Three committees of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board met this week to prepare for the board’s regular monthly session, scheduled for Wednesday, June 11 at 6:00 p.m.

One of the key items on the agenda is the proposed purchase of 678 new Dell laptop computers. While the retail price for each unit is $899.99, the school district secured a discounted rate of $725.99 per laptop. The total cost will be covered using bond proceeds.

Also on the agenda is a new custodial services contract. Unlike previous one-year agreements, the proposal calls for a three-year contract. Facilities Director Matt Rapp told board committee members that 10 vendors submitted complete proposals, and a recommended selection has been made by a school district committee. While the final cost of the contract was not yet available, Rapp said he will provide that information at Wednesday’s meeting.

Board members will also consider a $378,000 project to rebuild two chiller units at Fishers High School. According to Rapp, the rebuild is expected to extend the life of both units by an additional 10 to 12 years.

Rapp also updated the committees on a wide range of summer construction projects currently underway at several HSE school facilities.

“If you drive by our buildings, you are going to see a lot of activity,” said HSE Superintendent Patrick Mapes.

A proposal to build a “motor suite” complex on Sunlight Drive—just north of 96th Street and east of I-69—was unanimously rejected by the Fishers Planned Unit Development (PUD) Committee on Wednesday afternoon. The developer had pitched the project as a secure facility where car enthusiasts could store and showcase their prized vehicles.

After a presentation by city staff and the petitioner, the first sign of opposition came from Fishers Economic Development Director Megan Baumgartner, who expressed concerns about the project’s compatibility with the area. Fishers City Councilor Pete Peterson offered stronger criticism, saying the proposal was “a giant miss for me” and did not align with the city’s vision for that location. He also questioned whether the land would need to be rezoned for the intended use.

Baumgartner emphasized the high value of the parcel and questioned whether a motor suite represented the best use of the property.

The committee ultimately voted 5-0 to reject the plan.

City officials noted that the developer has two options if they wish to pursue the project further: resubmit a revised version to the PUD Committee or appeal the decision to the Fishers Plan Commission.

While the motor suite proposal was denied, two other items on the agenda received unanimous approval. The committee greenlit The Crossings, a retail and restaurant development featuring two buildings expected to house eateries near the Fishers Event Center. A proposal for a new medical office building on Jack Walker Lane—north of the Southeastern Parkway roundabout near 156th Street—was also approved.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) will have a new president as of July 1 .  As I reported here on May 21, Tyler Zerbe will become president of the local teachers union, replacing Abby Taylor, who completes 2 terms as president at the end of June.

In an e-mail exchange, Taylor tells LarryInFishers that with a daughter entering her senior year in high school, it is time to focus on her family responsibilities.

“Leading one of the state’s largest teachers’ unions is a responsibility I have never taken lightly,” Taylor writes. “It requires dedication, time, and energy—just as my family does. I’ve come to realize that I cannot give my full attention to both, and in order to honor my commitment to each, I must make space for one.”

Tyler Zerbe was elected by the HSEA membership to lead HSEA as its president, as of July 1.

Motorists traveling through the 146th Street and Allisonville Road area should prepare for temporary closures and lane reductions beginning the evening of Monday, June 9, as crews implement a new phase of construction.  The change had originally been set earlier, but weather forecasts resulted in new plans.

According to a government announcement, the phase switch is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. Monday, and will involve movement restrictions lasting into early Tuesday morning.

Here is the expected schedule and impact:

• 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., June 9: One lane of traffic in each direction on 146th Street will be closed within the construction zone. Crews will place temporary pavement markings and adjust barrier walls during this period.

• 10:00 p.m., June 9 to 5:00 a.m., June 10: All ramps between 146th Street and Allisonville Road will be fully closed. One lane will remain open on 146th Street using the bridge over Allisonville. Northbound and southbound Allisonville Road will also be reduced to one lane under the bridge. A short closure of Allisonville Road around 10:00 p.m. is expected as crews remove a traffic signal.

• 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., June 10: Ramps will reopen, but the north and south entries of the roundabout will be closed briefly for final pavement markings. Vehicles using the northeast and southwest ramps will only be able to turn right onto Allisonville Road during this time.

• 6:00 a.m., June 10: All lanes and movements are scheduled to fully reopen.

Officials urge drivers to avoid the area if possible during the overnight work and to use caution if traveling through the construction zone. Delays are expected, particularly during the lane and ramp closures.

The traffic changes are part of the ongoing infrastructure improvement project in the are

You may have noticed construction activity next to the Forum Credit Union headquarters, just a short distance from the Fishers Event Center. That site is the future home of The Union, a major new development by Thompson Thrift. On Wednesday morning, city officials, Thompson Thrift representatives, and other stakeholders gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness addressed the crowd, expressing his enthusiasm for what this development represents. He pointed to the growing synergy among The Union, the neighboring Fishers District, and the new Event Center as a sign of the city’s unique momentum.

“This is going to be a place like no other in the state of Indiana,” Fadness said. He praised Thompson Thrift Managing Partner Ashlee Boyd for his vision and collaboration in bringing both Fishers District and The Union to life.

Boyd spoke about the decade-long process to get the project underway, which included early negotiations with residents of the longtime Springdale Estates neighborhood. He also thanked city officials for their continued support in making The Union a reality.

Representatives from two restaurants slated to open in The Union—Everbowl and Oakmont—also offered brief remarks.

The Union will feature:

• 57,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space

• 70,000 square feet of Class A office space

• A 135-room AC Hotel

• A central event plaza designed as a gathering space for both residents and visitors

Confirmed tenants so far include:

• Everbowl (superfood bowls and smoothies)

• Oakmont (modern American cuisine)

• Piedra, an upscale Mexican restaurant

• Niku Sushi.Kitchen.Bar, offering contemporary Japanese cuisine

• Kitchen Social, an internationally inspired polished-casual concept

• Racha Thai, a Thai dining experience

• Renova Aesthetics, a medical spa

• Sweathouz, a wellness facility focused on health and recovery treatments

The Union is scheduled to open in 2026.

Financing for the Fishers Community Center took a step forward Monday as the Fishers Redevelopment Commission held a legally required public hearing on bonds for the under-construction facility, which is expected to open later this year. No members of the public offered comments during the hearing.

State law mandates one additional public hearing, which is scheduled for the Commission’s next meeting on June 9.

City Controller Lisa Bradford informed Commission members that the $65 million bond issue is being pursued now to get ahead of changes to Indiana’s property tax laws, set to take effect July 1. The project is being developed through a “build-operate-transfer” (BOT) agreement, a public-private partnership model.

When asked about the potential impact on local property tax rates, Bradford said the city’s portion of the rate would remain unchanged. As older debt is retired, the new bonds will take its place, keeping the overall rate steady.

Trey Williams, now charged as an adult in connection with the traffic accident that took the life of former HSE High School football player Mason Alexander, has entered a not guilty plea and the judge has set his bond at $50,000.

For more on the story, read this from Current Publishing at this link.