Local Legislators Voice Support For 'Major Moves'
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
State officials gathered at Farm Bureau Insurance, Warsaw, Saturday morning to discuss current Indiana topics and field questions from Kosciusko residents.
Sen. Tom Weatherwax and State Reps. Bill Friend, Bill Ruppel and Dave Wolkins focused a majority of their time detailing such topics as Major Moves and the importance of ethanol and biodiesel fuels.
Each legislator strongly supported Major Moves, a proposed $3.85 billion lease agreement for the Indiana Toll Road with Statewide Mobility Partners, a partnership of Australian and Spanish corporations.
"It's unbelievable hearing the rumors that are going around about this thing," Wolkins said. "I've raised many questions myself, and they've all been answered. This is a very good move for Indiana."
Under the agreement, the lease of the toll road would last 75 years, with SMP responsible for road maintenance and safety guidelines, such as congestion upgrades and the removal of dead animals. If SMP were to violate these conditions and cannot cure the violation, the contract will be terminated with no refund of the $3.85 billion.
Toll prices are locked through 2010, and increases cannot exceed 2 percent or the rate of inflation in later years.
HB 1008, the House Bill concerning Major Moves, also would establish a state construction fund. Collected capital would provide $50 million to Indiana's motor vehicle highway account in 2006, 2007 and 2008, which would then be disbursed to counties, cities and towns for road improvements.
"This agreement would provide money to the state that could both be invested and used to finish road projects that wouldn't have been considered for many years," Weatherwax said.
Highway projects listed under Major Moves include Ind. 15 improvements, upgrades to U.S. 31 and the construction of I-69 between Indianapolis and Evansville.
Residents attending Saturday's discussion voiced little objection to Major Moves, but questioned Indiana's management of the toll road over the years and expressed concerns of its current financial situation. Indiana still owes $225 million for the toll road's construction.
Weatherwax said gas tax increases, which would have assisted the payment of the toll road debt, was opposed by a majority of the state and never enforced.
With the anticipation of Louis Dreyfus Corp. establishing a soybean, biodiesel and ethanol plant in Claypool, Weatherwax spoke of the effects to Indiana's farmers if biodiesels were to begin to replace the United States' demand for oil.
According the Weatherwax, 18 new ethanol plants are being considered inside of Indiana. In 2005, Indiana had one plant inside state boundaries.
"It's pretty exciting to see what's going to happen to the price of corn," Weatherwax said. "There is great potential for Indiana and its farmers."
Weatherwax also said longevity of biofuels will improve with future technologies, making prices more attractive to customers. Currently ethanol 85 and standard oil-based fuels consist of similar local pricing, ranging from $2.09 to $2.29.
Weatherwax agreed with the concern that, if ethanol capabilities increased, oil companies could purchase the technologies and either modify productivity or shut down the manufacturing plants.
Attendants worried about the limited selection of automobiles that could run on biodiesel fuels.
"More compatible vehicles would greatly benefit ethanol companies," Ruppel said. "Hopefully we see that shift as ethanol becomes a better option for fuel consumption."
One Claypool resident agreed with the benefits of ethanol and biodiesel fuels, but inquired as to why the proposed plant would not be running off of biofuels itself. He also said that, being a potential neighbor to the Louis Dreyfus plant, his property would drop 40 percent in value because of noise pollution and increased traffic. [[In-content Ad]]
State officials gathered at Farm Bureau Insurance, Warsaw, Saturday morning to discuss current Indiana topics and field questions from Kosciusko residents.
Sen. Tom Weatherwax and State Reps. Bill Friend, Bill Ruppel and Dave Wolkins focused a majority of their time detailing such topics as Major Moves and the importance of ethanol and biodiesel fuels.
Each legislator strongly supported Major Moves, a proposed $3.85 billion lease agreement for the Indiana Toll Road with Statewide Mobility Partners, a partnership of Australian and Spanish corporations.
"It's unbelievable hearing the rumors that are going around about this thing," Wolkins said. "I've raised many questions myself, and they've all been answered. This is a very good move for Indiana."
Under the agreement, the lease of the toll road would last 75 years, with SMP responsible for road maintenance and safety guidelines, such as congestion upgrades and the removal of dead animals. If SMP were to violate these conditions and cannot cure the violation, the contract will be terminated with no refund of the $3.85 billion.
Toll prices are locked through 2010, and increases cannot exceed 2 percent or the rate of inflation in later years.
HB 1008, the House Bill concerning Major Moves, also would establish a state construction fund. Collected capital would provide $50 million to Indiana's motor vehicle highway account in 2006, 2007 and 2008, which would then be disbursed to counties, cities and towns for road improvements.
"This agreement would provide money to the state that could both be invested and used to finish road projects that wouldn't have been considered for many years," Weatherwax said.
Highway projects listed under Major Moves include Ind. 15 improvements, upgrades to U.S. 31 and the construction of I-69 between Indianapolis and Evansville.
Residents attending Saturday's discussion voiced little objection to Major Moves, but questioned Indiana's management of the toll road over the years and expressed concerns of its current financial situation. Indiana still owes $225 million for the toll road's construction.
Weatherwax said gas tax increases, which would have assisted the payment of the toll road debt, was opposed by a majority of the state and never enforced.
With the anticipation of Louis Dreyfus Corp. establishing a soybean, biodiesel and ethanol plant in Claypool, Weatherwax spoke of the effects to Indiana's farmers if biodiesels were to begin to replace the United States' demand for oil.
According the Weatherwax, 18 new ethanol plants are being considered inside of Indiana. In 2005, Indiana had one plant inside state boundaries.
"It's pretty exciting to see what's going to happen to the price of corn," Weatherwax said. "There is great potential for Indiana and its farmers."
Weatherwax also said longevity of biofuels will improve with future technologies, making prices more attractive to customers. Currently ethanol 85 and standard oil-based fuels consist of similar local pricing, ranging from $2.09 to $2.29.
Weatherwax agreed with the concern that, if ethanol capabilities increased, oil companies could purchase the technologies and either modify productivity or shut down the manufacturing plants.
Attendants worried about the limited selection of automobiles that could run on biodiesel fuels.
"More compatible vehicles would greatly benefit ethanol companies," Ruppel said. "Hopefully we see that shift as ethanol becomes a better option for fuel consumption."
One Claypool resident agreed with the benefits of ethanol and biodiesel fuels, but inquired as to why the proposed plant would not be running off of biofuels itself. He also said that, being a potential neighbor to the Louis Dreyfus plant, his property would drop 40 percent in value because of noise pollution and increased traffic. [[In-content Ad]]