New Clinton County road project angers hundreds of residents

The newest road project in Clinton County has hundreds of people furious.

"I think it is a slap in the face to taxpayers, and I think it is a slap in the face to the people who voted him out, said Clinton County resident Rishelle Lutz.  "Because that is exactly why he is doing it."

The "he" Rishelle Lutz was talking about is County Commissioner Mike Beard.  What he is doing is pushing through a project to pave County Road 450 West.  It is the gravel road Beard lives on, right after an election Beard lost.

"He feels he is the head of the county and he can spend the money any way he wants and nobody can do anything about it," Lutz said.

Lutz has started a petition to get the paving parked, and 300 people have signed it.  Beard said the project is to bring attention to the Eunice H. Bryan Nature Preserve.  It is quiet and the only one of its kind in the county.

"I am in a position to move it where very few other people could," said Beard.

Beard said the nature preserve is close to his heart, and it is a coincidence that it is so close to his property and his hog operation.

"The Indiana Department of Natural Resources calls it a jewel in the sea of corn and soybeans," said Beard.

Still, other county commissioners like Skip Evans said Beard's plan is suspicious.

"To put that kind of money into a road that goes right by his house and going to increase his property value and stuff, it's kind of like he is thumbing his nose at the rest of the county,” said Evans. “It is just absolutely ridiculous."

Evans is fighting Beard's plan and the more than $80,000 price tag that comes with it.

"I am not going to let this slide, you know, I am not going to let the taxpayers in Clinton County be bullied," said Evans.

Rishelle Lutz said she will keep adding names to her list of opposition.

"We have better things to do with our taxpayer money, than to pave Mike Beard's road," Lutz said.