The Culver Town Council members selected new leadership Tuesday night in a special meeting.
With Ginny Bess Munroe’s move to the office of Culver Town Manager, that left a vacancy for president on the council. The council members voted Bill Githens into the position of president and Sally Ricciardi as vice president.
The reorganization came after a little over an hour discussion of the second phase of the Lake Max Trail project that includes a one-mile extension of the trail from the Culver Park to Washington Street, Plymouth Street and South Main Street.
Several residents have spoken out about the project in the last few weeks stating they did not learn of its existence until late in the process. It was explained that public hearing notices were published as well as trail plans as long as three or more years ago as officials were in the planning stages of the project. Now as the end of the design is nearing, residents along Plymouth Street are vehemently against the project. In fact, a letter given to the town council last week asks the council to either stop the project or move it as the residents find it is going to affect their quality of life and property values. They have also said that the trail would encroach on much more of their property than they want. The residents have stated that the trail does not belong in a residential neighborhood.
Culver Town Manager Ginny Munroe has made an effort to meet with property owners to make adjustments in certain areas of the trail route, but apparently they continue not to support the project.
INDOT Project Manager Jami Erdmann attempted to explain if the town were to move the route, the entire four-year process would need to start over which would cost the town more money.
“I was trying to address the scope of the project and the question of the alternative as best as I can and not really go into the transparency issues,” said Erdmann. “To change the route would involve changes to the environmental document, you would need approved right-of-way, a new survey – I mean, you’re essentially starting from scratch. Project development on something like this is three or four years minimum.”
“We don’t care!” said Jeff Semler.
Ermann responded, “A quarter million dollars and you don’t care?”
If the project was scrapped altogether, Munroe previously commented that it would tarnish the town’s relationship with INDOT, a state agency who has granted millions of dollars to the town with various projects over the years.
At this time, the project is expected to forward with the design adjustments discussed with certain homeowners to accommodate various situations. The bid letting is anticipated for July.
