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Phoenix Construction updates council on worker fall at Project Maze; residents press questions about generators, abatement and transparency
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Summary
Phoenix Construction representatives told the council about an Oct. 9 workplace fall and said they cooperated with OSHA; council members and residents pressed for regular updates, raised concerns about diesel generators, pollution and whether the city’s tax abatement requires closer oversight.
Representatives from Phoenix Construction and on-site project staff updated the Michigan City Common Council on Jan. 20 about a workplace incident at the Project Maze data center site.
Will Shroyer told the council a subcontractor’s employee experienced a 28-foot fall on Oct. 9, 2025; the worker was transported to a local hospital that night and released the same evening. Shroyer said Phoenix cooperated with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and hired an independent safety and risk firm to assess the site. He said Phoenix provided documentation to OSHA and would continue to cooperate with regulators.
Council members pressed for more transparency and periodic updates. Councilman Chris Przybylinski asked whether the worker was transported to the hospital by coworkers or ambulance; Shroyer said coworkers transported the worker. Multiple council members stressed that, although Project Maze is a private development, the council has an interest in operations because the city granted tax abatements for the project and constituents raised concerns.
Public commenters and several council members also raised community concerns about the Project Maze data center’s planned infrastructure, especially the use of diesel generators. A public speaker said the project will have 70 diesel generators and asked the American Lung Association to present on their health implications; another commenter said he had calculated that annual emissions from the data center might be less than school-bus emissions over a short period but cautioned concentrations differ when generators are collocated.
Some speakers disputed parts of Phoenix’s account: one commenter said he had reviewed 911 transcripts and body-cam footage and asserted Phoenix had not indicated cooperation with OSHA; he also said he heard reports the fall was 70 feet rather than 28. Phoenix and council members agreed OSHA’s investigation is ongoing and that the city is limited in its authority; Phoenix agreed to make periodic briefings and to provide information to the mayor’s office and the council as available.
Council members noted the city has a tax-abatement review committee that monitors compliance with abatement agreements and said the council will schedule or announce upcoming abatement committee meetings if further review is warranted.
