It all started at a meeting where Adam Aasen and I met in person for the first time.  We were both familiar with each other’s work.  Adam writes about local issues in Carmel.  I write about Fishers on this blog.

Adam had listened to a few of my film review podcasts and mentioned that he, too, enjoyed film.  One thing led to another, and now Adam & I have started a weekly podcast. The title is Hamilton County Goes To The Movies.

We will talk about one or more films now in theaters, plus add to the discussion someone local to talk about that person’s connections to movies.

In our first segment, Adam & I review the latest Tom Cruise film, The Mummy.  In the second segment, we bring Joe Freeman into the discussion.  Joe is a retired minister often referred to as the “village pastor” of Fishers.

If you have any comments or other feedback about this podcast, send us your thoughts at a special e-mail account we setup just for that – HamiltonCountyGoesToTheMovies@gmail.com

Another long listing of road construction projects in and around Fishers.  A heads-up on Allisonville Road and 146th Street traffic pattern change in the northbound lanes, wit two left turn lanes and one lane northbound.

Below is the complete listing of road work scheduled the work week starting Monday, June 26th, as provided by the City of Fishers

===============================

96TH STREET

Construction has begun on the new roundabout at 96th Street and Lantern Road. 96th Street traffic between Kincaid Drive and Fitness Lane/Pinecreek Drive will be reduced to one lane in each direction throughout the summer.

BROOKS SCHOOL ROAD

The Brooks School Road bridge over Interstate 69 is closed as Milestone Contractors rebuild the bridge deck. During the closure, traffic will be detoured to Promise Road via 126th and 136th streets. The bridge will remain closed until August.

ALLISONVILLE ROAD AND 146TH STREET

Hamilton County Highway Department has changed the traffic pattern for northbound Allisonville Road at 146th Street. There are now two left turn lanes and one northbound through lane.

116TH STREET

There will be lane restrictions on 116th Street between I-69 and Cumberland Road throughout the summer in order for the contractor to make improvements to 116th Street.

113TH STREET

Lane restrictions will occur on 113th Street from Olio Road to Florida Road throughout the summer in order for the contractor to resurface and make improvements to the roadway.

126TH STREET

Expect periodic lane restrictions between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on 126th Street between Allisonville Road and Lantern Road while the contractor installs passing blisters near Reserve at Lantern. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic during the restrictions.

I-69 AND CAMPUS PARKWAY

The Campus Parkway interchange was recently shifted into a double-crossover traffic pattern. The interchange will remain under construction through July, when it is expected to be fully open to traffic in its permanent configuration.

Multiple traffic lane shifts will be required to complete construction of the new interchange design. Each phase of remaining construction will bring the interchange closer to its final traffic configuration and capacity. For more information about the new traffic pattern, please visit http://www.in.gov/indot/3441.htm

Milestone Contractors has begun mobilizing cranes and other equipment and setting a temporary concrete barrier wall along I-69 at Campus Parkway Exit 210. Work will require alternating lane closures on northbound and southbound I-69 between 9 p.m. and 6 p.m. Lane closures may recur each night through the end of the week depending on weather and progress. Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT at eastcentralin@indot.in.gov or 1-855-463-6848.

STATE ROAD 37

Construction contractors plan to shift State Road 37 traffic lanes this weekend for a $1.5 million drainage structure construction project between 146th Street and Greenfield Avenue in Noblesville. Northbound lanes are scheduled to be shifted on Friday night, and southbound lanes are scheduled to be shifted Saturday night. Single-lane closures in each direction will be scheduled between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The first phase of construction, which is currently underway, will shift two lanes in each direction toward the right shoulders to provide room for construction in the median. The second phase will shift traffic toward the median to allow construction to be completed along the outside shoulders. All work on the project is expected to be complete this summer.

Starting May 1, geotechnical drilling will begin along the State Road 37 corridor as part of the final design phase of State Road 37 Improvement Project. Lane and shoulder restrictions will be active through the June 30.

Motorists will see staked locations along the corridor starting with the 141st Street intersection. The geotechnical drilling will cause lane restrictions from 131st Street through 146th Street through June 30. Southbound restrictions will not begin until 9 a.m. daily and northbound restrictions will be done daily before 4 p.m. to allow for maximum traffic flow during peak hours.

State Road 37 turn lanes will not be affected during lane closures and crews will maintain a minimum of one through-lane at all times.

The SR37 improvement project is a $124 Million joint project between Fishers, Hamilton Co, Noblesville, and INDOT. Questions or concerns may be directed to drivefishers@fishers.in.us.

OUTSIDE OF FISHERS

The City of Carmel has closed 116th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway for the construction of a roundabout. This closure is expected to last for 75 days. Questions and updates about this project should be directed to the City of Carmel at 317-571-2400.

The Kroger store at 116th Street and Cumberland Road held the grand opening for the newly-remodeled grocery, and the company opened its checkbook to support area charities.

Kroger Public Affairs Manager Eric Halvorson handled the Master of Ceremony duties at the event, as local store workers and city officials took to the podium.

But the important part of the festivities centered on checks handed out to local groups doing good things in the area.

Here’s a listing of Kroger donations announced at the Friday morning event:

Fishers Summer Lunch Program                                         $4,000

Fishers Fire Department Foundation                                 $  500

Fishers Police Department                                                     $  500

Third Phase                                                                                   $  500

Disability Roundtable                                                               $  500

Hatch for Hunger                                                                       $25,000

Gleaners Food Bank                                                                 $30,000

(NOTE:  Commentaries from Fred Swift are posted here as part of a partnership between LarryInFishers.com and The Hamilton County Reporter newspaper.)

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter 

The only proposal for the future of the Nickel Plate Railroad
which apparently matches the desires of local officials is a plan
submitted by the Hamilton County Hamilton County Visitors and Convention
Commission.

The Hoosier Heritage Port Authority, owners of the Nickel Plate tracks, had asked for proposals from groups interested in operating on the rail line. Four proposals were received by the port authority’s deadline.

The future of the railroad is complicated by a federal law suit filed last week
by the Indiana Transportation Museum claiming their rights have been violated
because they are no longer allowed to use the railway.

The future of the historic railroad has become a controversial topic in Noblesville
and other communities through which the Nickel Plate runs. No trains have run since
March of 2016 when the port authority suspended the museum’s permit to use the
tracks due to safety concerns. The museum, headquartered at Forest Park, had operated
excursion trains for the past 20 years including the popular Fairtrain.

The four proposals being considered by the port authority came from Indianapolis Metro Railway Company, the Hoosier Heritage Railroad Inc. of Fishers, the
Transportation Museum and the Visitor and Convention Bureau.

Only the Visitor and Convention plan proposes to continue rail service north from
Noblesville to Tipton while turning the rail bed from Noblesville south into a hiking
and bicycle trail. Local officials in Fishers, Noblesville and county government have
generally favored this idea although as controversy grew, they have said no decision
would be made until more information is gathered. The other three groups want to
keep the rails intact to Indianapolis.

Officially, the port authority will rank the proposals by July 1, and announce a
decision at an undetermined date thereafter.  That date could be delayed indefinitely
by the lawsuit as there is no certainty when the suit will be adjudicated.

In the meantime, of course, no trains on the Nickel Plate.

Mike Reuter is the Chief Financial Officer for the Hamilton Southeastern Schools.  He talked to Larry about a number of school finance issues.

Monday night’s Fishers City Council meeting took time to honor two groups of people, the Citizen’s Academy graduates and Mayor’s Youth Council.  Here is list of those honored, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Citizen’s Government Academy Graduates:

Cecilia Shaw

Haley Waldkoetter

James Greig

Jason Arnold

Jason Dew

Ken Jansing

Mayor’s Youth Council:

Claire Baney

Stephen MacKenzie

Madison Schwarz

A’Lyrika Bowens

Emma Crell

Kevin Kwon

Sophia Silcox

Rachel Billheimer

Nevile Makau

Elijah Heindricks

Jada Edson

Joe Bergin

Jack Huybers

Ariana Bailey

Kyler Mansinne

John Ryu

Hanna Scholl

Sarah Jacobs

Adam Howard

The City of Fishers had a plan a few years ago to add art to the growing downtown area. That plan continued Wednesday morning as the city introduced new summer art facing I-69 on the Edge Building along 116th Street.  “This mural celebrates Fishers in glorious summer with so many fun things to do,” said the project artist Kyle Ragsdale.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and artist Ragsdale were on hand for the unveiling ceremony.

You can see most of the murals below.

Fishers Police placed two men under arrest after a Tuesday morning situation that happened at the BP gas station and convenience store on 131st Street at State Road 37, which was apparently over allegations of stealing.

According to authorities, Steven D. Robinson, 23, residing in, Indianapolis, was accused of stealing a cigar at the store by a clerk.  The store clerk, Ahmad Al-Rafie, 31, from Fishers, allegedly pointed a gun at Robinson in the parking lot as Robinson was leaving the store, based on information from police investigating the incident.

Robinson faces Theft and Driving While Suspended charges. while Al-Rafie has been charged with Intimidation with a firearm and pointing a firearm at another person.

Robinson drove away after the incident.  He was located by Fishers police a short time later.  There were no shots fired and no one was hurt.

Braden Business Systems is building a new structure just east of City Hall, which is starting to take shape, and the City Council Monday night approved additional parking spaces for the company.  City officials say Braden has increased its investment in the new office building, leading to a recommendation to add parking and an enhancement in the economic development incentives, adding one year to the tax abatement.

In another economic development item, the council approved incentives for Knowledge Services, which plans to construct a 70,000 square foot, $6.7 million headquarters facility across from Navient near I-69.  Council members put their stamp of approval on the 10-year real property tax abatement in the amount of 85% of taxes assessed on the building.  The company estimates 800 new employees will call the new HQ building home, including some additional hires.

In other news items from the council session:

–Another Broken Egg, a restaurant soon to locate in the downtown Switch Building,  entered into a formal written commitment and use agreement with the City for a three-way alcohol beverage license, after the council signed on to the agreement.

–The council acted to amend the city’s noise ordinance.  Before the change, the Nickel Plate District would no longer be able to hold concerts and be in compliance with the local law.  Anyone wanting to have a live entertainment event will be required to apply for a permit on a form provided on the City of Fishers website.   City officials say this is an attempt to control the noise level of live entertainment events within the Nickel Plate District at a given day and time.

–In a work session before the main council session, Deputy Mayor Leah McGrath provided a one year update on the status of the city’s Comprehensive 2040 Plan.  Council Member Brad DeReamer raised some issues in the Britton Falls neighborhood dealing with curbs, sidewalks and compliance with provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The iTown Church is looking to expand at a new location, 136th Street and Brooks School Road.  According to a report on WRTV Channel 6, the pastor announced to the congregation Sunday that the iTown will not expand at the site originally targeted, near 126th Street and Brooks School Road.

Residents in the adjacent Gray Eagle neighborhood strongly objected to the church locating in that area, arguing it would take away green space and endanger the future of the Gray Eagle Golf Course.

The new site at 136th Street and Brooks School Road will not need to go through the approval process under Fishers City ordinances.