I moved to Fishers in 1991 and recall at least one instance when a town council election was cancelled.  Why?  Because no Democrats were on the ballot.  There had been contests in the Republican primary election, but all those emerging from the GOP primary went on to be elected with no opposition in November.

About 6 years ago, I recorded a podcast with Greg Purvis and Joe Weingarten, two men that had run as Democrats in Fishers, about the future of their party locally.  They were optimistic.  Others at the time were skepitical.

Although Republicans are still in clear control of local government, there have been more Democratic candidates in recent years and there are two Democrats currently with seats on the Fishers City Council.

Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Dayna Colbert issued a news release Friday touting the number of Democrats on the ballot this year in Fishers.  They are: Incumbent Councilors Jocelyn Vare (At-Large) and Crystal Neumann (North Central), joined by candidates Howard Stevenson ( At-Large); Bill McLellan (North West); Lane Skeeters (South Central); Bill Stuart (South West); and Samantha Chapman (North East). In addition, Janet Pritchett is running for Fishers City Clerk.

“We are incredibly excited to offer citizens better representation in November with this strong, qualified group of candidates,” said Colbert in a party news release.  “These talented candidates reflect the desires of today’s Fishers community: accelerating positive changes to make Fishers the best place in Indiana for all to live, work and raise a family.”

Even with the most candidates ever on the general election ballot for 2023, Democrats still have no candidate for the top spot.  So far, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness has no opposition in the primary or general election.

A statement posted on the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Web site Friday morning says the board  is supporting the $5.7 million mental health grant from the federal government.  “We want to voice our strong support for acceptance of this five-year grant,” according to the statement.

At Wednesday night’s school board meeting, after a long discussion and much public comment, board member Tiffany Pascoe offered a motion to reject the grant, a point of order was asserted about whether a vote could be taken on an information agenda item, and the board did not take a second to the motion or a vote on the issue.

Here is the full statement issued on behalf of the HSE Board:

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On behalf of the HSE Board of School Trustees, I want first to express my gratitude to members of our school community who took the time in recent days to give feedback and information about the mental health grant that our school administration secured on behalf of district students.

We all agree that supporting the mental health needs of our 21,000 students is critical to providing an exceptional educational experience that prepares them for future success. We all are proud of the work already produced by the City of Fishers and key community partners through the Stigma Free Fishers mental health initiative.

To that end, we want to voice our strong support for acceptance of this five-year grant. We look forward to working with Brooke Lawson and her mental health and school counseling team members to successfully implement the program. Moreover, our board wellness committee will support Dr. Stokes and her administration by ensuring alignment on any issues that arise and identifying potential gaps to be addressed throughout the life of the grant.

Budget oversight is a key responsibility of the board. Our fiduciary responsibility to the HSE Schools community is to ensure that financial commitments made now in acceptance of this grant are affordable five years from now. After meeting with the administration following Wednesday’s board meeting, we accept their commitment in working with the board to ensure that HSE’s budget is sound, and will adjust when necessary at the conclusion of this grant.

Wednesday night’s public work session and board meeting gave all board members an opportunity to seek greater understanding by asking questions about the proposed grant program. It also allowed us to provide open engagement and transparency, which is our goal with any topic that comes before the board. We were thoroughly impressed by the professionalism of HSE administrative staff during their presentation and public comments from interested parties.

This is a dynamic time for HSE Schools. Our partnership with the City of Fishers is strengthened by the opportunities we seek to provide our students. In fact, we look forward to announcing another project in the coming weeks that we believe will give our students a life-changing, new path to pursue their own success.

Thank you again for your support of HSE Schools!

The intersection of 116th Street and Allisonville Road was constructed in 1998, and the area has since grown substantially.  With that growth, the traffic count has also increased, causing backups, particularly during rush hours.  As a result, the City of Fishers has determined the best solution is a roundabout.

Joe Rengel of A&F Engineering and City Engineering Department Director Jason Taylor explained the plans for the project before 25-30 residents Thursday night at Riverside Intermediate School. Bids are expected to be opened in spring of 2024, with construction starting as early as late 2024.

However, Taylor says it will take an entire construction season to complete the project, normally April through November, meaning the work could slip into 2025.

The city owns land in the southeast part of the current intersection that could be used as part of the roundabout.  Rengel said the commercial enterprises on the other three corners will remain, although a small part of the current Shell gas station may be used.

$2.6 million in federal money will be utilized to fund this project.

Rengel pointed to traffic accident data at the intersection during the period of 2015-2017.  There were a total of 82 crashes during that timeline, with 4 fatalities and 6 resulting in less serious injuries.  He says roundabouts reduce severe accidents.

A roundabout at the intersection is projected to reduce fatal crashes by 65% and total accidents by 12%.

Rengel described the location as a “major utility corridor,” meaning dealing with the many utilities may be complex and take some time.

Church, Church, Hittle and Antrim (CCHA) has been the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District’s law firm for as long as I have covered the board, and that goes back 11 years.  Some say the relationship goes back as much as 16 years.

That all came to an end Wednesday night when the HSE School Board awarded the law contract to Indianapolis firm Barnes & Thornburg.  The vote was 5-2, with Sarah Donsbach and Sarah Parks-Reese voting no.

Before the vote was taken, former school board member Michelle Fullhart urged the board to postpone the vote, arguing that there was a lack of feedback from school administrators and one of the three bids was not provided to the public online.  That did not deter the board from moving on to the vote..

Sarah Parks-Reese cited an increase in legal costs as one reason for voting no.  Sarah Donsbach says there was no reason “for drastic change” in law firms.

It was a long discussion, featuring school board members, the public and administrators, but in the end, the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board ended-up taking no vote to reject a $5.7 million mental health grant.

29 people signed-up to speak for up to 2 minutes about the mental health award.  Among the 29, only four spoke against the grant.  Those in favor included students, mental health professionals and parents with children battling mental health issues.

The board conducted a work session and received a presentation from administrators detailing how the grant would work, and board members had questions.

When the public comment period was over during the regular session, there were questions from the board.  Then, board member Tiffany Pascoe tried to make a motion to reject the $5.7 million award.  A point of order was immediately invoked, saying this item was listed on the agenda as an information item, not one subject to a board vote.  Board President Dawn Lang asked for legal counsel, but no school attorney was in the room.

The board did not rule out a possible vote in a future meeting about accepting the mental health grant, but no vote was taken at Wednesday night’s session.

With the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board set to discuss the recent award of
$5.7 million for mental health services, Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch is sending congratulations to the local school district.

In a letter dated February 7 that Crouch sent to Superintendent Yvonne Stokes, it says, in part – “This grant will allow you and your staff to provide much needed supports to countless more students, which in turn, will help them continue to succeed in their academic pursuits.”

The Lieutenant Governor says in the missive that with the COVID-19 aftermath, support provided by the grant will be “life changing for many families.”

The HSE School Board plans a work session at 5pm Wednesday to discuss the $5.7 million dollar mental health award, and has an information item on the agenda for the regular board meeting starting Wednesday at 7pm to further discuss the grant.

While away dealing with personal matters, an important announcement came January 31st from the Fishers Arts & Culture Commission.  The commission issued awards to local arts groups.

The commission says the $50,750 in grants concentrated on nonprofits and other groups “that uplift the arts community within Fishers.”

The money provided to the commission is part of the city’s annual budget.  Individual organizations could receive up to $7,500 in this cycle, up from $5,000 the previous cycle.

• Emerging Pearls Foundation ($7,500) to host an inaugural event at Hub & Spoke showcasing various forms of artistry, including music, spoken word, dance, sculpture, painting, pastry arts, casting, photography, live performances, and black hair as an artform, with over 30 artists expected to participate. Emerging Pearls Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that supports initiatives regarding education, family advocacy, the arts, social justice, health and wellness, and economic stability.
  
  
• Fishers Arts Council ($7,500) to host monthly Second Friday gallery receptions at the FAC Gallery at the Hub located at the Hamilton County Community Foundation, along with musical groups at the Spark!Fishers Art & Car Show in June and Harvest Fest in September. Fishers Arts Council is a nonprofit whose mission is to support, advocate, and cultivate visual and performing arts.
   
• The Forgiving Sea Project ($7,500) to provide an interactive art installation and four public events during Mental Health Awareness Month in May. The art installation takes an innovative approach to healing. The Forgiving Sea Project is a nonprofit multi-media collaboration from Indianapolis artist Carolyn Springer and composer Joseph Lamm.
  
  
• St. George Middle Eastern Festival ($6,500) to bring an authentic Middle Eastern band and dance troupe to their 26^th annual St. George Middle Eastern Festival. The annual, multi-day festival is hosted by St. George Orthodox Christian Church every September.
  
  
• Shelley Feeney, Artist and Art Educator ($5,750) to host pop-up printshops showcasing unique patterns found around Fishers, and to educate the public and students on silk-screening, concluding with a public showcase. Shelley Feeney is a passionate artist and art educator within HSE Schools.
  
  
• 31Svn Dance Academy ($4,000) to host a multi-part dance battle event that combines art, education, and friendly competition, concluding with a championship battle. 31Svn (3-1-7) Street Dance Academy offers multiple classes and believes in empowering students with the art of street dance and hip-hop culture.
  
  
• Fishers Music Works ($4,000) to aid in the creation of a traveling public art sculpture featuring reclaimed musical instruments to honor the lives of Fishers residents Grant and Ashley Lansdell, who were tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident last year. Fishers Music Works is a not-for-profit whose mission is to foster the enjoyment and appreciation of music within Fishers.
  
  
• Resounding Joy ($4,000) to bring their Shine & Sing pediatric music therapy program to Fishers, including multiple sessions for children up to 10-years-old, along with caregiver classes. Resounding Joy Indiana is a nonprofit that provides music therapy.
  
  
• Shaunt’e Lewis Art LLC ($4,000) to provide art programming for students as part of the Juneteenth Jubilee celebration. Shaunt’e Lewis is a nationally recognized award-winning artist currently featured in Meijer® stores with the 2023 Black History Month collection.

For the first time in a long time, The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board is hearing proposals for legal services.  Church, Church, Hittle & Antrim (CCHA) has provided legal services to the HSE School District for many years, and is one of the finalists to continue in that role.

Jessica Billingsley did most of the talking as CCHA made its case before the board.

Barnes and Thornburg is one of the three finalists.  On hand was Chris Greisl, who has just joined the firm after a lengthy stint as Fishers City Attorney.

Kroger, Gardis & Regas was the third firm to make its case before the board.  Attorney Seamus Boyce, who advised the school corporation while working for CCHA many years ago, explained how his firm would serve the interests of the district.

Board members had a few questions, but no board member provided any indication of which firm might have the best chance of landing this contract.  The board has set aside an information item to discuss the proposals at Wednesday night’s regular board session.

With all the offices up for election in 2023, you would think there would be a number of primary races in the Fishers city elections, but now that the filing deadline has come and gone, only the City Clerk election will have a primary contest.

Jennifer Kehl has been City Clerk since Fishers transformed from a town to a city.  She is being challenged in the Republican primary by Rachel Segars, wife of City Councilor Pete Peterson.  Janet Pritchett, former Hamilton Southeastern School Board member, has filed to run as a Democrat for City Clerk in the November general election.

Mayor Scott Fadness has no opposition, Republican or Democrat, as the filing period closed.

There are other offices that have only one candidate in the race.  City Judge Dan Henke is seeking another term in office.  Pete Peterson has no opponent in the Southeast City Council District.

There are some interesting election contests coming up in November.

All three City Council at-large incumbents are running for re-election – Republicans Todd Zimmerman and Cecilia Coble, along with Democrat Jocelyn Vare, are on the ballot.  Republican Tiffanie Ditlevson is running at large.  Democrat Howard Stevenson, current President of the Fishers Plan Commission, has also thrown his hat in the ring for an at-large seat on the Council.

In the Northeast Council District, incumbent Brad DeReamer initially announced he would not seek another term.  Former Muncie Mayor Dan Canan announced his intention to run, then DeReamer did an about-face and decided to run for re-election.  Canan then withdrew his candidacy.  Democrat Samantha Chapman has filed to run for that Council seat in the November general election.

In the Southwest Council District, David Giffel is the incumbent.  He was placed on the Council by a Republican caucus when David George resigned his seat.  Giffel will face Democrat, and Fishers Plan Commission member, Bill Stuart in November.

Current Council President John Weingardt is running for re-election.  His opponent in the November balloting will be Democrat Lane Skeeters.

Democrat Crystal Neumann is seeking a full term on the council.  She was designated to fill out the term of Samantha DeLong, who resigned her council seat when her family moved out of state.  In November, Neumann will face Republican, and former Hamilton Southeastern School Board member, John DeLucia.

Republican Selina Stoller is seeking another term in the Northwest District.  She will face Democrat Bill McLellan in November.

So, only one primary election in May for the Fishers City Election, but a number of contested races are shaping-up for the November general election.

On January 25, I posted that personal matters would take me away from blogging for a while.  That was the time my mom, Mary Lou Lannan, was placed in hospice care.  She  lived a good, long life at age 92 and passed on January 26.

My mom was the most intelligent person I ever knew.  Had she been born 20-30 years later, I could see her running a nonprofit or going to law school.  But at the time she married my dad in 1950, she devoted herself to being a mom.  She was very good at it.

I will always remember her smile and everything she taught me and my five siblings.  The one message she always gave me was this – never hold a grudge, life is too short.  She lived by that credo and I have strived to meet that goal all my life.

It was good to be around my family as we buried my mom.  It was therapeutic to be around so many good people wanting to honor her life.

I want to sincerely thank many readers of this blog and a number of people that I cover in my reporting.  So many of you reached out with thoughts of sympathy.  Every single one was  so much appreciated by my family and myself.

I still have much to  do in handling my mom’s affairs and estate, but it is time for me to head back to my computer and start writing again, covering local Fishers news.  I have some catching-up to do and may not post as often as I ease back into my volunteer activity.  But there is so much going on and I will do my best to let people in Fishers know what’s happening here, as best I can.

Thanks for your patience.  Thanks for reading.