(Editor’s Note: Fred Swift is a columnist for the Hamilton County Reporter.  In this commentary, he looks at whether John Ditslear, mayor of the city to our north, Noblesville, is likely to seek another term in office.  This story is reprinted through a partnership between the Hamilton County Reporter and LarryInFishers.com.  You can have the Hamilton County Reporter sent to your e-mail Inbox free of charge by signing up at this link.)  

by

Fred Swift

Is Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear serving his last term as the city’s chief executive or will he run again? “Probably not, but then part of me says why not?” He feels so much has been done and so many things are yet on the drawing board. “I enjoy the work” and a final decision need not be made for a little over 18 months, he points out.

There has been speculation since his  most recent election in 2015 that it would be his last run. Ditslear is in his 14th year at the helm. The mayor is a Republican, but due to unusual political circumstances he was first elected as an independent and has since run on the GOP ticket.

A tip-off on the next election might be the fact that Gov. Eric Holcomb is scheduled to come for a political fundraiser this summer for Chris Jensen, a city councilor who is believed interested in running for mayor. It would be politically inappropriate for a governor to come to town supporting a potential candidate other than the incumbent mayor of the same political party if that mayor was planning re-election.

A lot of change has happened in Noblesville during the Ditslear years. The population is now nearing 55,000. Among the most notable progress in those years has been the explosive growth to the southeast where the Hamilton Town Center and numerous new businesses and subdivisions have been developed.

And, closer in to the city’s center, big changes are underway west of White River where Federal Hill Commons has just been completed, a new Riverview expansion is planned and the Blue Sky Technology Center is nearing completion. Walking trails, some completed and some planned, are a popular amenity.

Before Ditslear’s present term ends in 2019 the city administration hopes to see a dramatic upgrade of State Road 37 underway along with a Pleasant Street bypass of the downtown area.

It hasn’t all been easy. Two years ago budgetary constraints resulted in the city administration asking residents to pay individually for trash pickup. It was controversial, but the mayor said very necessary if other city services were to be maintained. The city council finally agreed after much debate.

Increases in taxes and fees are never popular. Just this week the city had to announce an increase in sewer rates because federal and state agencies are mandating the separation of more storm and sanitary sewers to avoid river pollution.

Ditslear has lived in Noblesville since 1966. He is a native of Ohio and a graduate of Miami University at Oxford, OH. He served as a U.S. Naval officer. He went into the insurance business upon coming to Noblesville, serving as an agent for American United Life. He served on the school board and was a founding member of the Roots of Life Church. Since being mayor he served a year as president of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.

“I think we’ve done a pretty good job,” the mayor says. Does that mean he might want to stay on? Probably not, but he may keep ’em guessing to the end.

Get the impressions of a reporter covering her first session of the Indiana General Assembly – here’s my talk with Kaitlin Lange

The Associated Press has published a story centering on the arrangement attorney Jennifer Messer has with the City of Fishers.  That contract, which LarryInFishers reported back in February 14th of this year, calls for a $20,000 per month retainer fee for Mrs. Messer in exchange for the legal work performed on behalf of the city.

The story, written by Brian Slodysko, an AP reporter based in Indianapolis, also cites a podcast LarryInFishers posted March 17th with Fishers City Attorney Chris Greisl where the subject of Jennifer Messer’s contract is discussed.  You can access that podcast using this link.

The AP story looks at Mrs. Messer’s contract compared to other contracts around the state. Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness defends his contract with Jennifer Messer, arguing it saves the city money.

Complicating all this is the fact that Jennifer Messer has moved to suburban Washington DC and performs most of the contract work for Fishers from her DC-area home.  Her husband, Indiana Congressman Luke Messer, is considering a U.S. Senate run in 2018.

You can read Brian Slodysko’s story published on the Associated Press wire today at this link. 

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board voted to sell 2.75 acres of land near 131st Street and Cumberland Road for $711,835.  Board attorney David Day said the buyer is Ellipsis Real Estate Partners, which plans to build and operate a residential healthcare facility for seniors on that plot of land.  The board action authorizes the execution of documents and other action to complete the transaction, subject to administrative and board approval.

The board then voted to spend $150,000 to buy a house and corresponding land, to clear the way for future construction of an elementary school, near the current school on Cyntheanne Road.  Final plans and renderings have not been done yet on the new elementary, but school officials need that property to move forward when it is time to begin construction.

In other school board news from the May 10th session:

–New mathematics textbooks were approved for the High School and Junior High levels.  You can get more details at this link.

–Final action was taken to implement a revised tobacco-free policy including language for electronic cigarettes. adjust student & lunch fees and changes in collection policies.

–Academic All-Stars Ashton Murray of Fishers High School  and Tyler Zhang of Hamilton Southeastern High School were honored by the board.

–The Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation board reported on the increased fund-raising by the organization in recent years.  Foundation board officials described their new strategic plan for the future.

–The May 24th school board meeting will begin an hour earlier, 6pm, so the board members may attend a special ceremony honoring Fishers Junior High School National Champion “We the People” team at 7pm.  The board meeting will also be held at Fishers Junior High.

–Chief Financial Officer Mike Reuter told the board the school corporation just issued roughly $8 million in bonds for 20 years, at a low interest rate of 2.9%.

Fishers Junior High School came back from national competition in Washington DC as the National Champions in”We The People” competition…..I talked with the team and the coach in this podcast

When the Fishers Youth Assistance Program presented the first “Breakfast of Champions” event Wednesday morning, the staff & volunteers had everything attendees needed – breakfast, programs and information on Youth Assistance.  One item badly needed at each table was facial tissue.  As the stories were told, tears were in the eyes of many assembled guests.

This program deals with young people attending Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) schools in need of some sort of assistance.  The needs are many.  Some students are part of a family struggling, often through no fault of their own.  It could be as a result of an illness in the family or the student.  It could be due to an accident.

Whatever the reason may be, the Fishers Youth Assistance Program is there, steering the student and family toward resources to help in a time of need.

The Wednesday morning breakfast was an opportunity to tell the stories of Hamilton Southeastern students overcoming the odds and finding ways to deal with adversity.

With Fox59 TV news Anchor Aishah Hasnie as the emcee, the stories were told, one-by-one, with students nominated by HSE Schools’ faculty members.   HSE Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff assisted in handing out the recognition plaques.

Here is a list of the students recognized:

Rylan Guy, 1st Grade, Geist Elementary

Justin Bennett, 4th Grade, Sand Creek Elementary

Angel Toxqui-Tlatoa, 4th Grade, Harrison Parkway Elementary

Nadelyn Baron, 5th Grade, Riverside Intermediate

Christopher Rodriguez, 6th Grade, Riverside Intermediate

Delaney Davis, 8th Grade, Riverside Junior High

Aislynn Ball, 10th Grade, Fishers High School

Brook Casebolt, 2017 Graduate, Fishers High School

Adam Darroca, 12th Grade, HSE High School

Lizamaurine Fortoza, 12th Grade, Fishers High School

Reid Stephens, 12th Grade, Fishers High School

Bill Jerrow, President of the Fishers Youth Assistance Board, said 575 referrals for help have been handled by the program since its formation in 2014, meaning over 200 families are asking for help each year.

Fishers Deputy Mayor Leah McGrath urged more corporations to step forward and support the Youth Assistance program.  “It takes all of us, we’re all in this together,” McGrath told the breakfast crowd.

This is the first of what Fishers Youth Assistance Program hopes will become an annual event.   

If you are interested in volunteering or donating money to the Fishers Youth Assistance Program, you will find more information at this link.

Vertical Aeroponic Technology is the technical name, but they are normally called Tower Gardens.  A special fund established by Fishers City Councilmen Eric Moeller and Todd Zimmerman, in cooperation with the Hamilton County Schools Foundation, provided the money to get this student-led Fishers Elementary School Tower Garden off the ground and running.

“I’m thrilled this project is the result of the first grant that was awarded through the Zimmerman/Moeller Fund,” Moeller said.  “It demonstrates the creativity that teachers have in making their classrooms innovative and dynamic learning environments. The hydroponic tower garden will be a benefit to students for the foreseeable future.”

Students at Fishers Elementary received a demonstration of the Tower Garden during an event held at the school Tuesday afternoon.

You can learn more about Tower Gardens by viewing a YouTube video at this link.

Marsh Supermarkets is owned by Sun Capital Partners in Florida but has its local headquarters in Fishers.  WTHR is now reporting that if a buyer is not found in 60 days, all Marsh groceries will close.

You can read the Channel 13 story at this link.

11 Fishers neighborhoods will get the city’s help in their beautification projects, following a vote Monday by the Board of Public Works and Safety.  The action approves $44,000 for these local spruce-up efforts.  Don Domsic, Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator for the Parks and Recreation Department, told the board 15 neighborhoods asked for funds.  Those rejected were for reasons such as not waiting the proper time period between grants, incomplete applications and ineligible interior work.  The project was budgeted for $50,000.  Neighborhoods applied for the grants and a committee considered each request individually.  You can read all the grant requests, and whether they were approved or disapproved, at this link.

In other board actions, approval was given to limit parking in downtown Fishers on the entire north side of North street between Commercial Blvd to Lantern Rd where signs are placed, in accordance with city ordinances.

The board also approved contracts for engineering services tied to the upgrade of State Road 37.

Here is my latest LarryInFishers Podcast, this one a summary of my Nickel Plate commentary and review of some other Fishers news this past week.. ….