Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Continental Divide topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press commission for transparency and environmental review as consultant extension for Continental Divide work moves forward
Summary
Public commenters urged greater environmental vetting and transparency for the Continental Divide/coalition work; the commission approved a third amendment to its consultant agreement (not to exceed $37,500) while multiple residents questioned outreach and project deliverables.
The commission approved a third amendment to the contract with Community Redevelopment Partners LLC related to the Midwest Continental Divide trail and coalition work, while residents used the public-comment period to raise concerns about outreach, transparency and unmet deliverables.
Staff described the proposed third amendment as a short contract extension through July with a not-to-exceed fee of $37,500 to continue work on the Continental Divide coalition and related master planning. Staff said consultants had worked with state legislators on Senate Bill 228 to streamline establishment of the coalition and that the amendment would allow work to continue while the bill moves through the legislature; commissioners approved the amendment on a unanimous vote.
Multiple residents criticized the project's outreach and progress. Steve Sass of New Carlisle, who identified long familiarity with local natural areas, said he had been contacted by the consultant but that environmental stakeholders had not been meaningfully engaged and that the project had been extended multiple times "and we haven't seen any plans." Derek Dieter, a former commissioner and current surveyor, questioned contract increases and invoices, saying vouchers paid on the project amount to "about 225,000" and that he had yet to see a draft plan or substantial deliverable. He asked commissioners about procedures for getting answers and offered to provide additional documentation after the meeting. Staff said some of the packet printing issues and additional pages would be posted online later.
Why this matters: residents asked for more environmental vetting and stakeholder outreach for a project that crosses sensitive natural areas; staff said the extension would keep consultant work moving while legislative language is finalized.
What happens next: staff will proceed with the contract amendment and legislative monitoring; public commenters asked staff to provide fuller documentation online and to follow up with interested residents.
