By

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

(NOTE: Fred Swift commentaries are posted here as part of a partnership between the Hamilton County Reporter and LarryInFishers.com.  In the piece below, Fred writes about a number of Hamilton County items)

–The surprising decision of Luke Kenley to resign from the State Senate has reportedly
brought a flood of prospective candidates to fill Kenley’s seat. The winner of
a Republican Party caucus in the next few months will represent Hamilton County in
the next three sessions of the legislature.  So far five individuals have expressed
interest including Noblesville City Councilor Megan Wiles, longtime GOP activist
Victoria Sparx and Carmel City Councilor Sue Finkam. There is also interest from a
county council member and a Westfield businessman indicating intentions to run.

–State officials last week released plans on where the Department of Transportation (INDOT) will spend new revenue from the 10 cent per gallon increase in the
gas tax. Hamilton County state roads are scheduled to get about $25 million over
the next five years. This is far less than some other counties in central Indiana, but
there may be a good reason for that. In an agreement last year Hamilton County is
getting $100 million for State Road 37 reconstruction and got another $65 million
in a one-time COIT distribution, most of which must go toward road improvements.
So, we already got a pretty good deal out of the Statehouse.

–New York is known as the city that never sleeps. We could call Carmel the city
that never quits building. The city council will soon consider a new $100 million
bond issue for more public improvements and amenities. Plans call for yet more
roundabouts, a five-star hotel and an antique Canadian merry-go-round among
other things. Mayor Jim Brainard has reportedly lined up needed majority support
on the council.

–Plans proposed earlier this year by County Commissioners for the use of solar
energy to provide power at the county jail did not get immediate approval from the
County Council. At their last meeting the council majority said costs and financing
will undergo detailed study by members.  No firm date has been set for a vote on the
$8.1 million request to fund a bank of solar panels and other equipment needed to
convert sunlight to electricity. The use of solar energy could save big money, commissioners say.

–Commissioners in their last meeting approved an agreement with the firm of
Butler, Fairman and Seufert to provide engineering for the widening and rehabilitation of Noblesville’s Logan Street Bridge. The plan is to get a new pedestrian walkway across the river to allow safer access to the new Federal Hill Commons.  Cost, about $200,000. Another bridge job approved calls for a new span across the Keiser Ditch on Cyntheanne Road at a cost of $1.1 million.

–And, the Good Kid Award this month goes to Eagle Scout Zach Witty, who is
leading a project to create a walking trail around the perimeter of the County 4-H
Fairgrounds. Signage will be provided along the pathway which is designed to
promote physical fitness.

In the July 15th installment of Hamilton County Goes To The Movies, Adam & Larry review the latest Spiderman film and the opening feature at the Indy Film Fest, Wind River.  James Moriarty then joins the conversation to talk about the upcoming Carmel Film Forum.

by

Richie Hall

Hamilton County Reporter

The theme of this year’s Hamilton County 4-H Queen Pageant
was “An Evening in Paris” – appropriate for Bastille Day, n’est-ce
pas?

At the end of Friday’s pageant, there was considerable joie de
vivre from Chloe Mills. The Cicero 10-year member of the Harey
Hoppers was crowned as Hamilton County 4-H Queen for 2017. Mills’
name has now been added to the honor roll of 4-H Queens, which
dates back to 1961.

“I was shocked and excited and so happy,” said Mills, 18, a Cicero
resident who will be a freshman at Purdue University this fall.

There were 16 queen contestants at this year’s pageant, which
took place at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds. The contestants
all did interviews with the judges earlier Friday afternoon. At the
pageant, the contestants modeled professional wear and evening
wear, and were asked an impromptu question by Mistress of
Ceremonies Mary Beth Riley.

“It was very nerve-wracking with the interview with the judges,”
said Mills. But once she and the other contestants got on stage,
Mills said the pageant “went by really fast” and was very easy-going.

Mills’ impromptu question revealed her favorite school subject,
which many people don’t find easy-going: Math. Mills said she
enjoys math “because I love challenging myself, and there’s always
one way to do it, and that’s math.”

Mills said she also enjoyed meeting the other contestants,
noting that they were people she wouldn’t have met if she hadn’t
participated in the Queen Pageant.

“They were all so sweet,” said Mills. “We’ve all been friends. I’m
very excited to be friends with them after the fair.”

“The whole pageant experience was wonderful,” said Mills. “I
loved every second of it. It’s very educational and it prepares you for so much
more in life with the interview.”

Mills and her court will be a major presence at the 4-H Fair, which runs from
July 20-24 this year. The other members of the court include:

–First runner-up: Viktoria Mills, 16, Westfield, of Carmel 4-C’s

–Second runner-up: Emma Swain, 17, of Sheridan Ag

–Third runner-up: Rebeca Hayes, 17, Noblesville, of Forest Hill

–Fourth runner-up: Ashlyn Robertson, 16, of Progressive Farmers

–Miss Congeniality: Crystal Xue, 17, of Carmel 4-C’s

“It’s such a great honor, particularly because it’s the peers that vote for you,” said
Xue. “So it’s truly a testament to their greatness and how well that they performed.”

Xue enjoyed the Queen Pageant experience as well.

“I absolutely loved it,” she said. “It taught me so much about being confident in
myself and learning new things, and of course being open.”

Right before the 2017 queen was announced, 2016 queen Rachel Adams
spoke to the crowd. In addition, Phyllis Davis entertained the crowd with some
piano selections while the judges were making their decision. This was her 50th
pageant.

Whenever an outdoor downtown Fishers event is planned, one of the biggest variables is the weather.  For the second year in a row, the Fishers Arts Crawl experienced a perfect July evening for people to walk the Nickel Plate District an enjoy the many artists on display.

Here are some pictures to try and capture the Arts Crawl.

Continue reading Perfect Weather for 2017 Fishers Arts Crawl →

In December of 2016, The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board approved a normally routine item that evening – the consent agenda.  That item rolls into a long list of actions. Included in it are usually resignations, retirements, hiring employees, etc.  For the first time I know, buried in that consent agenda, was a 5-day suspension for Employee Number 10042.  I must admit, I did not pick up on it, and no other journalist found it, except one – Bob Segall of WTHR’s 13Investigates.

He pressed the school corporation for the name of the suspended staff member, and HSE School officials disclosed the suspension was given to Fishers High School football coach Rick Wimmer.

Since that time, HSE has refused to provide more than general, vague information about why Coach Wimmer was suspended.  Twice 13Investigates has asked for opinions from the Indiana Public Access Counselor, an expert on state laws relating to open records and an appointee of the governor, on whether HSE has followed the law in refusing to disclose any specific facts about why Coach Wimmer was suspended.  Counselor Luke Britt has twice issued opinions clearly stating HSE must disclose specific facts about this suspension.

Yet, HSE has twice refused to follow those opinions.  Now Public Counselor Britt has done an on-camera interview with 13Investigates’ Segall to make the incredible statement that HSE officials “don’t get it” when interpreting his opinions.  It is highly unusual for a public counselor to make a statement like that on television.

The 13Investigates team has the option of going to court and forcing the issue before a judge.  But Segall said in his most recent story that WTHR is proposing that HSE privately disclose to Britt the specific facts related to the Coach Wimmer suspension so Britt may determine whether HSE has any legally valid reason not to disclose the facts of this suspension.  HSE has not yet responded to that proposal from Segall and his team.

Segall is also asking HSE Schools how much this legal battle is costing the school corporation in additional legal fees.  So far, HSE has not responded.

If HSE somehow thinks 13Investigates will give up on this story, keep in mind that it is very rare for a local television news operation to win a Peabody Award, described as the Oscars of the news business.  In the last round, 13Investigates won not one, but two Peabody awards.  The 13Investigates team knows what they are doing.

There are many more details contained on the latest story from 13Investigates.  You can read the story, and watch the video of the story that aired on the 5:30pm WTHR newscast on July 14th, at this link.

Here is my review of the film Spiderman-Homecoming

Khunsha Ahmed has a goal – she wants to cure kidney cancer.  Khunsha will start her senior year at Fishers High School next month.

Ahmed is the only Indiana representative from the 100 recipients of the Emperor Science Award, a PBS LearningMedia and Stand Up To Cancer initiative designed to encourage high school students to explore careers in science, focusing on cancer research and care.

The Emperor Science Award program received nearly 800 applications from eligible 10^th and 11^th grade students in 44 states throughout the U.S. Prominent scientists served as judges and evaluated the students’ applications: written essays submitted online January 10 through March 17, addressing why scientific research is so important in finding a cure for cancer, what scientific field they would study and why.

She was honored recently for her essay about renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer.

Ahmed is now in the midst of a summer mentorship with IU Health Simon Cancer Center oncologist Costantine Albany.

The mentorship is just one reward for Ahmed’s winning entry. She also received a new Google Chromebook and a $1,500 stipend from PBSLearningMedia.

With bond debt coming on board the city debt load, Mayor Scott Fadness attended the Fishers City Council Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night and commented on that, as well as progress on The Yard culinary project.

Bond issuance procedures are beginning for new plans, such as the proposed new city park on Geist Lake and major improvements to the Nickel Plate Amphitheater behind City Hall.  The mayor told the Finance Committee this new debt will require only “minor adjustments” to the 2018 tax rate.  The mayor’s staff is currently working on a fiscal plan for 2018 which will provide a clearer projection of the 2018 city tax rate and city budget.

“It’s hard to take one bond issue and say, this is what it means to your tax rate,” Fadness said.  “In reality, you’ve got to look at the whole thing, plus your net assessed value.”

The mayor also talked about the status of The Yard culinary development planned near IKEA.  Fadness expects news soon on eating establishments planning to locate there.

“There should be a series of announcements here in the next 60 or 90 days that will make a lot of Fishers people very happy,” Fadness said about The Yard.

The mayor said a ground-breaking for the yard may not come until spring of 2018.  Fadness added that as residents of the 22 homes in Spring Dale Estates continue to leave their homes, there is a possibility that empty neighborhood could be used for police and fire training before the structures are torn down.

The City of Fishers chose to dip into its own staff to replace Controller Oscar Gutierrez.  Lisa Bradford has served as the number 2 person in the controller’s office and will become the Fishers City Controller Monday.

Gutierrez is taking a job with the Mind Trust, a nonprofit organization that supports charter schools.

Mayor Scott Fadness announced the appointment during Wednesday night’s meeting of the Fishers City Council Finance Committee.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

(NOTE:  Commentaries by Fred Swift are posted on here as part of a partnership between the Hamilton County Reporter and LarryInFishers.com)

County Commissioners have taken steps to proceed with two major county facility
expansion projects.

An agreement has been signed with Meyer Najem Construction Company
for construction management services on a major addition to the County Government
and Judicial Center.

The multi-million dollar expansion of the 25-year old building will provide more
space for courtrooms, offices and storage.  The addition will be built to the west side
of the existing structure and contain around 100,000 square feet under roof.

County officials had known since the original building was built in 1992 that expansion
would eventually be needed and it was designed so that an addition could
be made. Preliminary design drawings last year show an architecturally pleasing new
west front for the facility.

The agreement with Meyer Najem calls for a fee not to exceed $80,000 for pre-construction
documents. Assuming the project is funded by the County Council, the agreement
will be amended for additional work.  No date has been set for bidding the project
estimated to cost around $23 million.

The council will then vote on funding.  Money is not regarded as a major problem
since the county holds major cash reserves. Bonding is also a likely method
of funding since bonds previously sold by the county are being paid off soon and
new bonds could be sold, resulting in no need for a tax increase.

Another major project in which commissioners have taken a step toward construction, is the expansion of the county jail. Currently overcrowded, the jail building, wich includes the sheriff’s department offices and the 911 communications center, was built to house 296 inmates. Bunks for another 200 has been recommended.

Commissioners have signed an agreement with The Hagerman Group for construction
management on the expansion project. The fee for $40,625 provides for
construction documents, and a proposal for a fee of three percent of construction
costs to manage the project to completion.