Midwest Continental Divide Trail

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.'

South Bend Mayor James Mueller has through Thursday to sign or veto a common council measure calling on the city to pause its work on the Midwest Continental Divide Trail project.

The South Bend Common Council Monday night voted 7-1 to pause the city's involvement in work to develop the Midwest Continental Divide Trail project, despite a veto threat from the Mayor James Mueller administration.

St. Joseph County Commissioners Tuesday announced they'll appoint an independent counsel to review allegations against economic development director Bill Schalliol and area plan director Shawn Klein. Commissioners were not specific but said the allegations involve the Midwest Continental Divide Trail project and a solar farm.

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.