WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – West Lafayette City Council voted on several key thematic decisions in its virtual session Monday.

One of the resolutions the council voted on was to amend the Tippecanoe County’s unified zoning ordinance relating to solar energy. The regulation created more guidance on additional solar energy structures, that is, individual property owners who wish to install solar panels in their homes or apartment complexes.

Further guidelines for a decommissioning process for large solar systems have also been drawn up. One of the added differences is that if a large system is foregone, the city can request that land be reallocated.

The Tippecanoe County Area Plan Commission was also passed new regulations for solar energy On Monday.

The West Lafayette Ordinance was passed unanimously by the City Council. click here to read more about the regulation.

The council then heard a resolution sponsored by President Peter Bunder Again committed to the city’s promise to work towards a cleaner environment as part of the Climate Emergency Mobilization program. President Bunder reiterated to the council that climate change is not an issue that cannot be postponed, and the city must make it clear to its citizens, the state and the nation that climate change is a public safety matter of urgency.

Next, the council addresses the COVID-19 vaccine. The original resolution on the agenda is called “A resolution to mandate SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations for city councils,” sponsored by City Councilor David Sanders. This original resolution provided that all city councilors had 30 days to receive their vaccine as soon as it was available to them or faced a $ 100 fine.

Councilor Sanders suggested one, however modified version It states: “All elected officials of the City of West Lafayette are urged to receive one of the approved vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 within 30 days of being eligible to vaccinate, depending on the availability of the vaccine.”

In his remarks, he said it was important that elected officials lead by example with the vaccine, a sentiment that Mayor John Dennis agrees with. This decision was taken unanimously.

Finally, the Council dealt with Resolution 04-21. This resolution advocates and urges Congress to endorse the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act of 2020 and the Medicare for All Act of 2019.

Mayor Dennis said he knew there wasn’t much they could do to influence national politics, but it is about standing up for something that could help the people in our community.

“I understand there are people who think the socialization of our medical system is anti-American, but honestly, if we don’t start somewhere, nothing will ever change,” he said.

Some local statistics were included in the resolution to put the issue of health inequality into perspective. It says: “Prior to the pandemic, an estimated twenty thousand residents of Tippecanoe County had no health insurance.” It is estimated that nearly 2,000 Tippecanoe County’s residents have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “and” about 12% of children and about 21% of residents between the ages of 25 and 25 in West Lafayette
34 live below the federal poverty line and people living in poverty are forced to forego necessary health care because of insolvency. “

Mayor Dennis said that many people often have to give up essential health care because they cannot pay for it.

“You look at some of the people who have been laid off, people barely living from paycheck to paycheck. They are a catastrophic health event after a complete financial collapse,” he said.

The resolution was sponsored by six of the eight current board members. Alderman Sanders and Gerald Thomas said they had received many messages from community members who supported the resolution. Councilor Thomas shared a personal story of the shock of having to pay for his own heart medicine.

Alderman James Blanco recalled the regular times in his own life when he had no health insurance. He said there are times when he would have gone bankrupt had he had an intense health problem. Councilor Kathy Parker shared the stress of trying to insure her child when the child was declared uninsurable due to a pre-existing condition. Councilor Nick DeBoer said real freedom means freedom to leave a job and not have health insurance. He ended his remarks by saying that this was the simplest and most obvious vote that he would cast as a city councilor.

The resolution was passed unanimously.

News 18 asked Mayor Dennis for an update regarding the occupation of former council member Norris Wang’s seat on the council. As we have already reportedCity councilor Wang died on January 17th at the age of 65.

He said there have been several people who have expressed an interest in the position, but the successor must be from Councilor Wang’s district and be Republican. The Republican District Committee will work to select the right person to fill this seat.