HAMMOND | A Lake County Health Department satellite office in Hammond is expected to open on a trial basis, Lake County commissioners said.

No vote was taken Wednesday, but Commissioner Fran DuPey, D-Hammond, has long advocated a satellite office, and Roosevelt Allen, D-Gary, said he would support such an office for a one-year trial period to ensure there are no hidden costs.

The county's third and final commissioner, Gerry Scheub, D-Schererville, said he supports the satellite office but doesn't want to commit the county to having to keep a certain number of employees there.

Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., who appeared before commissioners to plead his case for a permanent health department presence in his city, thanked the board for answering to critics.

"My opponents said our city residents would have to drive to Crown Point to get shots," McDermott said. "We said we were talking with commissioners and making progress."

He said a local office is needed for low-income, uninsured residents who cannot afford to travel to Crown Point for inoculations or health records.

McDermott also asked commissioners to hire as many of the city's Health Department employees as possible. Otherwise, the workers will be laid off Dec. 31.

"I want my people to be picked up, and I will lobby hard for them," McDermott said.

McDermott led a three-year effort to have the city's Health Department taken over by the county.

"Like all big city mayors, I was looking for ways to combat high taxes and cut costs," the mayor said. "It was a difficult decision."

He said his move was unpopular and almost cost him his re-election.

McDermott is offering the county office space at no cost.

"I will pay the bills," he told commissioners. "If something is broken, we will fix it."