The  City of Fishers has renewed a contract with attorney Jennifer Messer to provide legal services through calendar year 2018.  The contract, approved by the Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety Monday, calls for a retainer payment to Ms. Messer of $20,000 per month, similar to the contract the city had with the attorney in 2017.

She is required to submit monthly invoices for services rendered to the city.  Her responsibilities under the pact include consulting with city officials, handling the legal side of economic development and providing real estate services.  You can read the entire contract at this link.

Associated Press reporter Brian Slodysko published a story in May of 2017, questioning the amount paid to Ms. Messer.  Her husband, Luke Messer, is a candidate for the United States Senate in the Republican May 8th primary election.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness strongly defended the use of Ms. Messer, arguing the arrangement actually saves the city money in the long run for such legal work.

The Board of Works action also approved contracts with Barnes & Thornburg for bond counsel matters and Krieg Devault for Planning & Zoning matters.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness surprised a number of people attending his State of the City address when he proposed an urban Agri Park for Fishers.  Now, the city has entered into an agreement with Brandywine Creek Farms to develop the project.

The Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety put its stamp of approval on the pact after reviewing the written agreement and hearing from Deputy Mayor Leah Mcgrath on how the endeavor will work.

The agreement is for five years, with the opening of the Agri Park no later than the end of May this year.

The operation is described by city officials as an agricultural and urban farming operation on roughly 32 acres, located in an area near the southeastern corner of 113th Street and Florida Road.

The Agri Park will be the largest urban farm in America and will provide visitors a
multitude of educational opportunities, including:

–livestock presentations with a large animal veterinarian,

–urban farm training,

–field to fork demonstrations,

–planning and harvesting events,

–roping lessons,

–speakers series featuring staff from local universities,

–beekeeping presentations,

–STEM as Agriculture Learning Experiences and introductory presentations on Aquaculture.

Brandywine Farms is an operation started in 2015 by Jonathan and Amanda Lawler to grow and provide produce to the food insecure in central-Indiana.  The firm says its mission is “to inject healthy, locally raised food into food deserts across Central Indiana while establishing sustainable food systems in the areas with the most need.”

There is rarely a shortage of news in Fishers. and the last week or two has been no exception.  Here is a potpourri of recent news items:

–The Internet of Things (IoT) Lab had its grand opening Wednesday night and based on the crowd I saw, everyone that signed-up was there, and that was about 800 people.  This is the first-of-its-kind IoT lab for Indiana, with government teaming up with the private sector and Indiana University.  Let’s see how this all works out over time.

–I had never met Indianapolis Business Journal Publisher Greg Morris, but I had the chance to chat with him for a minute at Mayor Fadness’ State of the City event.  Mr. Morris wrote a very complimentary piece about Fishers in the latest edition of the weekly business newspaper, which you can read at this link.

–WTHR Reporter Kara Kenney has a story posted saying the Office for Civil Rights, a federal agency, has opened an investigation as to whether the Hamilton Southeastern Schools properly handled allegations of sexual violence.  You can read her story at this link.  When a citizen criticized the board handling of the situation at the March 14th school board meeting, board President Matt Burke said the following – “There are legal rights and there is a legal process that has to be followed.  We do not have a choice in that matter and we will follow a legal process and that legal process is being followed.  It will not necessarily follow the timeline that some people want, and I regret that, but I think the situation, personally, sucks, because this is not a situation that the school, in any way, created.  It was a situation that happened in the community, and we’ll have to let the process run its due course.”

–Mayor Scott Fadness presented his financial study conducted by an outside firm, Policy Analytics, on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) in Fishers and how it does, and does not, impact local school funding.  Fadness is asking the school board to pass a resolution, not commenting on whether TIFs are good or bad policy, he’s asking the board to verify the numbers presented are correct.

— At the same work session where the mayor appeared, board members discussed a threat received, placed in a mailbox at an elementary school.  School officials appeared to believe the threat was not serious.  Fishers Police apparently disagreed, issuing a news release detailing extra officers placed at all schools as a precaution.

–The deadline to register and be eligible to vote in the May 8th primary election is April 9th.  For more information on registering to vote, or to update your address if you have recently moved, use this link.

–Three businesses hatched out of Launch Fishes as startups have announced they are adding employees.  They are Vendor Jump (26 jobs), Ultimate Automation (31) and Sales Tuners (25).

–I had the pleasure of visiting Hamilton Southeaster Intermediate/Junior High Tuesday for their celebration of the Day of Happiness, a United Nations sanctioned event.  The program simply asks people around the world to show some kindness, and the students there were into the event.

–At last Monday’s Fishers City Council meeting, Thompson Thrift, the developer of The Yard, a planned culinary center, received approval to add residential units to the complex.  However, Council President David George was critical of the changed plans, saying he no longer believes the development will be “cohesive” as a restaurant destination.  George and Councilwoman Selina Stoller voted no on the measure, with Councilman Rich Block Abstaining.  The vote to approve was 6-2.   Council members Pete Peterson and John Weingardt both praised the addition of residential units to The Yard.

–At that same meeting, the council gave the OK for Fall Creek Township to move forward with a nature park, allowing a gravel parking lot.  The park will be located in the area near 113th Street and Southeastern Parkway.

–Disability Awareness Month continues in March.  I have featured a special series of mini-podcasts, allowing local people to tell their stories about disabilities.  For more on events to come this month use this link.

Those were just a few items.  I have a feeling there will be more news coming out of Fishers in the week ahead.

By

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

The Hamilton County Republican Committee achieved what few others have done when all three candidates for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate were assembled at a Lincoln Day Dinner forum this week. The annual dinner honoring the first Republican president was held Thursday night at the 502 East Event Center in Carmel.

The Indiana Debate Commission has tried to get the three senatorial candidates to appear together, but were unable to do so when Rep. Todd Rokita refused to join with the other candidates, Rep. Luke Messer and Mike Braun.

The forum was not billed as a debate although the format resembled one. The senatorial race for the nomination will be decided in the May 8 primary election.

Candidates made opening statements and then answered questions centered on who would be best to successfully challenge incumbent Democrat Sen. Joe Donnelly. Braun, not considered a leader in the race at present, tried to contrast himself from the others by saying he was an “outsider” not tied to the establishment.

The hopefuls all pointed out how another Republican senator could potentially make the difference on legislation favored by the Trump administration. The Senate is currently controlled by a thin 51-49 GOP majority.

About 400 Republican faithful attended the dinner party. Capturing as much attention as the forum was the one-on-one campaigning by local candidates seeking support in the all-important GOP primary.

Candidates for county sheriff, Superior Court judge, county council and various other offices roamed the banquet hall seeking to meet, greet and win over party workers and leaders.

Lincoln Day is something of a kick-off of the local campaign in election years. The party’s hardcore supporters and donors attend often wanting to see the candidates in person. All current officeholders and candidates who attended were introduced to the crowd. The dinner party is sponsored by the GOP Central Committee chaired by Laura Campbell.

Adam & Larry review the new Tomb Raider film, then look back at some of the guests featured on the podcast during the past 9 months

by 

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

The voter registration deadline for the May 8 primary election is Monday, April 9. The same deadline exists for voters who have moved from one address to another within the county.

New residents to the county may register online by going to the Hamilton County website, or in person at any local license branch or at the county Government and Judicial Center registration office. Currently, there are nearly 230,000 eligible voters in the county with registrations running slightly ahead of the last election registration period, according to the County Voter Registration office.

Beginning on April 10 early voting will be available at the Elections Office in the Government and Judicial Center during regular business hours until noon on May 7.

And, on Saturdays April 28 and May 5 the office will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

There will also be satellite voting stations including a new site this year in Westfield. These are located at the Carmel Public Library, the Fishers City Hall and the new Westfield City Hall site at 130 E. Penn Street.

The satellite hours for voting are April 25 and 26 from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m., and on May 2 and 3 from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. They will be open again on April 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and on May 4 and 5 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

In the May primary voters will choose their party’s candidates for offices ranging from U.S. Congress, state legislature, and county and township office.

John Wechsler worked with the then Town Manager of Fishers Scott Fadness to get Launch Fishers off the ground.  Now that Launch is incubating new local businesses on a regular basis, the Mayor of Fishers Fadness and Wechsler have joined forces again to open the Internet of Things (IoT) Lab in Fishers.

Wechsler said about 800 people had signed up to attend the grand opening of the IoT Lab Wednesday night, and based on what I witnessed they were all there.

Attendees were treated to booths and demonstrations all throughout the newly remodeled  building, located near Launch Fishers.  There was plenty of food, and thanks to  4 Day Ray, there was even beer available.

The IoT Lab has been described as the first of its kind for public-private partnerships intended to bring IoT innovation to private entrepreneurs.  Indiana University is a key partner in the Lab.

Continue reading Fishers IoT Lab Opens In Grand Fashion →

Someone left a threatening letter in the mailbox of Fall Creek Elementary School Monday afternoon, according to the Fishers Police Department.  School administrators contacted local police after finding the note warning of a shooting planned for the same day, Monday, March 19th.

Fishers Police immediately sent uniformed police officers at every Hamilton Southeastern School District building as detectives investigate.

Here is part of the news release issued by the Fishers Police:

“Although the timing of the threat has passed we are treating this as a serious matter. Ensuring the safety of students and staff is our top priority. As a precautionary measure uniformed officers will continue to provide extra patrols. We are requesting the cooperation and assistance from the community. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Fishers Police Department at 317-595-3300 or the Hamilton County Dispatch Center at 317-773-1282.”