Lindsey Erdody of the Indianapolis Business Journal talked with me about recent developments in Fishers and surrounding communities.

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Superintendent Allen Bourff told LarryInFishers that school administrators are preparing a school board recommendation aimed at lowering textbook costs for all HSE families, but especially at the elementary level.

That was one comment Dr. Bourff made during a Podcast Interview with Larry Lannan. You can listen to the entire Podcast interview below.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is preparing to shift the lanes along I-69 at 106th Street in coming days.  Below is text from the INDOT news release on what to expect:

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On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., crews will close up to three lanes of northbound and southbound I-69 in order to paint new lane markings and shift traffic lanes away from the median.  Lane widths will be reduced to 11 feet to accommodate temporary concrete barrier and space for center pier construction for two new bridges.

The existing 106th Street bridge will be removed as part of the project, which will require closing the 106th Street overpass on or after Monday, April 11.  Traffic will be detoured south to 96th Street via Allisonville and Lantern Roads during construction. 

The speed limit near the construction zone at mile marker 204 will be reduced to 55 mph and may be reduced to 45 mph during overnight working hours.  Motorists are advised to abide by work zone warning signage and posted speed limits.

Construction will require various overnight lane restrictions on I-69 between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. throughout the project. Interstate traffic restrictions for construction are not expected to take place outside of these hours.

After 106th Street is closed, Walsh plans to begin demolition of the existing bridge in mid-April.  This will require consecutive overnight lane closures and rolling slowdowns on I-69 lasting up to 20 minutes at a time to create gaps in interstate traffic that will allow for removal of the bridge deck above.

INDOT awarded a $21.7 million contract to Walsh Construction Company to build the new interchange.  Hamilton County and the city of Fishers are partnering to contribute up to $12 million toward the total cost of construction.  

The interchange will feature a two-lane, oval-shaped roundabout on 106th Street over I-69 and ramps to and from both directions of the interstate.  Two separate two-lane bridges will each carry one direction of traffic. The bridge to carry westbound traffic on the north side of 106th Street is also designed to accommodate pedestrians.

The project is intended to reduce congestion at existing I-69 interchanges at 96th and 116th streets, increase traffic safety in the area and provide direct interstate access at 106th Street.  Direct access will serve existing residential and commercial destinations and accommodate development and population growth in the area.

The new I-69 Exit 204 to 106th Street is scheduled to open before the end of this year.

The Fishers Police Department has a juvenile in custody and is searching for a suspect they say is connected to a March 26th robbery attempt at the Kroger Pharmacy, 116th Street and Allisonville Road.

Below is the full text of the police department news release….

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The Fishers Police Department is currently investigating an attempted robbery that occurred on March 26th at the Kroger, located at 7272 Fishers Crossing Drive, (116th Street and Allisonville Road).

According to Kroger employees and evidence collected in the store it appears a juvenile male gave the Pharmacist a note indicating his intent to rob the Pharmacy of prescription medication. The Pharmacist complied and gave the suspect some medication. The juvenile was detained by other employees as he attempted to flee the store. Fishers police officers arrived and took the suspect into custody. The suspect was arrested transported to the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center.

Based on the investigation, Detectives believe there was another suspect involved in this attempted robbery. The second suspect was last seen driving a 2000 model tan Buick passenger car. The second suspect remains at large.

Anyone with information regarding this attempted robbery or the identity of the second suspect is encouraged to call Detective Robbie Ruble at 317-595-3319.

Let’s talk about treating medical conditions.  If you contract a lung disease, your primary care physician does the preliminary diagnosis and you are referred to a specialist in order to evaluate your condition and treat the ailment.

If you feel heart palpitations, you go to a heart specialist and the physician will recommend treatment for your issue.

This is how a medical condition is supposed to be treated.  But there are people with a special kind of medical condition.  They need treatment, but society doesn’t always view it that way.

I’m talking about mental health conditions.  One of the most common of the mental health category of illnesses is depression.  Many people still look at depression as some kind of character flaw.  We all go through rough times, many say, just get over it and go forward.

There’s only one problem with that approach.  Depression is no character flaw.  It’s a chemical imbalance in your body.  Individuals have no more control over depression than heart disease.  Heart disease is not a character flaw.  It’s a medical condition in need of treatment.  Depression needs to be treated medically.

The word stigma is the term that applies here.  People with a mental illness, such as depression, often suffer from the stigma that their depression is their own fault.  Here’s a fact – it’s not the patient’s fault.

I recently recorded a Podcast featuring Mike Riekhof and Todd Zimmerman.  Mike founded The Peyton Riekhof Foundation for Youth Hope after his daughter Peyton took her own life while suffering from depression.  Todd is a member of the Fishers City Council and believes strongly in removing the stigma of diseases like depression.  Both men have served on Mayor Scott Fadness’ Mental Health Initiative Task Force.  You can listen to the Podcast at this link.  It’s a little over 30 minutes long.

Mayor Fadness started this task force shortly after being sworn-in as the first Mayor of Fishers in 2015.  As the town manager previous to that, he had seen the statistics and heard the stories from local public safety employees about the toll mental health issues were taking on those suffering with mental illness, as well as their families and friends.

You will be hearing more about the mayor’s mental health initiative.  My suggestion is to pay attention and support this initiative.  It’s all about the place where you live, Fishers, Indiana.

Video from April 13, 2015 announcement of Fishers Sports Complex

It was nearly one year ago when a big announcement was made at Fishers City hall.  Mayor Scott Fadness and the (then) City Community Development Director Tom Dickey announced a $75 million sports complex in the Saxony area of Fishers, near I-69.  It would host major Olympic-style events, contain a 4,200 seat arena and allow access for Fishers residents to use on a regular basis.  The complex would include a 600-car parking garage.

A series of public meetings were held for residents of the area to be briefed and make comments on the plans.  Everything appeared to be moving forward.

Then I began to hear rumblings that appraisals were being done and that the financing for the project was not a sure thing.  We are nearly one year later, and there is still no financing in place for this mammoth sports complex.

The Indianapolis Business Journal April 4-10 edition carries a front page banner headline – “$77 Million Sports Complex Appears Stalled.”  In the piece, reporter Lindsey Erdody writes the project (is it $75 million or $77 million?  Who knows?) is no closer to a construction date now than when the plans were unveiled April 13, 2015.

GK Sports, the developer of the proposed complex, is now peddling a similar structure in a growing suburb of Madison, Wisconsin.

I have periodically asked city officials what is happening with the sports complex, and I receive the same answer each time…nothing new to report, no financing is yet in place. Mayor Scott Fadness said as much to Erdody, telling her of his weekly updates he receives but the most recent update indicated “no breakthrough.”

Erdody goes into some detail in her story about Barry Kiesel, a principal of GK Sports, the proposed developer of the Sports Complex, and several court proceedings where he has been a party to litigation.

Fishers City Council President John Weingardt told Erdody he won’t get “fired up” about the sports complex until a closing is proposed.  “It’s a definite maybe,” Weingardt told Erdody.

You can read Lindsey Erdody’s story at this link. (NOTE:  If you are not an IBJ subscriber, your access to this story link may be limited)

Most of the road construction projects in Fishers for the work week beginning Monday, April 4th, are ongoing.  However, State Highway contractors will begin work on the 106th Street interchange with I-69 beginning April 4th, with the bridge over the interstate set to close April 11th.

Also, watch for bridge work on Promise Road, south of 131st Street, near Fishers High School.

Below is a full listing from the City of Fishers…

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FALL CREEK TRAIL

Fall Creek Trail reconstruction work continues; the pedestrian bridges and section of sidewalk along the trail have been removed. Pedestrians should not use the trail within the sections that have been removed. In addition, there will be periodic lane closures along the project throughout the week of April 4^th.

HAMILTON COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

Hamilton County Highway Department will continue guardrail maintenance at several bridge locations during the week of April 4^th. There will be lane restrictions with flaggers at each location, and locations include:

Promise Road just south of 131^st Street

LANTERN ROAD

• The parking stalls on the west side of Lantern Road between North Street and Station Street along with the parking stalls on the south side of North Street between Lantern Road and Maple Street will be closed from March 18 until April 17 for construction activities.
• There will also be periodic lane restrictions between 116^th Street and North Street for construction on Four Day Ray Brewing.

96^TH STREET AND CUMBERLAND ROAD

The Hamilton County Highway Department has closed 96^th Street and Cumberland Road for 100 calendar days in order to construct a roundabout at this intersection. Anyone with concerns about this project should call 773-7770. Please click here to view a detour map.

106^TH STREET INTERCHANGE

INDOT will begin work on the 106^th Street interchange the week of April 4^th. On April 4^th a lane shift on I-69 will take place in conjunction with the closure of 106^th Street on April 11^th. Additional details about this project will be released through INDOT and shared on the weekly construction update.

116^TH STREET

There may be short-term lane restrictions on 116^th Street and Oak Drive as equipment is being brought on and off site. This project includes demolition of homes along 116^th Street and Oak Drive in preparation for a road improvement project.

Eye in the Sky is a film exploring ethics and drone warfare….Larry has a review

MacDougal Pierce Construction of Fishers has been awarded the contract for the Fishers City Hall Site Project, aimed at sprucing-up the front entrance area of City Hall.  The low bidder was RL Turner Corporation from Zionsville, which came in about $40,000 less than the MacDougal Pierce bid.

According to a memorandum approved by the Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety at the March 31st special meeting, RL Turner was determined to not be a “responsible” bidder for this project.

The memorandum cites Indiana state statutes, which say contracts for public works or city improvements “be awarded to the lowest ‘responsible’ and ‘responsive’ bidder.”  The Fishers city memorandum  declares RL Turner “not ‘responsible’ as defined in Indiana Code Section 36-1-12-1.”

The city has been “engaged in several disputes with RLT as it relates to another public works contract…” according to the city memorandum.  That public works project was Flat Fork Creek Park, based on conversations with staff at City Hall.

Fishers officials tell LarryInFishers work on the MacDougal Pierce City Hall Site Project will be underway soon and should be complete in about 2 months.

We are just over a month away from the May 3^rd primary election. What will Fishers residents have on their election ballots, and where do the contests stand now?

For people living in Fishers, the school referendum is likely of most importance to people living here. The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board is asking for 22.75 cents per $100 per assessed valuation in increased property taxes. A previous referendum, set to expire next year, already has a 10 cents per $100 of valuation added to property tax bills, which means HSE is asking for 12.75 cents above the current referendum rate. Since the state allows several deductions, figuring the additional taxes you would pay if the referendum passes can be a challenge. A tax calculator on the Web site of Advance HSE, a political action committee organized to advocate for the enactment of the referendum, says a home valued at $250,000 would pay $13.84 a month over the current property tax rate. The money from this referendum would be used to pay teachers, lower class sizes and enhance academic programs. The extra money could also go to lowering (or eliminating) fees parents now pay for athletics and other extracurricular activities. So far, no organized opposition to this referendum has emerged.

Since Republicans hold just about all the offices in Hamilton County, whomever wins the primary election in the GOP column will be a heavy favorite in the November general election. Let’s look at a few Republican races of interest to Fishers residents.

In county government, it can be argued that the most important office is county commissioner, roughly equivalent to mayors of cities. Most Indiana counties have 3 county commissioners, and that’s what Hamilton County does. Two of the three commissioners are up for reelection. Steve Dillinger is unopposed for reelection in District 2. Mark Heirbrandt is the incumbent District 3 Commissioner. District 3 includes the City of Fishers. Heirbrandt is opposed by Fishers restaurant proprietor Bill Smythe.  Heirbrandt is already airing ads on local cable TV. Smythe recently held a fund-raiser he called “Voters or Vendors,” a reference to political contributions to incumbent Heirbrandt.

The Hamilton County Council holds the purse strings to county government. Three at-large council seats are up for grabs in this primary election. Two incumbents, Rick McKinney and Brad Beaver, are seaking reelection. Sadly, incumbent Councilman Jim Belden died recently and will not be on the ballot. There is a total of 5 people seeking 3 seats. Two of the hopefuls have Fishers ties. Long-time Fishers Police Chief George Kehl and Fall Creek Township Trustee Jeff Hern are both seeking a council seat. Bill Dennis is the fifth name appearing on the council ballot.

Incumbent U.S. Congresswoman Susan Brooks has two primary opponents in this primary, Mike Campbell and Stephen Mackenzie.

The major state-wide GOP race will be for U.S. Senate, with two current Indiana congressmen, Todd Young and Marlin Stutzman, vying to appear on the November Senate ballot.  Incumbent Republican Senator Dan Coats is choosing not to run for another term.

Then there’s the presidential primary. I guess we’ll see if all three contenders – Trump, Cruz & Kasich, are still in the race May 3^rd.

If you are a Democrat, the ballot will not have nearly as many names. There are two candidates competing to challenge incumbent Congresswoman Brooks. Allen Davidson has previously run for congress. Angela Demaree has been endorsed by the Democratic Party.

Then there’s the presidential race with two names appearing, Hilary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

In Indiana, you must declare a party affiliation to vote in the primary. However, if you choose not to select a party, you are allowed to vote in the school referendum only.

We are heading into the last few weeks of the campaign. LarryInFishers will be watching developments and writing here, as well as producing Podcasts on the election campaign.