Whether we like it or not, COVID-19 has most of us ensconced in our homes for an indefinite period of time. If you are looking for something to do, try one of my podcasts, including the most recent conversation I had with Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness all about his actions related to the coronavirus.
There are many platforms where my podcasts may be found. Here are some easy-to-access links:
As long as I can remember, the terms Chamber of Commerce and Merhoff have been connected. That goes back to when Fishers had its own Chamber, before the merger with Carmel that created One Zone. Now, based on reporting from my news-gathering partner, the Hamilton County Reporter, Mo Merhoff is retiring.
“Now in my 20th year, it seems like a good time to end this significant chapter in my life,” she said. “Unfortunately, current conditions preclude this from being a public announcement as planned.”
OneZone’s Chief Operating Officer Jack Russell will serve as interim president. OneZone’s board of directors will launch a regional executive search for a president in the next few weeks.
According to OneZone Board President Kathy Krusie, “Mo has been instrumental in creating an environment in which businesses thrive, that in turn has resulted in Carmel and Fishers being nationally recognized as outstanding communities in which to live, work, and play.”
After joining the Carmel Chamber in 2000, Merhoff championed numerous collaborative initiatives and established the organization as a source of information and education for businesses, entrepreneurs and non-profits, leading to exponential growth. In 2015, the Carmel and Fishers Chambers of Commerce merged to create OneZone representing more than 1,300 members, and that same year was recognized as the Indiana Chamber Executives Association’s Chamber of the Year. Most recently, she has facilitated an active public advocacy initiative on behalf of members and their businesses.
“The very best of my years with the chamber have been the incredible people I’ve worked with and gotten to know. These are the people with vision, commitment and spirit who have been the main ingredients in making our communities extraordinary, enviable places,” Merhoff said.
Prior to joining OneZone, Merhoff, spent 14 years with the United States Rowing Association, including serving as the executive director of the 1994 World Rowing Championships in Indianapolis.
Merhoff’s future plans include continuing to facilitate board planning sessions for not-for-profit organizations as well as traveling and spending more time with her husband, dogs and horse.
Hamilton County Coroner John Chalfin has ruled the deaths of two people in Fishers as a murder-suicide, according to my news-gathering partner, The Hamilton County Reporter.
Shortly after 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Fishers Police Officers responded to a family disturbance in the 12600 block of Ladson Street (near 126th Street and Cumberland Road). Upon their arrival officers located an adult female and an adult male both suffering fatal injuries from gunshot wounds.
Chalfin indicated Zachary Hileman, 20, shot Debra Hileman, 73, prior to killing himself.
Hamilton County government is asking local residents to conduct business online. County Commissioner Christine Altman says every effort is being made to continue county services.
Here is the full statement issued Friday afternoon:
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The Hamilton County Commissioners are asking residents to do as much of their county business online as possible. Like any business, the county is trying to limit transmission of COVID-19 among staff and maintain business operations.
“The county provides services that are instrumental to our community,” County Commissioner Christine Altman says. “We need to do our best to keep the folks in dispatch, in law enforcement, and in our offices healthy so we don’t have any interruptions in government business.”
The county has created a webpage listing all the county business that can be conducted online – including how to file for an absentee ballot and how to pay your property taxes. You can find the list at this link.
https://www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/1616/
In the meantime, many county employees are telecommuting or working flexible hours in an effort to distance themselves from one another.
“We are committed to staying open as long as we can,” Altman says. “But in order to do that, we need the community’s help. Not only is online business easier, but it’s also more convenient and you’ll be doing your part to keep our staff healthy.”
For more information about COVID-19 and the current situation here in Hamilton County, please click here. https://www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/COVID-19
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness acted Thursday to suspend stormwater bills, for residential and commercial customers, for 60 days. The mayor also lifted rules on signage to help local restaurants let customers know they are open for carry-out and delivery orders.
The mayor told me in a Wednesday interview that he has been in contact with local restaurateurs and they had asked for that temporary change.
In the written announcement from the city, Mayor Fadness said these actions are “In recognition of the difficult times our community is facing.”
Here is the full text of the city’s announcement:
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“In recognition of the difficult times our community is facing, the City is taking the following actions to alleviate the financial burden on our residents and businesses,” stated Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness.
Suspension of all Fishers Stormwater Utility Bills:
Effective immediately, all residential Fishers Stormwater Utility bills will be suspended for 60 days. If residents received utility bills via email, you may disregard the bill at this time. A new bill will be sent when the City begins to bill again. All Fishers Sewer Utility bills should follow the stated due date on your statements.
Residents with questions or concerns about paying Fishers Sewer Utility bills should contact the Fishers Coronavirus Hotline at 317-595-3211.
Suspension of all Commercial Stormwater Utility Bills:
Effective immediately, all first quarter Fishers Stormwater bills for commercial properties is suspended for 60 days. If you received a notification via email, you may disregard the bill at this time. All Fishers Sewer Utility bills should follow the stated due date on your statements.
Businesses with questions or concerns about paying Fishers Sewer Utility bills should contact the Fishers Coronavirus Hotline at 317-595-3211.
Code Enforcement:
Effective 3/18, the City of Fishers lifted the following UDO codes for businesses. This allows businesses to advertise access to carryout food.
The following Articles are not being applied for the duration of the COVID-19 event:
Hamilton County officials did their own live Facebook video Wednesday night and revealed that there has been another Hamilton County resident testing positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, raising the total to two. Also, members of the Fishers City Council will be voting Monday night on extending the emergency declaration issued by Mayor Scott Fadness.
Meanwhile, Indiana state officials revealed Thursday morning that there are 17 new COVID-19 positive tests in the state, bringing the total number of cases in Indiana to 56. Keep in mind, this is with a very limited number of test kits available.
I watched most of the Facebook live video session with county officials. You can watch the recording at this link. At the video session, it was announced that Hamilton County Commissioners have issued an emergency declaration. Commissioner Christine Altman told those watching the video stream that the courthouse will be closed to any individual that exhibits signs of illness.
According to my news gathering partner, the Hamilton County Reporter, Sheriff Dennis Quakenbush announced changes his office is making due to coronavirus.
Sheriff Quakenbush, in a social media video message said, “All services to the public will continue.”
“My number one goal for our community is to ensure confidence in the fact the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will continue to operate and provide the duties and functions, while also making the necessary changes to allow us to carry out these functions in the safest possible way,” Quakenbush said. “The safety of our community, employees and inmates is at the top of our priorities. When you call dispatch or 911, patrol deputies will respond. Some investigations may be handled by telephone if the complaint is not in progress. We will continue to proactively patrol and enforce the law.”
The Sheriff said correction facilities will operate without interruption.
“We have medical housing, quarantine facilities and a 24-hour medical staff to maintain a safe correction environment,” Quakenbush said.
Jail visits will be restricted to remote video visits. To register for a remote video jail visit, go to gettingout.com.
If you are symptomatic, sick or have been in the last 72 hours, please do not come to the Sheriff Department campus unless you are court-ordered. Quakenbush explained that if you must report to the Sheriff’s Department campus as a result of a court order, the Sheriff asks that you call (317) 773-1872 during business hours or (317) 776-2595 after hours before you come.
Critical sex offender registration will continue to occur at the Sheriff’s office. Fingerprint requests will be processed inside the lobby. Necessary background checks, public record requests and many other inquiries should be requested by fax or email. Local background checks for gun permit applications will continue; however, the Sheriff asks that you call (317) 773-1872 in advance. Tax warrant payments in the form of money order or cashier’s check can be mailed to the Sheriff’s Department or paid online through Indianataxwarrants.com.
In his statement, Quakenbush encouraged county residents to shop local. The Sheriff also explained there is a blood shortage and reminded residents to donate if possible.
“Check on your neighbors. This is a communal effort,” Quakenbush said. “The men and women of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department are working hard to keep everyone safe.”
Back here in Fishers, the city council has scheduled a vote to extend the emergency declaration issued by Mayor Scott Fadness. State law only allows the mayor’s edict to remain in place for 7 days, but council members may extend it. Also, city officials are asking that residents view the council meeting virtually.
“While the meeting remains public, we recommend that residents follow the recently released guidelines to avoid gatherings and meeting due to the risk of COVID-19,” according to a posting on the city’s Web site.
“For those interested in providing public comment, the City of Fishers established a form to submit your comment(s), which will be read during the council meeting. The City Council meeting will be live-streamed for residents to tune in at home,” the city says.
Any questions can be directed to City Hall at 317- 595-3111.
I spoke to the mayor about the city’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic…read more about that conversation and listen to the entire podcast recording at this link.
For more than eight years, I have been visiting the building first named Fishers Town Hall, now our City Hall. It is normally a busy, bustling place – lots of people on the move, having meetings, doing the city’s business.
When I visited City Hall Wednesday afternoon, I walked into a City Hall I never experienced during a work day. It was almost totally quiet. There was a lady at the front desk. She told me where to meet Mayor Scott Fadness for our scheduled podcast interview.
I brought a scaled-back equipment setup to allow for the proper social distancing. During our discussion, the mayor said when the crisis over the coronavirus began to build, he ordered what he described as decentralizing his staff. In other words, meetings and other activities would be handled in a virtual world. The city is open for business, the mayor says, just not as an in-person experience at this point.
If you need a building permit or have business pending before the Planning and Zoning Department, you can handle that, just use technology rather than face-to-face. The mayor made it clear that through his policy with his own staff, and his executive orders, he is serious about social distancing in this time of COVID-19.
When I asked the mayor to consider all the expert information he has seen over the past few days, and to give me his best assessment of where this is all headed, he paused for a moment. He says there is an opportunity for this to get worse before it gets better. The areas with the worst outbreaks nationally will get the available testing kits first, so expect Indiana to wait its turn to get more people tested.
The mayor expects the infection numbers to increase once testing is more widely available. But he will be particularly watching the death rate in our state because that is an indicator of where we are headed locally.
“I don’t think anyone right now can give you a clear estimate as to what will happen in our community today and all the more reason…I would err on the side of preparation over being flippant about it,” the mayor said during the podcast interview.
Fadness says he is proud of the restaurant business community in Fishers, he has spoken to them and they are being good corporate citizens even with the challenges they are facing.
As to the travel advisory, police officers are trying to educate residents on the dangers in large gatherings. He gave an example of police talking to a large group forming at Brooks School Park, educating those residents why such a gathering at this time might not be a good idea.
When he receives criticism from local people the mayor says he does respond. He cited an e-mail from a local citizen telling him his actions are “ridiculous”and this is “no big deal.” According to the mayor, he responded that he sincerely hopes his critic is correct and nothing serious happens, but Fadness says he is not willing to take the risk on behalf of 90,000 residents of the city.
The mayor is clearly proud of the city employees and their response to the issues presented by the pandemic. He encourages anyone with questions to call the city coronavirus hotline 317-595-3211. The phones are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week You can also visit the city’s Web page devoted to coronavirus at this link
The mayor had a lot more to say in our podcast discussion. You can listen at the link below.
The City of Fishers continues to act on social interaction in the city, this time by issuing what the city describes as a “temporary stay” for business-related door-to-door solicitations. With more people remaining in their homes, the city is acting to lower the social contact between people with this order.
Below is the release from the City of Fishers:
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Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness issued a temporary stay on all permitted solicitations within city limits. This action includes business-related solicitors only and is intended to reduce the number of people interacting with each other to slow the spread of COVID-19, or Coronavirus.
“These simple, common-sense actions are critical during this time of uncertainty in our efforts to prevent the spread of Coronavirus,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “We will continue to look at all aspects of life in FIshers to identify ways we can keep our residents healthy.”
With Indiana’s primary election set for May 5th and Ohio postponing its primary balloting, there have been some developments on absentee ballots and the possibility of postponing Indiana’s election day due to the coronavirus.
Hamilton County Clerk Kathy Richardson urged all eligible for absentee voting to use that system. Indiana law allows absentee voting only in specified situations.
Clerk Williams listed the most common reasons as:
You must also be registered to vote in order to submit an absentee ballot
Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman Joe Weingarten submitted a Letter to the Editor to the Hamilton County Reporter proposing all Hoosiers be allowed to vote absentee.
“I requested that the Hamilton County Election Board request permission from the State Election Board to conduct the May Primary as a 100 percent vote by mail effort to protect the lives of all poll workers and voters in view of the coronavirus,” Weingarten wrote.
According to the Reporter, 5th District Republican Congressional candidate Carl Brizzi is proposing postponement of the May primary election.
“Not an easy decision, but the safety of poll workers and voters takes precedence,” said Brizzi. “Free and fair elections are the foundation of American democracy, we need to ensure that all Hoosiers are heard and are safe.”
IKEA announced today all stores will be closing “temporarily,” including the facility in Fishers. Home delivery will continue. Pickup service will continue, and the Fishers store will be handling pickup services.
The company gave no indication how long the shutdown of stores will last.