Seven Democrats will be on the ballot in the November 7th general election for Fishers city offices, and all have issued a statement, through the Hamilton County Democratic Party, backing the HSE Schools operating referendum expected to appear on the November 7th ballot.

Wednesday night, the HSE Board voted for a resolution providing “preliminary support” for continuing the current .2275 property tax rate and placing a renewal of the referendum rate on the November ballot.  A final vote on the rate and referendum language to appear on the ballot is expected in June.

“These candidates strongly encourage Fishers citizens to vote to renew the current referendum,” according to the party statement. “Approval of the referendum renewal, which provides teacher salaries and other crucial operating expenses, will generate $26 million per year for HSE Schools.”

Incumbent Fishers City Council members Jocelyn Vare and Crystal Neumann will appear on the general election ballot.  City Council challengers on the November ballot include Howard Stevenson, Bill McLellan, Lane Skeeters and Samantha Chapman.  Janet Pritchett is running for City Clerk.  Democrats so far have no candidate for Mayor of Fishers

The Hamilton Southeastern School Board looked at school calendars for the coming 3 school years Wednesday night, with a tweak of next year eyeing a solar eclipse.

Assistant Superintendent Matt Kegley told the board our geographical area will be part of what scientists describe as a “path of totality” on April 8, 2024.  The eclipse will begin at 1:50pm, will peak at 3:09pm and end by 4:23pm on April 8 next year.

As a result, administrators are recommending extending spring break in 2024, to include Monday, April 8.

School staff also proposed two more calendars in the presentation before the board.  No action was taken.

Here are links to all three calendars for the coming school years:

2023-2024

2024-2025

2025-2026

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board approved a resolution Wednesday night  providing “preliminary support” for placing a renewal of the operating referendum that expires December 31, 2023, on the November election ballot.  The board gave its initial indication it favors keeping the referendum property tax rate at .2275.

The final vote providing the rate and specific language to be contained on the ballot initiative will likely happen in June.  The state must approve the ballot language, giving the board extra time to re-write the ballot language if ordered by state officials.  The deadline is August 1.

The operating referendum generates roughly $26 million per year for HSE Schools.

Six of the seven board members voted yes on the resolution.  Tiffany Pascoe chose to abstain.

The Hamilton Southeastern Schools student handbook has had language about microaggressions since June of 2022, but the recently-elected board voted Wednesday 5-2 to remove that language.  Ben Orr, Tiffany Pascoe, Dawn Lang, Juanita Albright and Suzanne Thomas voted to remove the microaggression language, replacing it with new wording.  Sarah Donsbach and Sarah -Parks-Reese voted no.

Here is the student handbook language that will replace the microaggression passage:

HSE schools is committed to providing each student with learning experiences that are deep and relevant, and encourage the development of each student’s unique identity. HSE will meet each student where they are and make the dignity of each individual a priority while respecting all students and teachers’ diverse backgrounds and beliefs. HSE supports all students as they foster relationships with character, acceptance, respect, and education for all.

Here is what the student handbook said before Wednesday night’s vote:

Microaggressions can be defined as everyday, subtle, intentional or unintentional interactions or behaviors that communicate some sort of bias toward historically marginalized groups. While Hamilton Southeastern High School understands those individuals communicating a microaggression might not intend to express bias, the school recognizes the responsibility to educate students on the reality of bias perceptions. Issues regarding microaggressions may be addressed through restorative conversations led by school administration and/or guidance counselors rather than punitive measures. Habitual occurrences could lead to consequences applicable to inappropriate conduct as defined in Section 28 (another section of the handbook).

The public comment period saw 27 people speak on the handbook issue.  Those supporting a removal of the microaggression language objected to the reference to “historically marginalized groups” and not all groups.  Others pointed out that the board put this item on the agenda as an action item and the final version of the replacement language was available only hours before the board meeting. It was also pointed out that this contradicts what the board said at a work session about using the process involving staff and students before presenting handbook changes to the board.

Board member Ben Orr said the microaggression language “actually works counter to its intended goal and it stifles free speech, open dialogue and offers no due process.”

Sarah Parks-Reese argued to keep the current language and read a letter from a teacher citing a long list of microaggressions she has witnessed in her school.

The board action takes effect immediately.

What is next for the intersection of State Road 37 & 141st Street?  What about the planned roundabouts on Allisonville Road at 96th & 116th Streets?  What is happening with road resurfacing in 2024 and the Nickel Plate Trail?

All that, and more, is discussed in this podcast with Fishers City Director of Engineering Jason Taylor & his Assistant Director Hatem Mekky.

Winning 5 Grammy Awards is no small thing and a group coming to the Nickel Plate Amp, Snarky Puppy, has that honor.  The jazz fusion group is coming to Fishers September 8.

Below is the City of Fishers news release on the upcoming show:

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The 96-page Allisonville Road Corridor Study has been released and was explained in detail during a City Council Work Session Monday night.  During the regular meeting, the Council approved a resolution adopting the study’s findings, but only dealt with the “vision” of the report at this point in time.

Mayor Scott Fadness said the steering committee, made up of people tied to the area north of 106th Street to 126th Street, told city officials what is most important to them in developing the area.  That included a focus on green development, attention to the surrounding neighborhoods, and lighter density compared to downtown Fishers.

But the mayor cautioned that this will not necessarily happen quickly.  “We can do this over a period of time,” the mayor told Council members.

Council President John Weingardt said this area was the commercial center of Fishers when he moved his family here in 1992.  He said the planned development “to revitalize this area, I think, is very important for our community.”

At-Large Councilor Jocelyn Vare abstained from voting on the resolution, saying the 96-page report was only made public a few days ago.  She is generally supportive of the study and the people involved in producing it, but wants more time to digest the findings.    “I wish we could have the enthusiasm and the time as a community to adopt it together,” Vare said.

Vare also voiced concerned about how to address what she described as a number of traffic accidents on 116th Street west of Allisonville Road.  Planning and Zoning Director Megan Vukusich replied that the city’s Engineering Department could look into that issue.

In response to a question by Councilor Brad DeReamer, Mayor Fadness said there are plans to construct “slip lanes” for right-hand turns at the roundabout planned at 116th Street and Allisonville Road.

After some discussion and division, the Fishers City Council has decided not to continue with a plan eliminating the Nonprofit Committee.  The Council approved first and second readings of a measure to scuttle the panel and allow the mayor to include nonprofit financial support within the mayor’s budget proposal.

Council President John Weingardt tells LarryInFishers there will be no third reading full council vote on the proposal and the situation will remain unchanged.

For the past few budget cycles, a City Council committee would review the requests for support from local nonprofit groups, decide which groups will receive financial help from the city, then decide how much each of the chosen organizations would receive, based on money available in that year’s city budget.  That decision would then go to the full council for a vote.

Many council members complained that they were receiving aggressive pressure from some organizations wanting city funds.  When council members discussed the proposal, there was a split among the councilors.

When the council considers the 2024 budget later this year, the Nonprofit Committee will once again sort through the requests and make a recommendation to the full council for a vote.

There has been much publicity on the development plans for what is described as the “Allisonville Road Corridor,” spanning north from 106th Street up to 126th.  The City of Fishers revealed more on the results of the 96-page study Monday.

The city confirmed an Indianapolis Star report that Kroger will relocate from the west side of Allisonville Road near the 116th Street intersection to build a new, expanded store on the east side of Allisonville Road.  According to a City of Fishers news release, this plan includes road and walkability improvements, a boost in greenspace, and encouragement for new development along the corridor.  The Kroger move and expansion is part of that plan.

The Steering Committee that oversaw the study consisted of:

• Corby Thompson, Co-Chair
• Joe Eaton, Co-Chair
• Selina Stoller, Fishers City Council
• David Giffel, Fishers City Council
• Ed Sahm, Sahms Restaurants
• Kelly Marburger Novak, EF Marburger Fine Flooring
• Pat Sullivan, Allisonville Home & Garden by Sullivan
• Mike Colby, River Glen Neighborhood Representative
• Brad Rochford, River Highlands Neighborhood Representative
• Jim Trueblood, Trueblood Real Estate
• Drew Bender, VS Engineering
• Allen Bourff, Retired Superintendent at HSE
• Stephanie Perry, Resident
• Marissa Deckert, Resident

“The community was really involved in every aspect of the Steering Committee’s work,” said Joe Eaton, co-chair of the Allisonville Road Steering Committee, Allisonville Road resident, and partner at Barnes & Thornburg. “We hosted a community workshop, focus groups, and an online survey where over 1,500 residents provided feedback and input about what they wanted to see, both in the short-term and long-term, with the corridor.”

More green space in the area is called for in this plan, along with better parking and walkability.  The city also plans to replace the current traffic signals at 116th & Allisonville Road with a roundabout in 2024 or 2025.

“The transformation of Allisonville Road is a long-range project that will take some years to complete, but we have significant things happening in the early chapters of that transformation—road improvements, a new park on the southern end, and several economic development projects,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in the city news release. “All of these are catalysts to jump start the transformation of the entire corridor.”

The new 120,000 square foot Kroger store on the east side of Allisonville Road will include features such as an expanded food assortment, expanded Kroger Pickup, wider aisles, Starbucks, and popcorn made in the store. Kroger and the City of Fishers will hold a public meeting about the project in the coming months.

“Over the years, Fishers has become a destination in a way its founders never could have imagined. Our location is a gateway to this vibrant community, and we’re excited to commit the new investment as another ingredient in the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of the city.”

Other priorities in the area include boosting greenspace and enhancing the streetscape to achieve vibrancy and improved care for the corridor. The City is in the early stages of these improvements, but new median designs and beautification efforts by the Department of Public Works are already improving the vibrancy of this area.

John Tuohy of the Indianapolis Star posted a story on the newspaper’s Web site Monday with more details on Kroger’s plans.  Read his story at this link.

In 1991, I married Jane and we lived in a nice ranch home just south of 126th Street and east of Allisonville Road.  There was plenty of commercial activity in the area around 116th Street and Allisonville Road at that time.

The 1990 census pegged the population of Fishers at right around 7,500 souls.  The community was just beginning its massive growth yet to come.

That area around 116th & Allisonville was the center of commercial activity when I moved here in 1991.  In recent years, the area still has a bustling commercial buzz, but it has lost some of its luster.

The City of Fishers commissioned a study of the Allisonville Road corridor north of 106th Street.  The findings were released in a 96-page report that will be discussed and possibly voted upon by the Fishers City Council Monday night.

That report includes some very interesting developments.  John Tuohy of the Indianapolis Star was quick to read the report and found that the Kroger store, north of 116th just west of Allisonville, has notified the city there are plans to move across Allisonville Road to the shopping area located there. Also, the report forecasts a community area to be developed where Kroger is now located.

Many of you may recall that Kroger initially announced a similar plan years ago but pulled back due to market conditions at that time.  There was also a plan for the city to use the old Kroger location, where the grocery is currently located, as some sort of community space.  So, the current study contains some generally familiar concepts.

The question now is, where does all this go from here?  The City Council will be briefed on the study and has a vote accepting the report on the Monday night agenda.

The corridor study began with a great deal of input from homeowners and commercial interests along Allisonville Road.  A gathering held months ago asking for input drew a large crowd, so there is a lot of public interest in this issue.

As someone that began living in Fishers in that area, I hope these plans come to fruition.  The IndyStar story quotes Mayor Scott Fadness as describing plans in the study as “long term” in nature, but he appears on-board and ready to make this happen.