During the public comment portion of Monday’s Corsicana’s City Council meeting, founder of the Texas Coalition Against Cryptomining Jackie Sawicky asked the council to hold a town hall meeting pertaining to the facility located on 256 acres in Navarro County on FM 709.
The land in which Riot Platforms is building the world’s largest crypto mine was a private transaction between the business and private land owner.
Sawicky and others voiced concerns about the amount of water and electricity that the machines needed to mine the digital currency would require.
The highly specialized computers can be air-cooled, immersed in mineral oil, or by proximity to cool water to keep them running at peak efficiency.
Regardless of the method, municipalities are required to provide utilities to businesses by state law.
Sawicky asked that an environmental study be conducted to gauge the impact on the area and the resources.
TCAC members held a series of events in what supporters called a ‘Week of Action,’ including a town hall and protest at the mine in October. No members of the Corsicana City Council or Navarro County Commissioners attended events during the week of action.
Following allotted three minutes of public comment, Sawicky placed a copy of a petition in front of Corsicana City Councilwoman Susan Hale a petition. Hale then pushed the petition off the dais.
Government officials can not respond to public comment by Texas law.
Screenshots of the interaction were uploaded on social media sites following the meeting including the Texas Coalition Against Cryptomining Facebook Page.
Hale offered no official comment after Monday’s meeting.
In other business:
The Corsicana City Council approved amendments to city codes and ordinances. The changes will clarify the ordinances and ensure compliance with new state requirements.
The Council also nominated Mayor Mike Fletcher to serve on the Navarro County Central Appraisal District’s Board of Directors.
The council moved to cast all 525 of their votes for Fletcher. The number of votes is based on the ad valorem tax assessments for an entity.
The Navarro County Central Appraisal District’s Board of Directors is not directly affiliated with the county’s property tax assessment process.
The council also voted to oppose TxDOT’s proposed changes from a two-way to a one-way road near the I-45 Industrial Park citing economic hardship to businesses in the area.
The question of the changes was expected to be addressed at the Angus City council at their meeting Tuesday, Nov. 14.
However, the item did not appear on the Angus City Council meeting agenda.
Mayor Mike Fletcher announced that City offices would be closed for Thanksgiving Nov. 23-24.
The landfill will be open for regular hours on Friday and Saturday Nov. 24, and 25 after being closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Small Business Saturday will be held Nov. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Downtown Corsicana.
Several events are also planned for December including the Christmas parade which will take place Downtown at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2.
The Fun town RV Heritage Bowl will kick off at 12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 at Community National Bank & Trust Stadium.
Stay connected with all holiday events and city happenings with The Daily Sun.
The consent agenda was also approved before an Executive Session was held. No action resulted from that session.
The city council meets regularly on the second and fourth Monday of each month at the City Government Center in the Council Chambers of the Government Center at 200 N. Twelfth Street.
Read More: Councilwoman Hale rejects town hall petition during meeting | News