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Residents press council on AgriPark safety and soil lead testing; city says lab results are safe
Summary
During public comment, residents raised concerns about zoning, aviation safety and soil lead at a proposed AgriPark on airport property; Deputy Mayor Elliot Holkren said the city hired A and L Great Lakes Laboratories and reported soil lead at 26 ppm, which he said is "by an environmental protection agency safe for all farming."
Several members of the public used the Sept. 15 Fishers council meeting—s public comment period to press the council for more transparency and review of the proposed AgriPark on airport property.
Casey Crosby, a longtime Fishers resident, urged the council to revisit several items he described as "facts and fiction" about the AgriPark, alleging the city did not test for lead, did not follow applicable zoning ordinances for the airport site and discounted aviation safety concerns. "The fact is Fishers did not test for lead," Crosby said, and he questioned whether the city had performed due diligence on wildlife and FAA considerations for locating farming activity on airport property.
Becky McNichols, a neighborhood resident, offered a contrasting view and said many neighbors look forward to the AgriPark; she said that if lead exists in soil she would like to be informed.
Deputy Mayor Elliot Holkren responded on the record that the city did engage A and L Great Lakes Laboratories of Fort Wayne to conduct soil lead testing and reported results of 26 parts per million. "26 parts per million is by an environmental protection agency safe for all farming," Holkren said. He also said staff would continue to work with public-works and parks staff on related technical questions.
The public comment exchange ended without formal council direction recorded on the AgriPark; the council adjourned after the public-comment period. Residents asked the council to be transparent about testing and zoning compliance going forward.
