by

Richie Hall

Sports Editor

Hamilton County Reporter

Fishers will play in the very first football game of the 2019 Indiana high school season.
The Tigers will start an hour ahead of everyone else, as they will be playing North Central at 6 p.m. Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. It will be a re-match of last year’s Class 6A Sectional 5 championship game, which the Panthers won for their first sectional title in over 20 years.

Fishers last won a sectional title in 2017, so it knows how to play in the post-season. The Tigers have many of their players back from last season, so they have the experience to get back in the winner’s circle.

“My expectation is that we are an improved team who will play hard to the final seconds, competing hard against all opponents,” said Fishers coach Rick Wimmer.

Leading the way is senior Geoffrey Brown, a defensive linebacker who led the Tigers in total tackles with 112, including 16 for a loss. Brown also had five sacks last year.
The defensive linebacker group will be intact from last year, as juniors Matt Hohlt and Billy Reiter will join Brown in returning. Defensive backs who are returning are senior free safety Collin Shelton and senior cornerback Jackson Dunn. Two more seniors are back in the defensive end slots: Josh Ibey and Alex Lemaich.

All of the above players are listed as probable starters for Fishers. Other starters include senior Collin Worley on defensive tackle, with junior David Dilley and sophomore Andre Glover splitting time in the other DT slot. Rounding out the defense are junior Shane Cole in the second cornerback position and senior Grant Whetsel at strong safety.

On the offensive side, seniors Dylan Scally and Matt Noble will handle the running back duties. The Tigers also have two quarterbacks returning, senior Marcus Roux and junior Lucas Prewitt. Both have started games for Fishers. Senior Jack Phillips is back as kicker and punter.

The offensive line will be experienced. Returning starters are senior Ethan Dye (6-foot-3, 255 pounds) at left tackle, junior Jonah VanDer Kamp (6-6, 302) at right guard and senior Hayden Tobias (6-3, 276) at center.

Other offensive linemen on the starting list are junior Max Kohn (6-3, 278) at left guard and senior Wyatt Puff (6-4, 250) at right tackle. Juniors Silas Martin and Caleb Gates are slated in the tight end positions. Four players will handle wide receiver duties: Seniors Nick Leath and Reece Boland, junior Reggie Cook-Graham and sophomore Jeffrey Simmons.

After playing the Panthers, Fishers travels to Pike for its Week 2 game, then plays at Noblesville in Week 3 to start Hoosier Crossroads Conference play. The Tigers will compete in Sectional 4 this year, with Carmel, Westfield and city rival Hamilton Southeastern, whom Fishers will host in Week 4 for the Mudsock game.

“They are familiar opponents,” said Wimmer. “Carmel is always a tough opponent to get by in the sectional but all of the sectional opponents are excellent programs and will be tough games.”

(Editor’s Note:  I began writing about this issue on July 15th, and the Reporter has published some of my material as part of our news-gathering partnership, and I am posting Fred Swift’s commentaries under that partnership.  As a reminder, the opinions expressed in Fred’s commentaries are his alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of LarryInFishers.com)

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

A 10 percent increase in Hamilton County’s local income tax, which so far has been made generally known only by the Reporter, has created a lot of conversation among the limited number of folks who know about it.

The new tax is to become effective January 1 assuming the Carmel and Fishers city councils adopt resolutions favoring it. The tax is designed to cover the costs of the county’s Emergency 911 communications operation.

The tax will raise about $17 million next year and mean that the county’s cities and county government will no longer have to budget for their share of maintaining the communications.

The plan may be quite all right, but it’s hard to understand the quiet advance of this financing plan with almost no discussion in public meetings, and very little news coverage. There will be public notices in the newspaper advertising a public hearing, but very few folks attend public hearings.

There should be no question that keeping our 911 service working at top efficiency is vital. And, the service is working well at present on an annual budget of about $10 million. But, the smaller towns have been paying very little for their service. So, to equalize the burden, the new tax is planned.

It is here that some legitimate public scrutiny is warranted. Why, for example, could county government not take over financing the communications within its budget? It would be fair because everyone pays county taxes.

The county next year will collect $3.3 million more in overall taxes than its budget requires. The county already has surplus and Rainy Day funds of more than $33 million.

In addition, the State of Indiana contributes $3.6 million annually to our 911 communications operation. So, paying the 911 expenses would have little impact on the county’s financial picture.

But, most city and town administrations want the added tax. In the case of the cities, millions of dollars now being paid for 911 will be freed up for other spending, and for the small towns, there will be no contributions needed.

Although few folks have heard of the Local Income Tax Council, it is that council which will vote to impose the tax increase. And, because of their populations, Fishers and Carmel together control more than half the council votes.

It’s a little complicated, but that’s sometimes the way the state and local leadership likes it. So, now you know. Just thought you might like to be aware of what all is behind your tax increase.

Wednesday was a big day for Bob Rice.  He was there at Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate & Junior High School (also known at “The HIJH”) for the “Flip the Switch” ceremony, marking the start of generating electricity for the school building through the solar arrays on the HIJH property.

You can read more about the solar array project in a story I posted July 23rd at this link.

The local school district is partnering with a private firm, Ameresco, in this solar endeavor.

HSE High School Athletic Director Jim Brown flipped the switch Wednesday morning, starting the solar power to be used at the school building next door,

To have support for any foundation, you must have solid fund-raising efforts locally and use the money raised to support local people.  In watching the work of the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation over several years, I have seen that group check both of those boxes.

I sat down recently with Hamilton Southeastern (HSE)Schools Foundation Executive Director Justin Hirnisey and talked about the work of the foundation.

Hamilton County Reporter

Kevin Jowitt announced Monday that he will retire as Chief of Police for the City of Noblesville on Jan. 31, 2020. Jowitt has served as Noblesville’s police chief for 10 years, the second longest tenure in the city’s history, and has had a law enforcement career that spans 43 years.

“After careful consideration the time has come for me to take another path,” Jowitt said. “It has been an honor to work alongside my law enforcement colleagues, and a privilege to serve the Noblesville community as chief. My law enforcement career has been challenging, rewarding and personally fulfilling.”

Jowitt was appointed police chief by Mayor John Ditslear in May 2009. Under his leadership, the Noblesville Police Department is one of only nine Indiana agencies that have national and state accreditation; the crime rates in Noblesville have dropped more than any city Noblesville’s size during the past three years; and Noblesville is the only department in the region to have police officers in every school building. He also implemented several programs during his tenure such as the Problem Oriented Policing, Traffic and Crime Analysis units.

“Our equipment, vehicles and training are absolutely first-rate; and most importantly, we continue to attract outstanding people who want to be Noblesville police officers,” Jowitt said.

Part of Jowitt’s legacy is building community partnerships through a number of outreach programs. He has been steadfast in his efforts to ensure that the citizens of Noblesville and the police department are working hand-in-hand to solve community issues. Jowitt implemented programs like the Citizens Police Academy, National Night Out, Coffee with a Cop, Volunteers in Police Services and the department’s increased and interactive presence on social media.

“Noblesville and Hamilton County residents owe Chief Jowitt a debt of gratitude for his selfless dedication to making our community a safer place,” said Ditslear. “Throughout his tenure, Kevin has served with honor and distinction. Most recently, Chief helped lead the entire community during and following the tragic accident at Noblesville West Middle School. I cannot thank Kevin enough for the work, leadership and vision he has provided the police department, and I want to wish him and Deb the best as they look forward to the next chapter of their lives.”

In addition to serving the Noblesville community, Jowitt also is accomplished in the law enforcement community. He has served on a number of boards and panels, including being president of the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police in 2017. Jowitt was recognized in 2018 when he was awarded the Distinguished Hoosier Award, which is one of the highest honors that the Governor of Indiana bestows.

“I will be working as hard as ever until the end of January as there is still much to do,” said Jowitt. “I am also committed to helping in every way possible to assure a smooth transition and assist the new mayor when he takes office at the first of the year.”

The Spark Fishers downtown summer festival drew an estimated 20,000 people this year, based on a rundown provided to the Fishers City Council Monday by Deputy Mayor Leah McGrath.  That attendance number includes events Friday (June 28th) and Saturday (June 29th).

The festival committee exceeded its goal in sponsorship, receiving $105,000 in sponsorship money and about $25,000 in-kind support.  The city picked up the tab on the gap between the sponsor income and expense of the festival, which McGrath says was about $51,800.  That gap is less than the projected figure of $85,000.

The Fishers City Council approved the hiring of a Parks & Recreation Department manager for the Agripark at 113th Street and Florida Road.  Brandywine Creek Farms had been contracted to run the Agripark, but Mayor Scott Fadness told the council the city has severed its relationship with Brandywine.

In other City Council items from the Monday meeting:

–The Lake Meadows housing project planned for 11570 E. 126th Street received approval of its economic development agreement with the city.  The development includes a developer investment of $24 million, providing 95,000 square  feet of  assisted living
housing, including about 123  assisted living apartment homes.  In exchange, the city will waive up to $200,000 in fees.

–The council read two mayoral proclamations, one for Korean War Armistice Day, the other honoring 97-year-old World War II veteran Angelo Ray Marra

–Council members approved changes to the Unified Development Ordinance, including changes to the Comprehensive Plan related to right-of-way widths, the
Thoroughfare Plan, and the Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan.

The City of Fishers will likely need more apartments in the coming years, based on data gathered the city’s Planning & Zoning Department.  Of all residential units in the city, only 15.5% are apartments.  By comparison, Carmel has 19%, Noblesville 18%,  Zionsville 17% and Greenwood 28%.  The only area city with a lower percentage than Fishers is Westfield with 14%.

The apartment unit vacancy rate in Fishers is 5.7%.  Zoning & Planning Director Tony Bagato says a good vacancy rate is normally in the range of 5% to 8%.

The average rent per unit is $1,170.  6% of Fishers apartment units are studios, 32% one bedroom, 49% two bedroom and 13% three bedroom.

The data show Fishers is projected to have 131,525 residents by the year 2040, with the population generally aging.  This may increase demand for apartment living.

Mayor Scott Fadness and the City Council submitted a request to state officials to construct a low-income apartment project but were turned down last year.  Fadness says the city will once again apply for that low-income housing funding from the state this year.

The work session presentation was for information and no decisions were made.

Fishers Police began working with ‘big box” retailers in Fishers in March of 2019, in an effort to apprehend a man police describe as a “millionaire shoplifter.”

Authorities say that led to the arrest of Ryan Walker, 35, from Indianapolis. He faces several charges, including 8 felony counts of forgery.

As officers tell the story, as the result of a joint effort involving area retailers, state, local, and federal law enforcemen, Fishers police were able to develop a suspect.  After several days of surveillance, officers were able to gather information and evidence leading to the arrest of Walker.

According to Fishers Police, Walker had been selling stolen merchandise since 2010 through his on-line E-Bay Business Account and had customers from all over the world. Officers obtained a subpoena for E-Bay records and confirmed Walker had received payments in excess of 1.1 million dollars since 2010.

Walker is being held in the Hamilton County Jail.

The rails along the Nickel Plate line in Fishers are now being removed.  Mayor Scott Fadness tells LarryInFishers the removal process began Friday and will continue into the fall.  The city has said construction of the Nickel Plate Trail would begin this fall.

In late July, the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority approved a bid to remove the rails by A&K Railroad Materials.  Now that the cities of Noblesville and Fishers, along with Hamilton County, have also approved the bid, the rail removal process has begun.

The rail removal process is beginning at 146th Street and moving south.  The A&K bid does not include removing the rails at road crossings, and Fadness says that removal will happen as the trail is under construction.