution against House Bill 1136. Councilman Darren Washington, D-at large, authored the resolution.

At the council’s Jan. 7 meeting, Adkins, Washington and Parliamentarian Linda Barnes-Caldwell, D-5th, all voiced concerns with the bill and encouraged community members to speak out.

The bill affects five school districts, including Gary Community School Corp. and Indianapolis Public Schools. If the bill is passed, nine Gary schools will be turned into charter schools.

Washington met with Gary Community School Corp. Superintendent Yvonne Stokes when drafting the resolution, he said Tuesday. The school district was under state control for about seven years, Washington said.

“House Bill 1136 does not provide the Gary Community School Corp. with the ample time to demonstrate recovery efforts to rebuild its enrollment,” Washington read from the resolution. “The Indiana State Legislature should allow the Gary Community School Corp. a monitored seven-year grace period to present evidence showing continued increase in enrollment and significant advancement in academics … ”

Adkins said the resolution was a “great opportunity” for the council to band together with others in the community to address concerns.

She encourages other leaders, including Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary, and Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, to speak out against the bill.

mwilkins@chicagotribune.com