Eminent Domain

South Bend Mayor James Mueller says Oliver Davis Jr.'s bill to pause the Midwest Continental Divide Trail project is 'riddled with false and misleading claims.'

The Midwest Continental Divide Trail project seeks to develop a pedestrian path for eco-tourism through rural western St. Joseph County. Farmers are angry and vow to continue fighting the project until elected leaders give up on it.

St. Joseph County Council President Bryan Tanner says the Midwest Continental Divide Trail would have largely used rights-of-way that edges private property, like abandoned railways, but he understands people come to view that as their property since they maintain it.

Some property owners in Northern Indiana are preparing to face eminent domain battles as plans for South Shore Rail Line improvements move forward this…