(LANSING) - Michigan lawmakers are taking new steps to finally clarify the state's 110-mile border with Indiana -- a line that hasn't been officially surveyed since 1827. Most of the original wooden markers have rotted away, leaving parts of the boundary uncertain. A state commission launched in 2022 has tried to restart the effort, but early attempts to hire private surveyors fell flat. Now, Senator Jonathan Lindsey of Coldwater has introduced a bill allowing county surveyors in Michigan's five border counties to split the job into smaller sections. The plan passed in the Michigan Senate unanimously and extends the deadline to 2030.
Surveyors will re-establish at least 100 mile markers and resolve about ten disputed areas identified in a recent review. Several small communities, including the town of Ray, sit directly along the unclear line. Once complete, the border will be clearly marked to avoid future disputes.