When I walked underneath 116th Street on the newly-opened Nickel Plate Trail tunnel, what went through my mind was history.  The rail line that was so much a part of the history of our city is now a trail that was the center of activity on a gorgeous, sunny Saturday morning, the first day the downtown section of the trail was officially open to the public.

A ribbon -cutting ceremony was held Friday evening to kickoff the trail opening for a list of VIP attendees.  This reporter had a very important event that night (a wedding anniversary dinner) so I missed that ceremony.

But it was good to get my first look at the trail on the first day everyone could enjoy it.

I recorded a video of just over seven minutes walking underneath the trail tunnel from north to south.  It was pure coincidence that Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness was with his wife and three sons enjoying the trail as the video was rolling.  You can see the video at this link or use the link below.

There was much controversy over the decision to remove the rails and build the Nickel Plate Trail, and there are still some hard feelings among the train enthusiasts.  But the trail is an amenity all can enjoy, especially on a warm and sunny Saturday.

When I discovered that America is set to have one million COVID deaths, a number of thoughts crossed my mind. To put that into perspective, there are about 2.1 million people living in the Indianapolis metropolitan area.  Just imagine losing about half our area’s population.  That explains how many COVID deaths our nation has experienced.

But my thoughts go back to March of 2020.  I had been writing this local Fishers news blog for abut nine years.  It is a labor of love, but a totally volunteer activity.  It is a lot of work to write news for a local area as a one-man-band.  I decided it was time to retire for real and end the news blog, so that announcement was made at the end of March, 2020.

Then COVID hit.  The local media was scrambling to cover a big local story with less resources due to the economics of the news business.

So, no one was paying much attention to Fishers at that time.  So, I thought, I will continue the news blog a little longer because the local area needed coverage other news outlets were just unable to do.

In late October of 2020, I tested positive for COVID.  Let’s just say I was sick, very sick.  Energy levels were near zero.  I was very congested in my chest but could breath without much laboring.

I was in touch with my doctor nearly every day via e-mail, updating her on my condition.  It took nearly two weeks, but I did recover from my bout with COVID.  However, several months later, my doctor disclosed to me she was very close to sending me into the hospital due to my deteriorating condition at one point.

In early November of 2020 there were no effective treatments for COVID and it was months before COVID vaccinations were available.  Let’s just say very few COVID patients entering a hospital left that hospital alive.

My COVID bout included such a loss of energy I literally could not move easily.  I sat in a chair most of the day.  I am not one to sit for hours at a time, I am generally busy doing something.

So, during my time with COVID, I had time to do nothing but think.  I did a lot of thinking during those days.

That thought process ended with a decision to continue this news blog after all.  God had granted me extra time on this earth so I decided continuing this blog would be the right thing to do.

So, here I am, fortunate not to have been one of the one million American COVID casualties, feeling very fortunate to be alive and in reasonably good health.

That’s what goes through my mind as we honor the victims of COVID and their families.  There are many survivors such as myself and it is up to us to do what we can to make our local communities better places.

Thanks for reading.

With plenty of talk and news stories all about Wall Street investors gobbling-up single family homes as rentals and home buyers, particularly those searching for their first home, shut out of the market, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness conducted an online video town hall centered on that issue Thursday night.

The bottom line of the discussion is that the action on handling this issue is squarely in the hands of local Homeowners Associations (HOAs).

Attorney Kim Sutter says HOAs generally have the authority to enact rental restrictions or bans.  Bans are more difficult to enforce and restricting the number of rentals in a given neighborhood can be an administrative burden, but Sutter says that can be done with the proper legal advice.  Other possible restrictions HOAs could enact include capping the number of rental homes as a percentage of the total homes in the neighborhood.  Some HOAs have combined restrictions, such as capping the number of rentals and requiring a waiting period, meaning the buyer would be barred from renting the property for a specified period of time after acquiring the home.

Fishers city officials say out-of-state homeowners have double the number of city code violations compared to homes owned by the residents.

Mayor Fadness says the city is working on possible city-wide solutions, but the legal hurdles to accomplishing this now are very complex.  According to the mayor, no municipality has figured out a city solution to this problem that has passed legal muster.

One major concern of the mayor is that families often accumulate wealth through home ownership and when families are locked-out of the home-buying market by investors offering cash payments and no inspections, that impacts those families long-term financially.

Attorney Sutter offered suggestions on how HOAs can enforce their covenants and change language to address this issue.

Mayor Fadness ended the town hall saying he wants a city solution and attorneys are brainstorming possible solutions, but at this juncture, the HOAs are the center of the current solution.

Fishers Economic Development Specialist Jordin Alexander and the Director of the Fishers Planning and Zoning Department, Megan Vukusich, also participated in the online video event.

The Fishers City Council Finance Committee voted 2-1 to recommend City Council passage of a resolution allowing an accounting measure recommended by the city’s legal counsel which will end up using up to $7.1 million of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) federal money to fund part of the plan to construct a new City Hall and Arts Center.  City Controller Lisa Bradford says it is expected that $6.3 million of federal COVID ARPA money but the higher $7.1 million is cited in this resolution because the law says that is the ceiling and cannot exceed that amount.

Committee Chair John Weingardt described this resolution as an accounting “maneuver.”

The council action form provided for this Finance Committee resolution says the following:

“To avoid having the City Hall project potentially go to referendum if requested
by taxpayers, the resolution provides for the designation of funds in the general
fund to be applied to the project. The expenses that would be otherwise paid
from the general fund will be paid with ARPA funds, so the City’s budget is not
impacted.”

Committee member Jocelyn Vare asked for an explanation of this statement, and Ms. Bradford and Weingardt said the $6.3 million of ARPA funds to be used toward the City Hall & Arts project will lower the amount coming from bond proceeds.  Without the ARPA funds, Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren says that would mean $24 million would be borrowed through bonds and if taxpayers request, the City Hall & Arts Center plans would require voters to approve the project through a referendum.   Utilizing the ARPA cash prevents the need for a referendum for this project, according to the explanation provided at the committee meeting.

Vare voted no on recommending passage of this resolution by the full City Council, saying “I feel like the (council action) document is not clear.”

The item will go before the full council Monday night with a 2-1 vote recommending passage.

In another item, the committee recommended, in a 3-0 vote, to use $20,000, from a total of $34,000,  in an excess levy fund that has not been used but will be transferred to the general fund under this resolution, funding community vibrancy grants upgrading local neighborhoods.  There was not enough money to fund all the neighborhoods requesting the city grants, so Mayor Scott Fadness asked his staff to find money in the budget to fund all the requests.  The remaining $14,000 in the account will be used by the Planning & Zoning Department.

It would be an understatement to say it was a big year for the Fishers High School Band program.  Here are just a few reasons why.

After winning their division in the 2022 WGI Color Guard World Championship Open, the Fishers Guard went on to perform in the World Class Finals, and finished in fifth place nationally.  They also took home the bronze medal at the 2022 Indiana High School State Championship. Fishers Guard was also the 2019 Open Class National Champion and were promoted to World Class before the pandemic.

The Fishers Drumline won a silver medal in the Indiana Percussion Association State Championship.

The Fishers Concert World Percussion Ensemble won its ninth Indiana Percussion Association State Championship and then went on to win its third consecutive National Championship title at the WGI Percussion World Championships.

Chad Kohler, one of the Fishers High School band directors, spoke before the school board Wednesday night about the fund-raising coming for the band’s trip to New York City planned for Thanksgiving, 2023.  Fishers will be one of only ten bands selected to perform at the famed Macy’s Parade.  Kohler said Macy’s started their fund-raising activities with a $10,000 initial grant, but many fund-raising events are being planned starting this summer.

The board honored the Fishers Band program as part of its Snapshots of Success series.

A discussion on revised student handbooks sparked a discussion on consistency in all the handbooks and talk of how certain terms should be defined.  For example, what is the difference between parents and families when referenced in the handbooks?  Also, how are certain terms defined, such as microaggression?

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board member Brad Boyer asked why the word punishment is not used in discipline, instead using the work “consequences.”  Superintendent Yvonne Stokes says the work punishment, as defined, does not express how students are disciplined, where saying there are consequences for certain behavior more accurately reflects school discipline policy.

The board decided to table the decision on adopting these changes when it was pointed out that there is not consistency in school policies.

The board discussed several policies on first reading, including homework and public participation in school board meetings.  Some of the revisions were made to be consistent with changes in state law.  The policies will be presented for approval at a future board meeting.

In other items before the HSE Board Wednesday night:

–There was a lengthy board discussion on the review of literacy resource materials in grades kindergarten through 6th grade.  The board plans to vote on the materials at a board meeting set for 7:30am May 17.  For the presentation made to the board by Executive Director of Elementary Education Stephanie Loane  use this link.

–The board provided administrators emergency hiring authority.  There will be no regular board meeting for the remainder of May and Kim Lippe, Director of Human Resources, says this is the busiest time of year for school district hiring.  This emergency authority will allow administrators to hire staff for the coming school year.

–The board received a presentation on the world language program.  For more on this, access this link.

–The board discussed the options of awarding a contract to replace the tennis courts at Fishers High School and delayed a decision until the meeting May 17th.  An asphalt court costs less at the outset, but only has a 2-year warranty and tends to need more frequent maintenance.  A concrete court costs more initially, but tends to require less maintenance and comes with a 10-year warranty.  Because it is unclear whether the current budget has the amount of money to fund a concrete court, the board delayed the decision.

–The board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Indiana Online to provide virtual learning to families choosing that option.

–Approval was given for a boiler replacement for the Fishers High School swimming pool.

The City of Fishers is preparing to hand out $120,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations.  Fishers-based groups that qualify under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code may apply.

A Fishers City Council committee will evaluate the applications and decide which groups will receive the grants and how much is provided to each organization.  According to a city news release, “The committee will award grants based on proven success, organizational strength, cooperation and collaboration, and reliability.”

Once approved, money to the nonprofits will be provided this summer.

To access the online application, use this link.

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Superintendent Yvonne Stokes says she knew early in the interview process that Jimmie Lake was the right person to become the Chief Operations Officer (COO), a newly created position in the school district.  The HSE School Board approved Mr. Lake’s appointment at Wednesday night’s meeting.

According to a school district news release, the new COO “will lead in identifying corporation goals and developing strategies to ensure the safety and support of students and staff.”

Since 2017, Lake has served as an adjunct professor at Anderson University, where he also later served as MBA Director. Before that, he was the Regional Manager of Practice Operations for Ascension Medical Group.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity of building and cultivating relationships that will further support plans, strategies and tactics that build upon key aspects of the mission of Hamilton Southeastern Schools as ‘forward-thinking’ and ‘providing excellence in education’,” said Lake.

Lake has resided in Fishers for the past 9 years.

The board approved two other administrators Wednesday night.  Karen Bush is the new Director of College and Career Counseling at Hamilton Southeastern High School.  Steve Guenin was approved as a permanent Dean of Students at Hamilton Southeastern High School.

Fishers has had an ordinance on the books for some time governing the use of golf carts on streets.  With warm weather here and golf carts in regular use, the Fishers Police Department reminds local residents that golf carts are only allowed within streets of local neighborhoods that have finished a process setup by the city allowing golf carts on those streets.

So far only the following neighborhoods have gone through the city ordinance process to allow golf carts on their streets:  Britton Falls, Thorpe Creek, Intracoastal At Geist and Graystone.

Police issued the following release Wednesday:

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The Fishers Police Department would like to remind residents of the city’s local ordinance concerning the use and operation of golf carts. Fishers’ City Ordinance No. 090214D (codified at §94.02 of the Code of Ordinances) authorizes the use of golf carts on some neighborhood streets if the following conditions have been met:

1. Fishers has determined that golf carts may be safely operated on the streets within

the specific neighborhood;

2. A threshold amount (75 percent or higher) of property owners in the neighborhood have voted in favor of allowing golf carts within the neighborhood and the results of the election have been certified; and

3. The proper signage in the designated locations has been placed.

Golf carts shall not be operated on the public streets of Fishers except in full compliance with the provisions of this section. Currently, Britton Falls, Thorpe Creek, Intracoastal At Geist and Graystone are the only neighborhoods, in Fishers, to be in full compliance with the provisions of this section.

OPERATION REGULATIONS

a) Hours of Operation. Golf Carts shall only be operated on designated streets from sunrise

to sunset unless such golf cart is equipped with headlights, taillights, brake lights,

seatbelts, turn signals, and rearview mirror.

b) Right-of-Way. The operator of a golf cart shall yield the right-of-way to overtaking

motor vehicles.

c) Streets. Golf carts may only be used on streets designated within the establish

neighborhood or other Fishers’ approved neighborhood areas. Nothing in this policy

shall be construed to apply to or limit the use of golf carts on golf courses or private

property.

d) Fishers Property and Sidewalks. Golf carts shall not be operated on any sidewalk,

pedestrian walkway, multi-use path, or trail or any other non-designated public ways.

The only exception to this use is of golf carts on Fishers’ municipal property for official

purposes.

e) Golf Cart Capacity. The seating capacity, normally no more than four (4) passengers,

shall not be exceeded nor shall the operator or any passenger be permitted to stand while

the golf cart is in operation.

f) Parking. Golf carts may only be parked in the same manner and at the same places

designated for parking of motor vehicles. The stopping, standing, or parking of golf carts

in areas where parking is not allowed or in any place that impede the flow of traffic,

pedestrian walkways, or a passageway is prohibited.

g) Alcohol Use. No person under the influence of an alcoholic beverage shall operate or be in control of any golf cart operated within the neighborhood. No golf cart shall have an open alcoholic beverage container aboard while in operation.

h) Valid License Required. Only persons possessing a valid driver’s license issued by the State of Indiana, another state of the United States, or an international agency shall be permitted to operate a golf cart on Fishers streets.

DISCLAIMER, LIABILITY, AND INSURANCE

a) Disclaimer. Golf carts are not designed for or manufactured to be used on public streets, and Fishers neither advocates nor endorses the golf cart as a safe means of travel on public streets. Fishers in no way shall be liable for accidents, injuries, or death involving the operation of a golf cart.

b) Assumption of Risk. Any person who owns, operates, or rides upon a golf cart on a

public street within the designated use area does so at his/her own risk and peril and

assumes all liability resulting from the operation of the golf cart.

c) “Proof of Financial Responsibility”. Shall mean, pursuant to Ind. Code §9-25-2-3, proof of ability to respond in damages for liability that arises out of the ownership,

maintenance, or use of a Golf Cart in the following amounts:

1) Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) because of bodily injury to or death of

any one (1) person;

2) Subject to the limit in subdivision (1), fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) because of

bodily injury to or death of two (2) or more persons in any one (1) accident; and

3) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) because of injury to or destruction of property in

any one (1) accident.

PENALTIES

Fishers shall issue a uniform ordinance violation citation (as outlined in the golf cart ordinance) to any person violating a provision of this policy in the following amounts which shall be processed by and paid to Fishers’ Ordinance Violation Bureau as follows:

1. First Offense: Fifty Dollars ($50.00);

2. Second Offense within one (1) year: One Hundred Dollars ($100.00); and

3. Third offense and any additional offense within (1) year: Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250.00)

Dr. Jerry McKibben’s message to the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board was clear – the student population will go down a bit in the next 5 years and the elementary buildings will see a slight uptick in about 10 years.  But, growth in student numbers will be uneven within the district boundaries.

“You will see a little bit of growth, but the distribution of growth…will change dramatically,” Dr. McKibben told board members.  “The distribution of population growth is usually different than distribution of student growth.  They are not one-hundred percent correlated.”

Much of the Tuesday evening work session was spent with board member Suzanne Thomas questioning his projection of a fairly steady HSE student population over next 10 years.  Thomas insisted her experience as a real estate agent shows her student numbers will grow, but McKibben responded that real estate transactions are only one of  a number of factors he considers when making student population forecasts.

McKibben made clear at the outset that he is not not making projections, but rather providing a forecast.  A forecast looks at likely outcomes, while a projection is generally defined as focusing on a desired outcome.

The tipping point for home mortgage interest rates is 5%, and McKibben says rates are now just above the 5% threshold.  He expects that, and some coming demographic changes, will cool off the housing market over time.

Most school districts have seen a 3%-6% reduction in the student population statistics, but HSE Schools saw only a .7% reduction.

He did note a small increase in families choosing to send their children to a different school district, relating to the size of the high schools.  Many find it difficult to make the sports teams or participate in other activities, such as band.  Mount Vernon is the school corporation receiving the most students from HSE.  The total number of students transferring out of HSE Schools has been at 900 per year, but has increased during to COVID period to 1,250.

McKibben says HSE suffers from what he describes as the “curse of the successful school district,” meaning students have high performance, attend college then generally do not return to their home area once college is done.

There was a lengthy discussion of how the student count will remain relatively steady, even the the general population of the district increasing, due to fewer households with children within the district boundaries.

When asked about how a recession might impact the forecast, McKibben says that would cause the student numbers to go down.

You can review the entire written report from Dr. McKibben at this link.