Ultimate Technologies is relocating its headquarters to the Fishers Technology Park and adding 25 employees, according to an announcement from the firm and the City of Fishers.
“The move back to Fishers is in part related to our significant expansion related to our focus on helping companies evolve their conference room and work from home technology to a new hybrid model that will result as some of their employees return to work and some decide to continue working from home,” said said Ultimate Technologies Group President, Will O’Brien in a news release.
The company points to the recent growth of business virtual workplace plans. Ultimate says it has signed a contract with an Indiana-based manufacturer to provide communication technology in the clients’ 4,000 worldwide conference rooms.
“Ultimate Technologies is another success story we’re happy to share from Fishers,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “Just a few years ago they were a new start-up company in Launch Fishers. The team that Will has assembled and the growth they will experience over the next several years is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit here in Fishers.
Ultimate plans to relocate ino 12,000 square feet of space at 11793 Technology Lane in the Fishers Tech Park.
The HAND project to construct 11 cottages at 141st and Cumberland Road will move forward after the Fishers City Council voted 5-4 approving a rezone of the property.
Voting yes for the rezone were David George, Cecilia Coble, Brad DeReamer, Samantha DeLong and Jocelyn Vare. The no votes were from Selina Stoller, Pete Peterson, John Weingardt and Todd Zimmerman.
The Advisory Plan Commission voted an unfavorable recommendation 8-1, with Howard Stevenson the only commission member supporting the proposal.
There was a great deal of discussion about car ports rather than garages for the 11 cottage units. HAND Executive Director Andrea Davis said an upgrade to garages is possible, once more details of the design are available now that the rezone has been approved.
The city planning staff recommended approval of the housing project.
The rezone approval is just one step in the process. Davis said she plans to continue discussions with neighbors and council members as the project moves to the next stages.
If criminal justice is something you plan on pursuing, the The Jen Grillo Memorial/Fishers Police Corps Scholarship competition should be of interest to you. A $1,500 scholarship is available to students at either Fishers or HSE High Schools.
The student must have a minimum GPA of 2.5, be accepted to a college or university, and seek to attend full time. The student must also demonstrate school leadership, a commitment to his/her community and a desire to contribute to society.
Here are some additional requirements for all applicants:
1. Complete a typed or legible handwritten essay indicating why he/she has chosen a law-enforcement related career, and how they specifically plan to meet that goal. The essay must be at least 500 words.
2. Submit two letters of recommendation. One letter must be from a teacher; the other may be from a school counselor, coach or community leader. The letters of recommendation must be submitted in a sealed envelope, and the back of the envelope must be signed by the author of the recommendation.
3. Submit a student transcript. A complete applicant package must include: – the application – the 500-word (minimum) essay – student transcript, and – letters of recommendation.
The completed package is to be submitted to:
The Jen Grillo Memorial/Fishers Police Corps Scholarship Fishers Police Department
ATTN.: Officer James Alvis
4 Municipal Drive, Fishers, IN 46038
The application must be in by 4:00 pm, March 29, 2021. Any incomplete package will disqualify a submission.
The Corps Board will review all applications and essays. Applicants will be notified of their status, and if selected as a finalist, will be contacted for an interview.
The Black Panthers were in many major American cities during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Fred Hampton was the high-profile leader of the Chicago Black Panthers. The story of Hampton and the FBI informant in his ranks are at the center of the new film, Judas and the Black Messiah.
There is good and not so good news in the latest data released by the Fishers Health Department. The good news is that COVID casts are down in the latest numbers. However, even with that, Fishers remains in the red, Level 4, or highest category of transmission. For a more detailed video discussion posted on You Tube February 9, from Health Department Director Monica Heltz, go to this link.
The Fishers Health Department has vaccinated 3,232 individuals. This week, the department is vaccinating people for their second dose. In Hamilton County, 12% of the population has received their first dose and 5.5% have completed their vaccine.
Individuals ages 65 years and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of underlying medical conditions. Vaccination clinic hours are by appointment only and can be made here for eligible individuals only. You are able to schedule your vaccination appointment at the Mass Vaccination Site or at any vaccination site in Indiana. New appointments continue to open up, so check back frequently.
If you need assistance scheduling, please call the Fishers COVID Hotline at 317-595-3211 or call 2-1-1. Family members may schedule on behalf of eligible individuals. There is no charge for the vaccine. All persons receiving the vaccine will need valid ID or other proof of meeting eligibility criteria.
Beginning on February 15, the Technology Drive testing site will close for testing due to decreased demand. School-based exposures (resident and nonresident) can be tested at the drive-thru Fishers Health Department Testing Site at the City Services Building located at 3 Municipal Drive.
All Hoosiers can schedule an appointment for testing on the Fishers Health Department website. If you need assistance scheduling, please call the Fishers COVID Hotline at 317-595-3211.
Fishers City Councilwoman Cecilia Coble has been involved in Disability Awareness Month in the City of Fishers for many years. In 2021, this event, like many others, is adjusting for more virtual interactions.
Old National Bank is the sponsor of the month’s activities. According to a city new release, the month-long list of activities strives to bring awareness to what life is like for those with physical and intellectual disabilities through a series of special events and initiatives throughout the city.
“Building Our Inclusive Community” is this year’s theme.
“Since Fishers became a city, the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability has strived to build a more inclusive community every year by working with the disability stakeholders and our community partners,” said Cecilia Coble, cochair of the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability. “This March, our community will celebrate the achievements that
have been built in the last five years in the City of Fishers. This foundation will help us to continue to work together to build a place where individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities can live and thrive without limits.”
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness says he is proud of this annual celebration. “Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 over the past year, the Committee has continued to move this initiative forward—launching the Thrive Social Club to bring our residents
together during a difficult time and transitioning our March celebration to a virtual series so that our community can participate safely from home,” said the mayor.
Here are some of the events scheduled during March:
After a high school survey with a better than 71% response rate, the HSE School Board voted to allow high school students wanting in-person classes to be physically in the classroom 4 days a week. The board vote was 4-3.
Brad Boyer, Janet Pritchett, Sarah Donsbach, Suzanne Thomas voted yes. Michelle Fullhart, Julie Chambers, Sarah Parks-Reese all voted no.
Fridays have been designated as all-virtual days.
However, juniors and seniors not passing before will take the ISTEP test for two upcoming Fridays in the classroom.
Board President Janet Pritchett read a statement on race relations as the meeting began.
Janet Pritchett, President of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board, read a statement at the Wednesday meeting about the recent controversy over a statement by Superintendent Allen Bourff to the staff about Black Lives Matter. Pritchett told LarryInFishers 5 board members signed-on to her statement. She would not specify which board members were on part of her statement. Board member Suzanne Thomas read her own separate statement during the meeting.
In her statement, board president Pritchett said the 5 board members are committed to uniting, not causing further division within the school district community.
“The letter issued by our administration Monday caused harm,” said Pritchett. “While we are deeply sorry, we know that our students, teachers, and community deserve more than an apology. We must commit work to repair relationships, restore trust, and prevent this hurt in the future.”
The message to teachers Monday from Superintendent Bourff said to treat Black Lives Matter as a political, rather than a social movement. After criticism from the community, Dr. Bourff later apologized and issued a new statement Tuesday.
Suzanne Thomas says she wanted to be on board with the other board members in the statement read by President Pritchett, and she values black lives, but has an issue with the Black Lives Matter organization.
“There is also an organization with the same three words (Black Lives Matter) that encourages negativity, ” Thomas said. “Because of this, I cannot support the statement that the board had made today.”
Jaimie Cairns, a founder of the HSEqual organization, tried to discuss the racial side of the virtual vs. in-person learning issue which was on the board agenda, because the board has a policy of only allowing public comment regarding items on the published board agenda. Race issues were discussed, but not listed on the agenda. The board stopped her during her comments when it appeared to deal more with racial issues than the school operation plans. Ms. Cairns shared her statement with LarryInFishers.
“While I know Dr. Bourff’s letter to the teachers from Monday isn’t on the agenda today, our students well being should be on the agenda every meeting,” Cairn’s statement says. “I implore you to ask why our superintendent sent out a letter ENTIRELY FOCUSED ON EQUITY without vetting it with our Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer.”
Cairns pointed out the disparities between in-person and virtual learning, saying students of color in the district are generally choosing virtual.
“By continuing to think of virtual students as an afterthought, we are harming our students of color,” according to Cairns. “I implore you to not only say BLACK LIVES MATTER but also to take action to show you mean it.”
Suzanne Thomas reads her own statement on Black Lives Matter
Hamilton County officials announced that they have been awarded a $10 million dollar Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury for COVID-19 assistance. Specifically, the funding will assist renter households unable to pay rent and/or utilities due to loss of income from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The County Commissioners selected the Hamilton County Trustee Association (HCTA) and Danielle Carey Tolan, Hamilton County Trustee Association President and Westfield Washington Township Trustee, to oversee and distribute the grant; however, the commissioners and trustees needed county council approval before moving forward.
Altman
Tolan
During the most recent county council meeting, Commissioner Christine Altman and Westfield Township Trustee Danielle Carey Tolan presented the details of the grant.
Councilman Brad Beaver expressed his concern to Tolan: “You realize the gravity of what you are doing here? You screw this up, we don’t get any more federal money. That is a big weight on your shoulders.”
Beaver cautioned Tolan by saying, “We get lots of federal money. If you interrupt the pipeline, we will be unhappy.”
Tolan responded to Beaver’s concerns by stating she already has an implementation team in place, in addition to an advisory team, and she has previous experience with federal grants.
Massillamany
Beaver
“The concern becomes the complexity of federal grant compliance, the reporting side, and how intricate and detailed that needs to be,” said County Council President Amy Massillamany. “If you are confident in your abilities, then we ultimately trust the decision.”
“We are very proud and excited to have been awarded this grant,” Altman said. “Not only are renters who lost income due to COVID hurting, but our many landlords are struggling as a result. This grant will assist with lost income and provide the ability to keep renters housed in 2021.”
“One of the main functions of the Township is to provide financial assistance to our residents facing emergency situations,” Tolan said. “We are extremely grateful for this funding and providing much-needed COVID-19 relief to our residents in need. The grant does allow us to assist renters with past due rent/utility bills beginning in April 2020.”
Mayor Scott Fadness and the Board of Works and Safety acknowledged the lease for the mass vaccination site in Fishers Tuesday, which is allowed under emergency law provisions tied to the COVID pandemic.
Mayor Fadness says the site, located in a former Marsh grocery on 116th Street just east of Brooks School Road, has already administered 3,000 doses of the Moderna COVID vaccine.
“With this new facility, we should be able to scale up 1,600-2,000 people a day,” said Fadness. “Unfortunately, right now, from a vaccine capacity perspective, we’re only at about 1,000 a week.”
The lease on this building is for 6 months, with city holding an option to lease the space an additional 6 months. If the city wishes to lease beyond that time, City Attorney Greisl says city officials would need to have further conversations with the landlord.
Board of Works member Jason Meyer says the cost of the lease, at $5 per square foot, is very reasonable.
Greisl told the board the majority of the costs for the mass vaccination site will be reimbursable by the state and/or federal government.
Mayor Fadness voiced his concern about how long the vaccinations will last, and what the city may face if there is a need to vaccinate people once again into 2022.
