HOBART | Enbridge project director Thomas Hodge couldn't turn down an offer by Jack Schwerin to meet with him on his Hobart property to better address concerns about a replacement pipeline.
"The slope behind our property isn't construction friendly. We'll meet with you and we'll walk around," Schwerin said.
Schwerin and a number of his neighbors who live in the Valley Oaks Estates subdivision came to an information meeting Tuesday at Southlake Workshop Center in Hobart to look at maps with the proposed route of the pipeline and to ask questions.
"We felt heard," Schwerin said.
Discussion at the informal meeting focused on Enbridge Energy's Line 6B Replacement Project that will be routed through parts of Hobart.
The project begins near Griffith and extends across northern Indiana to Michigan. Construction is slated to begin next year, Enbridge Community Relations Adviser Jennifer Smith said.
Concerns of the Valley Oaks Estates residents include losing a number of oak trees during construction of the pipeline.
"It will wipe out the trees behind us. We're concerned about the integrity of our property," resident Chuck Gabriel said.
Another concern is for the safety of the underground wells that service the seven to eight properties off 62nd Place, residents Wendi and Larry Boos said.
Schwerin said both he and Gabriel plan to spell out all their concerns at the morning meeting Wednesday with Hodge.
"No matter which way the pipeline goes, it will impact somebody," Schwerin said.
Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor, who hosted the meeting, thanked those who attended.
"When you have a project of this magnitude there will be some tough questions to answer," Snedecor said.
Snedecor said he believes the fact Hodge agreed to meet separately with residents speaks volumes.
"They do care about the community," Snedecor said.
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