Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman Joe Weingarten on Thursday held a press conference outside Carmel City Hall. Weingarten is calling upon the Hamilton County Election Board to conduct an investigation into Carmel’s mayoral election and alleged bribery claims.

“Today I am going to file a request with the Hamilton County Election Board to initiate an investigation into the possibility of a bribery or an extortion,” said Weingarten.

“It’s been alleged that Mayor Brainard’s campaign offered a bribe to have his opponent Fred Glynn not run against him,” said Weingarten.

Glynn is a current Hamilton County Councilman and is running against Carmel’s longtime mayor, Jim Brainard.

At the press conference Weingarten said he would immediately be filing the proper paperwork with the Hamilton County Election Board.

Hamilton County Clerk and Election Board Member Kathy Williams confirmed her office did receive Weingarten’s request.

“We received it at 11:30 a.m. and copies have been forwarded to Election Board members and Hamilton County Attorney Mike Howard,” Williams said.

Hamilton County’s Election Board is comprised of two Republicans, Kathy Williams and Ray Adler, and one Democrat, Greg Purvis.

Williams told the Reporter the Election Board could review Weingarten’s information at their next meeting on Friday, April 5.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board reviewed a lengthy survey of e-learning experiences, collecting responses from 4,800 parents and 1,500 students (students include grades 7-12 only).  The overall data show parents and students happy overall, particularly with the policy of using e-learning days to prevent adding school days at the end of the year, reducing the summer vacation.  Comments submitted as part of the survey indicate that three consecutive e-learning days may be too many.  You can review the survey results at this link.  

In other items from the Wednesday night’s board meeting:

–Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff briefed the board on a proposal to make changes in  Social and Emotional Learning, and combining Digital Citizenship with that curriculum.   Dr. Bourff cited the influence some online sources have over students as a major reason to consider this change.

— Kim Day has agreed to accept the offer of the principal position at Fall Creek Intermediate. (Note:  I had incorrectly reported that Brian Behrman would become principal at Riverside Intermediate.  Mr. Behrman and current RIS principal Dana Kaminski will remain in their current jobs.  LarryInFishers apologizes for the error)

–The board spent a period of time on building projects, first authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds to fund several physical projects. Plans were allowed to move forward after board action, including renovations at Fishers Junior High, renovation work at both high school auditoriums and LED lighting upgrades for several school buildings.  The board also approved work on the Fishers Junior High School parking lot

–Students and administrators made an impassioned plea to the board for help in funding playground upgrades at Riverside Intermediate School.  This was for information only.  The board will consider acting on the request at a future board session.

–Safety issues have resulted in a major change in polling places for the upcoming May 7th primary election.  No schools will be utilized as polling places. “I want to make it clear that the schools remain open to assist our community if polling places are needed,” Dr. Bourff told the board.  “But for security and safety issues, the (Hamilton County) superintendents came together, at the invitation of our County Clerk, Kathy Richardson, some weeks ago and discussed the safety of polling places within the schools.”   It is possible county election officials may need to use some schools as polling locations in the November general election.

–Board members will be receiving media training from an outside firm, Sease-Gerig, at a future work session.

State Senator John Ruckleshaus has endorsed Fishers City Council candidate Gurinder Singh, according to a news release from the Singh campaign.

“I have worked with Gurinder Singh on many workforce projects that benefit the state and Hamilton County,” says Ruckelshaus in the Singh release.  “Gurinder Singh is passionate about the state and his community and would make a great addition to the council.”

State Senator Ruckleshause represents District 30, which covers part of the Indianapolis north side, a section of Carmel and a part of west Fishers south of 116th Street.

Singh is running for an at-large city council spot in the Republican primary election.

The local Fall Creek and Delaware Township Trustees are charged with providing relief to the poor, and the Fishers Government Academy Association will be starting a drive in April to help with personal care items for those in need.

Collection boxes will start popping up around Fishers on April 1st and you will see them through April 12th.  The theme of this year’s drive is “Making It Personal” because the focus will be on personal use items.

Some suggested items you can contribute include:  Soap, cleaners, hygiene products, household supplies, bath supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, laundry detergent, Incontinence protection for adults, diapers, etc…   The Association add that sensitive skin and hypoallergenic product donations are also appreciated.

Here are the locations for the donation boxes:

Britton Falls The Chateau, 13079 Del Webb Pkwy
Citizens State Bank at 9 Municipal Drive,
Fishers YMCA 9012 E 126th St
Holt Dental 7862 E 96th St
Mailing Station 11807 Allisonville Rd
Peachin, Schwartz & Weingardt P.C. 9775 Crosspoint Blvd Suite 100
PNC Bank 7270 E 116th St
St. Vincent Outpatient Physical Therapy Center 9012 E 126th St
Sunblest Apartments 11757 Garden Circle
Sunlake Apartments 12347 Windsor E Dr
Sweet Briar
Woods of Britton Apartments 13791 Old Oak Dr

The items contributed will be provided to the local township trustees for distribution to those needing it the most.

The Fishers Government Academy Association is made up of graduates from the City of Fishers Government Academy program. The group’s mission is to participate in civic opportunities which encourage learning and benefit the community.

Gurinder Singh is a businessman, 12-year resident of Fishers and now a candidate for City Council, At-Large. Here is my interview with him.

Todd Zimmerman as served nearly 5 years on the Fishers City Council and is seeking another term as an at-large member.  Here is my conversation with him.

Rich Block is serving his first stint as Fishers City Council President in 2019, but he has served nearly 5 years on the council   He talked about his re-election campaign in this podcast.

Cecilia Coble has served on the Fishers City Council since the town transitioned to a city in 2015.  She is seeking another 4-year term on the council.  Here is my podcast interview with Cecilia Coble

When Mike Reuter started his new job as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with Hamilton Southeastern Schools in 1994, the local school corporation was a fraction of what it is today.  Mike Reuter has been the man guiding Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools through a thicket of state funding formula complexity, managing the growing schools system’s finances.

The HSE School District is now the fourth largest in the state and Mike Reuter was along for the long ride of all that student expansion.

HSE Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff announced at Wednesday night’s school board meeting that Mike Reuter plans to retire at the end of calendar year 2019.  Mike told LarryInFishers after the meeting he plans to expand his already busy operation of being a consultant to a variety of government entities on financial matters.  He has done tax revenue analysis and projections for the City of Fishers.

Congratulations, Mike Reuter, for the many years of service to our local schools.  But, don’t forget, you are still at HSE Schools for about nine more months!

When a team of students receives recognition by the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board, you know the audience seats will be packed.  Wednesday night, you could multiply that number by three.

That’s right, three different academic teams were before the board to talk about their work created a standing-room-only crowd as the board session began.  The teams include:

–The Sand Creek Intermediate 2018 Elementary Spell Bowl Winners

–Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate Junior High School 2019 Elementary
Science Bowl Winners

–Riverside Intermediate 2019 Elementary M.A.T.H. Bowl Winners

All three squads were state champions.