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Mr. Kerr replied, That is a state-owned bridge and I would presume the state is following their <br /> bridge inventory and are prepared to make improvements when necessary. <br /> Committee Chair Davis then opened the floor to questions from other council members present. <br /> Councilmember Scott asked, Are there any current plans for the City to do any paving on the <br /> roads surrounding this area? Secondly, are you doing a traffic study for Cleveland Road for the <br /> on and off ramps there? <br /> Mr. Kerr answered, Currently, there are no plans for this coming year. However, that is not to <br /> state there will not be a plan in the near future. <br /> Committee Chair Davis then opened the floor to the general public for those who wish to speak <br /> in favor of this bill. <br /> Ryan Mathis, 51210 Enchanted Oak Ct., stated, I'm speaking in favor of this tonight as a <br /> German Township resident. I've lived in South Bend my entire life. I've been in German <br /> Township for about fifteen (15) years now. I'm very familiar with the Portage Prairie concept <br /> some ten(10) years ago. I've been to one of the town hall meetings, couldn't make the other one, <br /> but I've looked at the maps and studied this entire development. I greatly appreciate the impact it <br /> has on folks that are very nearby and adjacent to where this is planned for. I understand the fact <br /> they can impose some unintended outcomes however, as I look at this, I go back to my days <br /> when I would hear about South Bend, Indiana being a leading area in the Midwest in terms of <br /> what can get shipped overnight as far as moving things. We were unprecedented. Years ago,the <br /> Portage Prairie concept looked fantastic and I was excited, yet skeptical, because I know how <br /> many people live out there. What's going on out there makes a lot of sense to me based on the <br /> toll road,the bypass and the infrastructure that's ready and in place. I like some of the things the <br /> developers have done in terms of trying to make this a little more amiable to the folks that are <br /> impacted the most. I'm very cognizant of the conditions of the roads out there, I drive them <br /> often, and I would love to see the City and County come together based on who owns what to <br /> figure out how this infrastructure can continue to be developed. We need more people and more <br /> jobs to have things happen on this side of town. It's been good growth. This will phase in more <br /> taxes and more jobs. This is a good idea. <br /> With no other members of the public wishing to speak in favor of this bill, Committee Chair <br /> Davis opened the floor to those who wish to speak in opposition of this bill. <br /> Tom Zmyslo, 51042 Prairie View Way, stated, The traffic studies the City has are from 2014 and <br /> there has been so much development since then, it's astronomical the difference between then <br /> and now. With the devaluation of the property, the traffic congestion, the tax abatement this <br /> company will get,the possible water contamination, noise and air pollution,there are so many <br /> reasons other than these why this is a bad idea. Where is the money going to come from to do <br /> your infrastructure improvements you said you wanted to do there? We didn't know about the <br /> AM General building that went up right across the street until we read it in the paper with <br /> another tax abatement. Who represents us in the County? You people don't,the County Council <br /> can't represent us because they are for the people of the County and they have nothing to do with <br /> 11 <br />