Huntingburg Council asked to oppose supporting Mid-States Corridor

The Huntingburg City Council heard from residents opposed to the Mid-States Corridor Project during their recent meeting, with members of the Coalition Against the Mid-States Corridor and the Property Rights Alliance presenting a formal resolution for consideration.

The proposed resolution asks the council to officially oppose the new terrain highway project and support only improvements to the existing U.S. 231 corridor.

The group read the resolution, which details numerous concerns about the project, including the displacement of homeowners, loss of farmland and forest, environmental impacts, and a reduction in the tax base. They originally presented a similar resolution to the Dubois County Commissioners.

Here is a copy of the resolution presented to the council.

WHEREAS, since the 1980’s, five different studies prior to the current Lochmueller Study have determined building a new-terrain highway and/or bypass through Dubois County, including the Donohue Study, Rust Study, Earth Tech Study, Cambridge Study and I-67 Study were not economically and/or environmentally feasible.

WHEREAS, in June 2021, Governor Holcomb announced $475M in infrastructure projects that included $75M to make major improvements to existing US 231 through Dubois and Martin counties.

WHEREAS, in April 2022, after the release of the Tier 1 DEIS, INDOT held public comment meetings with hundreds of residents in attendance opposed, over 95% of the verbal comments opposed, and received more than 1,000 written comments opposed to the Mid-States Corridor project. Some of the reasons provided included the displacement of over 100 homeowners, over 1,800 acres of farmland taken, 870 acres of forest cut down, over 60+acres of wetlands, the negative impact on the environment and natural habitat, significant losses to the tax base, a loss of agriculture income over $1million annually, and the lack of true proven benefits at a cost of well over $1 billion at 2020 costs.

WHEREAS, due to the process of establishing an appointed Regional Development Authority (RDA) and not giving the residents, environmental, and other groups a voice in the initial start of this project or allowed to vote, over 10,000 signatures were gathered and submitted petitioning their opposition to the Mid-States Corridor project.

WHEREAS, opposition to this proposed project continues to grow publicly as noted by the Facebook group “STOP THE MID-STATES CORRIDOR PROJECT” with over 5,400 followers, a reach of almost 50,000 and an engagement of over 28,000. Residents have displayed over 500 “STOP THE MID-STATES CORRIDOR” yard signs, hundreds have attended several town hall and other meetings in opposition, numerous letters to the editor, and media interviews both locally and regionally.

WHEREAS, proponents of the proposed Mid-States Corridor continue to falsely promote the economic development opportunity and growth without out any factual data to back-up their projections and assumptions.

WHEREAS, in our opinion the existing road network along with improvements on the existing US 231 will adequately connect the region and avoid massive destruction of our rural landscape and communities; that the State funds can be better spent maintaining and repairing existing roads; and that taxpayers, county, and societal costs of the proposed far outweigh any potential local benefits. These reasons, and others, in our judgement indicate a lack of need for this project.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Common Council of the City of huntingburg, Indiana hereby opposes and will no longer support the continuation of the Mid-States Corridor new-terrain highway project and any other alternative other than the previously identified improvements for the existing US 231. Furthermore, the Board of Commissioners will not grant powers of eminent domain, or otherwise land acquisition to the unconstitutional Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority. Nor will we authorize any additional tax dollars to this project.

Mark Nowotarski, representing the opposition groups, explained that two organizations are working against the project: the Coalition Against the Mid-States Corridor, a grassroots group formed about six years ago, and the more recent Property Rights Alliance, composed of landowners whose property would be affected.

Nowotarski extended an invitation to council members to attend the group’s meetings, which are held every other Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Schnitzelbach in a private room.

Mayor Neil Elkins acknowledged the information provided but indicated the council was likely not prepared to sign the resolution immediately. He told the group that it was up to the council on how to proceed, reminding them that the mayor does not vote or sign resolutions.

Councilman Steve McPherron expressed interest in understanding opposition in neighboring Martin County, asking if residents there were equally concerned about the project.

Nowotarski confirmed that Martin County residents are “just as engaged, if not more engaged in some cases,” noting that Jason McCoy, chair of the Property Rights Alliance, is from that area.

A Martin County resident in attendance, who was not identified, added that the project would negatively impact Martin County’s tax base. “In Martin County you’ve got a lot of government property, but you also are going to make less… you’re going to get rid of some more of the tax paying property by putting a road through.”

Nowotarski expressed frustration with the data supporting the project, saying he found contradictions in the draft environmental statement.

“I went through it in detail and found so many areas within the document that contradicted each other,” he said. “It’s full of assumptions, it’s full of projections. That is not supported by any data.”

Vickie Roundtree, whose family owns 160 acres north of the Huntingburg airport, raised concerns about the project’s impact on agriculture, emphasizing the importance of farmland to the local economy.

“The agricultural community in Dubois county is strong. It brings in tax dollars. It brings in property tax dollars,” she told the council. “Good quality farmland cannot be replaced.”

Another resident highlighted the human cost of the project, noting that many affected homeowners have lived in their properties for decades.

Councilwoman Pam Bolte acknowledged the weight of the decision facing the council. “It’s definitely weighing very heavy on our hearts… we want to make sure that we’re making the best decision possible for our citizens.”

McPherron echoed this sentiment, saying, “I do think everybody that sits up on this side of the table has some level of understanding for where you guys are at and how you guys feel.”

Nowotarski extended an invitation to council members to attend the group’s meetings, which are held every other Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Schnitzelbach in a private room.

In other business, the council approved a contract with Jamniczky Contracting for a retaining wall around the new pickleball courts. The project has already been completed, with the funds allocated as part of the park and pickleball construction budget.