Hammond Village Board makes changes to board of appeals in wake of legal challenge to data center

The Hammond Village Board recently reshuffled its board of appeals and is continuing a legal battle against a decision made by that same appeals body concerning a proposed Metered Mining data center. Village President Tony Bibeau resigned as appeals chair due to a potential conflict of interest, as the village's attorney advised against his dual role while the board is suing the appeals body. Bibeau, who had previously been the sole dissenting vote on the appeals board regarding the data center, remains village president.

The appeals board approved a conditional use permit for Metered Mining's data center on June 8, overturning the village board's earlier denial. This decision came after legal counsel for the appeals board, Paul Mahler, warned that a different vote could lead to a lawsuit where Metered Mining might receive the permit without concessions. In response, the village board hired new legal representation, Robert Loberg, and filed a lawsuit on July 6, asserting a petition for a writ of certiorari to review the appeals board's decision and seeking a declaratory judgment to interpret the village’s zoning ordinance and the issued conditional use permit.

Public opposition to the data center proposal has been significant, with residents expressing concerns about its environmental effects. Krista Demuth, a vocal critic of the project, was added to the board of appeals, along with alternates Allison Hagen and Michael Heil, both of whom have publicly opposed the data center. Metered Mining's Sidney Laurvick, who submitted the application, faced large crowds at meetings, and his attorney, Adam Jarchow, had threatened legal action if the permit was not granted, which the village board cited as duress in its lawsuit against the appeals board.