SOUTH BEND — There was not an empty seat in the South Bend Common Council chambers as members of the public flooded the space in apparent support of a resolution that had been previously vetoed by South Bend Mayor James Mueller.
The Common Council voted 7-0 without discussion to override Mueller’s veto of the bill that pauses enactment of the controversial Midwest Continental Divide Trail, which county officials tabled in July. Fourth district council member Heidi Beidinger was quick to call the motion, which led to the council’s vote.
“This was never about not wanting trails. Everybody wants trails. We all want green space,” Beidinger said. “That’s not what this was about. It was about transparency and planning. $40 million is a gift to this community.”
Beidinger added, “It was always about the process.”
Immediately after the vote passed to override his veto, Mueller released a statement criticizing the vote.
“I vetoed this resolution because it misstates what state law actually does, and tonight’s vote doesn’t change that,” he said. “This project is still years from a shovel, and I look forward to the work ahead with our state and local partners.”
The council passed the original resolution July 27, with at-large member Rachel Tomas Morgan voting against it and 6th district member Sheila Neizgodski abstaining from the discussion and vote. Both were absent from Monday’s meeting.
Mueller vetoed the resolution, Bill 26-21, on Aug. 6.
“I will never sign any document that I know contains false claims,” he said in a press release announcing the veto. “Bill 26-21 is riddled with false and misleading claims.”
Other reactions
It’s unclear what will happen next. Council President Canneth Lee told The Tribune, “This is all kind of new,” when asked about what could happen with the resolution. He added that because neither the county nor the state have taken any further action on enacting the trail, the resolution is “non-binding.”
Tomas Morgan said in email late Monday afternoon that previous travel plans prevented her from attending the meeting but that her opposition to the resolution remains the same today as on July 27.
“As members of the city’s legislative branch, words should matter,” she said in the email. “I base my vote on words in the bill. My opposition could have rested on the sole fact that the County had paused further action on the Midwest Trail at the time, and there was no further action for the Common Council to take, deeming the resolution unnecessary in my opinion. But there was also significant misleading information, bordering on disinformation, present in the resolution for me to oppose the resolution in full. When the time comes for the Common Council to deliberate next steps in the Midwest Continental Divide Trail, I am confident in our Council’s authority and ability to properly deliberate zoning and eminent domain with transparency and public input.”
Tomas Morgan added, “Anything more at this time is just attention grabbing during the start of election season.”
Email Tribune staff writer Juliane Balog at jbalog@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend Common Council overrides Mayor Mueller’s trail veto
Reporting by Juliane Balog , South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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By Juliane Balog , South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
