ANDERSON — On the day before the Anderson City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed Mounds Lake Commission, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said there is merit to the concept.
“From the time I was in Congress representing east central Indiana, I thought there was much merit to the concept,” Pence said Wednesday during an interview with The Herald Bulletin.
“It’s all about the details and making sure that it’s the kind of project that is developed on the basis of consensus across the region in Delaware and Madison counties,” he said. “That people buy into that vision. I’ve always been intrigued by it.”
The City Council is to consider on Thursday an ordinance that would make Anderson the first local government entity to join the commission which is being created to move the reservoir project into the next stage.
On May 28, the City Council passed an enabling ordinance through one of the three required readings and could finalize approval tonight.
Pence said the project could offer both an important water resource for central Indiana and an opportunity for economic development in the Anderson area.
“The vision for that reservoir serves both the long-term water interests of the state of Indiana, something we’re talking more and more about, … (and) the opportunity to develop this region in a fresh way that will attract new investment and attract people to the community,” Pence said.
The Anderson Corporation for Economic Development proposed the 2,100-acre reservoir in 2013 could extend from Anderson to Yorktown at a projected cost of $450 million. Proponents contend the reservoir will provide water needs in central Indiana in the next 35 years and attract investment.
Opponents say there is no stated customer for the water, that it would damage Mounds State Park and the reservoir would not hold water because of sand and gravel.
Pence said he was familiar with the project site.
“There are so many great things about east central Indiana,” he said. “I represented this area for 12 years. I know every nook and cranny and the great people who are located here.
“I’m interested in whatever is appropriate for the state to make it possible for these communities to explore this in an appropriate way,” Pence continued.
The state provided $600,000 to help fund the first two feasibility studies for the reservoir project and could provide additional funding for the estimated $28 million Phase 3 study.
“We’ll look at what is appropriate and talk with members of the General Assembly who represent this area.” Pence said. “We provided some resources for the first two phases and will take a fair look at it.”
Pence said he realized while representing the Madison County area in the U.S House how much of a focus there is on water west of the Mississippi River.
A long-term water strategy is necessary, he said, as the state population grows. “We want to make sure we have the kind of water resources in our state that will meet the broad range needs of the people in our state.”