Budget concerns for the State Road 37 project in Fishers could result in the scuttling of plans to provide an east-west roundabout on 141st Street and State Road 37, but nothing has been decided officially.  The rising cost of construction is cited as the reason for possibly rethinking the project.

Minutes from a January 31st Hamilton County Commissioners meeting question whether the roundabout at 141st Street and State Road 37 in Fishers will be constructed as originally planned, possibly in favor of a right-in/right-out design.  According to those minutes, Commissioner Christine Altman said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness recently asked her whether county officials are “committed on 141st Street or not.”

“Altman’s impression was we were going to jettison 141st Street in terms of major improvements to avoid costs if we had to,” according to the minutes published on the Hamilton County Web site.

“The City of Fishers had a conversation with the Commissioner due to the projected cost increases to discuss contingencies related to the project if we are faced with overruns,” the city said when asked for comment.

What would 141st Street and State Road 37 look like if the roundabout is scuttled?  Once again, according to the meeting minutes, Hamilton County Highway Director Bradley Davis told commissioners “there is the option to go to right-in, right-out at that location. That has not been 100% decided if that is a good thing to do from a logistic/traffic standpoint.”

Davis added that the 146th and 131st Street interchanges were designed with the assumption that there would be a single-lane roundabout overpass at State Road 37 at 141st Street, and added traffic to the other two adjacent routes would be impacted if the 141st Street connection to State Road 37 ended-up as a right-in/right-out intersection.

“We are currently analyzing for traffic impacts and cost savings,” the city said on the possibility of switching 141^st at State Road 37 to a right-in/right-out. “Work continues to move forward to acquire right-of-way and finalize designs for the planned interchange. If construction costs (labor, right-of-way land values, utility, etc.) continue to rise at the rate we’ve seen since 2015 when this was originally estimated, there is a possibility that we construct a RIRO (right-in/right-out).”

As plans stand now, 131st street will be an overpass roundabout at State Road 37 and 135^th Street will have right-in/right-out access to the highway.

The minutes also refer to some preliminary budget projections.

“The unofficial estimate on 135th is around $31 million,” according to the meeting minutes. “In 2020 to get 131st and 135th to letting is about $9.5 million; (Davis) listed $4.6 million as overrun as the county’s share. In 2021, 141st to construct a right-in, right-out is about $7.5 million. To construct a full interchange is about $25 million.”

Responding to the issue of funding, here is the City of Fishers’ statement:

“The project budget for SR37 was estimated in 2015. With 141st Street’s estimated timing of 2022 for implementation, we’re taking precautions to make sure the drastically rising costs of construction, utility relocations, right-of-way land value, etc. don’t impact the overall project. Less than half of the project has been bid with real cost valuation. After October 2020’s planned bidding of the other two intersections of 131st and 135th, we will have a much clearer idea of where we stand with the budget for overall SR37. At this point approximately 75% of the project will be bid with real cost valuations.”

In response to a question from Commissioner Altman, Davis said no additional cash is being requested for the State Road 37 project at this time, based on the meeting minutes.

The total Fishers State Road 37 budget was originally set at $124 million, with the City of Fishers and Hamilton County chipping-in $12 million each and the State of Indiana providing $100 million.

It doesn’t feel much like spring so far this year in Fishers, but construction will begin soon on the 126th Street interchange with State Road 37, resulting in major east-west challenges during the 2020 construction season.  Residents are invited to a public meeting to see an update on construction plans.

The meeting is set for Thursday, February 20th, 6pm, at the Delaware Township Community Center west of State Road 37 along 131st Street.

If you have questions about the State Road 37 reconstruction project, several people involved in the project will be on hand to answer those questions.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

The Hamilton County Election Board will convene today (Wednesday) to hear ballot challenges from both Republican and Democratic chairmen.

Democratic county chairman Joe Weingarten claims eight ineligible individuals filed for state convention delegate in the May 5 Democratic primary election. The eight have either no record of party affiliation or have voted Republican in past primary elections.

Republican Chairwoman Laura Campbell has filed seven challenges against persons who filed for precinct committeeman or convention delegate (or both) who cannot be identified as members of the GOP.

Election Board members Ray Adler, Greg Purvis and Kathy Williams may remove a candidate’s name from the ballot upon evidence that the person has no record of proper party affiliation.

There is no indication that members of one party are trying to infiltrate the other party’s organization, but convention delegates and committeemen are party positions and not actual public offices. And, political parties have the right to make certain candidates belong to their party.

Names of those being challenged were not released prior to a board determination. Party affiliation in Indiana is usually determined by a person’s ballot request in past primary elections.

Convention delegates elected May 5 will choose nominees for Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor of the state, adopt a party platform and elect Indiana delegates to each party’s national convention.

Why do Fishers Junior High School students join We The People?  It’s a class and a competition with other schools. it’s all about civic knowledge.

The current and past members of the Junior High team told the Fishers City Council Monday night that working with others on a team, when you may have people with varying political views on that team, is a valuable learning experience.  The program also requires students to dig into law and constitutional history.

We The People Coach Mike Fassold asked his current team members and some alumni of his program to speak before the council members Monday and explain what they gained through the experience.

Mr. Fassold’s 2019-2020 team has notched another state championship and is headed to the national finals in May.  There is just one problem – the team needs to raise money in order to travel for the national competition.  To travel the entire team, it takes about $52,000.  The amount raised so far is close to $10,000.

The team has established a Go Fund Me page to accept donations at this link.

Councilman Todd Zimmerman suggested the city set aside funds to help the We The People team with travel costs to the national finals.  Mayor Scott Fadness was noncommittal, saying, “Let’s sit down and try to figure that out.”

The Fishers City Council gave final approval to new open space standards  at Monday night’s meeting.  The vote to approve was 8-1, with Councilman Todd Zimmerman voting no.

Zimmerman said he could not determine the impact this action will have on small businesses and entrepreneurs and that resulted in his no vote.

The Fishers Plan Commission held a public hearing on the proposal, sparking a spirited discussion, particularly among three city council members on the Plan Commission – Brad DeReamer, Pete Peterson and Zimmerman.

The Monday vote establishes a fee schedule for open spaces, but business owners can avoid the fee by displaying public art in the open space.

City Planning and Zoning Director Tony Bagato said his staff will review the first two years of this action, then consider recommending further changes if needed.

Under its new policy of reviewing development projects on first reading before the Plan Commission holds a public hearing, The Fishers City Council reviewed the proposed plans for Iron Pointe.  According to the developer, Pulte Homes, the residential project, to be constructed south of 106th Street near Mollenkopf Road, will be marketed to empty nesters.

When asked by Councilwoman Sam DeLong about the price of the units, the developer, said it would be in the middle of the market in cost.  In a filing with the city, Pulte says the price range is expected to be between $350,000 and $450,000.

During the community comment period near the end of the council session, Dr. Denise Rehfuss, a physician practicing in Anderson who recently made Fishers her home, was critical of the Iron Pointe proposal because of its cost and generally said that many people she knows in Anderson work in Fishers but cannot afford to live here.

“I have a lot of concerns about the Iron Pointe community,” Rehfuss told council members.  “The proposed pricing for these single-family units is hardly affordable.  I actually participate in an organization where I am involved with a lot of seniors….none of them in that group would be able to afford the pricing for these homes.”

The Iron Pointe development will have a public hearing before the Fishers Plan Commission, then will return to the city council for further action.

The Hamilton Southeastern School District is poised to sign contracts with the City of Fishers, Hub & Spoke, Purdue University and Purdue Polytechnic that will provide new and innovative educations experiences for local high school students.  During a Tuesday morning work session, board members were briefed on the status of negotiations.

Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) are in the works with both the city and Hub & Spoke to provide space for students to become involved in the building trades.  The Hub & Spoke building, nearly completed at its location on 106th Street and I-69, is envisioned as a center for the building trades, including training opportunities for adults and high school students.

Matt Kegley, Executive Director of Secondary Education for HSE Schools, briefed the board on the status of negotiations with the City of Fishers, Hub & Spoke, Purdue University and Purdue Polytechnic.  An agreement with Purdue is needed to deal with licensing and trademark issues dealing with the use of Purdue’s name.  The Purdue Polytechnic MOU will govern the educational program offered to students at Fishers and HSE High Schools.

Based on Kegley’s briefing, most or all the contracts may be ready for approval at the next regular school board meeting, scheduled for March 11th.

If the Purdue Polytechnic agreement is finalized, the school corporation will need to appropriate the money to fund it through board action.  The money is in the education fund, but is not part of the 2020 school budget, so a board action will be required to properly appropriate the funds, according to school officials.  It is expected HSE Schools will provide teachers and one administrator for the Purdue Polytechnic program.

As described in the work session, high school students accepted into the Purdue Polytechnic program will attend classes at Hub & Spoke, but will remain HSE school district students and eligible to participate in extra-curricular activities.  Superintendent Allen Bourff says Purdue Polytechnic has programs with charter schools, but the deal with HSE would be the first public school district to become a part of Purdue Polytechnic’s program.

Bourff said school officials are working on an agreement with the city to build-out space for this program, which could cost about $250,000.  Nothing has been finalized.

In last year’s city elections, two Democrats were elected to the Fishers City Council, for the first time in anyone’s memory.  At Monday night’s meeting, council members split a vote along party lines for the first time.

Councilwoman Jocelyn Vare, a Democrat, proposed an amendment to a measure restoring a past policy of having the council review planning and zoning items before sending the proposal to the Plan Commission.  Vare’s amendment originally proposed inserting a phrase in the council procedures to utilize Roberts Rules of Order, citing a suggestion by AIM, the state-wide association of cities and towns.

Councilman Brad DeReamer cautioned against the idea, saying it caused problems when he was mayor of Greenfield, due to the technicalities in Roberts’ rules.  Vare changed her amendment simply to state that the council, once a motion is made and is seconded, will allow council comments before a vote is taken.

Vare’s amendment was seconded by her fellow Democrat on the council, Sam DeLong.  Republican councilors objected, saying council presidents always allow for council comments before calling a vote.

Vare made it clear she has no objections to the way Council President Cecilia Coble has been running the meetings, she argued the rules should be in the procedures so it is written down as a council rule for the future.

Vare’s amendment was voted down 7-2, with Democrats Vare and DeLong the only yes votes.  All Republicans on the council voted against Vare’s amendment.

The measure on 1st readings being presented to council members before going to the Plan Commission for a public hearing, passed the council Monday.

The Fishers Arts Council sponsors receptions at City Hall each month introducing new art on display.  The council has added music to the reception experience.

The Arts Council is issuing a call-out to fill-out musician groups for the remaining receptions in 2020.  Here is a listing of musicians needed:

Preparation/setup time starts at 5pm with the music 6-8pm.

Here are more details if you are interested:

Continue reading Wanted: Local musicians →

Last Wednesday night, our local Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school board found four votes on a measure setting scheduled start times for students in the coming school year, but it wasn’t easy getting there and a big decision has been handed to a new committee yet to be appointed.

There were two votes that failed to receive the required majority of four votes (out of seven total board members).  One motion offered did not pass because no other board member seconded that motion, meaning no other member of the board supported it.  Finally, on the third try, a motion by HSE Board President Michelle Fullhart was approved, but barely, with the minimum four votes.

Why did our local elected school board appear so divided on the issues of school start times and a revised bus schedule?  After covering this issue over the past several months, the board was divided, in my view, because the school community was (and still is) divided.

During a podcast recording done the day after that board meeting, Superintendent Allen Bourff arrived at the same conclusion.

“We came to the meeting (Wednesday) night with seven board members with seven very different points of view,” said Dr. Bourff . “Those points of view were reflective of the very different points of view out in the public right now.”

In case you haven’t been following this issue, this discussion began with two proposals offered by school administrators.

First, a 3-tier bus transportation system would ease the bus driver shortage and allow the elimination of early release for students on Mondays.  It would also eliminate the need for most shuttles between school buildings.

Second, there is growing scientific evidence that high school age students need more sleep, and moving back the class start time would help those students have that extra sleep.  Of course, the other side of that coin is that elementary students would then be reporting for class earlier.

When the public comments began rolling into school officials, a clear split in opinion could be seen.  Many supported moving back the high school start time but moving up elementary students reporting time in the morning.

But many others pointed to downsides of the change, such as high school students not being available to watch younger siblings in the late afternoon.  There were other family related issues raised.

Here is the important point here – this is a very tough call for our elected school board.  Board members want to be responsive to the public and also do their own evaluation of the options.  But with the community split, our elected officials are split, and that should be no surprise.

Another important point – I have listened to this debate and have come to the conclusion that there are very valid points on this issue….not just on two sides, but many sides.

There have been complaints from time to time that local officials do not always represent the community in their actions.  This is a case where the board is reflecting the public on these issues.  The public is split and the board is split.  Sometimes, that happens in democracy.

As things stand now, there will be some tweaks to the start times in the upcoming school year to accommodate the new bus scheduling, but there will be no “flip” of start times for high school and elementary classes.

However, what happens to school start times beginning in the following school year, 2021-2022, will be up to a committee that will soon be appointed and charged with studying all the data and coming back with a recommendation to the board later this year in October.

The start time debate is not yet over.  I would encourage everyone interested in this issue to keep up to date on developments.  One place to do that?  Right here at LarryInFishers.com