Mount Carmel City Council Meeting October 13th

The Mount Carmel City Council met in regular session on Monday, October 13^th with all members present.

After approval of the minutes from the previous three meetings the council was due to be addressed by Kyle Peach of Wabash Valley College about an upcoming WVC fundraiser; however, Peach was unable to make the meeting. After hearing details of a proposed fundraiser to be held sometime in November, the council gave approval in Peach’s absence.

Although, not listed on the agenda, the council also heard from Nick and Melissa Conner in regards to the proposed Yellow Box Data Center. Melissa Conner told the board that she had addressed some of her questions to Mayor Judge, but the mayor doesn’t yet have the answers to most of her questions. Conner would go on to voice her concerns over the proposed Data Center, which would be located less than one mile from her Oak Meadows subdivision residence. The Data Center 40 megawatt data center, would operate twenty-four hours daily, seven days per week; which would not only place a huge load on the energy and water grid, but would be a noise disturbance as well. Conner cited research of other locations regarding a low frequency hum that can carry up to three miles; which have also been shown to cause health issues. She pointed out that a three mile radius would encompass most of Mount Carmel. Another concern she voiced was the air pollution from diesel backup generators, which release fine particulate mater and nitrogen dioxide; both of which the EPA identifies has harmful to respiratory and cardiovascular health. She encouraged the council for transparency, independent studies, and public reporting before moving forward stating, “The community deserves a clear understanding of the potential effects on our health, safety, property values, and over-all quality of life.” Mayor Judge explained that at this time the data center is merely a proposal, and that Yellow Box is a consulting firm behind the proposal who would first have to find a customer wanting to build the data center, at which time all studies would be done.

Prior to the Mayor’s Report, Judge gave accolades to the Girls Golf 5x Winners of State, as well as the marching band and all the high school sports teams. He then reported the police department activity for the month of September included 5 traffic arrests for driving on revoked or suspended, and 3 individuals for operation of uninsured vehicles. MCPD wrote 3 speeding tickets, 4 non valid registration, and 2 other tickets for moving violations. The department served 5 warrants, and issued 63 warnings. PD also worked 14 accidents, received 3 mental health calls, and did 3 community events. Working in cooperation with Wabash General Hospital, MCPD made 98 security checks. The department responded to 55 residential security checks, and 8 business security checks. No search warrants were served in the month of September. Overall contacts with the community equaled 499 for the month.

It was announced that the council will be opening up bids for the excavation of the pool in two days, in hopes of all excavation be done by end of November weather permitting.

It was reported that revenue for the past two-weeks stands at $94,000, with expenses at $76,000, bringing total revenue to $1,849,479. This falls in line with 42% of the yearly budget, mostly from sales tax in the amount of $237,279 along with miscellaneous items.

Officials with the water plant have a meeting scheduled for Wednesday at 9 a.m. with engineers to address what keeps causing water supply lines to break. Otherwise, Commisioner Meeks announces all at the water plant is “maintenance as usual.”