Letter: This road is an overreach by elected officials
As a member of the Property Rights Alliance, I attended the Dubois County Commissioners’ Meeting of June 2, 2025, in support of the group’s resolution presented to the commissioners, requesting they no longer support the Mid-States Corridor project. There were several members attending, and Commissioner Blessinger appeared to be doing some research and was learning more about the project and he was generous enough to allow constituents to share additional thoughts on why this project is not needed and not wanted by the majority of our community.
I was especially appalled when Commissioner Hostetter stated that he was in favor of the proposed Mid-States Corridor project but was sympathetic to the farmers and landowners who will lose everything.
Seriously?
Our community has established homesteads and productive farms, generational farms and properties they have worked hard for all their lives. These people don’t need your sympathy; they need your support.
Commissioner Stenftenagel, whose only response, while acknowledging the impact on farmland, was that she would be concerned about the industrial base and growth “if” this project does not happen. What kind of a statement is that? It is not based on any information and obviously does not represent the vast majority of her constituents. From that statement, it appears that Commissioner Stenftenagel does not consider agriculture to be an industry. The “industry” of agriculture is a huge driver of the economy of Dubois County.
The Draft Purpose and Needs Statement for the Mid-States Corridor fails to substantiate the purported need for this new terrain highway. Many of these needs have been based on “modeling” programs, and the results highlight only isolated instances of where the current roads fail as compared to the majority of instances where the current roads meet or exceed needs. It also states, “The goals and performance measures for the SIU 2 project reflect and refine the Tier 1 Purpose and Need and its goals based on public input.” It appears the only “public input” being reflected is the wants of a small minority of citizens who created the local Regional Development Authority, who are in line to profit from building this road. The “NEEDS” stated are merely opinions.
It is a shame that taxpayer money is being wasted on studies for a project that represents the wishes of a very few to the detriment of those who comprise the majority of the tax base. Our government was established on the premise of representation by our elected officials of those who elect them. This road is a prime example of overreach by those elected officials who have forgotten, or don’t care, who they represent.
Please consider all the ramifications of this Mid-States Corridor proposal and put an end to it. This project does not fairly represent or reflect the wishes of the majority of the citizens who ask you to represent them by electing you to office.
Edward McAuliff
Rutherford Township, Martin County
