The third time was the charm for Joe Nixon Properties and Custom Container Builders Wednesday evening as the Nickel Plate Review Committee approved plans for a residential home on Lantern Road.  The vote was 5-0 in favor.

Fishers City Councilor Selina Stoller pointed out that the first time this home design was before the committee, the staff did not approve of the plans.  The second time the committee reviewed the proposal, it still did not pass muster with committee members.  On this third attempt, there were enough changes to allow approval.

Committee Member Rich Block said he is giving the home a “hesitant yes.” saying he has some reservations but will support the agenda item.

All committee members agreed in the final vote to move the home forward.

The Nickel Plate Review Committee looks at plans in the Nickel Plater District, part of downtown Fishers, looking at whether the plans meet a certain threshold for size, intensity or density as detailed by the Nickel Plate Code Code. The Committee reviews the proposal’s design, architecture, materials, compatibility with surrounding development, and pedestrian and vehicular circulation. The Committee also has the ability to review and approve waivers from the standards of the Nickel Plate District Code.

I also recorded by conversation with Jamie Ford on video and posted on my YouTube channel.  You can watch it at the link below.

Jamie Ford came on the literary scene with his first book, “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” and has a new book with has created quite a buzz, “The Many Daughters of Afong Moy.”  He will be speaking at the Hamilton East Public Library Saturday, October 1, at 1pm and 4pm (registration is highly recommended).

Jamie Ford was very kind to give me some of his time September 28 to talk about his books and his writing style.

With Fishers growing and construction everywhere, one firm that has its hands in a number of those projects is American Structurepoint.  It is an architectural and engineering consulting firm.

The President of American Structurepoint, Rick Conner, has been elected to the National
Academy of Construction (NAC) class of 2022.  The NAC recognizes individuals who have made outstanding, lifelong contributions to the design and construction industry.

“I am humbled by this recognition; however, no one achieves such an honor single-handedly,” Conner said in a company news release. “I share this honor with all American Structurepoint employees who are continually driven to achieve excellence and improve the quality of life for the communities we serve.”

Conner began his career at American Structurepoint as an intern while attending high school. He joined the company full time as a civil engineer in 1976 upon graduating from Purdue University. Conner became president of American Structurepoint in 1990 and a majority owner in 2006. He has grown the company from $3 million in annual revenue and fewer than 50 employees to a 2021 revenue of $144 million and approximately 600 employees across 11 disciplines, 16 locations across the nation, and exciting growth ahead.

Halloween may be more than a month away, but Fishers Police have decided to get an early start, providing guidance for local families on the upcoming event.

Trick or Treat hours in Fishers for Monday, October 31, 2022, will be 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

Police Chief Ed Gebhart offers the following safety tips for Halloween.

 — Give and accept pre-packaged candy only. Homemade treats should not be handed out or consumed.

–Only go to houses that you know the owner.

–Have children bring treats home for adult inspection before they are eaten.

–A parent or adult should accompany children when they are trick-or-treating.

–Carry a flashlight.

–Stay within your neighborhood; only visit homes where the porch lights are on, indicating a home that is handing out treats.

–Choose costumes that are flame retardant.

Wear light-colored clothing, short enough to prevent tripping.  Add reflective tape to dark colored costumes.

–Watch for vehicle traffic and use caution when crossing the street.

Police cars will be patrolling the neighborhoods Halloween night.  If you see or find anything suspicious, police want you to immediately call 911.

Boo Bash has become an annual tradition in Fishers, although weather has been an issue in some years. Let’s hope for good weather in 2022.  For more information on Boo Bash, use this link.

“Prices are climbing, we’re ordering early.”  That was the message from Fishers City Fleet Manager Tabatha Miller to the Board of Public Works and Safety Tuesday morning.  Both rising costs and supply chain issues are impacting equipment the city needs.

The first item before the board was a Medic unit used by the Fishers Fire & Emergency Services Department, replacing a current one.  Miller told the board it will take 12-24 months to take delivery of the unit.  Mayor Scott Fadness remarked that this would place it in the 2023 budget with delivery as late as early 2025.  The board approved the purchase.

Next, the board also approved a fire truck costing just under $691,000 which will not be delivered for 24 to 30 months.  Mayor Fadness raised a concern about financing expense with the timeline drawn-out so far on major equipment purchases.

“If it’s a traditional loan…we’re carrying that money, paying interest on money we’re not using for 2 years or 3 years, upwards of $700,000 to $800,000,” Fadness said.  “We probably need to have a side conversation on how to reduce our carry costs.”

Miller says one manufacture of fire engines is currently 4,000 units behind and all manufacturers of this equipment have a long list of fire engines on back order.

Two leaders from the Fishers Fire & Emergency Services Department have received honors for their work.  Department Chief Steve Orusa was the recipient of the “Presidents Award.”  “EMS Officer of the Year” award went to EMS Division Chief Steve Davison.

Both were recognized at the annual Indiana Emergency Response Conference dinner, held  September 23, 2022, in Indianapolis.

With election campaigning in full swing, the League of Women Votes of Hamilton County is scheduling two early October evenings of candidate forums.

The first will be held Tuesday, October 4, at Carmel City Hall.  This forum will feature candidates for seats in the Indiana General Assembly.  Invited to attend are the following:

Senate District 21 – Democrat Josh Lowry and Republican Jim Buck

Senate District 29 – Democrat JD Ford and Republican Alex Choi

House District 24 – Democrat Joellyn Mayer, Republican Donna Scheibley & Independent Ken Tucker

House District 32 – Democrat Victoria Wilburn and Republican Fred Glynn

House District 39 – Democrat Matt McNally and Republican Gerald Torr

House District 88 – Democrat Donna Griffin and Republican Chris Jeter

The second forum is set for Thursday, October 6, at Noblesville City Hall.  Here are the invited candidates:

Senate District 25 – Democrat Tami Dixon-Tatum and Republican Mike Gaskill

Senate District 31 – Democrat Jocelyn Vare and Republican Kyle Walker

House District 88 – Democrat Donna Griffin and Republican Mike Gaskill

Hamilton County Prosecutor – Democrat Jessica Paxson and Republican Greg Garrison

The League has hosted a forum for 5th District candidates for the seat in the United States House of Representatives in the past, but Federal Election Commission rules do not allow such a forum if only one candidate accepts an invitation to attend.  According to the Hamilton County League, no date could be found when incumbent Congresswoman Victoria Spartz would commit to attending.

“It’s important for voters to interact with candidates before they cast a ballot,” said Lisa Dick, LWVHC president, in a news release. “I used to be one of those people who walked into the voting booth and sometimes felt like I was guessing after I got past the federal and state races. I started attending the forums when I joined the league, which gave me a better sense of who the candidates are beyond their name and party.”

Citizens may attend in person or register in advance on the event calendar at LWVHCIN.org to receive the Zoom link.

For residents who cannot attend the forums or those who want to watch once again, recordings will be available afterward on the LWVHCIN.org website and Vote411.org, the league’s online voter guide.

When Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness unveiled his plan to pay for a $170 million events center, he described ways the city could finance the project.  He explained how  the city’s debt could be reorganized, how revenue generated from the center can be utilized and added one more part of the package – a food and beverage tax of 1% on local restaurant meals.

The mayor asked for a resolution from the city council supporting his plan for funding the events center and it passed by a vote of 8-1.  The Councilor voting no, Jocelyn Vare, indicated she is not necessarily opposed to the tax, she says her no vote stemmed from not having enough time to to evaluate the proposal.

The city has yet to enact this food and beverage tax.  A special City Council meeting has been set for Thursday, October 6, at 5pm.  No agenda has been officially released for that meeting, but it is assumed the council plans a public hearing on the food and beverage tax proposal at that session.  Note that with City Hall set to be demolished and replaced, the special meeting of the council will be held at the Fishers Police Department Training Room.

I have received a variety of reactions to the mayor’s proposal to use the proceeds of a food and beverage tax as part of the plan paying for the events center.  Some have been supportive, many not so supportive.

The Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) has used it’s paper’s editorial for the September 22nd edition to support Fadness’ proposal for a food and beverage tax.

“When a community enters the big leagues of the nation’s suburbs, certain things must happen to serve the growing population and continue to make it an attractive place to live, work and play,” says the opening sentence of the editorial.

IBJ goes on to explain the Fishers District expansion planned for the city.  The editorial reviews plans for the new Andretti Motorsports headquarters and the Italian firm Stevanato’s plan to be a part of a growing Fishers.

“To keep these kinds of investments coming, Fishers officials know they must increase the city’s amenities.  A 1% food and beverage tax seems a small price to pay to help make that happen,” states IBJ in the last sentence of the editorial.

Fadness has emphasized to me in many conversations that his goal is to finance this project, a new Arts & City Hall complex and a new community center that is expected to be announced soon, with no increase in the city’s part of the local property tax rate.  He never closed the door on a food and beverage tax.

I have seen data saying a food and beverage tax in a place like Fishers would be paid by out-of-towners about 50% of the time.  Of course, that also means locals would be paying this tax about 50% of the time as well.

Although the City Council resolution indicates strong support for the food and beverage tax, there will be a public hearing on the issue.  No matter what your point of view may be, the public hearing is your chance to let the city councilors know your opinion.

For full disclosure, I have done some limited writing for the IBJ in the past and did write regularly for an opinion online blog that is no longer published.  I have had no writing relationship with IBJ for some time.  Also, I am personally taking no position on the food and beverage tax issue.

You can read the full IBJ editorial at this link.  (NOTE: If your are not an IBJ subscriber, your access to their online content may be limited)

Life can be hard for first-generation Americans.  Kelly Yang’s family entered this country from China and found hardship at first.  Ms. Yang took that experience and wrote a fiction book, Front Desk, all about a ten-year old girl spending time at the front desk of a Southern California motel managed by her parents.

Ms. Yang appeared at the Hamilton East Public Library Saturday September 23rd for a speaking engagement.  I had the opportunity to talk with Ms. Yang for a mini-podcast of about 15 minutes.  I enjoyed our conversation.  You may listen at the link below.