By Josh Kastrinsky, Reporter-Times
jkastrin@reportert.com
As Senate Bill 1 makes its way through the state chambers, the debate surrounding the governor's connector - and the economic benefits it is touted to reap - has intensified. Business owners and organizations have spoken out strongly in support and in opposition to the Indiana Commerce Connector concept. Some area leaders say taking a stance either way comes with a risk of losing membership support. Others question if the economic benefits the Connector some expect it will bring will ever materialize.
Bob Elliott, who heads the economic development subcommittee in the Martinsville Chamber, said the Connector was the center of debate for a month between the subcommittee's eight members. The group works to assess activities that enhance current business and that will bring in new business, he said. The Connector has the potential to impact both those issues, he said.
The Chamber board studied the facts about the Connector and has endorsed the concept, which is not the same as endorsing the bypass outright, he said.
"We went through a learning curve to learn, what, in fact, Senate Bill 1 was, what it was saying and what it was not saying," Elliott said.
"We didn't want to look like we were giving a blanket OK to this project," he said. "Quite frankly, our viewpoint is that in this area we need to take a look at all the opportunities that can bring economic development here and recognize that we need it in our community."
While the board has expressed its support of the bypass concept being given more thought, Elliott said they also wanted to echo community concerns about the Connector. Those include the disruption of the agricultural base, potential loss of property taxes, gaining state funding for local thoroughfares and sharing local revenue.
"I perceive it (the board) as taking a leadership role," Elliott said. "I think far too looked at Morgan County, the Martinsville area, as the hicks, the guys that are in the background ... we felt it was important to take this leadership role; we wanted to be invited to the table and the discussions of what's going on with this."
Other communities split as well
Discussion of the Connector is not confined to the county, as other communities affected by the bypass concept have also been in debate since the idea was pitched in November.
Linda Imel, president of the Greater Greenfield Chamber of Commerce, said the board of directors have voted to support the connector concept, though they are adamant that the study of the roadway be done properly. Discussions in Hancock and Shelby counties have recently focused on bringing government and commercial entities in the area together to collectively plan for the possibility of the Connector, she said.
"When you talk about any road in Indiana, there's going to be issues," Imel said. "The drawing is just that - a drawing."
Eminent domain - the state's right to buy property from landowners at an assessed value for public use - has become a key issue in the debate, she said. The Connector's location should reflect where communities will be down the road, she said, and not just the current situation.
"We need to think about this 30 years down the road, even though they might build this in five years," she said.
Karen Bain, president of the Greater Mooresville Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber board isn't prepared to declare their view on the Connector issue. The board will meet with John Taylor of the Morgan County Economic Development Corp. next week, and she hopes to meet with state officials in the next month to discuss concerns.
Tricia Bechman, executive director of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber has not taken an official stance on the Commerce Connector, which is shown on preliminary maps to run south of the city. The chamber's neutrality is by design, she said - board members voted on the position that the chamber, in fact, has no position.
"We don't want to take stances, one, for fear of losing members," Bechman said. "We don't have enough information at this point to make educated decisions."