Checking out the plans

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MAPPED OUT: Kevin McElfresh and his daughter, Sara, review aerial maps of the proposed path of the Hoosier Heartland provided at a public meeting in Delphi this week. McElfresh is operations manager for The Andersons’ Delphi plant, which must move one building and demolish other structures to make way for the highway. P-T photo | Kevin Lilly

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August 28, 2009

Hundreds attend public meeting on Hoosier Heartland

by Kevin Lilly Pharos-Tribune Fri Aug 28, 2009, 07:43 PM EDT

DELPHI — Despite the fact that his family will give up a 1.6-mile stretch of land to the new highway, John Rinehart says he has no plans to delay work on the final leg of the Hoosier Heartland.

“It’s going to happen,” he said. “You couldn’t stop it. Don’t stand on a railroad track when a train’s coming. That’s the same way with this.”

Rinehart, who owns property in Carroll County, was one of more than 100 people who turned out at Delphi High School for Thursday’s public meeting regarding segment two of the highway between Logansport and Lafayette. The segment takes in the area around Delphi to near Rockfield.

Rinehart said he turned out to ensure project officials were aware of certain drainage issues.

“I’m coming here just to point out a couple of problem areas that I’m not 100 percent sure are being addressed,” Rinehart said.

Before and after a formal presentation by design consultant Bernardin Lochmueller & Associates regarding segment two details, Rinehart and others in attendance had a chance to look at large aerial maps of affected areas. Officials from the consulting firm and the Indiana Department of Transportation were available to answer questions.

Jim Earl, INDOT’s project manager, says right-of-way acquisition is the biggest concern for most residents near the planned limited access highway.

Raymond Heise, a Carroll County resident since 1947, lives in the Burrows area. He attended the meeting to obtain information and learn how his neighbor’s fared.

“The road goes pretty close to us,” Heise said. “We just wanted to see people’s reactions here, see how big the crowd was.”

INDOT is not buying any of his land, but Heise knows people who will have their entire property will be consumed by the highway.

“Well, that happens,” Heise said. “That’s progress. I don’t know if you want to call it progress, but that’s the way it goes.”

Earl doesn’t expect many changes in the segment’s design or much opposition from the county’s property owners. He said they were understanding of the process and the need for the four-lane highway.

“Most of the people in this area want the project,” Earl said. “It’s just a matter of getting it here as quick as we can.”

In segment three, Carroll County government officials must make a proposal to INDOT regarding Ind. 75 connections at Burrows. Some options being considered might divide the town, making travel difficult.

Carroll County highway engineer Paul Couts said the county commissioners have called a meeting for 9 a.m. Monday at the courthouse in Delphi.

“The meeting is to look over the different alternatives for connection to the Hoosier Heartland up in the area around Burrows,” he said.

The commissioners invited groups such as the chamber of commerce, the local economic development agency and the Liberty Township Fire Department. Members of the public are also welcome to attend.

• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at (574) 732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com

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