Resident urges action after trains 'cut Frankfort in half,' asks council to consider data‑center moratorium

David Riggs, a resident who identified his home near the health department on Rossville Avenue, told the Common Council that freight trains often stop in Frankfort and effectively "cut Frankfort in half," creating delays that can impede ambulances and other emergency response vehicles. "When that train's there, you couldn't get an ambulance to my house," Riggs said, adding that the nearest ambulance is now based in Lafayette for that area.

Riggs said he has raised the issue repeatedly with city contacts and with members of Congress and the U.S. Senate offices he named, and that the city has been in touch with railroad representatives. He suggested increasing civil penalties to move enforcement beyond small‑claims and into higher courts so the railroad might stop trains short of the city. A staff member noted the city has contacted railroad representatives and that crossings and repairs are being addressed; the resident also cited a belief that Indiana Supreme Court precedent limits local citation authority for trains.

Later in his public comment, Riggs urged the council to consider a moratorium on data centers within the city. He said data-center developments often present problems for neighboring residents and asked the council to pause approvals until the city can assess impacts, citing concerns that project plans and blueprints can change significantly during construction.

The council did not take formal action on either item during the meeting. Staff said they had reached out to railroad contacts and to the offices of U.S. Rep. Jim Baird and U.S. Sen. Todd Young regarding the crossing and would continue to pursue remedies. The council did not adopt a moratorium on data centers at this meeting but staff said they would research whether the city may impose such a moratorium independently or whether countywide action is required.