Presentation gives public a glimpse into plans for the Indiana Enterprise Center

A formal public presentation on plans for the Indiana Enterprise Center happened Tuesday.

As we've told you, people who live near the proposed site in New Carlisle accused the county of keeping them in the dark during the approval process.

Tonight, the public didn't get a chance to ask questions but County Council members did. People who were there say they were glad they got a chance to listen but still aren't completely satisfied.

A string of questions came from the County Council, asking how many jobs the Indiana Enterprise Center would bring, how much the land would be worth if it just stayed a farm and how to make sure property doesn't get taken from people unwillingly.

“If you're looking to acquire property for any prospective development, I think main point that has not been discussed enough is that we are looking at willing buyer and willing seller,” said Rafael Morton, County Council President. “And that was a very important point out of many this evening.”

“It's gonna stay the farmland until a farmer decides to sell his land,” said Bill Schalliol, Executive Director for Economic Development, St. Joseph County. “We are just looking to set the table for that opportunity and for development, if development is to occur. But if it never occurs, then those farms create jobs and create opportunities and we are okay with that too.”

Opponents say they're frustrated that it took so long to have a public meeting, but Schalliol says he's been trying his best to involve the public for every step.

“Part of the argument to why we haven't had more is that we really haven't had anything to talk about,” said Schalliol. “So now that we are at a point where we really have everything analyzed and studied and corrugated, now is the time to bring to the public the plans.”

Everyone seems to agree there's a lot of work going forward.

“Right now, economic development looks like from the bottom up,” said Garrett Blad, local activist. “You need public input and community buy in for these projects to succeed. This is just a top down project from a few people who don't live from here and we know that this is not gonna succeed if it's done that way.”

Schalliol assured us that there will be more meetings in the future with a chance for public comment. He plans on releasing drafts of the plan online and asking for public input through at least November.