Seymour[-area residents in a standing room only crowd during a city council meeting Monday evening. Greg Jones photo for The Tribune
The streets outside Seymour City Hall on Monday night were packed as well as the inside of the council chambers with residents strongly opposed to a new development plan, making a historic night for the city.
Seymour City Council proposed the Burkart Opportunity Zone Agenda in a public forum, which is a series of development recommendations provided by the Brookings Institute and supported by the Indiana Economic Development Corp. Brookings announced its plan to partner with Seymour to “co-create community-centered economic inclusion programs” in November 2022.
Seymour was one of two other cities invited by the IEDC to work with Brookings Institute to develop place-based strategies to span gaps in health, wealth and opportunity. The other two cities in Indiana were Michigan City and Warsaw.
Passion from the community in opposition of this agenda, specifically at the idea of an Immigrant Welcome Center coming to Seymour, was heard though many as Mayor Matt Nicholson tried to explain not just the purpose of the center, but the benefits the agenda could offer the entire county.
Nicholson’s comments addressing the 13-task agenda and clearing up internet rumors were quickly shot down by audience members.
“This report was not hidden and was released about six months ago contrary to what has been suggested on social media,” he said.
Nicholson said the report was released in September and has been on the city’s website.
Nicholson also said no one associated with the idea of an Immigrant Welcome Center proposed it as a center for attracting illegal immigrants and that Seymour is not a sanctuary city.
“It is a chance to expand an existing service already happening here in the city of Seymour by the varying non-profits,” he said.
Almost all of his comments, however, were met with great dissonance from the crowd.
Resident Laverne East said she was concerned about her neighborhood’s property values as she lives close to the proposed Freeman Village, a recommendation for affordable housing options grouped of multi and single-family homes housed in subdivisions.
“We moved to our neighborhood because it was safe and quiet, not anymore,” she said. “We are very concerned about our property values.”
More residents continued to speak in opposition of a proposed Immigrant Welcome Center.
Rexanne Ude, who was part of the advisory coalition and worked on putting the agenda together, said she was surprised by the language used to describe this idea.
“I will admit that there is language in there that I hadn’t planned on seeing,” she said. “To be honest, the intention was for it be a resource center and it would be for anyone in Jackson County to help navigate health care, childcare and housing resources.”
Willard “Chip” Everhart spoke with much resentment of the agenda and a majority of audience members clapped in agreement.
“I do not support this agenda,” he said. “I don’t care how we got here — whether its IEDC (Indiana Economic Development Corp.) or whoever we want to blame it on, you, Mr. Matt Nicholson, are the only elected official that participated in this collaboration.”
State District 69 Representative Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, was present to speak with a prepared statement. He thanked the audience for participating in voicing their concerns and the city council for addressing the community’s concerns of the agenda.
“I and the many people I have talked to welcome all that want to come here legally, who are properly vetted and documented, who want to work and assimilate in our community, we welcome you,” he said. “However, Seymour has changed drastically in the last years and many of us are concerned about the direction we are heading.”
Lucas said Seymour schools are “busting at the seams” and since 2012, the English-learner student population has increased more than 1,200%. He said the current English-learner student population comprises 37% of the Seymour Community School Corp., with the kindergarten classes being 50% of the school community’s population.
“This is 10 times what the 5% immigrant percentage of Indiana is and this fact alone is what makes Seymour a de facto sanctuary city,” he said.
Councilman Chad Hubbard said the statehouse passed legislation stating Indiana cannot have sanctuary cities, however, Lucas rebutted saying Senate Bill 181 empowers the state attorney general to “look into” such matters.
Lucas also touched on a concern for an increase in crime.
“There are people all over the world moving here bringing their customs and cultures with them,” he said. “While we appreciate the peaceful customs of the many people coming here, not all are assimilating to our laws. I fear it is just a matter of time before we see this becoming an issue with increased gangs and drug activity.”
Emmalynne Lopez of Seymour spoke in favor of the agenda and the current resources that are being offered to those in need.
“I think there are many points here that are great, like the maintenance program and the resource center,” she said. “I know a lot of people complain in town that people need to learn English. Well, here we go we are trying to help them. I would just like to say that I appreciate it and would like to know when these resources would start to help the Hispanics.”
Seymour resident and owner of German restaurant Schwatzer’s, Solomon Rust, spoke about the perspective of German immigrants coming to Jackson County and the golden rule.
“A wave of immigrants came to Jackson County and they did not speak English and avoided assimilation by setting up their own their own churches and stores,” he said. “Not all of these immigrants came here illegally, but on the promise of a better life through hard work and Christian values. I am talking about the many German immigrant families that came here and settled this area over 150 years ago including many of the names we heard here tonight.”
Rust mentioned his friend ,who is a first-generation Spanish-speaking immigrant and properly vetted, was uncomfortable coming to the council meeting.
“If you are one or the other, we are all familiar with the golden rule given to us that is ‘do to others as you would have them do to you’,” he said.
Mike Wright, who worked directly with border patrol in San Diego three years ago, spoke about public safety in relation to the agenda.
Wright said he worked four months under President Trump and five months under President Biden’s administration.
“We are under assault by our federal government,” he said. “It is your job as mayor, city council and state representatives to protect us against our federal government. Public safety is your number one job.”
In the middle of audience communications, council member Drew Storey hand-distributed a resolution that opposed the Burkart Opportunity Zone Agenda. Storey made the motion and council member Jerry Hackney seconded it. The motion passed 5-1 with Councilman Brad Lucas voting against it and Councilman Seth Davidson absent.
Another public meeting for the community to comment on the Burkart Opportunity Zone Agenda will take place at Seymour High School at a date yet to be determined.
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