Merrillville’s town ambulance service will use the vacant firehouse at 8850 W. 57th Ave. to house some of its vehicles, a move Town Council President Richard Hardaway said benefits the town and the ambulance company.

Hardaway said in June that Superior Ambulance had been unsuccessful in finding an affordable location to house some of its ambulances on the north side of town, which was a stipulation made by the Town Council when it awarded the Illinois-based company the contract early this year.

Town Manager Bruce Spires said it has not been determined what Superior will be charged monthly for using the building. The payments will go to the Merrillville Fire Territory Board.

“They can draw money from that fund to pay for any repairs,” Spires said.

The arrangement was approved with the stipulation that the Merrillville Fire Department conduct quarterly inspections of the building.

The Town Council unanimously approved a stricter ordinance regulating child and adult day care centers as anticipated.

The revised ordinance gives the building inspector and fire chief the authority to enter any of these centers to conduct safety inspections on both an annual and complaint-driven basis. It also sets fees for violations.

The revisions were crafted by Town Attorney John Bushemi with council input after a police officer was refused entry into a child care center after receiving a report of an injured child. Once inside, the officer reportedly found loaded guns, swords and other weapons, as well as alcohol, all within reach of the children attending the center.

The council also took action to provide tax abatements to two businesses — Long-Term Care Investments VI LLC and ImageFirst Laundry.

Long-Term Care Investments will receive a five-year real property abatement for the 108-bed long-term care facility it’s building on 93rd Avenue, next to Pinnacle Hospital.

ImageFirst Laundry will receive a 10-year tax abatement on real and personal property. A laundry and linen service for the health care industry, it is expanding its facility at 86th Place and Mississippi Street, creating 15 new jobs.

Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.