$4.2M plaza plan unveiled near relocated barn at Purdue's Squirrel Park
Plaza space planned outside barn/restaurant concept at Discovery Park. Plus, Tippecanoe County jail among those hit when DOC runs out of cash to house state inmates. YWCA names Salute to Women winners
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$4.2M SQUIRREL PARK PLAN UNVEILED NEAR RELOCATED, 20th CENTURY BARN GOING UP AT PURDUE’S DISCOVERY PARK DISTRICT
As work continues to reassemble a relocated, 20th century barn in Purdue’s Discovery Park District, initial plans for a plaza, playground and other public spaces at Squirrel Park were outlined Wednesday by the Purdue Research Foundation.
The $4.2 million project, expected to start in April and wrap up by fall 2025, is part of what PRF is developing as an indoor-outdoor experience to complement plans for restaurant space in the 10,600-square-foot barn once it’s finished, Jeremy Slater, PRF vice president of capital projects and facilities, told the West Lafayette Redevelopment Commission Wednesday morning.
“We’re really trying to activate the Discovery Park District with the public,” Slater said. “It’s not just for Purdue, but also for the Greater Lafayette community.”
Slater presented the plans to the redevelopment commission because infrastructure costs for the improvements will be reimbursed under an agreement between PRF and the city, paid for through increased property tax revenues generated in the $1 billion live-work-play Discovery Park District on the western edge of campus.
Slater said work at Squirrel Park, near the southeast corner of Airport Road and Mitch Daniels Boulevard, would include pedestrian paths, a plaza, a shade stage and pavilion, landscaping, lighting, utilities and parking. He said PRF was working with a plan that would maintain the deciduous trees in the park.
Purdue Trustee Sonny Beck, CEO of Beck’s Hybrids, in 2021 donated the barn, which once stood in Sheridan, about 15 miles from the seed company’s home in Atlanta, Indiana. Built in 1938 to keep horses, the 72-by-142-foot barn was 45 feet tall and had been relegated to storage. Beck and his family gave the barn to Purdue, along with $100,000 to help pay to dismantle, move and reassemble it on campus.
In 2021, an architect worked with Purdue professors who specialize in wood science to identify the lumber used to build the barn and determine its strength. Each piece of lumber was 3D scanned, cleaned and tested, before it was stored for reassembly at Purdue. PRF officials have said the project called for fitting the working barn with insulation, a fire suppression system, new roofing and other renovations to make the space ready for a restaurant.
In 2024, PRF signed Indianapolis-based Cunningham Restaurant Group to develop a restaurant concept for the barn. Cunningham has a BRU Burger location at Second and Main streets in downtown Lafayette, along with a range of concepts in the Indianapolis area, including Mesh, Rize, Stonecreek Dining Company, Vida, Livery and Tavern at the Point.
Editor’s note: The following story originally appeared Wednesday, Feb. 19, in the Indiana Capital Chronicle. Here’s a link to this story and other coverage of the Statehouse and state issues by the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
COUNTY JAILS ON THE HOOK AS STATE STOPS PAYING PRISONER COSTS. TIPPECANOE COUNTY SHERIFF GOLDSMITH: ‘IT’S VERY DISAPPOINTING’
Niki Kelly / Indiana Capital Chronicle
The Indiana Department of Correction has run out of money to pay county jails for holding low-level felons and state prisoners.
County jails haven’t received payments in months, and there are still four months left in the July-to-June fiscal year.
“It’s very disappointing,” said Tippecanoe County Sheriff Bob Goldsmith, who is also president of the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association. “As far as on their end, and why they’re not able to pay, I don’t understand that part of it enough to even get mad.”
Indiana Department of Correction Spokeswoman Annie Goeller confirmed Monday that “funding for this expense has been exhausted for State Fiscal Year 2025. IDOC is working with the State Budget Agency on available options. We are continuing to communicate with counties about this issue.”
The appropriation in the current state budget, which ends June 30, was $34 million annually for the county jail maintenance contingency fund. The fund reimburses sheriffs for two groups of offenders: anyone convicted of a Level 6 felony, as well as anyone being held on higher felonies or parole for IDOC.
Of that amount, up to $25.3 million was set aside for the Level 6 felons at a rate of $40 per day. This group of offenders used to be sent to state prisons until a criminal justice overhaul in 2013. After that, low-level felons were kept in local jails at state expense.
IDOC said it spent $34.6 million in fiscal year 2024 and $34 million already in fiscal year 2025.
Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon, said he was surprised to find out Monday, during a committee hearing for unrelated legislation, that IDOC had run out of money. He told that Capital Chronicle on Tuesday that lawmakers will offer back pay and increase the per diem rate.
“Everything owed will be paid,” he said.
Ongoing issue
Goldsmith just found out about the lack of money last week. The last time his county was paid by the state was in August, which was the March billing.
He said on Tuesday that his jail currently has 30 offenders waiting to be transferred to IDOC or serving their Level 6 sentence — and the county is getting no reimbursement.
Goldsmith said he is glad to hear lawmakers are considering an increase in the per diem rate of $40 in the next state budget. The House Republican version hikes the rate to $43 a day.
“I’m just appreciative that they’re willing to sit at the table and have these conversations,” he said.
Steve Luce, executive director of the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association, said he is focusing on getting a new billing system in place for the next fiscal year. Luce said the current system involves a formula instead a true billing system using actual counts.
He’s also seeking an increase. Luce noted it costs the state $79 a day to house a prisoner, so IDOC is saving money by leaving prisoners in county jails.
He said that overall, there are about 2,500 IDOC holds annually, and they stay for varying lengths of time depending on their sentence.
“I don’t think they underestimated it. I think they did, but not on purpose, because we have had some changes,” Luce said. “We haven’t had a consistent formula.”
The association will continue to push for an increase in the budget “because we are still losing money, and it’s coming on the taxpayers. So, what we’re trying to do is be fair and also work with them through the things that need to be fixed.”
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YWCA NAMES 2025 SALUTE TO WOMEN WINNERS
The YWCA Greater Lafayette announced nine who will be recognized March 6 for the organization’s 51st “Salute to Women” for their behind-the-scenes work in the community.
“We are proud to honor the remarkable women who make a lasting impact in our community,” Lindsey Mickler, YWCA Greater Lafayette president and CEO, said in a release. “Since 1974, YWCA has recognized women for their contributions. We live in a community that values culture, education and service, and it’s important to remember that countless women continue to shape the quality of life here through their vision, leadership and dedication.”
The winners this year include:
Evelyn (Evie) Shepler is a student leader at Wea Ridge Middle School and is being honors as the Salute’s Rising Star. She’s on Student Council and the Bring Change 2 Mind Club at Wea Ridge. Her community service efforts include organizing supply drives for a local pet shelter and preparing meals for guests at the LUM warming station.
Mercy Orukpe Moses, a biological sciences Ph.D. student at Purdue. She’s being recognized as the Salute’s Woman of Promise for her work in mentoring women in STEM fields and working with students to balance academics with pregnancy and shares critical prenatal care resources with those in need.
Among the Salute’s Women of Distinction:
Brenda Campbell is an academic advisor at Ivy Tech Community College. A lifelong member of the NAACP, she volunteers with Food Finders, Lafayette Transitional Housing Center and the Indiana Black Expo.
Mary Cutler has spent 40 years as a naturalist and environmental educator with the Tippecanoe County Parks and Recreation Department, working with generations of residents and preparing teachers to educate students on topics such as watersheds, ecology, fisheries and habitats. She also offers Indiana Master Naturalist courses for adults.
Iris Goldfeder is CEO of Gas Stove Creative and is the co-founder of Unmasking Lafayette, a nonprofit organization that raises funds annually for pressing social issues. The organization has raised over $10,000 each year to support causes such as domestic violence prevention, child advocacy, mental health resources for first responders and LGBTQ initiatives.
Mida Grover is a Spanish teacher at Lafayette Jefferson High School. She founded La Flor, now known as the Latino Coalition/Latino Center for Wellness and Education. A former president of the Tippecanoe County Public Library Board, she’s been an advocate for young Latino students.
Julia Leahy is director of development for the city of Delphi and the former executive director of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, working to foster economic development and connect local businesses in the Delphi area.
Cara Putnam is the director of the Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Business and is a clinical associate professor in business law, communications and ethics at Purdue, honored as a steadfast advocate for young women pursuing careers in business.
Eileen Hession Weiss is former Lafayette city clerk and now a Lafayette City Council member. She’s being honored as the Salute’s Mary Keller Ade Woman of Wisdom for her roles in managing capital campaigns for Lafayette Urban Ministry, along with her dedication to community service, music ministry and civic leadership.
The Salute to Women will be March 6 at The Stables Event Center. For more information, contact the YWCA Greater Lafayette at 765-742-0075.
THIS AND THAT/OTHER READS …
J&C reporter Ron Wilkins had this on an investigation of a suspected murder-suicide discovered when a Tippecanoe County deputy was called to check on a home on Division Road. As of Wednesday afternoon, the coroner had identified the David Hoshaw, 85, of Lafayette, but had not positively identified a woman in her 80s. More details here, via the J&C: “Suspected murder-suicide investigated by Tippecanoe coroner, sheriff's office.”
The J&C also had details on arrests of two men involved in road rage incidents that involved gunshots over the weekend: “Lafayette police arrest 2 in separate, recent road rage-related shootings.”
SK hynix named company Vice President Lee Woong-sun to lead the South Korean semiconductor manufacturer’s $3.87 billion R&D and chip packaging facility planned in West Lafayette, The Korea Herald reported Tuesday. SK hynix announced plans in April 2024 to bring production of high-bandwidth memory used to feed the artificial intelligence market to West Lafayette by the second half of 2028 and eventually create an estimated 1,000 jobs. The facility will be near Yeager Road, about a half-mile north of Kalberer Road, in the Purdue Research Park. Here’s more on the leadership announcement: “SK hynix names VP to lead US chip packaging plant.”
Senate Bill 1 cleared the Senate this week with cuts in property taxes for Indiana homeowners, but it didn’t go far enough to guarantee the signature from Gov. Mike Braun. Reporter Whitney Downard, writing for the Indiana Capital Chronicle, had this: “Indiana senators on Monday voted to move forward with a proposal for property tax relief over the qualms of Democrats and Indianapolis Republicans. The bipartisan coalition wasn’t enough to defeat the measure, which moved on a 37-10 vote and will get further consideration in the House. Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, spearheaded the effort, which originally mirrored the proposal promoted by Gov. Mike Braun on the campaign trail. Earlier this month, Holdman introduced a measure that mitigated some of the losses local units of government would have seen under that proposal, bringing the impact down from $1.2 billion to just shy of $300 million in the first year followed by $800 million the second year. But Gov. Mike Braun pushed back on the measure on social media: ‘I want to be clear on a key point — a real tax cut means taxpayers keep more, and government takes in less. SB1 doesn’t cut taxes for homeowners hit hardest by skyrocketing assessments since 2020 — it just slows down how fast their bills will increase next year.’” Here’s more from the Indiana Capital Chronicle: “Senate advances property tax relief over bipartisan opposition. Gov. Mike Braun: ‘This bill has a long way to go before it gets my signature.’”
The local impact: the Legislative Services Agency came out with fresh estimates for what tax cuts could mean for taxpayers – an overall shift ranging from $238.9 million in 2026 to $687.5 million in 2028 – and for each city, school corporation, township and county. For cities, schools and other government taxing districts in Tippecanoe County, overall, the estimated numbers in reduced property tax revenues tied to Senate Bill 1, as first introduced, would have ranged from $23.9 million in 2026 to as much as $38.8 million in 2028. Under the amended version of SB1, that range – in taxpayer savings and revenue loss for local units of government – was $7.5 million in 2026 to $24.2 million in 2028 in Tippecanoe County, according to updated figures published Tuesday by the Legislative Services Agency. Here's a comparison chart of the revenues in play in SB1 schools, cities and more in Tippecanoe County, as introduced and as amended:
In Indiana’s look at annexing counties looking to secede from Illinois, this is from Kayla Dwyer at the Indianapolis Star: “An Indiana House committee nearly unanimously approved House Speaker Todd Huston's only bill this session, starting a conversation about annexing some Illinois counties should they secede from their home state. Though Huston frequently rattles off economic statistics and says such a move cannot be ‘based upon politics,’ an argument at the heart of the discussion strikes an inherently political tone and clearly held appeal across party lines on Monday: representation in state government. ‘The colonial battle cry, 'no taxation without representation,' is our reality,’ said G.H. Merritt, chair of the nonprofit New Illinois, a group whose primary goal is forming an entirely new state. ‘We thank the leadership of Indiana for recognizing our pain.’” For more: “Indiana lawmakers advance Illinois secession bill. Why some Democrats voted for it.”
Indiana Capital Chronicle reporter Leslie Bonilla Muñiz had this on an immigration crackdown bill at the Statehouse: “A bill moving through Indiana’s House would further loop all levels of Hoosier government into federal immigration enforcement while cracking down on the state’s employers. Lawmakers advanced it Monday on a 9-4, party-line vote, after three-dozen witnesses spoke for more than three hours. … (The) legislation builds on a 2011 law requiring local cooperation with federal authorities like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Lawmakers added to the law last year, when they gave Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita authority to sue so-called ‘sanctuary cities’ for policies interrupting such cooperation.” For more on what the bill would do: “Indiana panel advances AG-backed immigration crackdown. The legislation firmly pulls local units of government into immigration enforcement and takes aim at employers.”
Indiana Capital Chronicle’s Casey Smith reported on the fate (for now) of House Bill 1628, which would have gone a long way to give state control over where to put large-scale utility infrastructure projects, including water systems, wind energy and gas pipelines. The bill had considerable pushback from local officials – including many in the Lafayette region – who were concerned that the bill would strip their ability to approve or deny projects. As Smith reports, the concept still has some lawmakers looking for ways to deal with the state’s energy supply, if there’s a way to strike a balance. Here’s more: “Opposition brings likely end to Indiana utility siting bill, but the issue isn’t going away.”
WYFI reporter Dylan Peers McCoy took a closer look at a lawsuit from 17 state attorneys general, including Indiana’s Todd Rokita, that asks the court to rule that Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 exceeds federal authority. That landmark civil rights law — which applies to organizations that receive federal funding such as hospitals and schools — prohibits discrimination based on disability. According to the account: “Conservative attorneys general in 17 states filed a lawsuit in September that they say aims to reverse a Biden-era regulation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that could extend protection under Section 504 to people with gender dysphoria.” Here’s more: “Indiana is one of 17 states suing over a federal law that protects students with disabilities.”
Purdue Exponent’s Avery Goldthorpe had news that resident assistants, who have been rallying to form a union on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, will have private bedrooms beginning in fall 2025. The university stopped short of recognizing the RA’s union, but the crowded situation in Purdue dorms that led to the shared rooms was among the beefs stirring the move to organize. Here’s more: “University caves to union's demand, RAs to go without roommates next year.”
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So at the same time that the state can't afford to pay localities for jail use the state is proposing to force localities into immigration enforcement? Lots of unfunded mandates coming from the statehouse and our AG.
Nothing says "welcome, high tech innovators" better than a disused horse barn