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Commissioners press for clear vision for Vermillion RISE megasite, suggest hunting, recreation and development options
Summary
The board discussed the county’s 7,000‑acre Vermillion RISE megasite and asked commissioners and the RISE board to propose a 30‑day plan for visioning the property, including potential recreation, public hunting and economic uses.
The Vermillion County Board of Commissioners discussed the future of Vermillion RISE, a roughly 7,000‑acre megasite the county owns, and urged a short timeline for a shared vision and actionable ideas.
A commissioner described the property as “one of our county's biggest resources” and encouraged fellow commissioners to submit proposals within 30 days for uses ranging from public hunting and recreation to infrastructure projects and housing. Public commenters and RISE board members emphasized that the RISE staff currently manage the site with limited personnel and that any expansion of activity should coordinate with the board and with county economic development planning.
Speakers said previous RISE proposals (including a large livestock operation that was later rejected) demonstrated the risk of not having a clear countywide vision: boards spent time developing projects that commissioners later opposed. Commissioners asked for improved communication between the RISE board and the commissioners; one commissioner suggested assigning a single commissioner as the primary contact to reduce confusion and provide consistent direction. RISE board members and county residents urged respect for volunteer board members and recommended regular joint meetings among the various boards and the commission to align priorities and funding.
Specific ideas raised at the meeting included moving toward limited public hunting events (comparing the concept to a timed “mushroom hunt”), exploring recreational amenities such as a lake and cabins to attract visitors along the Terre Haute‑to‑Lafayette corridor, and coordinating a shared director between economic development and RISE operations. Commissioners and RISE members also discussed inventorying surplus equipment and furniture stored at RISE facilities and making it available to county departments that need it.
The board did not approve any immediate project funding; commissioners asked staff and the RISE board to develop a short list of ideas and convene stakeholders for follow-up meetings.
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