Many in St. Joseph County are voicing opposition to a proposed highway garage in Granger, alongside a new park.
The Anderson Road property was discussed at the Parks Board meeting today.
Nearly 115 acres of land could become a county highway garage and a park.
The park would take up most of the property, but the garage has been a huge sticking point for people living in this area.
Driving down Anderson Road, you'll see multiple petition signs.
Dozens of people shared their concerns at the parks board meeting, mostly bothered by the garage.
We, along with 600 other neighbors who signed petitions, were okay with a park. We're just not okay with the garage that comes as part of the package deal. Right?" said Mary Sill, lives near Anderson Road property.
Many are worried about ground water and environmental impact, while others expose poor conditions at different maintenance garages in the area.
"I was on that property just before it was closed by the county highway and then turned over to the sheriff's department. It was a dump." Ken Slack, Lives near Anderson Road Property
"The county is talking about putting a facility in an area that is wooded with wildlife that they will displace and the trees," said Deborah Clements, lives near Anderson Road property.
According to the agreement, the maintenance garage would take approximately seven acres of the property.
It has already been signed by the county commissioners, but parks board president, Larry Catanzarite, was not ready to make it official.
"It's a ground swell of opposition to this maintenance barn and we hear them, and we have to take that into account," said Catanzarite.
Catanzarite says he has never seen so many people at a parks board meeting.
And he, and other board members, want to make sure all questions are answered before action is taken.
"Even if it doesn't happen at Anderson Road, which we certainly know the feelings, it's gonna happen somewhere, somehow because they have to be able to maintain the roads," said Thomas Panzica, St. Joseph County Parks Board Member.
Catanzarite says the board will not vote until there is a town hall meeting scheduled with the commissioners and council in the near future.
-----Original Story-----
Granger homeowners near the site of a potential highway garage petitioned the new development at a St. Joseph County Parks Board meeting Tuesday morning.
The proposal suggests using funds from the American Rescue Plan to build a park and use a bond to create a highway garage on Anderson Road, so taxpayers will not have to foot the bill.
Even though the proposal is still in the early planning stage, residents near the site are concerned about possible water contamination and effects on wildlife.
Those in the area are on well water, and they say they worry about the salt in the garage possibly contaminating the drinking water.
WSBT spoke with Councilman Dan Schaetzel, who says the salt will be stored on concrete.
Residents are also concerned about the sound and lights from trucks as they back up.
According to Schaetzel, trees around the proposed site will act as a natural sound barrier to lessen the noise.
There are still several steps that need to take place before the park and the highway garage will be closer to a reality, including approval from both the County Parks Board and the county commissioners.
The agreement between the two departments was signed by the county commissioners back in February.
The parks board wanted to hold off on their signature until they could get community input.