Letter: Mid-States Corridor’s high cost too much for local government

A recent post on the Hoosiers for the Mid-States Corridor Facebook page states that 80% of the cost for the Mid-States Corridor will come from the federal government; and, since the federal government is going to spend this money anyway, we should support the Corridor Project. In other words, we should waste tax payers money because if we don’t someone else will.

Also, in this post, and in subsequent comments, the Hoosiers for the Mid-States Corridor continues the misinformation of the cost for the Corridor. They use the $1 billion figure, knowing full well the true, complete cost is closer to $3 billion. The fact that the Corridor will cost the tax payers of Dubois County a minimum of $100 million for the privilege of having the Corridor seems to be unimportant.

At the November 17, 2025, Dubois County Commissioners’ meeting, both Ms. Wheeler and Mr. Jason Dupont, of the Lochmueller Group, appeared and made an inadequate, incomplete and factually incorrect presentation in support of their project. Both, especially Ms. Wheeler, seemed unprepared and uncomfortable. This can be seen by watching the YouTube video of the meeting.

The best example of INDOT’s subterfuge was their attempt to explain that the required 10% local match of $90 to $135 million would not be a problem, as there were ways to work around it. To Chad Blessinger’s credit, he stated that the local match requirement was “insurmountable” and questioned whether the lack of funding could kill the project entirely. “If that’s a project killer, it’s best to know that now, right?” Blessinger said. “If INDOT says, ‘Well, you don’t have that then this is a no go.’ The sooner the better on that would probably save everybody a lot of headaches.”

Ms. Wheeler indicated that INDOT did not have to be paid “right now” and that “other arrangements other than cash” might be available. Maybe “a phased implementation, alternative funding sources, in-kind services, and road relinquishment agreements.” Ms. Wheeler went so far as to suggest the match could come from “…private investment…” Just what the public needs: more secret donations to pay the match. She sounded like a used car salesman at a shady car lot.

So, what do we know now? We know that Chad Blessinger is not in favor of the Corridor due to costs, we know that Serice Stenftenagel raised concerns about manpower, facility space, equipment needs, and associated costs, including wages and insurance, that the new road would require; and we know that Nick Hostetter expressed support for the project despite cost concerns.

This sounds like a majority of the Commissioners are opposed to the project. Now it’s time for this majority to be the first of the RDA members to vote to remove their support and funding. Remember, Dubois County did not enter into the interlocal agreement with Jasper and Huntingburg to do another study to ascertain if the relinquishment of US 231 would cost the local taxpayers more money. That was the first chink in the armor. This can be the beginning of something great for the people of Dubois County as well as Martin and Daviess County.

We must encourage the Commissioners to vote against the RDA at the next meeting.

What a wonderful Christmas present this would be for the people.

Jim Arvin*
Rutherford Township
Martin County

To clarify, this is not Mr. Jim Arvin of Jasper, the former CEO of Jasper Desk