Mid-States Corridor discourse heats up once again
More than four decades of escalating tensions surrounding the Mid-States Corridor resulted in a local implosion that shows no signs of de-escalation.
Back in May, 121 angry property owners legally faced off with the Indiana Department of Transportation in the Dubois County Circuit Court.
A local activist group, the Property Rights Alliance, convened a well-attended rally outside the courthouse, inviting anyone who believes in “community over highway” to join them. We also detailed the origins of the cease-and-desist attack organized by attorney Russ Sipes and the Property Rights Alliance, Indiana Dep’t of Transport. v. LC Bar LLC, No. 19C01-2503-PL-000170, for you in our April 4 issue. Check that coverage for a better understanding of the current situation.
Dubois County Circuit Court Judge Nathan Verkamp (D) ultimately affirmed INDOT’s right to access more than 100 private properties, regardless of landowner concerns, to continue initial survey work on the Mid-States Corridor.
A second court hearing is scheduled for July 2, where INDOT will request a preliminary injunction.
Down but not out, in June, MSC opposers tried a new tactic.
In a meeting covered by Matthew Crane of the Dubois County Free Press, Jason McCoy presented a resolution for the Dubois County Commissioners to sign that would signal their opposition to the Mid-States Corridor. Representing the Property Rights Alliance and the Stop the Mid-States Corridor Alliance Coalition, he asserted that INDOT “and its proponents are in the process of requesting or plan to request additional funding from local taxing units for the project.”
McCoy informed the commissioners about five studies that he believed showed the absence of economic or environmental feasibility for MSC. His presentation also referenced former Gov. Eric Holcomb (R), who unveiled $75 million in “Next Level” upgrades to U.S. 231, which runs through Dubois County and Martin County, during his tenure.
In his proposed resolution, McCoy references how, in “April 2022, after the release of the Tier 1 DEIs, INDOT and the Lochmueller Group held a public comment meeting with hundreds of residents in attendance who were opposed.”
The Messmer Call-Out
McCoy claimed that “over the last year … everyone has been passing the buck.” He referenced a personal conversation with then-Sen. (and now-U.S. Rep.) Mark Messmer (R) of Jasper, “whom I have the utmost respect for.” The legislator told McCoy that “he had nothing to do with [Mid-States Corridor].”
McCoy responded: “Well, that’s not entirely true.”
Regardless of where you fall on the Mid-States debate, McCoy isn’t wrong. SEA 128-2017, authored by Sen. Messmer (and then-Rep. Mike Braun (R) of Jasper), authorized the Regional Development Authorities (RDAs) – specifically, the Mid-States Corridor RDA.
In a press release from Indiana Senate Republicans, Rep. Messmer touted the “first regional infrastructure RDA in Indiana,” calling it “exactly what I envisioned.” “I look forward to seeing the possibilities this process creates,” the legislator concluded.
“At the Lincoln Land dinner last year,” McCoy quotes Messmer as asserting, “We don’t live in a democracy. A lot of people believe we do; we don’t. He said we live in a representative republic.”
McCoy believes that quote exemplifies the ethos behind SEA 128-2017 and therefore, Mid-States Corridor: “They’ve been trying to get this road built for 45 years, and the people had said no, no, no. We don’t want that.”
He then explained that “95% of public comments” were negative, and more than 1,000 written comments were sent to project managers regarding Mid-States. “The building of this road is not germane to the best interest of your constituents, and you [commissioners] have a role to play in that,” McCoy concluded.
Commissioners Weigh In; Disagree
Commissioner Chad Blessinger (R) clarified that the local government’s role in Mid-States had been limited until now, aside from assisting in funding an initial study. Blessinger thought the commissioners’ minimal involvement may need to change, reminding the commissioners that they have input on access roads, project impact, and subsequent minimization efforts. “Our job is to make sure we take care of the economic part of the county … the general welfare and safety of the people,” Blessinger argued.
Commissioner Nick Hostetter (R) took a different tack, framing Mid-States Corridor as “an investment in the future of Dubois County … If our studies come back and show this road will support us for the next 100 years or beyond, I can’t oppose that.” However, he also lamented the agricultural losses the project may cause and showed sympathy for those who may lose part or the entirety of their homestead. McCoy replied directly to Hostetter, again asserting that “the study in itself has been corrupted” and that data may not represent actual impact.
Crane records McCoy accusing Lochmueller Group officials, claiming INDOT hired them to ensure “their findings supported the completion of the road” – certainly a weighty accusation.
Commissioner Serice Stenftenagel (R) was unsure what to think of McCoy’s resolution, given that there is an argument for both negative and positive impact on Dubois County. “I’m not persuaded one way or another. I’m not going to sit here and say I’m against it or for it,” she resigned.
A consistent Mid-States proponent, Dubois Strong Economic Development Corporation official Colten Pipenger, spoke in favor of the project at the meeting and penned an open letter to the commissioners. Pipenger believes Dubois County has a “critical need” for the project as the community is “burdened by an outdated transportation network that threatens our ability to grow, attract talent, and retain businesses.”
The letter reminds the reader that Dubois falls within the top third of Hoosier gross domestic product contributors, “yet it is the most populous county in the state without a major four-lane highway.” The local economic development organization cites a study by Hunden Strategic Partners estimating that the project will inject $300 million into Dubois and Spencer Counties.
The commissioners will need time to discuss the resolution; no official decision was made at the meeting. We’ll let you know when they do.
“What Kind of a Statement is That?”
A myriad of reactions followed the commissioners’ comments.
The Dubois County Free Press received numerous letters to the editor penned by unsatisfied citizens. Martin County resident Edward McAuliff, while approving of Blessinger’s willingness to learn more about the situation, condemned Hostetter’s mixed messaging, deeming it “appalling.” McAuliff also slammed 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 appears that Commissioner Stenftenagel does not consider agriculture to be an industry.”
Dubois County resident Cathy Wagner wrote that, while she appreciated that Blessinger allowed all Property Rights Alliance members in attendance to speak if they wished, she was frustrated that “Commissioner Hostetter clearly came out in favor of the project” while expressing “sympathy” for affected landowners. Wagner was also not a fan of Stenftenagel’s dismissal.
Dubois County couple Roger Pund and Pamela Pund believed the commissioners’ responses were the result of being “swayed by marketing rhetoric” from the Lochmueller Group. Property Rights Alliance member Carol Nowotarski asserted that Pipenger’s statement was “puzzling” and “filled with unrealistic projections.”
To no one’s surprise, longtime MSC opposer Jim Arvin also weighed in, believing “it may be time for ‘We the People’ to bring a class action lawsuit against INDOT and the Lochmueller Group for depriving [us] of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Yikes!
The Pfister Problem
In our last May issue, we told you about Whoderville area landowner Bob Pfister and his refusal to allow Lochmueller Crews to enter his property – which includes almost 60 acres of classified woodlands northeast of Jasper – despite the recent INDOT court ruling. Chief Deputy Sheriff Jesus Monarrez warned Pfister that continued resistance would likely result in legal action; Pfister replied that “that makes [him] sad, but they’re not getting on [his] land.” Monarrez is an announced candidate for sheriff in the 2026 Republican primary election.
Since then, Pfister has recruited Russ Sipes as his attorney. Through a series of messages between himself and INDOT, Sipes asserted that the two parties needed to return to the Dubois County Circuit Court to determine whether Pfister violated Judge Verkamp’s court order before Lochmueller Group crews could access the property.
On June 5, Pfister left home to pick up his son at the airport. Property Rights Alliance and Stop the Mid-States Corridor Coalition member Mark Nowotarski was on standby at Pfister’s residence to ensure no one entered his property. Nowotarski, however, left from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – precisely when Lochmueller crews showed up. Pfister called Dubois County Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter (R) to report trespassing. Kleinhelter and a deputy began searching the property for the crews, eventually resorting to using a loudspeaker. Sheriff Kleinhelter requested the Lochmueller affiliates leave for now; they did.
In a phone interview with the Dubois County Free Press’ Crane, Pfister relayed communications between Sipes and Deputy Attorney General Wesley Garrett of the Office of the Attorney General. “It may seem counterintuitive, but this process has avoided any serious conflicts or issues with access to survey, even though your filings indicated that the state was very concerned with the potential impacts. Tell INDOT to go elsewhere to work Thursday and file something in court,” Sipes wrote to Garrett.
Pfister expresses to Crane a desire to get the dispute into the courts and cease standoffs on his property: “What more does my attorney have to say to them? I will take this up with the judge. They were trespassing. Do I have to sit out there every night until midnight? Do I have to sleep in a tent to keep them off my property?” Pfister seems likely to keep hounding authorities until he gets his day in court.
Where is This Going?
We’ve covered Mid-States drama since our first issue. To look at the project’s context in its entirety is to descend into a long, long and deep rabbit hole. Remember VS Engineering scientist Leigh Montano, who jumped ship on the project and the environmental science industry altogether in 2020 because, as quoted by Evansville Courier & Press reporter Jon Webb, she “couldn’t understand” why the Mid-States Corridor was being built? Shocking many at the time, her departure is now a buried tidbit, lost to more relevant news.
There’s no denying the project has many proponents, including those with much political clout, and that those proponents firmly believe the corridor will improve Indiana en masse. What is equally certain is that a contingent of Spencer County, Dubois County, and Martin County residents will go down kicking and screaming, no matter how long legal battles are drawn out or how many studies exemplify economic boons.
Even five years later, Jasper Mayor Dean Vonderheide (R) may have summarized the situation best in a 2020 interview with Webb: “The ones who were adamantly against it … were going to be impacted personally. And that’s always natural.”