Jobs, development stall on I-69 corridor in Perry Township in Marion County

By Al Stilley, Southside Times
astilley@ss-times.com

A flurry of discussions are taking place among Indiana leaders, elected state legislators and prominent Southsiders about the controversial location of I-69 through western Perry Township.

Rep. David Frizzell and Perry Township Trustee Jack Sandlin didn’t label the talks as “breakthrough,” but at least INDOT and other state leaders are face to face over the fate of the northern terminus of the I-69 extension from Indianapolis to Evansville.

Sen. Brent Waltz, R-Greenwood, and Sen. Pat Miller, R-Indianapolis, recently introduced legislation in the Indiana Senate that attempts to move the northern terminus out of Perry Township. The preferred I-69 extension route follows the Ind. 37 corridor, a path that Southside leaders say spells doom for economic development along the route in Perry Township.

Last week, Southside leaders testified in front of a Senate Appropriations Committee regarding HB 1008, known as the Major Moves program launched recently by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Most significantly, many of the same Southside leaders met in Indianapolis on Feb. 20 with INDOT Commissioner Tom Sharp. A second meeting was scheduled for later this week, it was reported.

“He (Sharp) is listening,” said Frizzell. “He knows how important that it is to us that I-69 not go down the 37 corridor.”

Letters to Daniels

There was no suggestion from Sharp or Gov. Daniels’ representative Harry Gonzo that the I-69 path would not be moved, but the group said they looked at three alternatives using the Ind. 37 corridor.

Tom Dapper of Royal Spa and representatives of St. Francis Hospital were among several business leaders at the meeting. It was learned that letters expressing major concerns about the route have been sent to Daniels’ office from R.N. Thompson Development Corp., St. Francis Hospital and Perry Township schools.

It was reported that the right-of-way being used for I-69 would be trimmed to 400 feet wide instead of its original 1,200 feet, a move that INDOT contends would favor affected businesses along the route.

“We were asked how many of us wanted it (I-69) moved from the 37 corridor and everyone in our group raised their hands,” Frizzell said.

Waltz and Frizzell have publicly said that they would not vote for Daniels’ Major Moves program if the northern terminus of I-69 utilizes the 37 corridor.

Many concerns

A major concern to Southside leaders is the stagnation of economic development along the once-thriving Ind. 37 corridor.

The Senate committee heard that St. Francis Hospital had proposed a $150 million development along Ind. 37 has stalled. The project was to have brought about 1,000 new jobs to the Southside. Also there was testimony from R.N. Thompson Development Corp. that $100 million in new retail development has stalled.

Sandlin re-emphasized concerns protecting the underground water supply in west Perry Township. He pointed out that increased truck traffic could cause unnecessary exposure and possible contamination of open water in the Perry Wellfield.

He also was critical of delays in emergency response time from the new Perry Twp. West fire station that would occur if the Ind. 37 corridor is used for I-69.

Perry Twp. school Supt. Dr. H. Douglas Williams also testified in front of the committee as to the additional costs to school bus transportation and the additional burden on property taxpayers in the school district.

“My constituency is opposed to it and they (INDOT) are not committed yet to another route,” Sandlin stated.

It was also reported that Sharp would be involved in future meetings with Southside leaders.