Huntingburg Council tables decision on Mid-States Corridor resolutions
The Huntingburg City Council voted to table two competing resolutions regarding the Mid-States Corridor highway project after hearing comments from both supporters and opponents during Tuesday’s regular council meeting.
Both resolutions are included at the end of the article.
Council members cited the need for additional information and the absence of a council member as reasons for delaying the decision on whether to continue supporting or withdraw backing for the proposed highway through Dubois County.
Councilman Jeff Bounds was not in attendance at the meeting, prompting Councilwoman Pam Bolte to make a motion to table any decisions on the two resolutions to a later time.
“As I’ve mentioned, I’m sure we can’t afford to take over 231. We need to figure out how this is paid for,” Councilman Glen Kissling said. “I still have a lot of questions before I can say ‘yay’ or ‘nay’.”
The council faced two resolutions: one supporting the Regional Development Authority’s continued study and development of the Mid-States Corridor, and another opposing the project and withdrawing city support for any alternative other than improvements to existing U.S. 231.
Before any decision on the resolutions was considered, Mayor Neil Elkins and the council gave attendees time to speak on the subject of the proposed highway.
Hank Menke, president and CEO of OFS Brands and a 65-year resident of Huntingburg, led the support for the project. Menke said his company employs 1,500 people locally, with 31 percent of its workforce coming from outside Dubois County, and generates a $100 million annual payroll, paying $1.4 million in local taxes.
He outlined the company’s impact on Dubois County, not only in terms of payroll but also through its charity and donations. He stated that it averaged $250,000 in direct donations as well as $150,000 through the use of its facility at Cool Springs for nonprofit events and fundraisers.
He stated that the local industry is not a special interest group. They are part of the community.
“I’m proud to be a citizen and employer in Dubois County,” he said.
Menke informed the council that OFS plans to double its size over the next decade.
“(U.S.) 231 will not serve us in the next hundred years,” Menke said. “This corridor will not only benefit industry economically, safety-wise, but it will benefit the citizens of Huntingburg as well as Dubois County.”
Along with supporting the local economy, Menke stated that it would provide a better connection to Crane Naval Base, supporting employees residing in Dubois County and offering a more convenient commute to the base.
Colten Pipenger, executive director of DuBois Strong Economic Development, presented data showing population growth in communities that received similar highway projects. He cited examples from Dale, Kokomo and Martinsville, where median household income increased and unemployment rates decreased after highway construction
His analysis tracks median household income, poverty rates, and unemployment levels before and after infrastructure completion.
Dale experienced positive trends following the 2010 completion of the upgraded four-lane US 231 through Spencer County. Martinsville shows improvement following the recent completion of I-69, while Kokomo demonstrates similar results after its bypass opened in November 2013.
The data shows varying but generally positive trajectories for all three communities. Dale’s median household income increased from approximately $45,000 in 2010 to over $60,000 by 2023 in inflation-adjusted dollars.
Kokomo’s median household income rose from about $40,000 in 2010 to approximately $50,000 by 2023. Martinsville experienced growth from roughly $35,000 to $45,000 over the same period.
Unemployment rates declined across all three communities following their respective infrastructure improvements, though the timing and magnitude varied.
“The trend in each chart tells a story of perseverance and strategic thinking that delivers results,” Pipenger stated about the comparative data.
Poverty rates also showed improvement in the examined communities, with Dale experiencing the most significant decline from peaks above 25% to levels below 15% by 2023.
Pipenger emphasizes that infrastructure alone does not guarantee development success. He advocated for comprehensive community investment beyond highway construction.
“What really happens is it opens up a new corridor for economic activity,” Pipenger said. “It opens up more resources.”
Mark Schroeder, chairman of the Mid-States Regional Development Authority, defended the organization against allegations of corruption, emphasizing that the Tier 2 study findings had not been influenced by outside parties.
First, Schroeder explained that despite claims by the opposition, the Mid-State Corridor Regional Development Authority is not an unconstitutional organization. He stated the formation of the board was done through a vote by elected officials on the councils in Dubois County. The structure is similar to that of other boards and commissions used by governing bodies to make decisions for the areas within their designated responsibilities.
Schroeder stated the Mid-States Corridor RDA was doing what it was formed to do, complete the National Environmental Policy Act study of the corridor as dictated by federal guidelines.
“The findings of these studies are not corrupted and they are solely based on NEPA guidelines which are the result of years of experience by both INDOT and federal highway,” Schroeder said. “Study findings have not been influenced by the RDA or any other party. And as a participating agency, the RDA Board members are under the same conflict of interest policy as all INDOT employees.”
He explained the Mid-States RDA can only advocate for what has been determined by the study and “therefore, we are not advocating at this time for a specific facility type.”
Schroeder also supplied a handout to the council with rebuttals to the arguments raised in the Property Rights Alliance resolution that has been presented to the Huntingburg Council, Jasper Council and Dubois County Commissioner and Council.
He specifically noted that improving existing U.S. 231 would result in three times more relocations than the preferred alternative route identified in the Tier 1 study and would have the lowest performance of all options studied.
He asked the council to consider the resolution from the RDA supporting the continued study and creation of the Mid-States Corridor.
“Why would you consider withdrawing your support when you’re this close to finishing, completing the Tier 2 study relative to Dubois County,” he asked. “I understand everyone’s concerned about those potentially impacted by the road. The reality is that unless we are satisfied to indefinitely live with the inadequate north-south infrastructure currently in place, this issue isn’t going away.”
Opposition speakers raised concerns about conflicts of interest, environmental impacts and the project’s necessity. Jason McCoy, a Martin County resident, accused RDA board members of having financial interests in the project’s construction.
“You don’t put the person who controls all the sand and the gravel and the concrete and the pavement in charge of whether or not this road gets built,” McCoy told the council.
Mark Nowotarski from the Property Rights Alliance had previously distributed information packets challenging claims made by project supporters. He urged council members to review facts from the Tier 1 study rather than rely on “projections or assumptions.”
Teresa Kendall, a Jasper resident originally from the Kokomo area, disputed claims about economic benefits from highway bypasses.
“Bypasses kill towns. It’s plain and simple,” Kendall said. “When you put a bypass around any town, whatever it is incorporating, whatever it closes off, that area right there is going to die.”
Kendall noted that Dubois County was one of only two places in Indiana where the population grew in 2020, arguing that growth occurred without the proposed highway.
“People come here to live because this is a great place,” Kendall said, adding that it was important to preserve it and the road would destroy it.
Several speakers raised concerns about the financial burden on local governments, particularly the requirement that municipalities take over maintenance of existing U.S. 231 if the new highway is built.
Marissa Durcholz highlighted this issue as a significant change since the project’s initial support, noting that the state lacks sufficient funding to maintain existing roads. “I don’t think that was really clear as they started the Tier 1 study,” she said.
She further highlighted that the state doesn’t have enough money to maintain the existing roads.
“So, how can we build a new road?” she asked.
The council’s decision to table the resolutions followed the presentation of both sides’ cases during the public comment period. Council members expressed appreciation for the professional manner in which both groups presented their arguments.
The mayor encouraged both sides to continue providing information to council members while the decision remains tabled. No timeline was established for when the resolutions might be reconsidered.
CITY OF HUNTINGBURG, INDIANA RESOLUTION NO. 2025-_____
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE FURTHER STUDY, DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE MID-STATES CORRIDOR PROJECT
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, the proponents of the proposed Mid-States Corridor continue to promote the economic development opportunity and growth without adequate factual data to back-up their projections and assumptions.
WHEREAS, it is 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 taxpayer, county, and societal costs of the proposed Mid-States Corridor Project 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. Nor will we authorize any additional tax dollars to this project.
CITY OF HUNTINGBURG, INDIANA RESOLUTION NO. 2025-_
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE MID-STATES CORRIDOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND INDOT FOR THE STUDY, DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE MID-STATES CORRIDOR HIGHWAY PROJECT
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Huntingburg, Indiana (the “Council”) recognizes that Dubois County is in need of a new highway to improve the North/South connectivity and provide a transportation link between Interstate 64 and Interstate 69.
WHEREAS, the Council acknowledges that the current US HWY 231 no longer serves the needs of the citizens of Dubois County.
WHEREAS, Dubois County, the City of Jasper, the City of Huntingburg, in concert with other local governmental entities, formed the Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority for the primary purpose of pursuing, along with the Indiana Department of Transportation (“INDOT”), the study, development, and construction of an improved North/South roadway connectivity through Dubois County.
WHEREAS, the Council is in support of the efforts by the Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority and INDOT in connection with its efforts to study, develop, and construct the Mid-States Corridor in Dubois County.
WHEREAS, the Council believes that an improved North/South connector will allow large tractor trailers and other large heavy-duty truck traffic to be significantly reduced from the current US HWY 231 and will utilize the Mid-States Corridor.
WHEREAS, the Council believes that the construction of the Mid-States Corridor will improve traffic flow, support economic growth, and enhance safety in Dubois County.
WHEREAS, the Council supports the anticipated construction of a four-lane expressway with limited access through Dubois County as part of the Mid-States Corridor.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Huntingburg, Indiana hereby supports the efforts by the Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority and INDOT in connection with their efforts to study, develop, and construct the Mid-States Corridor in Dubois County.
