HAMMOND | Despite brisk winds and falling temperatures, some 30 or more protesters marched in front of City Hall on Monday in support of retaining the city's Health Department.

The municipal Health Department lost its funding in September. Doors are expected to close Dec. 31, after which the Lake County Health Department takes over services.

Beginning at 3 p.m. as students spilled from Hammond High School across the street, the marchers' signs and chants drew the attention of pedestrians and honks from passing cars.

The protest urged both the saving of the Health Department and the ouster of Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. and the five City Council members who voted to cut the funding.

McDermott has argued the Health Department duplicates services offered by the Lake County Health Department.

Protester Mary Motkowicz, who was accompanied by her young granddaughter, said it was very important to keep the Health Department in Hammond because of the inconvenience of traveling to Crown Point. She had used the Health Department's services when her children were little, she said.

"It doesn't save that much money anyway," she said of the tax savings from shifting the cost from the city to the county.

Ola Smith said she also has made use of the department.

"Not everybody can afford health care," she said.

Smith lauded the cities of Gary and East Chicago for not turning their health departments over to the county.

Nancy Thompson said she is currently without health insurance for complicated reasons. She gets her flu shots at the Health Department.

"Many would have a hard time going to Crown Point," she said.

Thompson said she was puzzled by the Health Department's closing because it brought in revenue.

Dolores Wilson was one in a group of angry young mothers waving signs in front of the high school.

"We're involved parents," Wilson said. They had children at Hammond High School, Eggers Middle School and Wallace Elementary School, she said.

All used the Health Department. Pointing to a clinic up the street, she said, "The clinic sends us to the Health Department."

"There's nothing here for kids," she said.

Another young mother, Elizabeth Navarro, said the administration seems to care little for the north end of the city, where she lives.

Already angry about the neglect of her neighborhood and the state of the city's school system, Navarro said the closing of the Health Department is "one more thing" to be upset about.