We continue to patiently wait for genuine spring weather, but we are beginning to see genuine road construction activity in and around Fishers.

Here is the road construction listing for the work week starting Monday, April 2nd, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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SOUTHEASTERN PARKWAY
Beginning on Monday, April 2 at 8 a.m., Southeastern Parkway south of 136th Street will be closed to traffic for up to one week to allow for storm sewer installation. Traffic will detour to Prairie Baptist Road and 136th Street.

106TH STREET
106th Street is closed to through traffic from Eller Road to Allisonville Road and from Allisonville Road to Hague Road for the 106th Street Infrastructure Project. Closures for through traffic will also take place from Hague Road to the Crosspoint Boulevard/Lantern Road roundabout. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

HOOSIER ROAD
Hoosier Road south of 116th Street will be closed to all traffic through the cemetery for sanitary sewer repairs. A detour will be in place on Cumberland Road while work is completed.

131ST STREET
Periodic lane restrictions will occur at the intersection of 131st Street and Cumberland Road as utility relocation work is completed.

Expect lane restrictions, weather permitting, along 131st Street between Allisonville Road and Lantern Road for the construction of the Conner Trail from Conner Prairie to the Municipal Complex. Lane restrictions will also take place on Lantern Road between 131st Street and Municipal Drive.

MEADOWS DRIVE
Meadows Drive is closed between Frances Drive and Morgan Drive, weather permitting, for the installation of sanitary sewer.

ELLER ROAD
Eller Road is closed to through traffic south of White Horse Lane for concrete work associated with the 106th Street Infrastructure Project.

ALLISONVILLE ROAD RESURFACING & INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
Lane restrictions will be in place, as weather permits, along Allisonville Road from 126th Street to 131st Street for tree clearing ahead of the start of the roadway expansion project. Restrictions will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and flaggers will be on site directing traffic, as necessary. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.
MORGAN DRIVE

Morgan Drive is restricted to one lane between Lantern Road and Emmanuel Court for work on stormwater structures.

STATE ROAD 37
The Meeting Minutes and Meeting Presentation from the December State Road 37 Project Public Meeting, along with additional information about the project, is available on the project’s new website. The State Road 37 improvement project is a $124 million joint project between Fishers, Hamilton County, Noblesville, and INDOT. Questions or concerns may be directed to drivefishers@fishers.in.us.

I-69
As part of a $92 million design-build contract, Milestone has added a third lane in each direction to the median, repaired and resurfaced existing pavement, and rehabilitated bridges and drainage structures on 15 miles of I-69 in Hamilton and Madison counties. Construction of an additional auxiliary lane between the 116th Street entrance ramp to I-69 South and the I-69 South Exit 204 ramp to 106th Street will continue through next spring.

I-69 South will be temporarily reduced to two lanes to allow space for the State Road 37 and 116th Street entrance ramps to safely merge while construction continues on the southbound auxiliary lane between the 116th Street and 106th Street ramps. Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT at eastcentralin@indot.in.gov or 1-855463-6848.

While this list encompasses numerous project updates, it does not list all DPW projects throughout the city. The most recent projects are detailed, however please keep in mind that all construction activities are weather permitting. We appreciate motorists’ patience and caution while driving through construction sites.

Teachers at New Britton Elementary School wanted to find a way to get their students involved in the subject of world hunger in a creative way….so creative Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness decided to get involved in a “bug” way.

The students reviewed world hunger statistics at an all-school convocation Thursday afternoon, but the event was capped-off with something special.  If the students met their fund-raising goal to assist those in need of nourishment overseas, members of the teaching staff said they would eat bugs, based on the amount of money raised.

The students had a goal of coming up with $700.  The amount of money donated exceeded $1,300, which meant lots of teachers would be eating bugs.

Then Mayor Fadness discovered the project on social media.  One thing led to another, and the mayor ended up eating a cricket at the student convocation.

The school partnered with a Global Orphan Foundation to learn more about how insect farming works. New Britton Elementary is also raising money in partnership with Christ Community Church to buy and pack meals, then send them across the world through Rise Against Hunger.

Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly, a Democrat, teamed up with Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey to help enact a bipartisan measuring establishing a Day of Recognition for Vietnam Vets.  This year, the City of Fishers held a ceremony at City Hall to honor those vets on this new day carved out in law to honor them.

Fishes is also applying for special status to be a part of a 13-year period is set in law to honor the 50-year anniversary of the Vietnam War.

Master of Ceremonies El Ahlwardt told the crowd he hopes this event will become an annual one in Fishers now that March 29th is officially set as a day to recognize veterans of the Vietnam.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is the United States’ largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service.

Three Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District students were awarded medals at the Wednesday night school board meeting.

The winners are:

Olivia Keith, Hamilton Southeastern High School

Rahil Thanswala, Fishers High School

Vani Sharma, Sand Creek Intermediate School

Kent Sipe, representing Prudential, made the presentation of the medals as Distinguished Finalists and State Honorees.

When Freedom Kolb left her post as Executive Director of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Foundation, the board has been on the hunt for a replacement.  Justin Hirnisey was introduced to the school board Wednesday night as Ms. Kolb’s replacement.

“I know I have some big shoes to fill,” Hirnisey told board members.  “I’m excited that (Freedom Kolb) will still be around.”

Freedom Kolb now works for the HSE School Corporation as part of the Lilly grant on school counseling.

“I’ve lived here in Fishers for over ten years,” said Hirnisey.  “Have worked in a lot of nonprofits here locally, but really excited and felt a  strong calling to be more involved here with the community in Fishers.”

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board voted to approve a data contract with KSM Consulting, allowing teachers and administrators at the building level to receive real-time information, for the first time allowing them to react to issues some students and groups of students may encounter during the school year.

The vote was 6-1, with Michelle Fullhart voting no.  She objected to paying for school board members’ access to the data directly, which she did not feel was necessary.

The board’s agenda listed the item for information and discussion only, but a motion was made by Mike Bottorff and the board voted on the proposal as presented by KSM.  The final contract will be voted by the board once it is vetted by the school corporation’s law firm.

The pact will cost $185,000.  The funds will come from the Coke Fund, money received by the school corporation for Coca-Cola getting exclusive cola drink rights throughout all the schools in the district.  The Rainy Day Fund is another source of funds, according to school Superintendent Allen Bourff.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School administration presented a proposal, contracting with Community Health to employ school nurses, but the nurses spoke out clearly that they want to continue as employees of the school district.  The board took no action and Superintendent Allen Bourff told the board administrators will be working to answer questions in the next few weeks before the board is asked to vote on any contract.

Every school building in the HSE District has a nurse which has been employed by the school corporation.  These nurses have roughly the same benefit package teachers and most other school district employees enjoy.

Based on a presentation from HSE’s Chief Financial Officer Mike Reuter, some nurses pay would remain the same and some would see a salary increase as a result of the proposed change.  But the benefits would be very different if the nurses were to become employees of Community Health Network.

For example, spouses would not always be covered in the Community health insurance plan, the HSE employee plan covers spouses.  The annual out-of-pocket employee amount for HSE workers health costs is $4,000, for Community it is $11,400.

Nurses covered by the Public Employee Retirement Fund (PERF) as school employees would no longer be covered under a defined benefit plan (monthly annuity payments after retirement).  Nurses vested in the system could get the PERF annuity, but since the formula uses years of service and age, many vested nurses would likely wait into their 60s to be eligible for annuity payments in retirement.

Four school nurses took turns making their case before the school board to remain school district employees. They made arguments that the standard of care would change under Community Health, although Community took issue with that assertion.

The board took the proposal under advisement and plans to get answers to questions posed by the school nurses before the board receives a recommendation from school administrators.

Under the proposed agreement. Community would employ the school nurses, operate the employee health center and take over sports medicine services.

Reuter told the board that Community’s proposal to  assume operational and financial responsibility for the school nurse program would result in estimated savings to the school corporation of  $1.5 million.

If the board were to approve the proposal, the changeover for the nurses would happen in the 2019/2020 school year.

A group of six Hamilton County officials traveled to Washington DC with local issues on their minds.  According to my news-gathering partners at the Hamilton County Reporter, the area lawmakers were there to discuss traffic congestion and future highway funding with Indiana Congressional leaders as well as the Federal Highway Administration.

Two projects topped their DC discussions: the 146th Street corridor between Greyhound Pass and Hazel Dell Parkway, as well as the State Road 32 and Pleasant Street corridors in Noblesville. Traffic studies show growing congestion along both routes.

“Hamilton County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state,” says Mark Heirbrandt, President of the Hamilton County Commissioners. “Proactive efforts to address these critical corridors are vital to future job creation and in ensuring our county continues to be a great place to live and work.”

In addition to Heirbrandt, the Hamilton County delegation included County commissioners Christine Altman and Steve Dillinger, County Council president Steve Schwartz, Noblesville Common Council President Chris Jensen and Hamilton County Highway Director Brad Davis. During the two-day trip, March 13-14, Hamilton County lawmakers met with U.S. Senators Joe Donnelly and Todd Young, U.S. Representatives Susan Brooks and Luke Messer, as well as Federal Highway Administration and Vice Presidential staff.

“Funding is always the biggest challenge on projects like these,” Commissioner Altman says. “We appreciate the time that our representatives and their staff took to review our needs and offer suggestions. Their insight was extremely helpful.”

Jensen says projects like these are critical to the prosperity of cities like Noblesville. “The Pleasant Street Economic Development Corridor has been on the city’s thoroughfare plan since 1995. It is a top priority for the city. Not only will it help spur economic growth in our downtown, but will also serve as a catalyst for future successes in the heart of our community.”

The weather lately may not have been summer-like, but the City of Fishers is already gearing-up for another concert series, with a newly-remodeled Amphitheater facility.

Let’s start with the artists set for the popular Amp After Dark Friday night series.  All are scheduled to start at 8pm:

o   June 8                   John Waite and Duke Tumatoe and the Power Trio

o   June 15                 Dogs of Society: The Music of Elton John

o   June 22                 B105.7 presents 80’s at the Amp: Live and Let Die: A Symphonic Tribute to Paul McCartney

o   June 29                A Spark!Fishers Feature Show

o   July 6                     The Meek Sisters

o   July 13                  A Fishers Arts Crawl Feature Show with Jennie DeVoe 

o   July 20                  Sounds of Summer: Music of the Beach Boys

o   July 27                  Woomblies Rock Orchestra

o   August 3              Boy Band Review: Music of Backstreet Boys, *NYSNC, and New Kids on the Block

o   August 10            Dark Desert Eagles: Music of The Eagles feat. Pat Badger of Extreme

o   August 17            Trippin Billies: Music of Dave Matthews Band

o   August 31            Blues Fest 2018

o   September 1      Blues Fest 2018

Note that there are a few placeholders.  The June 29th event as part of the Spark!Fishers festival has not been confirmed.  Also, all the artists set for the Blues Festival are yet to be announced.

Next, here is the schedule for the Tuesday night concerts, all scheduled to start at 7pm:

o   June 5                   My Yellow Rickshaw                                        Sponsored by Heritage Christian School

o   June 12                 Endless Summer Band                                    Sponsored by Citizens State Bank

o   June 19                 The Doo                                                               Sponsored by Cathedral High School

o   June 26                 Mike and Joe                                                      Sponsored by Mosquito Joe

o   July 3                     Spark!Fishers Show: The Pettybreakers Sponsored by Johnson and Jensen LLP

o   July 10                  The Bishops                                                        Sponsored by Primrose School

o   July17                   Parrots of the Caribbean                               Sponsored by Bose McKinney and Evans

o   July 24                  Dave and Rae                                                     Sponsored by Goddard School

o   July 31                  Alternate Rain-Out Date                                Sponsored by Boomerang Development

o   August 7              Alternate Rain-Out Date                                Sponsored by Boomerang Development

Finally, Concerts On The Green, midday events, will be back in 2018.  These are all scheduled noon-1pm and are aimed at the lunch crowd:

o   May 9                    Kelley Isenhower

o   May 16                 Phil Pierle

o   May 23                 Tim and Jay

o   May 30                 Doug Henthorn

o   June 6                   Kelley Isenhower

o   June 13                 Phil Pierle

o   June 20                Christina 7

o   June 27                Rick Matillo

o   July 11                   Kelley Isenhower

o   July 18                  Phil Pierle

o   July 25                   Chad Mills

o   August 1              Kelley Isenhower

o   August 8              Phil Pierle

o   August 15            Tim and Jay

o   August 22            Doug Henthorn

o   September 5      Kelley Isenhower

o   September 12    Phil Pierle

o   September 19   Doug Henthorn

o   September 26   Chad Mills

Tuesday and Friday concerts will be at the Amphitheater, Concerts On The Green will be in the area south of City Hall.

“Fishers Parks & Recreation does an incredible job building out a summer schedule that all but guarantees to bring the fun and vibrancy to the Nickel Plate District that we’ve come to look forward to each summer,” Mayor Scott Fadness said in a city news release. “The variety in music and atmosphere around different concert series ensures we’re able to offer something for everyone in our community.”

All concerts are free, and those attending the the events  are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and food to enjoy during the show. Coolers are permitted.

I talked with Bob McCutcheon of the Parks and Recreation Department about this year’s concert series in a podcast, which you can hear at this link.

With summer on the way (we hope) the City of Fishers is gearing-up for the 2018 concert series.  Bob McCutcheon was instrumental in putting that calendar together and talks with me about what to expect this summer in Fishers.