On the Beat in Bluffton

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Another business responds to state's push to widen Ind. 1

A representative from another business states that the Indiana Department of Transportation's original offer for compensation for rights-of-way as it seeks to widen Ind. 1 is not sufficient.

Steve Dedrick of Expert Express Lube and Auto Care Center Inc. filed his response in Wells Circuit Court in connection with the suit filed against his business by the State of Indiana.

The state has filed complaints for appropriation of real estate against seven businesses or organizations in its controversial quest to widen Ind. 1 on the south part of town. Below is a summary of the different complaints. Learn more in the Thursday, Dec. 5, News-Banner.

Bible Distribution Center
(A ministry of the Apostolic Christian Church and located behind the Wells County Food Bank)
• INDOT offered $273,346 but later filed complaint for appropriation of real estate
when the organization and the state could not reach an agreement.
• The organization has not yet responded to the complaint.


Bluffton Tire Inc.
• INDOT offered $95,550 but later filed complaint for appropriation of real estate
when the organization and the state could not reach an agreement.
• Bluffton Tire owner Bill Gentis, in a formal response,
Gentis wrote that he would lose $250,000 to $300,000 of sales and productivity each year for at least 10 years if a drive is closed, with the loss in property value totaling at least $100,000. He also received two bids for the new driveway, which the state agreed to build, one for $97, 900 and another for $143,945.

Expert Express Lube and Auto Care Inc.
• INDOT offered $14,950 but later filed complaint for appropriation of real estate
when the organization and the state could not reach an agreement.

• Dedrick has stated that he does not believe that the $14,950 offered by the state is adequate compensation for his loss.

New Life Inc. (Abundant Life Christian Center)
• INDOT offered $56,040 but later filed complaint for appropriation of real estate
when the organization and the state could not reach an agreement.
• The organization has not yet responded to the complaint.

Denny's Automotive Specialist
• INDOT offered $72,820 but later filed complaint for appropriation of real estate
when the organization and the state could not reach an agreement.
• The organization has not yet responded to the complaint.

JBG's Frozen Custard
• INDOT offered $72,820 but later filed complaint for appropriation of real estate
when the organization and the state could not reach an agreement.
• The organization has not yet responded to the complaint.
Harrison Plaza
• INDOT offered $21,210 but later filed complaint for appropriation of real estate
when the organization and the state could not reach an agreement.
• The organization has not yet responded to the complaint.
To see where these businesses are located, click here.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

strange that the government is pushing this so hard at this time. who are they trying to punish? rather than waste the time and money to pursue this thing that no one wants, why not force the government to give money back to the taxpayers. Mark Risser

Anonymous said...

Personally I've never been driving down HWY1 on the south side of Bluffton and thought to myself - Gee, I wish this was wider.