County Council April Public Hearing 4/28/2026 Pt. 2

The St. Joseph County Council held a public hearing on April 28, 2026, to discuss and vote on Bill 101-25, an ordinance establishing enhanced noise control measures in the county. The ordinance aims to address community concerns about industrial noise, particularly from data centers, by updating noise measurement standards to include C-weighted sound levels that capture low-frequency vibrations. The council debated provisions such as complaint processes, grandfathering for existing businesses, and exemptions for federally regulated infrastructure. After public comments both in favor and opposition, the council amended the ordinance to clarify exemption language related to telecommunications and passed the bill with a 5-4 vote. Additionally, the council considered but failed to override a veto on Bill 9-26 related to property tax relief measures. Public input also included calls for banning further data center development and concerns about tax abatements for large corporations like Amazon. The meeting concluded with privilege of the floor comments and adjournment.