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Scott Fadness has had many titles during his career in Fishers municipal government, including town manager and mayor.  Now, we can add another title, that of Professor Fadness.

Mayor Fadness will be joining the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Indianapolis as an associate faculty member for the fall 2024 semester, per a news release from the university.

He will be leading a course designed to help future leaders better understand what it means to be a public servant.

Fadness earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration in 2017 from the O’Neill School.

“We are thrilled and honored to add Mayor Fadness to our elite faculty roster at the O’Neill School,” says O’Neill Associate Dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management Suzann Lupton. “Mayor Fadness will provide critical real-world insight and experience to O’Neill students, helping to guide up-and-coming leaders on the importance of public service and how they can go on to make a difference in their communities.”

The course Fadness will be leading focuses on the history, philosophy, values, and outcomes for careers in public service. He will examine what drives people to those careers and the impact it has on communities.

“I am excited and honored to engage with the next generation of public servants,” says Fadness. “The problems and opportunities facing our world today are as complex as they have ever been, and we need to equip the next generation with the tools to tackle them. I am grateful to do my small part.”

Drive Planning has offices in Atlanta, St. Petersburg and Fishers.  The Fishers office is preparing to move from its 106th Street location to a new building on 116th Street near Olio Road.

The Indianapolis Business Journal is reporting the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is alleging the company was involved in a $300 million Ponzi scheme.

IBJ reporter Susan Orr details the allegations contained in the SEC action.  You can read her story at this link, but you may need an IBJ subscription to access this story.

The new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools, Tim Brown, presented a timeline for putting together the 2025 school district budget Wednesday.  However, there were several comments by the public before his presentation.

During the public comment period, which is held at the beginning of the meeting, several speakers criticized the budget timeline’s last entry – “Pass resolution establishing the monthly transfer amounts from Education Fund to Operations Fund.”  They argued this could be a method for the district to claim poverty when contract negotiations with the local teachers union, the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association,  begin in mid-September.  Teachers compensation can only be paid from the Education Fund.

Brown told the board transfers from the Education Fund to the Operations Fund has happened before and is “standard practice.”

Brown’s timeline calls for the first high-level overview of the budget to be presented to the school board Finance Committee September 10.  On September 25, Brown will provide preliminary budget recommendations to the board in a work session.  A public hearing will be held on the spending plan October 9, with a final board vote on the 2025 district budget set for October 23.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools is looking to work with a nonprofit organization, Opportunity Education, exploring the possibility of creating the first charter school in the HSE District, with up to 500 student by 2028.  The goal, according to HSE’s Director of K-12 Initiatives Steve Loser, is to create such a high school and also offer courses to students spending most of their time at HSE and Fishers High Schools.

Loser told the board this could provide career and technical education (CTE) to more students in the district.  Currently only 7% of HSE students are in technical education programs.

The board unanimously approved the MOU to move forward with Opportunity Education talks.

Becky Slayton of the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) wrote a post on Facebook critical of the HSE move to create a charter school.  She writes that such a charter school “often cuts out teacher voices” and the district brought this proposal to the union “the day before going to the board for approval.”

Slayton wrote the charter/innovation school model is “about deconstructing public education hidden behind a screen of CTE.”

Wealthy businessman Joe Ricketts, also the owner of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, is behind the creation of Operation Education.

You can see Steve Loser’s full presentation to the board at this link.

The State of Indiana released IREAD scores Wednesday and Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools revealed the local school district scores at Wednesday night’s board meeting.  IREAD is a test to ensure third-grade students have the reading skills to advance on to fourth grade.

Overall, HSE as a district, increased the number of third-graders passing IREAD, from 92.9% in 2023 to 94.2% in 2024.  The chart above, provided by HSE Schools, shows each elementary school’s 2023 & 2024 IREAD scores, using a 3-letter abbreviation for each school.

HSE has had second graders take the IREAD test.  District-wide, 58% passed the IREAD and will not need to take it again in third grade.  15% of second graders are on track to pass and 26% are at risk.  The same breakdown by elementary building, using the same three-letter abbreviations, can be found on the chart below.

Overall, 9 schools saw an increased IREAD pass percentage with 5 buildings meeting or exceeding the Indiana Department of Education goal of a 95% pass rate. All second grade students identified as “at-risk” of passing IREAD received “immediate intervention,” according to HSE Administrators.

Construction work continues on the Fishers Events Center, set to open in November of this year.

ASM Global, the company contracted by the city to manage the operation, has released a video on the construction progress.  You can view that video at the link below.

The City of Fishers is set to host its largest community race, the Geist Half Marathon Race Series, on Saturday, September 14. This year marks the 16th anniversary of the event, which takes participants on a scenic route around Geist Reservoir, a long-standing tradition originally organized by Geist residents and now managed by the City of Fishers as part of its Culture of Health initiative.

The race series will feature a half marathon, 5K, and the return of the 10K race. Operated in partnership with Vision Event Management, the event highlights the natural beauty of Geist Reservoir, offering participants views of the water, tree-lined trails, and picturesque waterfront bridges. The races are walker-friendly, and all participants will receive a race shirt, medal, and a complimentary drink at the post-race party.

“We’re excited to host the 16th running of this popular community race and solidify the Geist Half Marathon Race Series as a staple early-fall endurance race in the region,” said Ginny Zimmerman, Race Director of the Geist Half Marathon Race Series and Culture of Health Ambassador for the City of Fishers. Zimmerman noted the return of the 10K course, the addition of age group awards, and a later start time to allow participants to enjoy the sunrise over the course. She also highlighted the reimagined post-race party, which will offer expanded food and drink options from local businesses and nonprofits.

New this year is a post-race breakfast provided by Hero Hut, a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders. Breakfast tickets are available for $10, with all proceeds benefiting Hero Hut’s mission. In addition, Java House, Smoothie King, Athletic Brewing, and MashCraft Brewing will offer complimentary refreshments at the post-race party.

The 2024 race will also introduce the Mental Health Mile at mile five of the half marathon course, in collaboration with Aspire and Hamilton Southeastern’s student-led Bring Change to Mind Club. This new feature is designed to promote mental health awareness and support the Fishers Health Department’s Stigma Free Fishers initiative. Additionally, the Gold Star Mile at mile ten will honor Indiana’s fallen service members and their families, with special Gold Star race bibs available for pickup on Friday, September 13.

The City of Fishers is currently seeking volunteers to assist with the event, including course marshals, medal distributors, and water station volunteers. Opportunities are available for families, groups, and individuals.

For more information and to register for the event, use this link.

William (Bill) David, 54, had has roots in the state of New Mexico, but has lived with his family in Fishers since 2004.  He passed away at home on July 16 from cancer related liver failure

Mr. David was involved in the local community, serving on the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Redistricting Committee, a precinct committeeman and was the President of the Oak Hall Homeowners’ Association for a term then passed the baton to the next president.

Mr. David was a banker in his professional life, working at PNC Bank and Citizens State Bank.

He is survived by his wife, Kristine and his two daughters, Lauren and Leah.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Indianapolis, Friday,  August 16, at 2pm.  The church is located at 6050 N Meridian Street, Indianapolis. Visitation with the family will precede the service beginning at 1pm.

The City of Fishers took another step toward implementing a 10-year city-wide trash collection service Tuesday morning when the Board of Public Works and Safety held a public hearing on the proposed 10-year contract with Republic.  There were 8 speakers and all had various comments.

Some were supportive of the city’s proposal.  Some Homeowners Associations (HOAs)  were not supportive in situations where they have negotiated lower monthly rates than the city for 2025.

The city’s Chief of Staff Jordin Alexander, in a presentation prior to the public hearing, said the many comparisons between the 2025 monthly trash collection rate for Fishers and Carmel are not fair comparisons.  Carmel has an ongoing contract with Republic, but with Fishers, the vendor needs to gear up for new customers.  Republic already serves 60% of the Fishers market.

Alexander also pointed to 2 other Central Indiana cities with new trash collection contracts, Lawrence and Whiteland.  Lawrence will have a 2025 monthly trash collection fee of $17.05 per month, Whiteland’s fee will be $18.05.  Fishers monthly trash collection fee will be $16.38 per month in 2025, per the proposed pact with Republic.

The City of Fishers will handle the billing for trash collection services, and consolidate all fees paid to the city with the trash, including stormwater fees.  Many HOAs currently pay these fees for their homeowners and roll it up into the fee paid to the HOA.  Alexander tells LarryInFishers that will change next year, so that will impact what HOA boards charge their members when the city begins to bill individual homeowners, not the HOA.

Some of the public comments were critical of the $2 per month administrative fee, pointing out other municipalities charging a lower administrative fee.  Mayor Scott Fadness said this is needed to ensure there is staff to handle customer complaints in a timely and complete manner.

The public hearing raised the issue of cancellation fees if, for example, there is a current contract with WM (formerly known as Waste Management).  Alexander tells LarryInFishers the bidders for the contract had to commit not to charge such cancellation fees.

Another public hearing comment pointed to other municipal contracts that allow free pickups of large items every 8-12 weeks with no extra fee.  The Fishers proposed contract calls for a $25 fee for large pickup.  Fadness told the commenter he would look into that.

When the public hearing ended, Mayor Fadness pointed to the wide variance in what different neighborhoods and individuals are paying for trash collection service at the present time.

“On the aggregate, from what we’ve learned from community surveys….we have the opportunity to save a number of Fishers residents, the majority of Fishers residents, a significant amount of money,” said Fadness.  The mayor added he wants accountability in this contract, and that is why the $2 per month administrative fee is part of the deal.  According to the mayor, this fee is not a “hidden tax.”

The next step in this process is a trash collection rate ordinance that will go before the City Council Monday, August 19.  The Board of Public Works and Safety will then take a final vote on the contract August 27.  The earliest the new trash collection contract would take effect is January, 2025.

For more detailed information on the proposed trash collection contract, use this link.