You may know that large grassy and wooded area located on the southwest corner of 126th Street and Cumberland Road.  That will be the home of Stevanato, an Italian firm dealing with pharma. In Fishers, the firm will be manufacturing medical vials and syringes.

Monday night, the Fishers City Council voted for an economic development package that lured the European firm to the city.  Economic Development Director Megan Baumgartner told the council Stevanato plans to have 250 people working in the new facility with an average wage of $70,000.  The firm commits to a $140 million investment in the Fishers location.

In exchange, the city will buy land from Sunbeam Development and transfer just under 36 acres for the Stevanato complex.  The council authorized a 15-year, 100% personal property tax abatement and a $2.4 million commercial property grant.  The state of Indiana also has an incentive package, based on the actual number of jobs working in the Fishers Stevanato operation.

Stevanato wants to begin construction in Fishers during fall of this year, but could wait until spring of 2022 if needed to begin the project.

Katie Culp of KSM Location Advisors handled the site location process for Stevanato, and once Stevanato decided to locate in Indiana, the process of selection was “extremely competitive” as many communities around Indianapolis vied for the Stevanato plant.

“What I think sets Fishers apart was its economic development strategy,” Culp told council members.  “Rather than coming to the first meeting with a cookie-cutter solution, they listened to what the needs of the clients were.”

The city also will provide the infrastructure for Stevanato at the 126th Street and Cumberland Road.

The Italian owners of Stevanato were hoping to appear at Monday night’s council meeting, but COVID-related travel restrictions prevented that, according to Culp.

Mask wearing will be encouraged, but not required, for students and staff of Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools in the coming school year.  However, per federal regulations, masks will be required on school buses.

That language is contained in the “return to in-person instruction” draft plan released Monday by HSE Schools.  This plan is required in order for the local school district to qualify for a $2.9 million  federal grant.

The plan also shows new class start times and four e-learning days in the 2021-2022 school calendar.

The document calls for school officials to monitor guidelines issued by local, state and federal health authorities.

“HSE will continue to rely on data provided by the HSE Department of Staff and Student
Services, the Fishers Health Department (FHD), the Indiana State Department of Health and the Governor’s office,” the plan states.

Classroom visitors will be allowed but these visitors must wear masks.  No lunch visitors will be allowed.

There will be procedures for specific situations, such as passing periods, arts classes and recess.

The plan will be presented to the HSE School Board at Wednesday night’s regular meeting.

You can view the entire plan document at this link.

I feel compelled to write something on this blog each Father’s Day.  Maybe it’s because the first year I celebrated Father’s Day as a dad, my own dad had died just a few months earlier.  But my twin daughters were born a few months earlier as well.

Being a dad was then, and is now, one of the the greatest gifts God has bestowed upon me.  But I want to write about something a little different in 2021.

I know it is not Grandfather’s Day, but being a granddad is yet another precious gift.  This is the first Father’s Day when my son-in-law, Jacob Lewis, can celebrate this day as a father himself.

I marvel every time I am around grandson Dakota at what amazing parents my daughter Allison and Jacob are when with their son.  Whenever Jacob has been away, even for a short time, when Dakota sees his dad, that little boy’s face lights up.  That is a sure sign Jacob is handling his fatherly duties the right way.

I want to say that Dakota has a terrific set of parents and Jacob is a special dad.  For a grandfather, that is something special to know.

After 9 years of Catholic education and 3 years in public high school, I do not remember any mention of Juneteenth in any of my classes.  I was well into my college experience before the importance of this day became clear to me.  It took many more years of educating myself to understand the significance.

To put it simply, June 19th (known as Juneteenth) is the day slaves in Galveston, Texas, became aware that they were now free in 1866.  It is recognized as the day slavery ended in all of America.

June 19th has been recognized as a special day in most states.  For years, activists have pushed to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.  After laying all that groundwork, just a few days ago the Senate unanimously passed the measure creating June 19th as a federal holiday, with most federal workers getting the day off.  The House passed the bill shortly after the Senate action with only a handful of no votes.

Most experienced Washington observers did not expect a day off for federal employees this year, with the bill reaching the president’s desk just before June 19th.  But President Biden surprised everyone by quickly signing the legislation and declaring June 18, 2021, as the first Juneteenth federal holiday (with the 19th on a Saturday in 2021).

Ending slavery in America is a very good reason to declare a holiday.  I had a professor in college refer to slavery as a “peculiar institution.”  It is a stain on our national history.

Fishers Equity Awareness, a group of local students that describes itself as “an organization that strives to educate residents about the systematic oppression against black americans,” sponsored a Juneteenth celebration at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater, with music, commercial vendors and other booths, celebrating the Juneteenth holiday.

It is amazing that any legislation can be passed, in this day and age, unanimously by the Senate and overwhelmingly in the House.  It’s all because a dedicated group of activists worked for years to lay the groundwork and get this done.  It emphasizes one important fact – if you believe in something, never, ever give up.

Rita Moreno has had a long career in show business and has a whole room full of statuettes honoring her work.  But there is much more to her story.  She overcame so many personal and professional barriers in her career, and at age 87 continues to work.  So, is this documentary film about her worth seeing?  Here is my review.

Plenty of road construction work continues in and around the Fishers area.

Here is the latest, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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STATE ROAD 37 AND 146TH STREET
All left-turn lanes are currently restricted on SR 37 and on 146th Street with traffic moved to the interior lanes. Thru traffic and right turns on SR 37 and 146th Street will remain open. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes for all left turn access. View an alternate route map here. 

Northbound and Southbound SR 37 is currently restricted to one lane in each direction, North of 146th Street. This restriction will be in place for approximately 2-3 weeks, as work progresses at this interchange.

There is currently a single lane closure for Northbound Herriman Blvd. between 146th Street and the Circle K/Shell gas station driveway and is anticipated to reopen in June.

STATE ROAD 37 AND 131ST / 135TH STREETS
The westside of 131st Street at SR 37 is currently closed as work progresses on the interchange. SR 37 will remain open both north and southbound. SR 37 southbound left and right turns onto 131st Street will be restricted. Westbound left turns onto SR 37 will also be restricted on 131st Street. View the detour map here.

The Northbound SR 37 right turn lane onto 135th Street is currently closed from 131st Street to approximately halfway to 135th Street for Phase 1 construction. This portion of the dedicated turn lane will not reopen to regular capacity until the interchange is complete.

Please drive with caution through this area. To learn more about the State Road 37 Improvement Project and sign up to receive text updates, visit 37Thrives.com.

The City of Fishers started construction on the Nickel Plate Trail pedestrian tunnel beneath 116th Street on Tuesday, June 1. The closure is anticipated to last 60 days. During the construction, 116th Street will be closed from east of Municipal Drive to west of Maple Street. All local business and public parking access will remain open.

106th Street will serve as the detour route, with the detour beginning at Hague Road for eastbound thru traffic and Lantern Road for the westbound thru traffic.

Portions of the Nickel Plate Trail are now open, including the paved portion from 131st Street to North Street, and from South Street to 106th Street. The 116^th Street tunnel will complete the trail connection through downtown Fishers, joining South Street and North Street, and establishing a full connection from 131^st Street to 106^th Street. While the tunnel is under construction, a pedestrian detour route will provide access through downtown between the north and south sections of the trail. View the pedestrian detour map here.

To learn more about the project, view construction images and project renderings, and find detour maps, visit https://www.playfishers.com/284/Nickel-Plate-Trail

The annual Spark! Fishers festivel returns with a weeklong celebration June 22-26 in the downtown Nickel Plate District. Road closures and parking restrictions will be in effect around the District beginning the evening of Wednesday, June 23. Get the full lineup at https://sparkfishers.com/road-closures/

Beginning on Tuesday, June 22 at 6 a.m., Westbound 116th Street between Hoosier Road and Cumberland Road will be closed as DPW performs joint repairs and is anticipated to reopen on Wednesday, June 23 by 6 a.m. The official detour route will direct drivers to sue Hoosier Road to 126th Street to Cumberland Road to 116th Street. View the detour map here.

Indianapolis DPW currently has Admirals Pointe Drive closed through midsummer 2021 to replace the timber bridge over Geist and the north fork of Dry Branch. The detour will consist of Old Stone Dr. East to Carroll Rd. / 700 W., South to E. 79th St., West to Oaklandon Rd.

ADA ramp and curb reconstruction has started as part of the 2021 Resurfacing Project. After ADA ramp and curb reconstruction is completed, those areas will be restored with topsoil and seed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to water the seed for the seed to germinate. Prior to road resurfacing, residents will be notified via street signage for street parking restrictions.

Fishers has tried to work with private sector partners twice to create a community center for the city, but both failed in the end.  Mayor Scott Fadness appointed At-Large City Councilman Todd Zimmerman to lead a local group of people in proposing a center for the city.  So, where is the group in their work?  Todd sat down with me to update us on his group’s progress.

Rita Moreno sparked controversy with some comments she made and later offered a Twitter apology about the film In The Heights.  That’s our lead story this time in the Grade A Movies podcast.  Adam Aasen reviews the latest Pixar animated offering that is not available in theaters.  Alec reviews the comedy sequel The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.  I look at t reboot of the HBO series In Treatment.

As I have reported here previously, Fishers will not receive the roughly $19 million initially expected from the American Rescue Plan (ARP).  The city is now projected to receive $6.9 million.  How did this happen?

City Controller Lisa Bradford told the Fishers City Council Finance Committee Wednesday that the answer lies in the details of  regulations issued May 10th by the United States Department of Treasury.  It boils down to whether Fishers is an entitlement city or a non-entitlement city.

The difference between the two can be very technical, but Bradford told the Finance Committee that Fishers, Carmel and Noblesville saw a big reduction in the ARP money allocation.  That’s why the amount of ARP cash coming to Fishers is $6.9 million, not the roughly $19 million that was expected earlier.

Bradford said 142 cities nation-wide were reclassified from entitlement to non-entitlement cities, based on Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines, which factor-in income and poverty levels to the determination.  That’s why Fishers, Carmel and Noblesville were reclassified and will receive millions less than originally projected last March.

As to what Fishers can do about this, the city controller says not much.

“We beat down a lot of doors, explored a lot of avenues,” said Bradford.  “Unfortunately, there’s not a lot you can do within the authority contained in the guidance.”  The city does plan on submitting comments to federal authorities about this decision.

According to Bradford, the city is disappointed that the number was unexpectedly reduced, but reminded the Finance Committee members that, on the bright side, Fishers will receive nearly $7 million that was not anticipated before ARP was signed into law.

A city that continues to grow, like Fishers, normally has a very busy Planning & Zoning Department.  Based on my reporting, the Fishers operation has been busy for a number of years.

Megan Schafer was named Director of Fishers City Planning and Zoning just a few weeks ago.  Ross Hilleary is her assistant director.

Here is a podcast with Megan and Ross where we talk about many aspects of the local planning and zoning operation.