When you look at the weekly road construction update, you will find the usual suspects – State Road 37, Lantern Road and 96th Street.

Below is the update, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton County Veteran Service Officer Lynn Epperson has been relieved of her duties, and county commissioners have posted the job seeking a replacement.

Epperson served for five years in the office, which exists to offer all county veterans of military service assistance with their benefits and other needs they may encounter.

Commissioner Steve Dillinger said yesterday the commissioners’ main concern was a failure of the office “to follow through” with requests for assistance from veterans. He said the situation was brought to his attention by state Veterans Affairs officials.

Epperson was given 30 days to correct operations, but this was not accomplished. She left office Dec. 2. Two part-time assistants are taking care of business until a new officer is hired.

The service office is located in the county Government and Judicial Center, first floor, and is open daily to accept calls or visits from veterans or their families who may have any type of questions relating to veterans’ needs.

Epperson, a Noblesville resident, was appointed by commissioners in 2014 succeeding Wayne Long, who operated the office part-time with the assistance of deputy service officer and commissioners’ receptionist Dianna Lynch.

The City of Fishers is on a roll this week in new commercial developments, and Thursday brought yet another announcement.  Mattingly Construction plans to construct three office buildings on Sunlight Drive, just south of 106th Street between Kincaid Drive and Lantern Road.

Fishers officials have often said there continues to be a shortage of office space for small businesses in Fishers.  This concept will give small business owners to own their own offices, rather than rent space.

The three buildings will range in size from about 8,200 square feet to more than 14,000 square feet of space.

“We’re excited to see the continued growth and momentum on the I-69 corridor with the announcement of this development,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in a city news release. “When the team at Mattingly Construction presented this concept to us, it just made sense all around to continue to support our entrepreneurs, while adding to the vibrancy of this corporate corridor.”

The first phase of the project will include the three buildings occupying three of the twelve acres of the joint parcel, according to city officials. Future phases of the project will include similar development of buildings from 5,000 to 20,000 feet on the balance of nine acres.

The prime location, just off the 106th Street interchange from I-69, allows ease of access directly to the business park and proximity to the developments along the 96th and 116th Street corridors, including the latest project, Fishers District.

The City of Fishers is recommending a tax abatement for the first phase of the project totaling $636,898.24. The Fishers City Council will hold a vote on the proposed agreement at the Fishers City Council meeting scheduled for December 16th.

Leah McGrath is about to leave Fishers City Hall as Deputy Mayor.  She starts a new job in 2020, and has plans to run for elective office.  Here is my podcast discussion with Leah.

I have been traveling the state over the past couple of months doing some instructing for Indiana University and finished my last contract assignment Wednesday.  I’ve been trying to post stories when I can along the way but there are a few stories I need to catch-up on. Here are a few major ones.

First, the City of Fishers announced Wednesday afternoon that it is making progress in filling-in the commercial hole left with the vacant Marsh Supermarket locations, this time its the former Marsh grocery at 96th and Lantern Road.  Commercial developer Strongbox says it will invest $7 million in demolishing the old Marsh building and constructing a new retail facility at that location.  The City of Fishers is recommending impact fee waivers for the new retail building on behalf of Strongbox, in exchange for purchasing four license plate readers (LPRs) in partnership with Fishers Police Department. These LPRs will be installed along 96^th Street as part of the Department’s efforts to use technology in dealing with crime in that area of Fishers.

Second, Hamilton County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt has announced he will seek another four-year term in the 2020 election cycle.  Heirbrandt’s district includes the City of Fishers and part of the surrounding area.

Thirdly, The Fishers Arts Council has announced its art exhibits for each month of 2020.

The 2020 season offers the works of local artists such as James Anderson, Greg Beall, Bryce Culverhouse, Britton Farrand, Michael Janosky, Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi, Gale Sturm, and Paula Wright. Additionally, we will offer a special exhibit in February (Black History) featuring Fishers High School and Fall Creek Junior High School Students. In March, as part of Disabilities Awareness Month, the Arts Council will offer the work of artists with disabilities. In July, we will celebrate the fine art from the Hamilton County Artists’ Association.

Exhibit titles are:

January: Dreaming in Color – Jeannette Parssi

February: Black History: Visual & Performing Art

March: Disabilities Awareness Art

April: Senior Showcase May: I am Story: B Farrand, the Experimentalist

June: The Art of Michael Janosky July: Fine Art by Hamilton County Artists’ Association

August: The Art of James Anderson

September: The Art of Illustration & Caricatures

October: First Annual Juried Exhibition

November: The Art of the Graphic Artist

December: The Emerging Artist

Of the sixteen exhibits, 4 will be held in our new exhibit area, The Alcove. Those exhibits will be on display for three months each. The Alcove exhibits will feature Gale Sturm (1st quarter), Bryce Culverhouse (2nd quarter); Greg Beall (3rd quarter), and Paula Wright (4th quarter).

Last, but certainly not least, congratulations are in order for my film podcasting partner Adam Aasen.  According to my news-gathering partner, the Hamilton County Reporter,  the One Zone Chamber of Commerce handed out the Volunteer of the Year award to Adam, owner of Donatello’s Italian Restaurant in downtown Carmel.

Adam has been an active volunteer for organizations such as the Carmel Rotary
Club, Humane Society of Hamilton County, Chaucie’s Place, the Carmel Education Foundation, and helps organize the Hamilton County Young Republicans annual Toy Drive.

This is a well-deserved honor for Adam.

When Hamilton Southeastern school district students return from their winter break, they will be reporting one day earlier than originally planned.

Monday, January 6th, was on the original school calendar as a teacher workday.  With the Red for Ed teacher gathering at the Statehouse, over 300 HSE teachers asked to take a personal day to attend the November 19th event in downtown Indianapolis.

That resulted in Superintendent Allen Bourff switching November 19th as a teacher work day, since filling classrooms would be so difficult with so many teachers taking personal days.  Bourff said at the time he would be recommending that the board switch January 6th to a full school day with students expected to report.

The school board unanimously approved Dr. Bourff’s request, officially changing January 6th to a regular school day.

Should the Hamilton Southeastern Schools make a preliminary decision to build two new elementary schools?  That was the question before the school board Wednesday night.

The board voted to move forward with plans to construct a replacement for Durbin Elementary that can also relieve other elementary buildings with overcrowding issues.  Durbin cannot be expanded at the present site because water and sewer connections are not available.

However, the board voted unanimously not to include a possible replacement for Fishers Elementary School in its preliminary action, but in the same unanimous vote, decided to go ahead with plans for the new elementary replacement for Durbin at 156th Street and Boden Road, in Noblesville.

The board engaged in a long and wide-ranging discussion about whether to include both Durbin’s replacement and Fishers Elementary in the same preliminary action.  When the discussion ended, all board members voted in favor of only dealing with the Durbin replacement at this time.

Hamilton County Reporter

The Hamilton Southeastern girls basketball team won its eighth straight game on Tuesday, beating Pendleton Heights 63-51 at the Arabians’ gym.

The Class 4A No. 6 Royals led 16-8 after the first quarter and 33-19 at halftime.

Southeastern extended its lead to 47-31 by the end of the third period, then held off a late run by the Arabians to get the win.

Sydney Parrish earned a double-double of 30 points and 14 rebounds, including four 3-pointers. Parrish also made four steals. Jackie Maulucci added 13 points and handed out four assists.

Makayla Hinshaw and Bailee Poore both pulled four rebounds.

The Royals are 9-1 and host Avon Friday for a Hoosier Crossroads Conference
game.

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern dropped a home game to Pike Tuesday, 66-58.

The Royals started strong against the Red Devils, leading 18-12 after the first
quarter. But Pike took control in the second period, scoring 20 points, which led the
Red Devils to a 32-27 halftime lead. Pike finished the game with a 21-point fourth quarter
to seal the win.

Kole Hornbuckle and Vinny Bucilla both scored 17 points to lead Southeastern. Hornbuckle and DeAndre Rhodes both collected five rebounds, with Rhodes also making four steals.

Bucilla handed out five assists.

The Royals are 1-3 and play Friday at North Central.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

The Hamilton County Commissioners have approved an overall updating of the county’s Comprehensive Plan beginning in January. The last update was undertaken in the 1990s.

Innovative Planning of Carmel will do the work, which includes the countywide thoroughfare plan. The remainder of the update is confined to the areas of county planning jurisdiction outside the territory covered by municipalities.

The study and recommended changes will be underway for most of the year 2020 with public hearings to be scheduled in the county’s various communities. Cost of the project is $139,000 with a “not to exceed” limit of $150,000 should officials want additional information, according to planning director Chuck Kiphart.

In other matters at Monday’s commissioners’ meeting, Steve Dillinger reported work is continuing on studies aimed at resolving traffic congestion at three intersections along 146th Street. He said experts are looking at the possibility of roundabouts or other modifications to allow smoother traffic flow at U.S. 31, Gray Road and Carey Road intersections with 146th.

Commissioners also passed on second reading of an ordinance governing non-authorized signs in highway right-of-ways. The ordinance is an attempt to get consistent rules throughout the county. Cities and towns are being consulted in the effort to get that consistency.

And, commissioners approved a supplemental agreement with USI Engineers for their continuing work on plans for a Pleasant Street bridge over White River. Commissioners have been told the City of Noblesville wants to proceed as soon as possible with widening of Pleasant Street which, with the bridge, will create a bypass of the city business district. Noblesville is applying for federal highway funds. Dillinger estimates construction is about two years away.

Finally, commissioners approved renewal of a contract with the Town of Atlanta for police protection. The county sheriff’s department has provided the service in recent years after Atlanta, with a population of only about 800, found it too expensive to operate its own police department.