Inside Indiana Business has opened an office in Fishers.  I talked with Gerry Dick, anchor of the weekly television program…

Scott Fadness (left) joins 3 other Hamilton County mayors at OneZone Chamber event

The mayors of Hamilton County appeared together Wednesday, and largely agreed on everything they discussed.  Fishers Chief Executive Scott Fadness joined Andy Cook of Westfield, John Ditslear from Noblesville and 6-term Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard for the OneZone Chamber luncheon event at Forum Conference Center in Fishers.

All mayors agreed that their local school systems are key to current and future growth. Both HSE Schools in Fishers and Noblesville Schools passed funding referendums in the recent primary election.

Noblesville Mayor Ditslear, when asked about the state legislature, said he would prefer state lawmakers stay home and let the cities take care of themselves (with the proper apologies to State Representative Jerry Torr, who attended the luncheon).

All mayors agreed a gas tax increase, or, better yet, a user fee system tied to the number of miles driven, would be required to fund road construction and maintenance in the future.  Fadness said he believed the Indiana House had the best measure, but it was compromised with the Senate version before final passage this year.

Fadness said creating a sense of place in a city like Fishers is like “trying to build an airplane in flight.”  He described how the area is still in an era of suburban flight just as technological, social and cultural change is moving rapidly.

On the issue of regional cooperation, Fadness sees it working well in Hamilton County, especially among the 4 cities represented at the OneZone event.  However, Fadness was not as complimentary of the regional cooperation in the 9-county Indianapolis Metropolitan area.

All 4 mayors voiced general support of a regional mass transit system.

When asked about threats to the Hamilton County area in the future, Mayor Fadness was ‘unabashedly optimistic.”  He emphasized no one should ever be satisfied with the status quo, but believes Indiana does not “need bad PR” (a veiled reference to last year’s RFRA law controversy).

Each mayor got a few zingers in and there were plenty of laughs along the way.

The Fishers City Council will now consider two important items after the Plan Commission unanimously voted to recommend both issues move forward.

The city’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan was approved, but not before some pointed comments during the public hearing.  One resident told commission members the plan would, at some point, require his house to be demolished.  City Councilman Brad DeReamer cited a Survey Monkey poll he conducted among residents of his Britton Falls neighborhood, showing support for extensions of Cyntheanne Road and 126th Street in that northeastern section of the city.

City Councilman Pete Peterson said this plan is very long term, adding its good residents are “pushing us” on the plan details.

The Fishers City Council is expected to take up the 2040 plan as soon in June.

Commission members also gave unanimous approval of two ordinances, requiring city council approval for land use in the areas of I-69 in the city around the 106th Street interchange now under construction, and 116th Street near that current interchange.  This would be in place for 120 days, or less time if planning rules are worked out before that deadline.

One property owner asked that the considerable investments made by himself and other land owners in the area not be damaged by limiting development.

Mayor Fadness proposed the two ordinances to put more controls over development of these areas.  Peterson described the corridors as the “one of the greatest assets the city has.”

The Fishers City Council is expected to consider both ordinances at the meeting scheduled May 16th.

Fishers City officials are moving forward with plans for a major upgrade to State Road 37. The Board of Public Works and Safety gave the go-ahead for a list of professional services to begin the work at the Monday afternoon meeting.  Construction is expected to begin within two years.

RQAW Corporation will be paid $808,000 to be in charge of program management, which includes liaison with local businesses and others with a stake in the project.

Here are other State Road 37 contracts approved by the board:

–DLZ Indiana, LLC, survey/geotechnical/SUE services, $1,291,460

–Lockmueller Group, Inc., environmental services, $309,200

–American Structurepoint, Road and Bridge Design Services, (money amount not yet determined)

–A&F Engineering Co., LLC, traffic management, $288,950

Money to fund the services will come from the State Road 37 bonds.

In other board actions:

A nearly $4.4 million contract was approved with Rieth-Riley Construction, adding an additional eastbound lane on 116th street between Commercial Drive and Oak Street/Exit 5….reconstruction and realignment of both Oak Drive and Exit 5 Parkway…. Construction and Modernization of five traffic signals, and construction of turn lanes on USA parkway. Work is scheduled to start during June of this year.

CC&T Construction was awarded a $125,000 contract for sidewalk improvements in the Sunblest neighborhood, including upgrades to meet ADA standards.

Picture of one suspect, provided by Fishers PD

Fishers Police are on the lookout for two suspects in a reported May 6th Robbery at the Marsh Supermarket Pharmacy on 96th Street near Lantern Road.

Here’s the rundown from authorities, per the Fishers Police Department news release below:

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According to Marsh employees and evidence collected in the store it appears two males walked up to the Pharmacy and passed a note demanding prescription medication. The Pharmacist complied and was not injured. The suspects were last seen running out of the supermarket.

Officers quickly responded to the area and set a perimeter. An extensive search of the area was conducted, however the suspects remain at large. Anyone with information regarding this robbery or the identity of these suspects is encouraged to call Detective David Finn at 317-595-3341.

Suspect #1

Black male

Mid to late teens

Wearing a black zip up sweatshirt with Air Jordan logo

Suspect #2

Black male

Mid to late teens

Wearing hooded sweatshirt

The Fishers Plan Commission is not normally one of the most exciting beats in journalism. A large number of the items on the monthly agenda are routine.

For example, there is one item on the May 10th meeting list about subdividing one lot into two lots.  Another seeks to allow an auto repair shop in the Lantern Pines area.

But there are times very important items are considered by this body.  There are two such items on the May 10th commission agenda.

Before getting into that, let me explain one more aspect of the Fishers Plan Commission.  It is largely an advisory body.  There are a few limited areas where the commission does make decisions, but the bulk of its work is advisory to the Fishers City Council, which has the final say.

First, the commission will hold a public hearing on the Fishers 2040 Plan, also referred to as the comprehensive plan.  Fishers never had a comprehensive plan on how it should develop in the future, and how to keep up older areas of the city, during its years as a town. The proposed 2040 plan is also about parks and transportation.  The document itself has taken months to develop.  You can access the entire 216-page report at this link.

The Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on the Fishers 2040 proposed plan.  The commission members will then vote a recommendation and send it back to the city council for final consideration and action.

Another item on the May 10th agenda will consider a new ordinance proposed by Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness placing more controls on development of land in Fishers in the area of the current 116th Street I-69 interchange, and the new one under construction at 106th Street and the interstate highway.

When the announcement was made last year that IKEA will locate one of its stores near the 116th Street interchange in Fishers, I asked the mayor how he envisions economic growth in the area near the new IKEA facility.  I asked the question because once IKEA has located a store in other parts of America, the land in that area has quickly developed.  The mayor told me at that time about his concern that any development be carefully considered so people living in that part of Fishers can be involved in those decisions.

It appears Fishers officials are wanting to keep careful control in these specific areas of the city beyond the basic zoning laws.  There will be a public hearing May 10th at the Plan Commission about this proposal.  You can read the Fishers Planning Staff report on the 116th Street proposal at this link.   For the staff report on 106th Street, use this link.

If you have public comments you wish to make on the Fishers 2040 plan and/or the mayor’s proposal to take more planning control of land around the Interstate 69 interchanges, this is your chance to make your feelings known.

The May 10th Fishers Plan Commission meeting starts at 6:30pm at the City Hall.

Jane (middle) with Allison (left) and Mary (right)

Mothers Day is always something special for me, but this year is extra special.  My Mom turned 86 years of age just days ago and my lovely daughters are entering adulthood because their special Mom (and my wife) Jane gave them the nurturing and support only a mother can provide.

My Mom raised all 6 of us and I have no idea how she did it, but somehow she did. My siblings and I are fortunate she did.  We are so lucky to have her with us now in such good health,

My wife Jane has done what all good mothers do – provide an example to our daughters on how to live their lives.  I am so proud of Allison and Mary for being college graduates and becoming such outstanding adults, and their mother Jane had a lot to do with it.

Today is Mothers Day and we all should honor our moms in a special way.  I want to give special thanks to my Mom and my wife Jane as the mother of our children.  It is a special day of celebration for me.

My Aunts Delores and Sue, with my Mom (far right)

After winning the 2016 Indiana State Championship for “We the People,” the Fishers High School team headed to Washington DC for the national competition in late April.

The team finished 5th among the 54 teams on hand for the national competition.

I talked to the Coach Liz Paternoster and team member Ned Ansari in a Podcast recorded February 19th, well before the trip to DC.  You can hear that Podcast at this link.

“Many of the teams that make it into the the top 10 have been there the last 15-20 years in a row,” Paternoster said in an e-mail to LarrryInFishers.  “The We the People program at FHS is only 8 years old and we have made it to the National finals twice in the last 3 years and been in the top 10 both times.  I am incredibly proud of what these students were able to accomplish this year.  Earning a 6th place finish at Nationals is incredible but even beyond that they have inspired others to get involved throughout their community.”

“We the People” is a competition testing high school students’ knowledge and understanding of the United States Constitution.  The students must present a prepared statement on a constitutional issue, then answer questions from a panel of judges.

As the weather gets warmer, the list of road projects becomes longer.  Note the coming closures for the Geist Half Marathon.  The full list from the City of Fishers is below:

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FALL CREEK TRAIL

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 May 6th. Please travel with caution, construction barrels have reduced the existing northbound lane width.

GEIST HALF MARATHON CLOSURES

The Geist Half Marathon will be running its course route on Saturday, May 21st. During that time various road restrictions and partial road closures will be in place to ensure participant safety. Please visit their website for a complete list of affected roads.

I-69 TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS

INDOT is overseeing an overnight closure on multiple traffic lanes on I-69 overnight this week to continue demolition of the 106th Street overpass bridge. Weather permitting, lane closures and rolling slowdowns of traffic will begin after 9 p.m. May 5-6th and 9-13th and are expected to end before 6 a.m. the next day. Construction schedules and traffic restrictions are subject to change, and question should be directed to INDOT at indot.carsporgram.org, 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or 511 from a mobile phone.

PAVING

A contractor will be paving ramps on Britton Park Drive, Harrison Parkway and Conner Knoll throughout the coming weeks. Please anticipate periodic lane restrictions in those areas.

96th STREET AND CUMBERLAND ROAD

The Hamilton County Highway Department has closed 96th Street and Cumberland Road for 100 calendar days in order to construct a roundabout at this intersection. Anyone with concerns about this project should call 773-7770. Please visit www.Fishers.in.us/DriveFishers to view a detour map. The tentative completion date for this project is June 30, 2016.

106th STREET INTERCHANGE

• INDOT has begun work on the 106th Street interchange. A lane shift is currently in place on I-69 and 106th Street is closed as construction continues. Additional details about this project will be released through INDOT and shared on the weekly construction update. Please be advised the speed limit from 82nd Street to 116th Street has been reduced to 55 mph and there are lane shifts on I-69. Please travel with caution and pay close attention to signage in the area.
• The eastbound ‘thru’ lane of 106th Street at the intersection of Hague Road remains restricted until early May. Stay tuned for updates on this project.

113th STREET

On Tuesday, May 10th crews will begin street improvements along 113th Street. Between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. flagmen with signs and cones will help guide traffic in the area. Please use caution while crews are working.

116th STREET

• There may be short-term lane restrictions on westbound 116th Street, west of Exit 5 Parkway while utility work is being completed.
• Continuing throughout the week of May 9th, lane restrictions will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on westbound lanes of 116th Street from Holland Drive to Wainwright Drive.

126th STREET

Continuing the week of May 6th, there will be intermittent lane restrictions for westbound traffic just west of Promise Road. These restrictions will allow the contractor to construct the entrance into Granite Ridge subdivision. Advance warning signs will be in place including a directional arrow board, as needed.

The City of Fishers hosted its final Open House to explain the Fishers 2040 Comprehensive Plan Thursday night and attracted a crowd of about 15 people.

Deputy Mayor Leah McGrath gave a brief presentation to those assembled, summarizing the plan.  The project began in August of last year with a number of committees working regularly.  In total, the various panels worked 600 hours to come up with the first draft of the plan being considered now.

You can access the entire draft document at this link.  (Note: The document is 216 pages)

The Fishers City Plan Commission received a summary of the plan from McGrath at the April meeting.  That body is having a public hearing on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan at the May 10th session.

If the Plan Commission reports out a favorable recommendation, the City Council will act on final approval of the plan in the next few months.