Letter: Conversation important to learn about Mid-States Corridor
Greetings,
As an economic development professional in the Radius region of southern Indiana, I am aware of the immeasurable value that new and improved transportation links can add to the safety, local economy, and quality of life for the communities we serve. We have seen numerous examples of southern Indiana communities that have grown and prospered because high value highways have been built and served them for many years.
Our region is currently hosting a study of the proposed MidStates Corridor, a proposed new upgrade to southern Indiana’s transportation infrastructure, and we encourage the region to support this opportunity for another improvement in safety, convenience, and economic growth. Although there are many routes under consideration at this time, we believe that whichever route is ultimately chosen and constructed, there will be benefits enjoyed throughout our region for generations to come.
The new highway can help to separate different classes of traffic, removing many heavy and through vehicles from our local roads. This improvement in separating vehicles of different weights, speeds, and purposes will be a great improvement in safety for local drivers, allowing them to encounter fewer heavy trucks that are passing through the region.
The new highway will certainly make it easier for local residents to travel to and from our region to visit, to work, or to attend out-of-town events.
And just as importantly, the new highway, whatever route it traverses, will offer businesses better access to markets, suppliers, and customers, meaning that higher business investment and increased job creation can take place here among our communities. Our local retailers can hope to see more business, our communities can strive for more residential growth, and our schools can pursue increased attendance and funding.
We look forward to working with a broad coalition of local leaders to support the development of the new MidStates Corridor in our region within the next few years. We hope you’ll be part of the local conversation about how to make the new road the best addition to our region that it can be.
Sincerely,
Jeff Quyle, President/CEO Radius Indiana
Mr. Quyle, you kept referring to “…whichever route is chosen…” or words similar, but indeed whichever one IS chosen if the project progresses to that point and beyond, will wipe out either partially or totally many farms and farmland to include homes belonging to local people going back many generations. Seriously, would you please address that aspect in real-life, human terms – something besides the proverbial, “that’s progress, folks.” What do you say to those families?
Sorry to say but the people of Dubois county like the feeling of being “sheltered away” from the outside world. Until I moved here a little more than 10 years ago, i had never been to an area where the whole county like to be isolated (even though they really aren’t). And, to many around here, my family are still outsiders.
I feel that the mid state corridor would not only benefit this area financially but would increase safety tremendously. The local roads also would not experiance the heavy through traffic that it does now.
I understand that people whose families have been here for generations don’t like the thought of losing their homes but they will be paid well for them. I’m sure that some will have emotional attachments to a particular place whether it be a house they grew up in or a place they liked to hunt or whatever, but this is part of life; growing and expanding your horizons. Also, what about those who do want to sell and be able to move on?
Such a profound response Michael. I need to “expand my horizons”. Thanks for enlightening me. I have been much too sheltered. Give me a break! What an arrogant, condescending post. You must not have expanded your knowledge base to include understanding how the land acquisition process works. Not to mention, if people want to sell, they can sell their homes or property anytime they please and “move on” as you say. They do not need a road to prompt them. The point is when you don’t want to sell and the government takes it from you against your will. On top of that, a person never gets back what they have invested in their land, especially farm land. People often say just buy some more land with the money you get. Well, here is just part of the issue with this line of thinking. I’m not even to going to discuss the issue of logistics to one’s home farm. Let’s say 15 farmers in Huntingburg lose parts of their farm to this road…they get “paid well” as Michael says…what do you think happens the next time farmland comes up for sale in Huntingburg? Doesn’t take a rocket scientist. I had to “sell” my land to the government at current market price (if I was lucky) then I have to buy land at premium to replace it…just amazing some people can’t understand that. Then there is this safety narrative. Some of the upgraded “new” roads around here have a lousy safety record so I don’t buy all that either. It is just another example of the infrastructure/industrial machine at work. It needs to be fed and wasteful projects like this are constantly in the works.
People have every right to support this road if they choose. However, the idea that I am somehow not a forward thinker, or rejecting the idea of progress because I want to work the ground my father, and forefather’s did for 4 generations is not an accurate representation.
Joe Keusch – Huntingburg
5th generation farmer
Michael,
My family has been on our land for 120 years. My Great Grandfather dug the wells that are still drawing water in our front yard today. My Grandfather dug by hand the basement that the house he built sits atop and hauled rocks for the foundation from the creek with a team of mules before my Mother was born. They raised their families (my ancestors) here on the very land I worked for 35 years aspiring to someday be chosen to steward for the next generation. Now I am here. The luckiest man alive. I am here in the place (not just geographically) that I’ve longed my entire life to be. To raise my children and to see their children live and play in the best place I have ever known. After traveling to all 50 States and seeing it ALL, THIS is were I want to be. If they offered me a Trillion dollars for my Ancestral Home I would not even consider it. You certainly do not understand that “families don’t like the idea of loosing their homes”. As far as “being paid well for them”, no amount of money could compensate my family for our beloved home place. I agree we must progress. I confess I pray it’s not at the expense of what I’ve spent my entire life to keep safe.
I find it very arrogant for people to think they are more important because they can quote having family in the area for more than a century. That doesn’t make you a more important member of the community than me and my family, who moved here 12 years ago. I have encountered such an elitist “you’re worthless, outsider” attitude more than once during my time in Jasper. My mother taught me to consider the source. I would figure that if someone left a precariously unsafe area on the East Coast and chose to come here and contribute as I do, volunteering at 4 community organizations, I would be accorded a heartfelt welcome. Regarding the Mid State Corridor, I would ask people to put their sentimentalizations in a box, bury it and look at the greater needs of the entire community of which I (the “outsider”) and native born are equal parts. I’m just as much of a “Jaspertonian” or whatever the name is as anyone who was born here. I chose to be one. And I’m not going anywhere.
Michael and Luiza, we are glad that you have chosen to move to our area 10 and 12 years ago, to settle and to raise your families. And Luiza thank you for your service volunteering at 4 community organizations. Your work is important to the region.
It is not arrogance for people who have lived and farmed in this area for generations to be opposed to having their homes, their farms and their livelihoods destroyed by an unneeded highway, all in the name of saving someone else 10 to 15 minutes’ drive time on their way through or out of our area. That tiny bit of time savings is not enough of a valid reason for destroying people’s property that they have spent their whole lives building.
These families are not saying they are more “important” than you, but rather that they will bear an incredible share of the cost that other folks who don’t have these “roots” will not have to bear. It is impossible for people who don’t have these roots to understand the turmoil this highway will cause. In your cases, Michael and Luiza, it would be a fairly simple matter to move from the house or apartment that you’ve occupied for 10 and 12 years into another house or apartment. You will still have your jobs and your livelihoods intact. That is not possible for these large and small family farms.
In his comments above, Joe Keusch has already addressed the impossibility of replacing the land they will lose. In addition, farms will be split by the highway so that instead of farming expansive, contiguous fields, farmers will be forced to find some way to get to the other side of that massive highway to get to the reduced fields on the other side. Remember that it will be a limited access highway, so you can’t just find a nearby crossover road. Now just imagine, if you will, that in order for you to get to your job, you will have to travel miles out of your way, with large farm equipment, time after time, day after day, year after year – all to save someone else 10 to 15 minutes a few times a year. That prospect is heart wrenching for these farm families who face the prospect of losing their land. Once all that productive cropland is covered by asphalt, it will be lost forever. Please try to put yourself in their shoes. It’s not “sentimentalizations”, it’s devastating.
A very large number of people in this area believe there is not enough benefit to the ”greater needs of the entire community” to destroy the lives and livelihoods of a large part of the community that has been here paying taxes, volunteering for community organizations, coaching kids in sports, leading 4H, supporting their churches and schools, helping others in innumerable ways, farming the land and making their homes here for generations. It’s not a matter of them being “more important”, but rather more unfairly burdened by this unneeded highway. Those who obviously feel they are more important than the hundreds of people who will be displaced are those that think it’s more important for them to save 10 to 15 minutes of drive time, and the heck with the devastation caused to others.
This Mid-States Corridor project should be scrapped, and right away, to stop the madness, stop the unbelievable monetary cost, and stop the imminent devastation. Focus on maintaining the roads already in place.
Sue Krampe
Ferdinand
I totally agree with above comments against this new road. Until you have spent hundreds and thousands of hours working on a farm/home you will never understand the roots that are established. My wife and I were blessed to be able to build our home a few years back, right on her family’s 100+ year farm. We are nestled on top of a hill overlooking the beautiful Patoka river. Surrounded by woods, fields, and mother nature. Peaceful and quiet, which is why we built here, along with helping on the farm. But now Mr. Braun and a few others would love to wreck that for us, and so many other families. All in the name of saving a few dimes for every truck that rolls out of their buisnesses. If you weren’t happy with the accessibility of transportation infrastructure, maybe you should have taken your buisness elsewhere. Early on I believe Mr. Menke was quoted in saying along the lines of “this is progress, some people will have to give for the greater good.” I for one wonder if he would feel the same way if this highway was to go the through the middle of Cool Springs. Bet not. This will also kill some of the small buisnesses in Jasper that rely on people traveling through and stopping for fuel, food, etc. And another aspect I have yet to be seen mentioned, what about the local fire, police, and ems? Accidents, fire runs, and medical calls will now have to be covered on a 4 lane? Some of these small departments do good to keep their doors open and find funding the way it is. Only way they would be able to continue would be to raise the taxes of people living in their townships. Not to mention they would be killing farms, which are currently operating buisnesses. In the end, this is totally unneeded and will only benefit a few. Scrap this project immediately and use this money toward fixing the failing roads and infrastructure we can’t maintain now. No need to add to the list.
I have to agree with the above comments against the proposed highway. Until you have spent hundreds and thousands of hours building and maintaining a house or farm and have it threatened to take it away you wouldn’t understand. My wife and I were blessed to be able to build our home on her family’s 100+ year farm. We built on a hilltop overlooking the beautiful Patoka river, surrounded by woods and fields and mother nature. You can not put a price on peace and serenity. You may be able to put a price on bricks and lumber, but not a home. This proposed highway is nothing more than a few select people looking to make an extra dollar for every truck that rolls out of their facility. Maybe if they don’t like the existing transportation infrastructure they should move their buisness instead of up rooting peoples homes. I’ll bet if this highway was supposed to go through the middle of Cool Springs it would be a different story. We can’t maintain the roads and bridges we have now. So why would we build more? This will also kill alot of Jasper’s small buisnesses. People will no longer stop for food, fuel, etc. on their way through Jasper. Also what about the police, fire and ems system? No one has mentioned this. There are quite a few small departments along the way that are doing good to get help and keep their doors open. How are they going to outfit and be able to respond to incidents along a 4 lane? If they are even able it will be at the cost of the taxpayers living in the townships. Plain and simple, this highway is not needed and will only benefit a few people at the cost of everyone. Shut it down and take care of the roads we have.
A few things stand out here with your comments. Please don’t think what I say is out of jealousy, because it’s not. I probably own more land and have accumulated more wealth than you, so don’t try to brag about your beautiful home. It’s your home, but it’s just a home. But for you to speak that I have no idea what you say has been “hundreds and thousands of hours” building something that you admit was given to you by your wife’s family, I doubt if you do either. People whether farmers or industrialist or capitalist have all worked hard, not just the people who are afraid that they will lose their sheltered life.
You also mention the bad state of our roads here in this area. Just why do you believe they are that way? It’s due to the trucking that the manufacturers utilize to bring raw goods in and ship finished goods out. In addition, there is several highways that pass through the area. The new highway would not eliminate that traffic but instead would divert it around the populace areas make the roads we already have, safer and last longer.
Then, you’re saying if manufacturers don’t like it the way it is, they should up and move. That makes no sense when you turn around and say how this area will suffer as there would be less traffic through the area to stop at restaurants, fill up with fuel, etc. Let me tell you, if manufacturing left this area, the whole place would be in a major depression. Then what, I suppose you would still have your farm huh? Of course when the wealth dries up and the local grocery stores close, Walmart closes, etc. then what? Is the inconvenience of driving to the nearest large city for your needs going to be acceptable? And, if so, are you going to get there by traveling on 4-lane highways or will you sacrifice and drive county roads?
Yes, the Mid-state corridor is needed. Maybe not for you but for many it is.
Michael, I have to straighten a few comments out here. Number one, I was not bragging up my home. It is a smiple ranch home, nothing near most of the new homes going up around Jasper. Number 2, a home is not just a home. It is the main reason we go to work everyday, so we have a peaceful place to come back to. It is where we are raising a family. Where all the memories are, big and little. Its not just a roof a walls. Obviously we differ on our opinions of what a home is. Number 3, my wifes family gave us a few acres. Thats it. So when I say I have spent hundreds and thousands of hours building, maintaining, and working on our home, don’t for a second doubt me. I spent weeks upon weeks working all day at my job, just to rush to home and work till 10, 11, 12 pm at night, get 5 hours of sleep and do again. To say I put blood, sweat, and tears into our home is an understatement.
I understand that the transportation of all these goods is what is tearing up our current roads. My point is, if they can’t take care of what we already have, why would anyone think we can afford more? The debt that is continuously accumulated by the state/ federal governments is horrible. We can not continue to spend, spend, spend. I have to live within my means, but obviously they don’t. Its much easier to spend someone elses money. I will agree my comment on the industry moving contradicts itself, but with 2 interstates within 30 minutes of this county, I can’t see how it is needed. Not every buisness can have a 4 lane at their doorstep. My main message is that a lot of people flock to Dubois County for the chance to raise a family in this area, for many of the reasons I have mentioned. To bring this highway through will ruin this areas way of life, and make it no different than any other city.
My question; are there any organized efforts against the mid-states corridor project? Cause otherwise, you’re all wasting your energy.
You go matt. All you said is so understandable. It’s your home your property. YOU FIGHT HARD TO KEEP IT!!!!
This highway is ridiculous! It needs to be canceled and lets use the money for infrastructure repairs. Just because certain wealthy people want to benefit French Lick business does not give them the right to ruin our lives. “As for safety and the reduction of serious crashes, again the data paints a different picture. The BEST improvement shows a reduction from 63.2 per 100 million vehicle miles travelled (VMT) to 61.6 per 100 million VMT, depending on the route chosen. Less than 3%,” is a quote from a previous post.