Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness has scheduled another virtual town hall for late May.  You must register to be a part of this town hall.  Below is the information provided by the mayor’s office:

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Join Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness for a virtual open forum at the Twilight Town Hall on Wednesday, May 26 at 8 p.m. Attendees will hear updates on current events in Fishers and are invited to submit questions for discussion.

Residents must register for the event.

This has been a very active news cycle the past few days, so here are some notes of interest as we enter yet another work week:

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The recent announcement that mask wearing is no longer recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for those fully vaccinated has been cheered by most people.  There are a few exceptions, but this is still good news.  Businesses are making their own decisions about whether to continue masks be worn and we should see more and more establishments easing those restrictions.  However, be aware that people in Indiana are still testing positive and dying from COVID….not as many as before, but it is still happening here.

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The Fishers City Council will likely have a recommendation for one or more community center(s) after the team headed by Councilman Todd Zimmerman reviewed survey results from local citizens about what they want from such a proposed operation.  More details on what may be proposed and how it can be financed should be coming in a matter of weeks.

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If you have tried to traverse commercial areas in many parts of the city, you have likely found streets in serious disrepair.  It is the result of constant property ownership turnover in these areas.  These streets are private and not in the city’s inventory.  How to get these streets repaired or resurfaced, and which party is legally required to pay for it, has turned out to be a thorny legal issue with no easy answers.  The mayor’s office is studying options and may come to the city council for recommended action in the coming months.

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It is sad to see a public building such as City Hall be in such a bad physical shape, but that is the picture painted by Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren before the city council work session Thursday.  The structure, first opened as the Fishers Town Hall in 1992, is literally sinking according to an independent engineering report completed just 3 weeks ago.  It appears the building will need so much work, that will cost millions more dollars, that a new City Hall may be needed.  Mayor Scott Fadness suggested at the council retreat that the community center proposal could have more than one location and the arts component could be a part of any new City Hall complex.  The mayor promised to begin work with his staff and consultants with a recommendation for the council members, perhaps in September of this year.

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While in college during the 1970s, I had the opportunity to have professors and fellow students that had lived in the Middle East.  I knew people that had lived in the nation of Lebanon on the Arab side and those that had lived in Israel.  The latest violence in that part of the world in recent days saddens me greatly, because it is the civilian populations in all parts of the region that will suffer the most.  If you think you have this all figured out and know which side is right or wrong, think again.  All impacted have a compelling story to tell, some going back decades, some going back centuries.  We need smart diplomats and leaders of nations in the area to take the action needed to stop this carnage.  Also, the bombing of a building in Gaza housing the Associated Press bureau (AP is one of the largest new operations in the world)  and other news organizations is troubling for a world in need of straight information about what is going on there.  The head of AP wants an independent investigation of why Israel chose to bomb that structure.  I agree.

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I just posted a podcast interview with an old friend and nationally-known technology journalist Scott M Fulton, III.  We talked about 5G, but the most compelling conversation we had centered on data centers. Scott revealed that the only reason many of us could work from home and have virtual school classes is due to the disaster planning on the part of the largest data centers in the nation.  According to Scott, those data centers increased their efficiency during the pandemic by 66%.  That is an unbelievable number.  If those data centers had not been able to increase efficiency to that level, working from home and educating from home would not have been possible.  Let’s tip our hats to the tech people!

You can listen to the entire podcast with Scott M Fulton, III (50 minutes in length) at this link.    

With warm weather here, the list of road construction projects continues to grow.

Here is the latest, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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Scott M Fulton, III is a good friend of mine and a nationally-known writer on technology issues.  Scott joins me in the podcast to talk about how 5G technology may impact Fishers in the future.  He also discusses how a technology data center firm kept America working and learning from home when COVID-19 hit our jobs and schools over a year ago.

City Hall is beginning to sink into the ground and keeping the building afloat, plus other required work, will cost the city more money in the future.  That was the message Fishers City Council members received at a Thursday night work session from Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren.

An engineering study completed 3 weeks ago specified the price tag of work needed on the building immediately and over the coming 3-year period.

Hultgren went through some of the structure’s history.  What was then Fishers Town Hall was completed in 1992, a 2-story, wood frame building.  In 1994, moving and settling of the Hall was discovered, addressed, and nothing like that was detected until 2012.

At that time, more sinking of the structure was found, more underpinnings were added and that appeared to fix the issue.

The latest engineering report found more sinking, described as significant, as well as cracking of the structure and floors coming apart.

In the past 5 years, Hultgren told councilors that $1.6 million has been spent on maintenance and upgrades to City Hall.  The latest engineering report urges more than $430,000 be spent immediately on the building.

In addition, the study recommends $2.1 million of work over the next three years, with $1.6 million of that total to be expended in the next 12 months.  And none of that money would address the problem of the building settling (sinking).

Mayor Scott Fadness told the council City Hall has a “flimsy construction.”

“When you walk in there, it does not feel like an institutional building,” said Fadness.

The cost of demolishing City Hall and replacing it with a 3-story steel frame structure would cost the city an estimated $18-$21 million, according to Hultgren.

Fadness and City Councilman Todd Zimmerman suggested that part of a new community center being studied by a group headed by Zimmerman might have more than one location, with an arts and culture center as a part of any new City Hall complex.

Members of the council appeared to agree that all options must be considered based on the assessment of City Hall’s current condition.

Fadness emphasized that he wants any new City Hall financial plan to be reasonable and one that would make sense for the taxpayers of Fishers.

The mayor says he will work with his staff and consultants on how a new City Hall might be built and the tax impact that would have on local residents.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Property assessment and its effect on taxation is a somewhat complicated subject for many folks, but I will give you my understanding of it.

Thousands of Hamilton County residents and business owners received reassessment notices last week notifying them of changes in the taxable valuation of their property. Most properties have had assessments increased and there have been more increases on structures than land this year.

The increases are based on the recent sales of comparable properties in the immediate area of a subject home or property. The real estate market is “hot” in Hamilton County, and assessments reflect this.

Countywide, the increase in the total gross taxable valuation (the tax base) appears to have increased from $42.3 billion last year to about $47.3 billion this year or about 12 percent, which is a tremendous one-year increase.

The net valuation, yet to be calculated, is much lower due to the various deductions including homestead exemptions, tax abatements, etc.

But, it will be a big increase nevertheless, which comes largely from new construction and trending upward in the value of existing homes and businesses. Estimates from the county assessor are preliminary and unofficial, stressed Assessor Robin Ward.

But, if the final net assessed value expands another 10 or 12 percent this year as expected, and city, county, schools and libraries hold next year’s spending to only modest increases, then individual tax bills next year should not rise significantly or, in some cases, at all.

If, on the other hand, elected officials decide to make the most of the big increase in the tax base, and leave their tax rates as they are or increase them, most individual home owners could expect a major hike in their tax bill.

Few property owners want to see higher taxes unless absolutely necessary, but even fewer understand the taxation system and when to voice their opinions.

Appeals of higher assessments are an option for homeowners and businesses. Later this year, there are public hearings on next year’s proposed budgets.

In some Indiana counties, the tax base is static or shrinking and property tax hikes are absolutely necessary to maintain public services. But, not in Hamilton County. It’s one of the advantages of living in the state’s wealthiest county.

With a few days left to sign-up, only 109 students in the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District have committed to be virtual-only for the fall semester of 2021.  That’s out of a total student population of about 21,500.

Superintendent Allen Bourff told the school board Wednesday night that families will have a deadline of Sunday night (May 16) to make the virtual commitment.  The district is expecting students electing all-virtual learning to commit to the entire fall semester.

Of those electing all-virtual classes so far, 55 are grades kindergarten through 6th grade….16 in grades 7 & 8…and 38 at the high school level.

Bourff said a number of questions have been submitted about the virtual option commitment.  For answers, he pointed to webinars that can be accessed at this link.

In other school board news from Wednesday night’s session:

–Ryan Taylor, Director of Staff and Student Support Services, presented the board with results of a walk zone study, looking at areas where students could walk to school.  This was also studied in 2003 and 2015.  Taylor detailed what needs to be done with other government entities in order to provide the infrastructure needed to provide walk zones.  This was presented as an information-only item.  You can find his presentation at this link.

–The board gave final approval to block scheduling for the coming school year at both high schools, Fall Creek Junior High and HSE Intermediate / Junior High.

–The school district is planning a new program, HSEngaged, patterned after the Fishers City Citizens Academy and the Hamilton County Leadership Academy.  The program will take applicants beginning in June and will only accept 20 participants in the first year.  For more information, use this link.

–The Snapshot of Success featured Katie Barnett, a student at Fishers High School, competed in the Start Up Business Plan competition and was named State Champion in the event at DECA SCDC (State Career Development Conference).  For more, view a video at this link.

Of the many worthy causes in and around the Fishers area, the Fishers Youth Assistance Program is one I know well and is well worth your support.

Below is a news release issued by the organization all about how you can help young people in need during the summer months of 2021.

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Fishers Youth Assistance Program (FYAP) is seeking monetary and volunteer support for its annual meals programs – Snack Attack and the 2021 Summer Meals program – that provide food and additional resources for hundreds of Hamilton Southeastern Schools children each year.

Snack Attack distributes more than 2,900 snacks to 429 students each week throughout the HSE Schools calendar year. The Summer Meals program provides breakfast and lunch for 700 youth during a nine-week period over the summer months.

Several groups supported FYAP meals programs in 2020, including the Hamilton County Commissioners, Central Indiana Community Foundation, the Care Institute, Ardagh Group, Four Day Ray, the Broom Family, several local churches and individual donors.

“We wanted to support FYAP because Four Day Ray is part of the Fishers community,” said Brian Graham, President & Owner, Four Day Ray. “It is part of our mission to assist the community we love and give back whenever we can. The kids in our community needed help, and we were able to step up and help in a time of need. We are so excited our business is able to make an impact right here in our own backyard.”

The depth of the impact made since 2014 through FYAP programs has been felt in the Hamilton County Court system.

“We have seen a decrease in the number of kids detained in our detention center and who have ended up in the judicial system over the last several years,” said Paul Felix, the Judge of the Hamilton County Circuit Court and FYAP board member. “Our Fishers Early Intervention Advocates have done a wonderful job identifying challenges early in the lives of these kids so they don’t head down a much more destructive path in the future.

There are many opportunities and ways to contribute to both programs, including:

• Volunteer;
• Summer Meals and Snack Attack Wish List Purchases and Shipping;
• Donate Funds to Support Our Meals Programs; and
• Sponsor a child for Summer Meals Program for $160.

FYAP serves as an early intervention advocate for youth ages 3-17 who are facing challenging life circumstances. The local nonprofit organization takes a holistic approach to coordinate our community’s vast array of talents, services and resources to help youth and empower parents and caregivers.

FYAP early intervention advocates connect clients with resources in the areas of child wellness, basic needs, caregiver support, social engagement, extended academic support and judicial prevention. If you are a family who could benefit from this support, please complete a self-referral at www.youthassistance.org/fishers.

You can make a donation at this link.

A Fishers man faces charges in connection with a May 5th shooting at the Flats Apartment complex, located in the Fishers Marketplace, near 131st Street and Cumberland Road.  Tyreik Buckner, 19, is being held in the Hamilton County Jail on counts of attempted murder, attempted aggravated battery, criminal recklessness and criminal mischief.

According to Fishers Police, officers responded to reports of gunshots fired in the 9500 block of Ambleside Drive just before 7:30am.  A search of the area determined no one was injured.  Detectives determined the suspect fired the gun during an argument with another man.  Investigators determined this was not a random act.

Police found Buckner May 10th and took him into custody without incident.

This case remains an active investigation. Anyone with information should contact Fishers Police Detective Rob Baker at 317-595-3134.

It was May 11, 1991, when Jane Elizabeth Johnson became Jane Elizabeth Johnson Lannan.  That was our wedding day.

I could not imagine what my life what have been like without Jane at my side the past 30 years.  Frankly, I am glad I do not know.

Whatever I have accomplished during the past 30 years, Jane was right at my side, supportive in every way.  This blog would not still be going without Jane’s support.

When our twin daughters Mary & Allison came along, Jane was not just the best wife a guy could as for, but a mom every kid would want to have.  She is loving the role of Grammy to our grandson Dakota.

You might think 30 years is a long time, and in many ways it is.  But it doesn’t seem that long to me because Jane was always there, at my side.

It is not easy to describe 30 years of married life.  Through all the ups and downs that life has thrown at us, Jane has always been a partner and wife that kept everything straight and narrow.

So, Jane, thanks for 30 years and the many years yet to come in our marriage.  I love you very much!