Mayor Todd Naselroad under Fire: E. Coli Hospitalizations, Suppressed Whistleblowers, and the Brewing Alexandria Water Scandal

What began as isolated complaints about yellow tap water and chemical smells has erupted into one of Indiana’s most explosive public health scandals in years, and at the heart of it all stands Mayor Todd Naselroad. Now, with a baby in the hospital, two additional residents having tested positive with E. coli poisoning and piles of evidence indicating improper management, cover-up, and what many are terming a blatant cover-up, outrage, fear, and the call to avenge its own have seized the city of Alexandria.

Even though weeks before, the citizens were complaining about the water, lab reports revealing disturbing levels of contamination, and with chlorine levels about to reach the legal minimum limits both at the state and federal level, city authorities had repeatedly contacted the citizens assuring them that the water is still safe to consume.

Facts are catching up to them though.

In July, an Alexandria baby was taken to a hospital in an emergency room with infection of E. coli that was caused directly by tap water in the city. The next two residents later fell ill with one elderly lady seeking full time care of her son as she collapsed due to confirmed case of water borne illness. In the meantime, the citizens in the city complained about discolored water that had a bad odor. Others even said that their pets did not drink it. Lab tests, including verified results by HML Labs, showed that water in multiple homes contained low levels of chlorine–as low as 0.029 mg/L–seven times below the legal limit and clear evidence of a breach in the safety of water treatment in these homes.

Nevertheless, the city provided no boil warning, no health official warning, and no serious reply. What they did provide was quietness.

The crucial point where the community of people had enough was when the Concerned Citizens of Alexandria started releasing incriminating records, test results, video and documentations of their frequent attempts to get access to the city chlorine logs which were ignored all along. They have also called on complete transparency where they have requested an audit at the state level, full read of the water testing data, and are requesting resignation of those involved.

This growing controversy—now known widely as the Mayor Todd Naselroad Scandal—has shattered public trust. When citizens tried to raise the issue of the crisis in council meetings are silenced. A whistleblower, Peters, head of SCROOGE LLC, was even targeted at his business. Following the revelation of test results, revealing the laxity of the city, his company, payment processor Checkout.com refused to renew the contract, and imposed a 25% rolling hold as reasons of reputational risk. Peters has already lodged a $10 million law suit that contains allegation of breach of contract and against a whistleblower who was working under a federal protection.

The argument of accountability cannot be subdued. Emails have also emerged which indicate that Water Superintendent Mark Caldwell lied when he said that he never received public records requests- yet there was evidence against this. As many as five officials, including the Clerk-Treasurer Darcy VanErman openly broke the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. And all the while, Mayor Todd Naselroad continued to reassure the public, knowing full well the reality of Alexandria’s water contamination.

And the worst of it all? The silence. The city has not put a boil notice or health alert when it has already received three confirmed cases of E. coli. In a case of turn-around, the IDEM has found itself under the spotlight after it was seen by a video camera giving out misleading guarantees. In the meantime, the community will only be left to question how many more children, elderly, and residents have been affected or are yet to be affected.

It is not a shortcoming of the local government alone: it is a moral, responsibilities and society disaster. A once sleepy town has ended up in the national headlines and its residents are now tired of waiting to take responsibility.

Alexandrians want to see change. They want to be heard, their water safe and their leadership accountable. And until that happens, Mayor Todd Naselroad will remain the face of one of the most disturbing municipal scandals in Indiana’s history.