Portable job trailers began arriving Friday to allow city workers to return to their jobs as City Hall undergoes repairs, estimated to take three months by Mayor Bill Carroll.

He said the trailers would be marked so citizens would know which city hall office they need for service. Carroll said the city council will meet at Lake Station High School.

City hall flooded June 7 after a sprinkler system pipe burst, leaving water damage across the building and ruining technology equipment.

“Insurance has been a nightmare. But we are over that hump,” Carroll said. He hoped all of the trailers would be in place by Monday.

“We are hoping to be fully running next week,” he said.

He said skeleton crews worked remotely from home for the past three weeks.

“Until I get this place clear, it’s safety first,” Carroll said.

Meanwhile, city council members said during their meeting Thursday they’ve been left in the dark over the status of repairs.

Five of the council’s members and Clerk-Treasurer Brenda Samuels met at Lake Station High School. Two members, Ericka Castillo, D-4th, and Jason Pedroza, D-at-large, were absent. Carroll and his chief of staff Adrian Vera missed the meeting, too.

Council members said they’ve had difficulty reaching Carroll or their calls weren’t returned.“I don’t know what to tell people,” said Rick Long, D-5th. “I think we’re setting up our temporary job trailers. I would really like to get an update.”

Long called council members “homeless” and thanked Lake Station Superintendent Tom Cripliver for allowing them to meet at the school.

Other council members raised concerns.

“I’m extremely disappointed with the lack of communication,” said Rebecca Sanders, D-at-large. She voiced disappointment over the lack of reports from department heads and their absence at meetings.

“I’m also frustrated, I’ve been listening to constituents nonstop and I don’t have answers,” said Kelli Williams, D-3rd.

“We just can’t stop the city, we have to move forward. The last I heard anything was on the Saturday we had the leak.”

Council president Carlos Luna, D-1st, said he hoped to set up a meeting with Carroll next week.

“Right now, the communication is not good during this crisis. We have to do something. Citizens are real upset they can’t get hold of anybody.”

“In my opinion, you can’t close a city and leave it closed,” he said. “Nobody can get hold of anybody.”

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.