TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Mayor Duke Bennett visited the WTWO station Monday evening to discuss several important topics and to update residents on local events and issues.

Among the many things discussed were the 100s of jobs that could be coming to Vigo County, the casino traffic light, the process of the accidental ammonia discharge clean-up, the BeSafe program, and the status of the old Terre Haute Police building. 

Bennett again reassured residents that the accidental discharge from Hydrite did not impact drinking water or the Wabash River and that the issue is being resolved. He also discussed the progress of the Terre Haute Casino Resort.

“It’s moving along really well. You can see that it’s really starting to take shape,” Bennett said. “That traffic signal will be right in front of the casino at this point for traffic to get in and out, but it may not stay there permanently. It may move to Rockwood once the road is completed all the way around the casino in a few years. But it’s likely to be moved to the west at some point in the future.”

Bennett also discussed the importance of the BeSafe program. In an effort to report bullying and keep schools safer,  the THPD and the VCSC partnered to support local children through the BeSafe program.

“If you hear something or see something, just report it. It can be anonymous,” Bennett said. “We just encourage people to let the authorities know about those things and we can learn from any situations like this so we don’t have anything bad happen. It’s all about keeping the kids safe in our schools.”

The status of the old Terre Haute Police building property was also discussed during Bennett’s visit to the studio on Monday.

“They’re going to get an extension. there’s going to be an apt building, a two-story building, built there but they hit the market at the wrong time. So, they are working through that with their financing company. They’re going to give them a couple more months, but they’ll hopefully close the deal then and construction will hopefully start later this year.”