Jasper Council: Update on Midwest Corridor

Studies continue to support the development of an interstate grade highway through Dubois County connecting to Interstate 69 in Daviess County.

That was Hank Menke’s message to the Jasper Common Council Wednesday evening.

Menke, CEO of OFS Brands and president of the board of directors for the I-67 Coalition, gave the Jasper Common Council an update on progress on the proposed interstate connection through the county named the Midstate Corridor.

A Blue Ribbon Panel determining priority logistic and transportation projects for the state placed the Midstate Corridor as a Tier Two project.

The 22-member Blue Ribbon panel was charged with determining the essential transportation infrastructure projects for the state over the next ten years. According to the report, the projects were scored on five key metrics and arranged in the order of those scores.

The tier one projects are those projects that are critical to Indiana’s transportation system — the report indicates the state must find a way to do these projects. The tier two projects are those that would be good for Indiana, though not critical. The tier three are desirable and should be pursued if funds become available.

According to the report, the tiers are not intended to suggest a chronological priority although Menke has reported tier two projects could be expected to be started within 10 years.

Menke pointed out that besides the Cambridge Study his group funded that indicated the corridor would greatly impact the local economy as well as address safety issues on U.S. 231, a study in Kentucky also supported creating the corridor to complete a connection between Kentucky and Michigan. The corridor would use the improved U.S. 231 and then connect to I-69 through the Midstate Corridor.

Here is a report from last year. 

“The big portion of this thing is about how roads in the future are going to be funded,” Menke said. “Because it is not like you are going to see earmarked federal grants.”

Menke then explained he would be requesting support from the Cities of Jasper and Huntingburg as well as the county. “We are going to hit the private sector,” he said. “The private sector is going to match any funds raised on the public side, and then some.”

Menke said this should fund the I-67 Coalition’s efforts for the next two years.

Portions of the funding will be allotted to cover the pre-engineering of the proposed 37-mile highway as well as studies to determine how the highway can be funded.

“I feel really good about our efforts,” Menke said. “I truly believe this is the most critical thing that can be done for economic development for our region.”

Menke didn’t ask for any funds from the council Wednesday night.

German American CEO and president Mark Schroeder echoed Menke’s sentiments as well. “Really what we are trying to do here is to get back to what all of us thought was in the plan in regards to the bypass,” he said referring to the state’s original plan to upgrade U.S. 231 through the county. Those improvements stopped near Interstate 64 when state funding was diverted to Interstate 69.

“I would just ask the council to support this anyway you can,”Schroeder said. “I think it is going to be up to us, both the private sector and the public sector, to invest the seed money to keep this thing moving forward; to keep this in front of the state. All the major employers are on board and very supportive of doing our part in the private sector to keep this moving forward.”

The mayor pointed out that the city has economic development funds set aside to assist the project. Menke did not ask for any money at the meeting but stated he would be speaking with the county and City of Huntingburg in the future.

The council also took the following actions.

-Approved an ordinance vacating a portion of Echo Drive of O. Eckerle’s West Heights for the construction of a residence by Josh and Andrea Hartings. The approval was made with the caveat that an ingress/egress easement for the residents would be approved.

-Approved updates to the employee handbook that added  Martin Luther King Jr Day and Presidents’ Day as holidays.

-Approved an ordinance establishing fees for “Chocolate, Wine & Dine” train excursions on the Spirit of Jasper and discounted rates for youth golfers at Ruxer Golf Course. The new train excursion tickets will cost $75. In regards to the youth golfers, the ordinance added that youth golfers can golf for free with an adult (over 18 years of age) Mondays through Thursdays at the Ruxer Golf Course. Only three youths can play for free with a single adult.

-Appointed Dave Hurm to a potential wage determination hearing for the Worral Drive Stormwater project. According to City Attorney Renee Kabrick, she is under the impression that if the stormwater board decides to hold a second wage determination hearing for the stormwater project, the injunction filed against the city would likely be dropped. The injunction was filed by the Southwest Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council and Jasper residents Matt Leinenbach and Mark Clery after a wage determination committee hearing decided to follow the non-union wage scale presented by Associated Builders and Contractors. Story available here.