Letter: Paved promise or detours of disaster

What do you think of when you think about the history of Dubois County? What do you see when you walk through the Dubois County Museum? Dubois County is an incredibly unique and great place to live. It was built on generations of hard work, farms, and loving families. And if I heard correctly, Dubois County is the #1 agricultural county in the state!

But this road will bring business! Is agriculture not a business? What about the trickle-down effect this road will have on local agricultural-related businesses if the road is constructed? It is believed that in total. This corridor will consume 1,800 acres of farmland, which would lead to $1.4+ billion annual losses in the agricultural business. But hey, as long as certain trucks can save a couple of minutes, right?

So, with those estimated losses from the agricultural business, will we and the other affected counties be able to recoup that money with this road? And how so, realistically do we do that? Will new businesses flock here because of this great and powerful road? Will Jasper engines and Meyer Distributing businesses skyrocket on the account of this new road? No, what you will see is your property taxes increasing to offset the losses from homesteads and farms and that will only be the beginning. Just wait until INDOT dumps US 231 on the county and put all of us financially responsible for the upkeep.

I do not own a farm, but I want what is best for this community, and to me, I do not see the risk/reward with the billions that will go into the building of this road and the billions that will be lost agriculturally.

According to indianastaterepublicans.com, in an article written on October 11, 2018: “The Mid State Corridor RDA was formed as a result of Senate Enrolled Act 128, authorized by State Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) in 2017.”

For those of you that do not know what the RDA is, please speak with someone from the Stop the Mid-States Corridor Project and you will find out just how corrupt this whole project is, and how it is done in the shadows. For those that want the short version, the RDA is a group of investors for the corridor, and they are allowed to remain secret. That is right, local businesses can funnel millions of dollars into this project in the hopes of a big ROI, but do not have to answer a single question to the public because Mark Messmer and others allow them to hide behind Statehouse-approved anonymity.

To the local businesses in the RDA, if you are so proud to give your money to the Mid-States Corridor, why hide in secret?

“I’d rather have an enemy who admits they hate me, than a friend who secretly puts me down”

To the elected officials in this county, in the Statehouse, and in Washington DC. As an active voter in all elections, I am watching you all very closely. I will no longer accept half answers or divertive tactics when it comes to this project. Either you are for it, or you are not. There is no other answer besides yes or no. Social Media is a power tool, and I look forward to working to oust the politicians who would rather bend the knee to Mike Braun then to their own constituents.

To the people of Dubois County and any other counties that could suffer from this corridor- please speak up, please email your elected officials and voice your opposition. Let them know they will be held accountable at the ballot box next time their name is on the line. This will affect all future generations.

To Mark Messmer and Mike Braun: I have voted for Indiana Republicans my whole life, but that will most definitely change now. There is nothing you could do or say that could make me vote for you again. The worst part about this, in my eyes, is that you two are the main culprits behind this fiasco and you are from Dubois County! Mike, you have made millions of dollars in this county on the backs of the residents and now you want to strip families of their homes and their farms. There is nothing more insidious.

Again, to the families who are reading and are afraid of what this may bring, please do not be silent any longer. Let your voice be heard, when we band together, we can bring about real change!

At the recent Jasper Town Hall meeting, one of the proponents for the Corridor stated that the only people who care about this road are the people who will lose their farms.

I do not believe that to be true, and it made me think that we should put it to a vote, or as it is formally called, a referendum.

Yes, one simple question on the ballot box in the 2026 general election that would sound something like this: “Do you believe that any local government in Dubois County should provide funds for the Mid states Corridor?” Is that what referendums are for? No clue. But I think it will send a clear message statewide that they definitely do not want to hear.

If your road is so great and has so much backing, then lets really find out.

And just remember, this road may not come for your land, but it will come for your money.

Allen Hartman
Jasper