Sunman, In. — The Sunman town council will meets tonight at 6:30 p.m. following the approval of a tax abatement to MGP Ingredients Indiana. The distillery plans to use a portion of the Duefol facility to age spirits.
In recent weeks residents have used the Facebook page Sunman Area Citizens Against MGPI of Indiana to organize and spread the message, “The Angels Share is going to cause one hell of a problem.”
The slogan refers to a fungus that grows as a result of evaporating ethanol. The black fungus will coat surfaces like houses and cars. Some fear property values could take a hit. The fungus, Baudoinia compniacensis, is documented in other distillery locations in Scotland and Ireland. In 2007, a scientific study was done that directly tied growth of the fungus to ethanol.
A judge ordered Penrod Ricard to pay Lawrenceburg and Greendale residents $1.23 million in 2016 following a class action filed in 2005.
Town officials say James & Linda Middlebrook, David Bruns and Carla Hacker are on the meeting agenda to address council. There are unconfirmed reports that residents will ask council members to resend the tax abatement.
