The Fishers City Council finalized the Economic Development Bonds financing a multi family housing project on the grounds of the Gray Eagle Golf Course at Monday night’s meeting. The action provides a Tax increment Financing plan providing property tax incentives for the development plans.

During Community Comment at the end of the session, one person criticized the incentives provided, asking why Fishers needs this golf course.

In other items before the Council:

–Final approval was given to enact a revised property maintenance code.  Read the ordinance at this link.

–Biopharmaceutical firm 1Elevan received final approval for tax breaks allowing their move from California to the Exit 5 complex.

–A representative of the Windjammer neighborhood in the Geist area of Fishers made a presentation during Community Comment on efforts to handle E. Coli issues.  He explained how coordinating local, county and state agencies had been a challenge to address the neighborhoods concerns.  Council President Pete Peterson said he understands the frustration of the residents of that area, but bemoaned the fact that it is a challenge to get different agencies reporting to different places to coordinate a response.

–The Fishers High School Future Black Leaders Club spoke before the Council about their project, the local Juneteenth celebration last month at Conner Prairie.   Over 3,000 people attended that event.

Fishers City Council President Pete Peterson calls it an “imperfect solution,” but the best option available, as the Council unanimously approved a new ordinance Monday night to implement residential parking permits in select neighborhoods.

The measure is aimed at addressing parking concerns in areas near two locations along Lantern Road: north of 116th Street near the Al Huda Mosque and south of 116th Street near King Jugg. Under the ordinance, parking permits will be required on nearby residential streets during specific times—most notably, Friday prayers and the month of Ramadan (scheduled for February 17 through March 19 in 2026) near the mosque, and during peak hours of operation near King Jugg.

The specific streets subject to the new permit rules will be designated by the Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety, which meets twice monthly. The board is composed of Mayor Scott Fadness and his two appointees, Jeff Lantz and Steve Orusa.

During the public hearing, six individuals addressed the Council—five spoke in favor of the ordinance, while one voiced opposition.

The Fishers Police Department will manage the permit system, with a process in place for residents in affected areas to request permits. Police Chief Ed Gebhart emphasized the department’s goal is compliance, not punishment, but violators will face a $150 fine.

At the most recent Board of Works meeting, Mayor Fadness stated that the board could begin identifying the impacted streets as early as its next session on July 29.

You can read the ordinance language at this link.

Carl Boards II is facing the possibility of a death sentence in connection with the death of Elwood Police Officer Noah Shahnavaz in July of 2022.  Authorities are now planning to file additional charges against Boards related to allegations he attacked a prison guard.

For more details, read the story posted by television station WTHR at this link.

Fishers Freight head coach Dixie Wooten credited his players following the team’s fourth consecutive victory, a 49-40 win over the San Diego Strike Force Saturday night at the Fishers Event Center.

A lively crowd of more than 4,000 was on hand. After the game, Coach Wooten shared a message with the fans through reporter Eva Hallman: “Just keep supporting us.”

It’s been a roller-coaster season for the Freight. After opening the year with two wins, the team endured a nine-game losing streak before turning things around with a four-game winning run. Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, the Freight played with energy, and the home crowd responded with enthusiastic support throughout the night.

San Diego opened the scoring but missed the extra point. The first quarter ended with Fishers holding a narrow 14-13 lead.

The turning point came just before halftime. With six seconds left in the second quarter and the Freight ahead 27-20, San Diego attempted a deep pass into the end zone. Freight defensive back Aaron Jackson, known for his interception skills, picked off the pass and electrified the crowd by returning it the length of the field for a touchdown as time expired.

Another key to this win…no Fishers turnovers and the Freight limited their penalties, while the Strike Force were called for a number of yellow-flagged miscues.

The Strike Force entered the game having already clinched a playoff spot, but were battling for the chance to host a first-round matchup. The loss is a setback in those hopes.

The Freight now stand at 6-9 on the season. They’ll wrap up their year this Friday at home against the Iowa Barnstormers, once again at the Fishers Event Center.

Road construction continues at a rapid pace in and around the Fishers area in this summer season.  Look for some lane restrictions at the 146th Street & Allisonville Road construction site, and work on the west end of Municipal Drive.

Below is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Road construction update for the work week starting Monday, July 21 →

The Indianapolis media has been devoting considerable attention to the roundabout at 96th Street and Allisonville Road, which sits on the border between Fishers and Indianapolis.

On Thursday, Indianapolis Star reporter John Tuohy published a story focusing on traffic incidents at the intersection, citing data provided by the Fishers Police Department.

According to the figures shared with the Star, traffic crashes at the intersection have decreased by 20% over the past five months, compared to the previous three-month period. The data also show that there were significantly fewer accidents during the time the intersection was configured as a Michigan Left—a design that drew frequent complaints from drivers.

While many criticized the Michigan Left, the new roundabout has sparked its own share of controversy, continuing to be a focal point for public discussion and media coverage alike.

You can read reporter Tuohy’s story at this link.  (Note:  As of this writing, the Star has no paywall on this story)

Fishers City Controller Lisa Bradford delivered encouraging news to the City Council Finance Committee during its meeting Wednesday, reporting that residents are generally keeping up with their monthly trash collection payments.

While the percentage of fees collected appears to decline slightly each month, Bradford clarified that this is due to the billing cycle, which charges residents in arrears. She also noted that some delays can be attributed to mail service issues.

Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren added that the city’s customer experience team has received very few complaints. “We’re just not getting the phone calls about trash,” he told the committee.

The city launched its centralized trash collection system in mid-January under a new contract with Republic Services. The rollout appears to be going smoothly based on payment trends and minimal resident concerns.

In addition to the update on trash billing, the committee began preparations for developing the city’s 2026 budget in coordination with the mayor’s office. A series of planning meetings was scheduled:

• Thursday, August 14 at 5 p.m. – Initial budget session with a presentation from City Judge Dan Henke.

• Wednesday, August 20 at 8:30 a.m. – A high-level discussion of the 2026 budget.

• Wednesday, August 27 at 8:30 a.m. – Department heads will present and review their proposed spending plans.

• Wednesday, September 10 at 5 p.m. – Regular monthly meeting of the Finance Committee.

• Monday, September 15 – The full City Council will hold a public hearing and first reading of the 2026 budget proposal.

• October Council Meeting – Target date for final budget adoption.

Indiana law requires a city to finalize its budget by November 1, effective the following year.  If the City Council fails to meet that deadline, the city would be bound by the previous year budget.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools (HSE) students posted strong academic results on the 2025 ILEARN standardized assessment, significantly outperforming statewide averages in both math and English/Language Arts (ELA), according to data released by the Indiana Department of Education.

District-wide averages for students in grades 3 through 8 showed 66.31% proficiency in math and 62.5% in ELA—well above the state averages of 42.1% and 40.6%, respectively. Depending on the grade and subject, HSE students outpaced their peers across Indiana by as much as 20 to 35 percentage points.

“These results reflect the incredible work happening in our classrooms every day,” said Superintendent Pat Mapes. “Our students rose to the challenge, and our teachers embraced new systems designed to meet learners where they are. This progress is a testament to our commitment to student success and continuous improvement.”

District officials attribute the strong performance to several key strategies, including a focus on early literacy, personalized instruction, and the use of data-driven teaching practices. These efforts align with the state’s upcoming move to a checkpoint-based ILEARN model, set to launch in the 2025-26 school year.

HSE students will return to class on August 6.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools is one of the largest districts in the state, serving students across Fishers and parts of Noblesville.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools will kick off the 2025-26 school year with its third annual Before the Bell celebration on Thursday, July 31, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater.

Presented by Meijer, the free, family-friendly event is designed to bring students, families, and staff together in a festive atmosphere before the start of classes.

The evening will showcase live performances from student groups across the district’s high schools and junior highs, including bands, choirs, cheerleaders, and dance teams. A wide variety of activities will be available throughout the event, including a petting zoo hosted by FFA, a kid-friendly obstacle course, and a high-energy show by “Bubble Jim” on the amphitheater’s center lawn.

Families can also enjoy balloon artists, inflatables, and a photo booth hosted by the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation to commemorate the back-to-school season.

Local food trucks will be on-site offering dinner options, allowing families to relax and enjoy the evening together.

Information booths will be set up across the venue, giving families the chance to connect with district departments such as Food Services, School Safety, Transportation, and Health Services. Several community organizations will also be present to share resources and programs available to students and families throughout the year.

The event will be held rain or shine. In case of inclement weather, festivities will move indoors to Fishers High School at the same date and time.

“Before the Bell is a wonderful example of the strong partnerships we have in this community,” said HSE Superintendent Pat Mapes. “With the support of the City of Fishers and the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation, this event has grown into a fun, engaging tradition that brings our families together and builds excitement for the year ahead.”

Hamilton Southeastern Schools invites all district families and community members to join in ringing in the new school year.