School systems surrounding the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) have reduced hours for their Instructional Assistants (IAs) below 30 hours a week and have not offered them benefits, including health insurance coverage. HSE has tried to postpone decisions on how to handle pay and benefits for their IAs. However, HSE will need to make a decision soon.
Several proposals were discussed at the February 16th school board work session. One would reduce daily hours for the IAs to 6.5 hours per day, but increase hours based on how many IAs choose a minimum health insurance plan.
In recent years, HSE grandfathered many long-time IAs with their health benefit package and not offered benefits to the more recently hired. The Affordable Care Act is forcing a decision soon by the school corporation on how to handle the new health care law and the IAs.
A large percentage of the IAs in Hamilton Southeastern Schools work in the Special Education Program.
Several school board members voiced their support for the IAs and are willing to find the money to support that program.
Superintendent Allen Bourff said the administration will take all the school board member comments into consideration as a recommendation for the board is formulated on what to do with the Instructional Assistants.
Assistant Superintendent Jan Combs came to HSE from Lawrence Township, and said recruiting IAs in Lawrence became a serious challenge when hours were cut below 30 hours per week with no benefits.
In this day and age, working for the same employer a long time is very rare. At the February 15th City Council meeting, 3 workers were recognized for their length of service to the city.
Kyle Marks was cited for 30 years of service to Fishers. He is currently Facilities Manager for the Department of Public Works.
Mitch Thompson was recognized for 25 years of service. He currently serves as Assistant Police Chief for the city, and will take over as Chief once George Kehl retires in September.
Finally, the current Director of Public Works for the city, Eric Pethtel, was recognized by the council for his 25 years of service.
If all goes as planned, there could be a new Starbucks Coffee Shop in Fishers, this time near 116th Street and Olio Road. The developer told the Fishers City Council the proposed location would be near the Walgreen’s Store.
Council members asked a number of questions about traffic control and whether cars stacked up at the drive-up window could block traffic in the area.
This was just the 1st reading, which means to plans will be reviewed by the Fishers Plan Commission, which will vote its recommendation and return the issue to the city council.
Fishers already has Starbucks coffee shops at Allisonville Road and 116th Street, near I-69 & 116th Street and near I-69 and exit 210.
With Pete Peterson taking over the chairmanship of the Hamilton County Republican Party, he made the decision to step aside from his post as Fishers City Council President. As a result, John Weingardt will become City Council President for at least the remainder of 2016. Weingardt was the last Fishers Town Council President before Fishers became a city.
Councilman David George was elected Vice President of the council. The votes for president and vice president were unanimous.
Brandon Dickinson explains economic development projects top the Fishers City Council
The Fishers City Council approved economic development packages to bring two new corporate headquarters to the city. Stanley Security and Braden Business Systems. Both should have their Fishers operations up and running in 2017. Both were announced during Mayor Scott Fadness’ State of the City address last week.
The council approved Stanley Security’s 10-year tax abatement, saving the company $1.8 million, and $328,000 in waived fees.
Braden Business Systems will receive about $769,000 over the next five years, with $230,000 in waived fees.
Next month, council members will consider a deal for Republic Services, which will give that company $123,909 in tax breaks over the next 10 years.
The Braden and Republic packages include state assistance.
Former Fishers Town Council member Mike Colby asked the council what clawback provisions are in the incentive packages (clawback provisions require companies to pay back incentives under certain conditions). Mayor Scott Fadness said there are clawback provisions in these programs.
Councilman Pete Peterson said that as far as economic development is concerned, “We are the envy of the State of Indiana now.”
The City of Fishers plans a “Listening Session” about plans to develop areas of Metropolitan Airport in Fishers. It’s set for Wednesday, February 24th, at Heartland Church, 9665 Hague Road, at 6:30pm.
The full text of the city news release is below…
============================================
In October, the Indianapolis Airport Authority and the City of Fishers announced a joint partnership for the development of the under utilized land at the Fishers Metropolitan Airport. In an effort to engage residents in the master planning process, a listening session is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Heartland Church located at 9665 Hague Road in Fishers.
The listening session will include a brief presentation by city staff that outlines the process for development followed by the opportunity to connect with different stakeholders. Fishers Parks & Recreation, Fishers Department of Engineering and representatives from the Indianapolis Airport Authority will be on hand to answer questions about the project. Additionally, residents are encouraged to bring their ideas. Maps will be available for residents interested in illustrating their ideas for city planners to consider.
Those unable to attend the listening session are encouraged to follow@FishersIN on Twitter for ongoing updates during the listening session.
The roundabout at 106th Street and Lantern Road will remains closed, and Fishers City officials still have no timeline on when traffic can once again use that roadway, only saying you should watch the updates and follow the signs in the area.
Below is the listing from the city on road projects this week…..
Fall Creek Trail reconstruction work continues; the pedestrian bridges and section of sidewalk along the trail have been removed. Pedestrians should not use the trail within the sections that have been removed. In addition, there will be periodic lane closures along the project throughout the week of Feb. 15.
LANTERN ROAD
Lantern Road between 116th Street and Commercial Drive will be restricted the week of Feb. 15. Please use caution and pay close attention to signage displayed in the area.
106TH STREET
The roundabout located at Lantern Road and 106thStreet will remain closed for repairs. Please follow @DriveFishers on Twitter for ongoing updates about this project.
116th STREET
The eastbound lane of 116th Street from Hague Road to Charleston Parkway will be restricted between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for fence replacement. Motorists are encouraged to use caution when traveling along the corridor and pay close attention to signage displayed.
Artist rendering of new STANLEY Building proposed for Fishers
When I interviewed Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness on my podcast February 3rd, he said his State of the City address the following week would highlight economic development and be action packed. He wasn’t kidding.
During the February 10th speech, the mayor made two announcements of corporate headquarters coming to the city, and another announcement the following day about 469 jobs on the way. Let’s look at all three.
Stanley Security will be moving its corporate headquarters to a new 3-story building, to be owned by Ambrose Property Group, in the Fishers Point Business Park, near Kincaid and Sunlight Drives. It should be noted this will be located near the soon-to-be-constructed 106th Street I-69 Interchange. The company says it will move 165 full-time employees to the Fishers location, with 155 more positions to be created over the following 8-year period. The Fishers City Council will be considering a 10-year tax abatement and a waiver of local fees as part of the economic development package at the February 15th session. This area will need to be declared an Economic Revitalization Area and, as part of that process, the City Council will be required to conduct a public hearing at the March 21st session. The structure will be located in a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) area.
The Braden Business System announcement by the mayor is a bit different. This is a case where state incentives are being utilized to uproot a business currently located in Indianapolis and move its operations to Fishers. (In the case of Stanley, there is an operation in Indianapolis that will continue.) Braden will move from near 96th and Keystone to downtown Fishers. A new 4-story, 45,000 square foot building will be constructed between the Switch development and the Fishers City Court building (formerly the auto license branch) which is now mostly a parking lot. 70 jobs are involved. Braden will occupy 20,000 square feet in the new building, with the city subleasing the remaining 15,000 square feet. A tax abatement is being requested. The land is currently city owned property. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation is offering $1.4 million in incentives and $100,000 in grants for training, but are conditional on Braden meeting its commitments on the number of jobs to be created. The city is also offering incentives to be considered by the City Council February 15th, including a tax abatement, fee waivers and, of course, the land currently owned by the city. Again, an Economic Revitalization Area must be declared. A public hearing will be held for that, again at the March 21st council session.
Republic Services, the waste disposal firm, is consolidating its operations around the nation and plans to utilize space currently vacant at 10194 Crosspoint Boulevard, once again near the new 106th Street interchange at I-69. Construction is set to start this year. A lot of jobs come with the plan, 469 in all for a new customer service center. Republic is expected to be up and running at the Fishers location by September 1st of this year, and all 469 jobs are to be in place at the Fishers building by 2025. The state is chipping-in with $4.5 million in tax credits, with the condition that Republic hits the employment targets in the plan. Republic says its investment in the Fishers plan will be $13.6 million.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness has been saying for some time that the city must incease its jobs base to continue growth. Fishers is getting out to a good start on that goal in 2016.
However, the Braden plan may not be a harbinger of things to come. The State of Indiana is offering substantial incentives for a growing business to move from Indianapolis to Fishers. We will see whether the state is inclined to offer incentives in the future for businesses leaving Marion County and relocating in Hamilton County.
