Jasper Council approves interlocal agreement for US 231 corridor study with Huntingburg
The Jasper Common Council voted 5-2 to approve an interlocal agreement with Huntingburg for a joint study of the U.S. 231 corridor. Councilman Chad Lueken and Councilman Vince Helming were the two dissenting votes.
The Indiana Department of Transportation has approached the cities of Jasper and Huntingburg and the county with a proposal to relinquish U.S. 231 to them as the Mid-States Corridor project moves forward. Huntingburg would be responsible for about 3.5 miles, Jasper for about six miles, and Dubois County for the remaining 10.5 miles.
The resolution authorizes the cities to work together on the consulting contract with Avenew, which is estimated at $69,000 for the City of Jasper. However, officials emphasized that the final scope and amount will be negotiated before any contract is signed.
Huntingburg Common Council recently approved the interlocal agreement to proceed with the consulting firm Avenew.
The study will help officials understand the financial implications and requirements of assuming maintenance, repairs, and liability for the roadway and the infrastructure supporting it.
The council members who supported the agreement felt the study was necessary to decide whether to accept the highway’s relinquishment.
“We don’t know what we don’t know,” Councilman Paul Lorey said about the highway’s condition.
Councilman Phil Mundy stated he had been asked why they were moving forward with the study now if they didn’t know whether they would take over the highway. He reiterated that they had to understand the impact of the relinquishment to even consider it.
Munday added that in approving the study, he was not making a statement of support for the Mid-States Corridor.
“This is just a study to find out this information. This is not reflective on my decision whether I support the corridor or not,” Mundy stated.
City Attorney Renee Kabrick explained the two issues were separate in light of the decision before the council.
“If everyone in this room is against the Mid-States Corridor but it goes forward, we have to know this information,” she said. “The information that Avenew will provide us so we can make sound decisions about whether to take over 231.”
During the discussion, Clerk-Treasurer Kiersten Knies brought up her concerns about the city assuming responsibility for the highway.
“I believe that acceptance of 231 will saddle Jasper with millions of dollars in maintenance and repair costs, full liability and ongoing safety responsibility with no guarantee of local economic benefit,” Knies said.
She advocated that, if the city decides to take over the highway, it should push for several key elements in the agreement.
“A one-time investment from INDOT to fund immediate infrastructure needs and transition costs. An inflation-adjusted endowment from INDOT to sustainably fund future maintenance and remove any and all tax burden from our constituents,” Knies listed. “A formal provision preserving the city’s right to return jurisdiction to the state if Mid-States Corridor does not advance, and also acknowledgement that the City of Jasper is not in a position to financially support the Mid-States Corridor.”
Councilman Lueken said that based on estimates from Knies, the city would be burdened with an additional $920,000 in annual upkeep costs. Quoting her estimates, Lueken said it would cost about $24 million to bring the highway up to a standard that would allow the city to take it over. The endowment to support road maintenance would need to be at least $184 million to provide a $920,000 return.
“I just can’t imagine a scenario where they (INDOT) are going to pony up those kinds of dollars,” Lueken said.
After the meeting, Knies explained she had developed the estimates using a combination of internal data and professional input.
“Information was obtained through consultations with the street department and with local road construction and paving professionals,” she said, adding that she also considered historical data from prior quotes and past expenditures within the street department’s budget, as well as data related to wages, labor, and benefits.
The interlocal agreement allows Jasper to serve as the lead agency while sharing costs and information with Huntingburg. Kabrick explained that having both cities work together formally should make the consulting process more cost-effective.
The Jasper Board of Public Works and Safety will now negotiate with Avenew regarding the scope of the study.
Council members questioned why the county is not participating in the study, given the regional impact of the highway corridor. Mayor Dean Vonderheide said the city will continue dialogue with county officials, noting they could still choose to join the effort later.
Arts Department Annual Performance Report
Jasper Arts Director Kyle Rupert presented the Jasper Arts Department’s impressive 2025 performance metrics to the council. Rupert reported there were over 8,000 gallery visitors, representing a 30 percent year-over-year increase. Educational outreach includes six school performance days serving 3,500 students and 11 field trips accommodating 692 additional students. Facility rentals total 102 events welcoming 19,000 individuals, while 186 classes and workshops engage approximately 2,000 participants. The department also hosted 17 community activities, reaching 4,600 people, and presented 10 public performances attended by more than 2,800 patrons. Financially, Rupert reported that earned revenue covered 42 percent of operational expenses.
“Altogether, it represents 10s of 1000s of meaningful interactions between the community and the arts, and each one of those moments is made possible by a team that shows up, goes above and beyond and finds ways to make things happen,” Rupert told the council, summarizing the impact of the arts through the department’s employees and activities. “Jasper arts continues to be one of the most active and visible departments in the city, and our staff takes tremendous pride in the work that they do, and they do it not because it’s easy, but because they care deeply about this community and the impact the arts have here.”
The Beehive is this Saturday, find out more here https://www.jasperarts.org/beehive
Budget Appropriations and Transfers
Ordinance 2025-13 appropriates additional funds for various city departments and projects through year-end transfers. General fund appropriations total $161,150, with equivalent reductions, resulting in no net impact. The Parks Department received $300,200 in appropriations against $318,400 in reductions, resulting in an actual spending reduction.
Other allocations included:
- $14,000 in donations for the Alexander Schoolhouse education director position
- $6,000 in Opioid Settlement Funds for the development of a grant program for the Opioid Settlement funds through IU.
- The fire department received $600,000 from EDIT to assist in the purchase of the new tower truck.
- $69,000 was allocated to support the Avenew consulting study.
- Food and beverage tax funds provided $100,000 for professional services related to the Regional Wellness project.
- University Heights TIF allocated $40,000 for conditional expenditure agreement requirements.
- Community Crossings funding totaling $ 2,869,578 was transferred to the appropriate project lines.
Employee Compensation Ordinances
The council approved a salary ordinance for 2026, implementing a 3 percent increase for full-time, hourly, and seasonal positions, including the mayor and clerk-treasurer. Ordinance 2025-19 addressed elected officials and civil city employees, while Ordinance 2025-20 covers utility employees following the Utility Service Board recommendation. Both ordinances modify longevity payment calculations to address the 53-week pay period in 2026. Rather than adjusting payment amounts, the city maintains current longevity rates but eliminates payments for the 53rd week. This approach preserves employee compensation levels while managing budget impacts. The ordinances include specific adjustments for emergency services and non-community positions as discussed during budget hearings. These changes reflect the city’s commitment to competitive compensation while maintaining fiscal discipline. The utility employee ordinance requires separate Utility Service Board approval as a resolution, demonstrating proper governance protocols. The 3% increase aligns with inflation considerations and market competitiveness for municipal positions. Council members express appreciation for staff dedication and the comprehensive budget process involving department heads, council members, and administrative staff.
Municipal Code Updates and Fee Adjustments
Several ordinances update municipal codes and fee structures. Ordinance 2025-18 repeals the underground storage tank financial responsibility fund following IDEM approval after tank removal at the wastewater treatment facility. The approximately $10,000 fund balance transfers to wastewater operations.
Ordinance 2025-21 standardizes speed limits on 490 West to 35 mph, coordinating with county authorities to eliminate confusing speed limit variations along the Brookstone 7 corridor.
Parks and Recreation fee increases in Ordinance 2025-22 reflect competitive market analysis and operational cost recovery. The increase supports weekend cleaning services and maintains competitiveness with private sector rental facilities.
Approved Ordinance 2025-23 to transfer about $16,000 in accumulated Golf Now online booking commissions to support pro shop operations. Golf Now handles online tee time scheduling for the golf course.
Ordinance 2025-24 establishes a $100 fee for spill kits used in illicit discharge abatement, formalizing existing practices.
Approved code enforcement fines increasing from $25 to $100 for Class D violations and from $100 to $250 for Class C violations, addressing ineffective deterrent levels where repeat offenders simply pay minimal fines.
Budget Adoption
The council adopted the 2026 budget totaling $26,570,911, representing a decrease from the previous year’s $28 million budget. The tax rate ordinance advertised is $1.1934 per $100 of assessed value, though actual rates typically fall below advertised levels, as demonstrated by last year’s 0.8297% actual rate compared to the 0.9987% advertised rate.
Other items
The council accepted donations totaling approximately $22,450, including $2,000 from Sternberg’s for the Jasper Volunteer Fire Department, $20,000 from Farbest and Jasper Engines for JFL scoreboards, and $100 from the Jasper Kiwanis Club, plus various smaller donations for arts programming totaling $350.
City Attorney Renee Kabrick also proposed streamlining meeting procedures by reading ordinances by title only, unless a full reading is specifically requested, thereby reducing repetitive procedural requirements. The council agreed, with the caveat that council members could request the ordinance be read in full.
Unfortunately, we autocorrected Farbest in the paragraph about donations to read Farmhouse. It has been corrected, and we apologize for the error.
