No one in Fishers or Hamilton County can remember a time when Democrats caucused to replace someone serving on an elected body, but that happened Sunday afternoon when a group of precinct officials voted to have Crystal Neumann serve as the North Central District member of the Fishers City Council.

Ms. Neumann replaces Samantha DeLong, who resigned because her her family is moving out of state.

“Crystal is a uniquely qualified individual who will serve the residents of Fishers well,” said Hamilton County Democratic Chair Dayna Colbert. “We are looking forward to seeing her work alongside fellow Democratic Councilor Jocelyn Vare to improve the transparency of the city’s finances and be a strong voice for underrepresented individuals in our community.”

Crystal Neumann is a Latina, first generation American, and currently serves as the Assistant Provost for the American College of Education. She has earned a doctorate in business administration and has previously worked in marketing and market research before making the transition to higher education.

Dr. Neumann will be sworn-in at Fishers City Hall Monday, at 6:00pm

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Having more money than you know what to do with is usually not a problem for most folks. But, local government is, in a sense, facing that problem.

With American Rescue Plan funds on the way to Hamilton County, officials must decide where they can spend their $65.5 million windfall. County commissioners and county council members met Friday on the matter.

Hamilton County government did not suffer financially to a great extent because of the pandemic. The money is supposed to be spent to compensate local government for losses suffered in the past year.

The first decision by county officials was extra pay for employees who faced health risks and may have lost out on benefits due to a cautious approach to budget-making last year in the face of the rising health crisis.

Since any bonus pay to “essential” employees must be made by May 27, the matter was put to a vote at Friday’s meeting. Each employee will receive $3,000 at a rate not to exceed $13 per hour for the period of March 16, 2020 to April 30, 2021.

Yet to be faced are three other areas where the COVID relief money can be spent. This includes somehow reimbursing various county departments for lost revenue in Local Income Taxes, food and beverage tax revenue, lost gas tax monies, lost receipts at county parks and fairgrounds, and tourism revenue not collected.

These losses are believed to amount to about $6 million.

A third use of the grant funds will go to drainage projects and extension of broadband service for certain locations as outlined in the federal act.

And, lastly, grants from the county’s money may be given to non-profit organizations within the county and small businesses to replace lost revenue.

All this would seem to total little more than half the $65.5 million which starts becoming available to the county on May 11.

Unfortunately for Hamilton County, federal restrictions prohibit using the relief funds for capital projects such as buildings, highways and bridges.

So, for what else can be money be spent?

Commissioner Steve Dillinger put it this way: “Is it prudent to look for ways to spend it just because we can? But, if we don’t use it, it will go back and be given to someone else. It’s a catch-22.”

State Road 37 north of 146th Street is still restricted to one lane, both northbound and southbound, for a while longer, per the latest update on Fishers road construction.  Also note a number of resurfacing projects in local neighborhoods.

Here is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

=======

As the City of Fishers is taking comments on the update for its comprehensive plan, called the 2040 Plan, Hamilton County is wrapping up its updated plan.

Below is a news release from Hamilton County:

=======

The Hamilton County Commissioners adopted the Hamilton County Plan Commission’s updated Comprehensive Plan at their meeting on Monday, April 12th. The long-range document provides a foundation for all land use, transportation, and environmental policies for the rural townships of Wayne, White River, the northeast corner of Noblesville, and Adams Township.

“Through public input, a real vision emerged for this area,” says Corrie Meyer, President & CEO of Innovative Planning, the consultant team that led the Plan Commission through the process. “We’re confident the final product is not only strategic and thoughtful; but also provides guidance for landowners and developers regarding what county leaders and residents want to see, and how to grow, build, and invest in the county.”

The recommendations of the new Comprehensive Plan focused on,
(1) endorsing the agrarian culture and quality of life,
(2) balancing current land uses and growth in a sustainable manner,
(3) protecting floodplains and natural resources,
(4) strategically encouraging economic development in business and agriculture, and
(5) managing population growth by increasing clusters of population density.

“They’ve provided us with a detailed roadmap for the next ten years,” says Mark Heirbrandt, president of the Hamilton County Commissioners. “The Plan Commission’s due diligence will help county leaders implement what county residents envision and aid in future decision making based on factual data. Plus, it offers the added benefit of protecting property values.”

The last Hamilton County Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2006; and prior to that, 1990. The latest revision of this planning effort is deeply rooted in citizen input, as the commission hosted nine community meetings (three in each township) and six public presentations. More than 600 residents also responded to mailed and online surveys – even during the height of the pandemic.

“The Comprehensive Plan recommendations are just that – recommendations,” adds Meyer. “These recommendations are not code and they are not policies that have already been adopted. They are strategic inspirations intended to be implemented over the next ten years through zoning ordinances and future county-wide policy statements.”

The public can view the entire 100-page document at this link.

Dr. Yvonne Stokes was named the new superintendent of Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools at a special meeting Thursday night.  The vote was 5-2, with Brad Boyer and Suzanne Thomas voting no.

Board President Janet Pritchett described Dr. Stokes as “a talented educator who for the last three years has served as assistant superintendent for the School Town of Munster.”  She also spent time as assistant superintendent at Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS).

“Please don’t fret about academic excellence,” Stokes told the board. “Let’s keep the main thing the main thing.  We’re here to make sure that our students have academic excellence. I will make sure that continues to happen.”

Stokes openly discussed how she went through a divorce that resulted in the filing of personal bankruptcy, on the advice of her attorneys.

“I did what I had to do to take care of my children,” Stokes told the board.  “I tell you this because if there is one thing you will know about me is that I’m resilient.”

“Our children thrive in our schools when they understand their value, know they are loved and supported and are inspired to excel in all facets of their lives” Stokes said in a school district news release. “Transforming learning and life outcomes for students through education, equity and excellence requires an all-hands-on-deck approach by ALL of us. It takes me, it takes you, it takes all of us! I look forward to listening to, learning from and supporting our Hamilton Southeastern Schools family.”

The local group organized over the nondiscrimination policy debate in the spring of 2019, HSEqual, praised the selection of Dr. Stokes, saying she “is student centered, encourages collaboration, and has a strong background working with diverse stakeholders.”  HSEqual thanked the school board “for seeking community input during the preselection process and taking that feedback to heart. We are confident you’ve made a great choice.”

A newly formed group, Fishers One, had argued the board should delay the superintendent selection process.  Roughly 10-15 people demonstrated outside the administration building advocating Fishers One’s position.

In a statement issued after the vote, Fishers One listed some concerns, but added –  “We expect the best from all of our education and civic leaders and look forward to partnering with Dr. Stokes to ensure our priorities for HSE Schools are fully met in 2021 and beyond.”

Democratic precinct officials in the Fishers City Council North Central District will gather Sunday at 3pm to select a new member of the Fishers City Council.  There are two candidates.

The first candidate is Crystal Neumann. She is a Latina, first generation American, and currently serves as the Assistant Provost for the American College of Education.  Dr. Neumann has her PHD degree in business administration. She has previously worked in marketing and market research before making the transition to higher education. In 2020, Dr. Neumann was inducted into the Indiana Latino Leadership Circle in 2020 and has previously been recognized as an honoree of Reverend Jesse L. Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Excel 2017 for her continued commitment to making education affordable and accessible.

The second council hopeful is Chauna Leigh Holder.  She is a career healthcare professional currently operating as a Division Nurse Specialist for Indiana Department of Health and is pursuing a terminal degree to become a Nurse Practitioner. In addition to serving as the Director of Nursing at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Chauna has previously sat on numerous boards for community organizations, including Emerging Pearls Foundation, Center of Wellness for Urban Women, and the Warren Adult Education Advisory Board.

Ms. Holder was an unsuccessful candidate for Hamilton Southeastern School Board in the most recent at-large election

The person selected by the caucus will replace Samantha DeLong, who is resigning from the council because her family is moving to Nevada.

If you have been around the Nickel Plate District, near the Switch Building, you may seen crews working in a pedestrian are near Another Broken Egg restaurant.

Fishers City Spokesperson Stephanie Perry says the concrete in that area is being improved for drainage purposes.

“The original design of the courtyard storm drainage system was unable to remove all the water during heavy rains, which resulted in puddling on the north side of the area due to slope,” Perry told LarryInFishers. “To help with this problem we had a trench drain system designed and enlarged the branch lines to not only remove more water but also act as a water stop to help with the northward flow during those heavy showers.”

Look for canopies to be added over the windows and doors in that area, in an effort to reduce the amount of rain impacting the water filtration system

Anyone driving along 116th Street at Ikea Way has seen the construction on the corner during the past few months and knew it was just a matter of time before the first Shake Shack in the State of Indiana would open for business.  The famed hamburger place had its grand opening in Fishers Thursday morning.

It was a sunny but unseasonably cold April day, but customers stood in line, braving the elements to be among the first to enjoy what Shake Shack has to offer.

Residents can take part in the following events during the month of May to support Stigma Free Fishers and raise awareness for mental health:

Hope for Happiness & Movie in the Park 
Friday, May 14, 6 – 11 p.m.
This year’s Hope for Happiness event brought to you by both Fishers & HSE High Schools’ Bring Change to Mind student clubs and will be paired with Fishers Parks’ Movies in the Park. Attendees can enjoy mental health activities, food trucks, and more. The event will take place at Brooks School Park from 6-9 p.m. After the event, stick around as Fishers Parks airs the movie Onward for the first Movie in the Park of the season from 9-11 p.m.

Yoga at the Fishers Farmers’ Market 
Saturdays, 8 a.m.— noon
The Fishers Farmers’ Market is back this summer and returns every Saturday in May from 8 a.m. to noon. Take a moment to destress every Saturday morning at the market with yoga at the AMP stage! Yoga will take place from 8-9 a.m. and will be guided by various local studios in Fishers.

For an extra dose of mental wellness, mark your calendar for the annual Health & Wellness Expo at the Fishers Farmers’ Market on Saturday, May 22, to fuel your body, mind, and soul. At the Expo, Fishers residents can explore local health and wellness services and products and talk to experts one-on-one about health issues important to them. The Fishers Health Department will have a booth with tools and information to discuss mental health with residents.

Take the Pledge  
Residents are encouraged to take the pledge to learn more about mental health and share their pledges on social media using the hashtag #StigmaFreeFishers. Residents can take the pledge virtually at www.stigmafreefishers.com/pledge.

Mental Health Resources 
Other mental health resources for residents are available at www.stigmafreefishers.com. Keep up with the City on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for other updates and look for blog posts regarding Mental Health every Monday throughout May on www.thisisfishers.com.

Learn more about Stigma Free Fishers at www.stigmafreefishers.com.

When former Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board Member Diane Eaton spoke before the board at the last regular session, she urged the board to hire in interim leader and delay the hiring of a school superintendent.  After the meeting, Eaton said she was speaking for “hundreds” of other families in the school district.

Ms. Eaton is now involved with a new group calling themselves Fishers One.  The organization is in the process of applying for nonprofit status.

Eaton told LarryInFishers Wednesday night that Fishers One is mobilizing to hold the school board members accountable, with the goal of academic excellence.

The current members of the board have never hired a superintendent and, according to Eaton, should wait to hire the permanent superintendent later when the pool of candidates may be larger.

Fishers One calls itself a grassroots group.  In a news release issued Wednesday night, the organization listed these priorities:

1. Restoring academic excellence to ALL HSE Schools

2. Hiring an Experienced Superintendent with robust:
• Fiscal management with specific deficit reduction experience
• Demonstrated staff and student leadership success
• Qualifications for superintendent role of this magnitude verified by data, job titles and
experiences

3. Unifying our School Board, Teachers, students, parents and community through
unanimous support for:
• Curriculum focused on traditional education pillars and standards so ALL students are
equipped for the future
• Minimizing distractions attributed to Social Emotional Learning ( SEL) programming
• Allowing parents to be responsible for the social and moral development of their children

Fishers One will have representatives attending HSE School Board meetings, and Eaton says the group will also be involved in Fishers city government.