( EDITOR’S NOTE:  Fred Swift is a columnist for the Hamilton County Reporter newspapers. His commentaries are reproduced here as part of a partnership between LarryInFishers.com and The Reporter.)

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton County government is entering the age of solar power.

Commissioners this week approved plans for a solar energy system that will provide for the energy needs of the county corrections complex and the county health department. The buildings on Cumberland Road include the county jail, juvenile detention center, women’s lockup and work release center.

Solar panels, mounted either of rooftops or on pedestals in an open area, convert energy from sunlight to electricity. The system the county will be using will supply enough power to meet the needs for lighting, heating and air conditioning

The solar system is designed to save the cost of electricity. It is already in use at the Sheridan Community Schools, the first school system in the state to go solar. Reports indicate it is working well.

County officials are told their new system proposed by Johnson-Melloh of Indianapolis, will pay for itself in eight years. The cost of purchase and installation is $8.1 million. The County Council will consider methods of financing at their June meeting. The county is in a position to use cash, lease rental or bonding for the financing.

Debt retirement will be paid by the money budgeted annually for utilities. The solar panels will be located on county-owned ground on the east side of State Road 37 north of the health department. More solar power is being considered at the Government and Judicial Center when it is expanded next year.

Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt says the use of solar has been considered for several years, but only now with electric rates going up 5.5 percent and the cost of the solar systems going down dramatically does it make sense to adopt this type system. The conversion to solar power will be undertaken in two phases. A second phase is planned later when the county jail is expanded.

Heirbrandt said energy saving steps have been underway for some time with a savings of $68,000 per year using various methods of new technology. Utility costs are among the largest expenses in county government.

We knew it was coming, it is now upon us – the Double-Crossover Diamond traffic pattern is coming May 17th.  In order for that to happen,   Southeastern Parkway/Campus Parkway over I-69 will close at 9pm May 16th, reopening at 6am May 17th.  There will also be some overnight lane restrictions along I-69.  This will be a big change, so be prepared.

Also be aware of lane restrictions along 116th Street between the Interstate and Cumberland Road will be a regular thing all summer long as improvements are made to that area of road.

If that isn’t enough, look for lane restriction along State Road 37 through June 30th as preparations continue to the big rebuild on that stretch of highway.

There are other items to look for during the work week beginning May 15th.  Below is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

===========================

116TH STREET

There will be lane restrictions on 116th Street between I-69 and Cumberland Road throughout the summer in order for the contractor to make improvements to 116th Street.

106TH STREET

There will be lane restrictions on 106th Street from Eller Road to I-69 the week of May 15 while a contractor locates utilities under the roadway. There will be arrow boards and flaggers in place while work is being performed between 9am and 3pm. There will be lane restrictions on Allisonville Road as well while the contractor works in this intersection.

GEIST ROAD

Geist Road between 106th Street and 111th Street will have possible lane restrictions while contractors perform shoulder work along the west side of Geist Road.

USA PARKWAY

There will be periodic restrictions on USA Parkway while crews construct turn lanes for IKEA.

I-69 AND CAMPUS PARKWAY

Weather permitting, INDOT will close Southeastern Parkway/Campus Parkway over I-69 Tuesday night (5/16) starting at 9pm and will reopen by 6am Wednesday morning.

The Campus Parkway interchange at Interstate 69 Exit 210 will be shifted into a double-crossover diamond traffic pattern starting on or after May 17. Shifting traffic into the double-crossover diamond pattern is intended to improve traffic flow during the remainder of construction of the permanent interchange improvements. For more information about the project, please visit http://www.in.gov/indot/3441.htm.

Milestone Contractors has begun mobilizing cranes and other equipment and setting a temporary concrete barrier wall along I-69 at Campus Parkway Exit 210. Work will require alternating lane closures on northbound and southbound I-69 between 9pm and 6pm Lane closures may recur each night through the end of the week depending on weather and progress. Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT at eastcentralin@indot.in.gov or 1-855-463-6848.

106TH AND CUMBERLAND ROAD ROUNDABOUT

There will be possible lane restrictions around the roundabout while the contractor finishes up work.

126TH STREET

There will be periodic lane restrictions between 9am and 3pm on 126th Street between Allisonville Road and Lantern Road while the contractor installs passing blisters near Reserve at Lantern. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic during the restrictions.

ALLISONVILLE ROAD

There will be lane restrictions on northbound and southbound Allisonville Road from 126th Street to 131st Street between 9am and 3pm all week.  There will be flaggers and barrels onsite to help direct traffic.  Please drive with caution.

STATE ROAD 37

Starting May 1, geotechnical drilling will begin along the State Road 37 corridor as part of the final design phase of State Road 37 Improvement Project. Lane and shoulder restrictions will be active through the June 30.

Motorists will see staked locations along the corridor starting with the 141st Street intersection. The geotechnical drilling will cause lane restrictions from 131st Street through 146th Street through June 30. Southbound restrictions will not begin until 9am daily and northbound restrictions will be done daily before 4pm to allow for maximum traffic flow during peak hours.

State Road 37 turn lanes will not be affected during lane closures and crews will maintain a minimum of one through-lane at all times.

The SR37 improvement project is a $124 Million joint project between Fishers, Hamilton Co, Noblesville, and INDOT. Questions or concerns may be directed to drivefishers@fishers.in.us.

A joint event by the Hamilton County Chambers of Commerce, at Conner Prairie Friday morning, featured Hamilton County officials, who took questions from the audience.

On hand for the event were all three Hamilton County Commissioners – Christine Altman, Steve Dillinger and Mark Heirbrandt.  Three of the seven-member Hamilton County Council were in attendance – Paul Ayres, Brad Beaver and Fred Glynn.

Former Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter started the program with an overview of how the State of Indiana organizes county government.

Then, the commissioners and county council members talked about their respective duties.

The commissioners provided a rundown on several capital projects in the works, including upgrades to county buildings in Noblesville, 146th Street, Pleasant Street in Noblesville and State Road 37.

Council members explained their fiscal priorities and their efforts to keep the tax rates stable.

When it came time for questions from the audience – transit, the Nickel Plate Rail Line and parking in downtown Noblesville were all submitted

Commissioner Christine Altman described herself as a “transit advocate,” but doesn’t see much movement on that front.

“To bring transit to Hamilton County, it will take other revenue,” said Altman. “There is no way we can provide transit services, in addition to our other responsibilities, without additional revenue.  The mechanisms are in place in the statute but, quite honestly, I don’t foresee that happening in the county right now with the current disposition.”

County Councilman Fred Glynn said local transit doesn’t make sense to him, since Hamilton County residents would be paying for it, and it would mainly be transporting Marion County workers to Hamilton County jobs.  He pointed to a plan in Silicon Valley paid for by local employers to fund transit for their employees.

Altman also reminded the Chamber audience that the Nickel Plate Line is owned jointly by Hamilton County, Fishers and Noblesville.

“If the two communities (Fishers & Noblesville) want to do that (create a trail), I think legally they can partition that track,” Altman said.  “We don’t think that’s a good idea.  We will bank that (Nickel Plate) Rail Line, which means that if the winds change politically, it can be re-established as a transit line.”

The Indianapolis Transit Red Line, which does not include Fishers, could run through Hamilton County, but Altman points to funding as the barrier.

The group also talked about parking issues in downtown Noblesville.  Commissioner Steve Dillinger says he never has any problem finding a parking space near the county government buildings.

One question was asked about the organization of county government in Indiana.  The consensus among all the county officials at the event was to keep everything as is.  They want to continue having three county commissioners, as opposed to one county executive. They also agreed the township trustee system works well in Hamilton County and should not be changed.

A story posted yesterday on the Associated Press news wire (and updated today), written by Indianapolis-based AP reporter Brian Slodysko, has received a great deal of state-wide, and even some national attention.  The piece centers on the contract the City of Fishers has with attorney Jennifer Messer.  Mrs. Messer is married to Indiana Congressman Luke Messer.

Luke Messer is reportedly considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Jooe Donnelly.

The AP story focuses on the $20,000 Mrs. Messer receives under her contract to provide legal services to the city.

You can read the AP story at this link.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness posted a message on Facebook Friday morning, saying in part:

“I am disappointed at the tone of this story. Jennifer is smart, capable, and professional. Her work stands on its own and the value that she brings to the city is real, regardless of who she is married to.”

Below is the entire statement posted by Mayor Fadness on Facebook:

A recent story was written regarding the city’s contractual agreement with Jennifer Messer. For those of you who do not know, Jennifer Messer is married to Congressman Luke Messer. He is currently considering a run for senate. I have worked with Jennifer on legal matters for the city since 2010, before her husband was in Congress. Jennifer was the author of our transition ordinance that transformed our town to a city. Since her start with the city we have transitioned our legal department from an all outsourced department to a hybrid with some in-house staff and some contractual. Jennifer has stayed on through a contractual professional services agreement. She is responsible for drafting and negotiating a majority of the economic deals that are conducted on behalf of the city. She has an hourly rate that is less than $200 an hour and substantively less than what you would find in large firms with this type of special expertise. I am disappointed at the tone of this story. Jennifer is smart, capable, and professional. Her work stands on its own and the value that she brings to the city is real, regardless of who she is married to. My goal is to always build the best team for my city, with the best experience and expertise.

(Editor’s Note: Fred Swift is a columnist for the Hamilton County Reporter.  In this commentary, he looks at whether John Ditslear, mayor of the city to our north, Noblesville, is likely to seek another term in office.  This story is reprinted through a partnership between the Hamilton County Reporter and LarryInFishers.com.  You can have the Hamilton County Reporter sent to your e-mail Inbox free of charge by signing up at this link.)  

by

Fred Swift

Is Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear serving his last term as the city’s chief executive or will he run again? “Probably not, but then part of me says why not?” He feels so much has been done and so many things are yet on the drawing board. “I enjoy the work” and a final decision need not be made for a little over 18 months, he points out.

There has been speculation since his  most recent election in 2015 that it would be his last run. Ditslear is in his 14th year at the helm. The mayor is a Republican, but due to unusual political circumstances he was first elected as an independent and has since run on the GOP ticket.

A tip-off on the next election might be the fact that Gov. Eric Holcomb is scheduled to come for a political fundraiser this summer for Chris Jensen, a city councilor who is believed interested in running for mayor. It would be politically inappropriate for a governor to come to town supporting a potential candidate other than the incumbent mayor of the same political party if that mayor was planning re-election.

A lot of change has happened in Noblesville during the Ditslear years. The population is now nearing 55,000. Among the most notable progress in those years has been the explosive growth to the southeast where the Hamilton Town Center and numerous new businesses and subdivisions have been developed.

And, closer in to the city’s center, big changes are underway west of White River where Federal Hill Commons has just been completed, a new Riverview expansion is planned and the Blue Sky Technology Center is nearing completion. Walking trails, some completed and some planned, are a popular amenity.

Before Ditslear’s present term ends in 2019 the city administration hopes to see a dramatic upgrade of State Road 37 underway along with a Pleasant Street bypass of the downtown area.

It hasn’t all been easy. Two years ago budgetary constraints resulted in the city administration asking residents to pay individually for trash pickup. It was controversial, but the mayor said very necessary if other city services were to be maintained. The city council finally agreed after much debate.

Increases in taxes and fees are never popular. Just this week the city had to announce an increase in sewer rates because federal and state agencies are mandating the separation of more storm and sanitary sewers to avoid river pollution.

Ditslear has lived in Noblesville since 1966. He is a native of Ohio and a graduate of Miami University at Oxford, OH. He served as a U.S. Naval officer. He went into the insurance business upon coming to Noblesville, serving as an agent for American United Life. He served on the school board and was a founding member of the Roots of Life Church. Since being mayor he served a year as president of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.

“I think we’ve done a pretty good job,” the mayor says. Does that mean he might want to stay on? Probably not, but he may keep ’em guessing to the end.

Get the impressions of a reporter covering her first session of the Indiana General Assembly – here’s my talk with Kaitlin Lange

The Associated Press has published a story centering on the arrangement attorney Jennifer Messer has with the City of Fishers.  That contract, which LarryInFishers reported back in February 14th of this year, calls for a $20,000 per month retainer fee for Mrs. Messer in exchange for the legal work performed on behalf of the city.

The story, written by Brian Slodysko, an AP reporter based in Indianapolis, also cites a podcast LarryInFishers posted March 17th with Fishers City Attorney Chris Greisl where the subject of Jennifer Messer’s contract is discussed.  You can access that podcast using this link.

The AP story looks at Mrs. Messer’s contract compared to other contracts around the state. Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness defends his contract with Jennifer Messer, arguing it saves the city money.

Complicating all this is the fact that Jennifer Messer has moved to suburban Washington DC and performs most of the contract work for Fishers from her DC-area home.  Her husband, Indiana Congressman Luke Messer, is considering a U.S. Senate run in 2018.

You can read Brian Slodysko’s story published on the Associated Press wire today at this link. 

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board voted to sell 2.75 acres of land near 131st Street and Cumberland Road for $711,835.  Board attorney David Day said the buyer is Ellipsis Real Estate Partners, which plans to build and operate a residential healthcare facility for seniors on that plot of land.  The board action authorizes the execution of documents and other action to complete the transaction, subject to administrative and board approval.

The board then voted to spend $150,000 to buy a house and corresponding land, to clear the way for future construction of an elementary school, near the current school on Cyntheanne Road.  Final plans and renderings have not been done yet on the new elementary, but school officials need that property to move forward when it is time to begin construction.

In other school board news from the May 10th session:

–New mathematics textbooks were approved for the High School and Junior High levels.  You can get more details at this link.

–Final action was taken to implement a revised tobacco-free policy including language for electronic cigarettes. adjust student & lunch fees and changes in collection policies.

–Academic All-Stars Ashton Murray of Fishers High School  and Tyler Zhang of Hamilton Southeastern High School were honored by the board.

–The Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation board reported on the increased fund-raising by the organization in recent years.  Foundation board officials described their new strategic plan for the future.

–The May 24th school board meeting will begin an hour earlier, 6pm, so the board members may attend a special ceremony honoring Fishers Junior High School National Champion “We the People” team at 7pm.  The board meeting will also be held at Fishers Junior High.

–Chief Financial Officer Mike Reuter told the board the school corporation just issued roughly $8 million in bonds for 20 years, at a low interest rate of 2.9%.

Fishers Junior High School came back from national competition in Washington DC as the National Champions in”We The People” competition…..I talked with the team and the coach in this podcast

When the Fishers Youth Assistance Program presented the first “Breakfast of Champions” event Wednesday morning, the staff & volunteers had everything attendees needed – breakfast, programs and information on Youth Assistance.  One item badly needed at each table was facial tissue.  As the stories were told, tears were in the eyes of many assembled guests.

This program deals with young people attending Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) schools in need of some sort of assistance.  The needs are many.  Some students are part of a family struggling, often through no fault of their own.  It could be as a result of an illness in the family or the student.  It could be due to an accident.

Whatever the reason may be, the Fishers Youth Assistance Program is there, steering the student and family toward resources to help in a time of need.

The Wednesday morning breakfast was an opportunity to tell the stories of Hamilton Southeastern students overcoming the odds and finding ways to deal with adversity.

With Fox59 TV news Anchor Aishah Hasnie as the emcee, the stories were told, one-by-one, with students nominated by HSE Schools’ faculty members.   HSE Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff assisted in handing out the recognition plaques.

Here is a list of the students recognized:

Rylan Guy, 1st Grade, Geist Elementary

Justin Bennett, 4th Grade, Sand Creek Elementary

Angel Toxqui-Tlatoa, 4th Grade, Harrison Parkway Elementary

Nadelyn Baron, 5th Grade, Riverside Intermediate

Christopher Rodriguez, 6th Grade, Riverside Intermediate

Delaney Davis, 8th Grade, Riverside Junior High

Aislynn Ball, 10th Grade, Fishers High School

Brook Casebolt, 2017 Graduate, Fishers High School

Adam Darroca, 12th Grade, HSE High School

Lizamaurine Fortoza, 12th Grade, Fishers High School

Reid Stephens, 12th Grade, Fishers High School

Bill Jerrow, President of the Fishers Youth Assistance Board, said 575 referrals for help have been handled by the program since its formation in 2014, meaning over 200 families are asking for help each year.

Fishers Deputy Mayor Leah McGrath urged more corporations to step forward and support the Youth Assistance program.  “It takes all of us, we’re all in this together,” McGrath told the breakfast crowd.

This is the first of what Fishers Youth Assistance Program hopes will become an annual event.   

If you are interested in volunteering or donating money to the Fishers Youth Assistance Program, you will find more information at this link.