Mount Carmel bans cryptocurrency mines, data centers

MOUNT CARMEL — Mount Carmel's Board of Mayor and Aldermen banned cryptocurrency mines and data centers at their meeting Thursday night. The ban seeks to protect the town's infrastructure, utility systems and quality of life, the resolution said. It follows a Hawkins County crypto ban from September, which was in response to ExoticRidge Crypto Company looking to operate near Bulls Gap; the county ban doesn't apply within municipal limits. Surgoinsville passed its own preemptive ban in April. Attorney Crystal Jessee, who's helped lead the anti-crypto effort in Hawkins, attended Thursday's meeting. "We need to be on the forefront (of these bans) and not the backend, like Hawkins County is," Jessee said. "There's no city, nor the county, (who) can afford the electricity and water that one of these facilities takes. We just can't do it — and there's no value added for us having this facility." Mayor John Gibson agreed that there's "no advantage to having that in our backyard." "The only [positive] thing you could say is that they might have an impact on the tax revenue," he said. "But, their revenue is not going to be something that we could see in sales tax because they're not producing a tangible thing." The vote to enact the ban was unanimous; Alderman Mindy Shugart was absent. Other updates The board adopted a new building inspection and permit fee schedule, effective Aug. 1. It matches the fees to the costs of new Building Inspector Bill Rupert. The town was previously losing money by under-charging, and will now break even. It also reformats the schedule to be more user-friendly, Town Manager Tyler Williams said. The board amended the upcoming year's tax rate from $0.972 to $0.9758 per $100 of assessed value; the assessed value is 25% of the appraised value. The latter is the certified rate from the State Board of Equalization, which the town received after passing the projected rate in June. Since the new rate is less than 1 cent higher than the projected rate, Williams said, the rest of the budget can remain as it is. The state sets the certified tax rate during reappraisal years. When property values rise, the tax rate must be lowered to meet the previous year's revenue. Mount Carmel's tax rate in 2025 was $1.5897. Lastly, the board agreed to surplus picnic tables that used to be at the park's pavilion. The space is being renovated, and the town has already bought new tables once the project is done. Selling the old tables, which Williams said "have seen their life cycle, plus some," can help offset the cost of the new ones. The board also surplused 11 America 250 banners which hung during Mount Carmel's July 4 celebration. Members of the public can buy the banners for $75 each; the town bought them for $100 each. Upcoming events On Aug. 1 at 9 a.m., there will be a prayer event at Mount Carmel Elementary School. This is part of a countywide, grassroots initiative to pray at each school before classes begin the following Monday. On Aug. 8 at 3 p.m., Mount Carmel will host a back-to-school splash party at the park.