A letter to the editor from Kokomo Common Councilman Bob Stephenson
Once again, I voted against the majority of my colleagues on the Kokomo Common Council on Monday (August 24, 2026) regarding proposed changes to the zoning ordinance. I want to explain why.
Most of the proposed updates were necessary and will streamline zoning for future projects. That is a positive step. However, council members are consistently encouraged to vote “yes” on the first reading, under the assumption that amendments can be made before the second reading or the ordinance can be voted down later. In my time on the council, I cannot recall a single instance where changes were made between readings to address opponents’ concerns.
My principle has always been straightforward: if an ordinance is flawed, do not present it for a vote until it is fixed. If there is uncertainty, hold a public hearing for community input and refine the document afterward.
Before moving forward, several critical questions remain unanswered about the industrial park.:
Industrial Park Interest: The Chamber of Commerce representative noted we constantly receive feelers for sites like ours. What specific types of industries have shown actual interest?
Fast-Tracked Approval: Why was this zoning rushed through a special meeting of the Plan Commission rather than waiting for their regular monthly meeting? Concerned citizen Clee Oliver raised this, yet no clear answer was provided.
Solar Requirements: Former Mayor Steve Daily suggested requiring large facilities and parking lots to install solar arrays to generate clean energy without straining the grid. Why not incorporate sustainable requirements like this into our zoning standards? To be honest, I did not have time to suggest this to the committee rewriting
Data Center Clarity: If the city is considering data centers, what are the explicit pros, cons, and consequences of denying a project? Furthermore, if these facilities must generate their own power, how will they do so, and what are the environmental impacts?
Decommissioning Mandates: Why does this ordinance lack a decommissioning requirement? When resident Ann Ims asked how many Superfund sites exist in Kokomo, the answer was nineteen. I guessed five. We must learn from the past and protect taxpayers from future cleanup liabilities.
The city administration and council maintain that no data center developer is currently in talks with the city, yet this ordinance clearly lays the groundwork for one. Aside from city employees or individuals who stand to gain financially, not a single constituent has expressed a positive opinion about data centers to me.
I cast my vote to reflect the trust and opinions of the voters who elected me. If I take a different stand, I intend to have a solid reason and state it clearly to both the council and our community.
Additionally, I want to recognize Councilman Jeff Plough. When I vote against the administration’s proposals, it is often dismissed as mere party politics. When a Republican colleague does the same, it is viewed as betrayal or disloyalty to the mayor.
The truth is that party lines mean very little in municipal government—there is no Republican or Democrat way to pave a street or pick up trash. Voting against an administration’s stance when you belong to the same party requires genuine political courage and a conviction to do what is right. That kind of independence deserves to be acknowledged.