Road 5 protestors picket Putnam courthouse

“We are sending a message to Putnam County officials that we are strong and many in number,” said organizer Paul Burkholder. “We are not going away.”The expansion of Road 5 has been in contention for several months, with numerous property owners refusing to sign over land the county needs for the expansion.The dispute began last summer when residents began receiving official notices about the planned widening of the road. The proposed project is to widen 11.2 miles of Road 5 from Road E to state Route 12 in Pandora. The road, now 20 feet wide, would become 24 feet wide with a 2-feet wide stone shoulder on both sides. Because the existing right-of-way is generally 40 feet, the county has been acquiring additional 10 feet of right of way on each side from property owners.After failing to reach agreements with all the property owners for the first phase of the project, U.S. 224 to Road E, the Putnam County Commissioners approved resolutions to appropriate these properties.“We want people to know that eminent domain could happen to them,” Burkholder said.Andy Borgelt, of Pandora, said owners along Road 5 were excluded from the beginning of the process.“They had public meetings in 2000 and sent notices to a handful of businesses and government officials but no notices to people along the road,” Borgelt said. “That bothers me.” April Nienberg said the expansion would take part of her grandpa’s property.“That’s why I’m here protesting,” she said. “I’m against this expansion.”Linda Core, who lives along Road 5 within Pandora limits, said the sound of truck noise and brakes cause items to shake in her house.“My father-in-law was a truck driver,” she said. “I have nothing against truck drivers. I just don’t think it’s necessary to have all these trucks use Road 5 as their route.”Last Tuesday, several of these same residents were at Pandora Council speaking up against the plans for Road 5 within town. Several voiced that the sharp turns trucks have to make at state Route 12 and Road 5 at Ted’s Market causes a hazard. Currently the county has no plans on this intersection.“I feel taxpayer’s money could be used in a better way like for flood control or more sheriff deputies,” Burkholder said.“If we can get more volunteers to stand out here with signs, we’ll be back,” Borgelt said.