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Commissioners approve two-week closure of CR 500 W for Crossvine Solar work amid resident objections
Summary
The Dubois County Commissioners voted to close CR 500 W for up to two weeks to allow AES Crossvine to complete bore work and a modified road crossing; residents urged alternatives, raised property-damage and plume-study concerns, and asked the county to reconsider solar permits and road-bonding.
The Dubois County Commissioners voted June 1 to allow a temporary closure of County Road 500 W between 750 S and 900 S for up to two weeks while AES Crossvine completes bore pits and modifies a road crossing.
Highway Engineer Levi Leffert summarized the contractor’s change in crossing from a perpendicular to a skewed alignment and said the company requested either a full closure for about two weeks or maintaining traffic through a single lane. The board made a motion to close the road for up to two weeks; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
Residents attending public comment urged the county to limit disruption and address safety concerns. David Ring said signage or applying rock would help drivers on local dirt roads. Jason Heile described the closure as a potential safety issue and asked that utilities be placed on the opposite side of the road to avoid disrupting the public right-of-way. Korinne Whitehead told the commissioners that on May 28, 2026 a truck became stuck while entering her parents’ driveway near the solar park, which she said amounted to trespassing and property damage, and she urged the county to press AES Crossvine on road bonding and increased patrols.
County Engineer Leffert said he would discuss the reported driveway incident with AES Crossvine; Commissioner Nick Hostetter said he believes the driver’s insurance should address compensation for damages. The motion record shows the closure was approved while Commissioner Chad A. Blessinger was absent from the meeting.
Several speakers questioned the company’s plume study. Dave Duncan said the study’s modeling assumptions were inadequate and noted that it used three-mile-per-hour winds; he requested a private meeting or executive session with his expert. Korinne Whitehead raised concerns that humidity and local climate conditions could affect battery corrosion and asked the county to reconsider the solar ordinance and permit.
The board did not take additional regulatory action at the meeting; Leffert and county staff were assigned to follow up with AES Crossvine and report back at a future meeting.
