*RESIDENTS OF LAPEL ONLY, please. If you have already signed a paper petition form, please do not sign this.*

We, the undersigned residents of the Town of Lapel, do NOT want a human crematory installed and/or operated in the Town of Lapel.

Concerns of residents include: smoke, noise, reduced property values, and children possibly seeing cadavers being taken into and out of the building. Additionally, we are concerned about emissions - including mercury - that could potentially harm our families, especially those children playing outside.  Other communities have had the same concerns.

The current proposed location is at State Road 13 and 9th Street (formerly the Mr. Fence building). 

FROM THE LAST PLANNING MEETINGS REGARDING THE CREMATORY:

July 12, 2018 Planning Meeting

• At the July 12, 2018, Lapel Planning Board meeting, Mr. Keller proposed a crematory being added to his existing location next to the Post Office. It was noted that, “The system Keller Mortuary wants to use is designed to be odor and smoke free, but he could not guarantee either when questioned by the Planning Board. The general noise level was expected to be around that of an air conditioning unit, but the noise levels may go up or down depending on what stage of the process the system was executing." After presenting his case a number of restaurant owners voiced their concerns, they did not want the Crematorium and feared it would detract people from eating.
• The Board expressed their desire to find a solution but recognized they could not give a favorable outcome to the Town Council for this development. 
• Several board members suggested finding another location in Lapel that could be used for a Crematorium which was not so close to restaurants.” There is NO mention of dangerous emissions - just potential noticeable ones. *

August 10, 2018 Planning Meeting

• Mr. Keller presented a revised proposal at the August 10, 2018, Lapel Planning Board Meeting. Meeting notes state, “Keller wanted approval from the board to purchase the Mr Fence building on SR13 near Brockway and operate his mortuary from the current location he rents on Main St but have the crematorium at the new location.He thought it would ease some of the concerns the board raised about the Main St location.
• Not near any restaurants, closer to Brockway, and better parking and access for drop-offs
• Keller has investigated raising the smoke stack higher and have a decorative finish so that it looks nicer. The higher stack should limit the amount of smoke and odors that reach the ground. There would be no change to the footprint of the building, he would only need to take down some internal walls and reconfigure some things inside the building. 
• The Planning Board seemed to appreciate the change in location but wanted time to discuss the change and would schedule a special meeting on August 23rd to discuss it further.” 

Again, NO mention of dangerous emissions - just potential noticeable ones.* 

The EPA does not monitor crematory emissions. Indiana does required crematories to submit a Crematory Authority Registration/Annual Report form pursuant to IC 23-14-31-22 and IC 23-14-31-24, but they do not require crematories to be routinely inspected or to report monitored data other than the number of retorts (cremation chambers) and cremations. Automated equipment and manual record keeping is used to keep track of cremations and logs may be kept, but IDEM is not contacted unless a negative incident occurs, such as a fire or equipment malfunction.

* Please be aware that the person who took notes during these meetings has stated that he does not recall emissions being discussed at either meeting."

We do NOT want a crematory in the proposed neighborhood, or any other location in town.