Steve Dillinger has served as a Hamilton County Commissioner since 1989, and after more than three decades in office he says one question follows him everywhere: why is there always road construction all around the county?
He offered a simple answer during his 2026 State of the County address Wednesday: growth.
In 1990, Hamilton County was home to about 110,000 people. Today, Dillinger said, that number has climbed past 394,000 — nearly a fourfold increase in roughly 35 years. More people mean more vehicles on the roads, and more vehicles mean more construction to keep traffic moving safely.
Dillinger delivered the address before a packed ballroom at the Noblesville Embassy Suites Conference Center, where the speech anchored a Noblesville Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
His theme for the morning was “Doing the right things for the right reasons.” Dillinger acknowledged that sticking to that motto isn’t always the smart political move, but said it is what’s best for the people who live in Hamilton County.
Roads and Interchanges
Much of the commissioner’s time was spent reviewing recent road improvements, several of which directly affect Fishers. Among them was the long-awaited completion of the State Road 37 project running from 126th Street to 146th Street, a years-long effort that converted a heavily traveled corridor into a free-flow series of interchanges. Dillinger also pointed to the new interchange at 146th Street and Allisonville Road, which opened to traffic a few months ago.
Safety improvements are next. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department has identified the county’s most dangerous intersections, and two of them sit along 146th Street — at Hazel Dell Road and at Gray Road. Both are slated for upgrades aimed at reducing crashes.
Courts, 911 and a New Day Care
Beyond the roads, Dillinger highlighted a wave of construction tied to the county’s growing population. The Indiana Supreme Court has authorized eight new courts in Hamilton County, and work is already underway to expand the Judicial Center in downtown Noblesville to make room for them.
The county is enlarging its 911 dispatch center to keep pace with rising call volume. In the same area, officials are planning a day care center for county employees. With staff working around the clock across multiple shifts, Dillinger said, on-site care would help parents match their hours to their jobs — and save them real money. A year of child care, he noted, can run as high as $20,000 for a single child.
Fairgrounds and a Patriotic Finale
Work also continues at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds, where several facilities are being designed for year-round, multipurpose use — everything from community events to wedding receptions.
These were only a few highlights of Dillinger’s presentation, which closed with a video montage and a medley of patriotic music in honor of America’s 250th birthday.
