The Hamilton County Health Officer and the Hamilton County Health Board have announced the passing of Barry McNulty, Administrator of the Hamilton County Health Department, according to my news-gathering partner, the Hamilton County Reporter.

McNulty started serving as an Environmental Health Specialist on Oct. 2, 1987, and became the department administrator in 1996. He was a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and served Hamilton County  on numerous advisory boards and associations during his tenure.

Mr. McNulty served the county in a leadership position for 33 years.

Hamilton County Reporter

Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best” is the Hamilton County Highway Department’s annual mantra.

Planning for winter operations begins in the spring of each year. Hamilton County coordinates roadway salt procurement for the county as well as all the municipalities within the county. This special salt, distinguished by its green color, is treated to enhance its colder weather melting capability.

“The County Highway Department will use approximately 6,000 tons of salt per winter to treat nearly 1,200 miles of roadway and bridges in the unincorporated areas of the county,” said Highway Director Brad Davis. “All trucks also maintain a capability to dispense liquid de-icing chemicals to assist with combating snow and ice in much colder temperatures when salt is less effective.”

At approximately $93 per ton, the County does all it can to minimize the amount of salt required. Its fleet of snow trucks has electronic ground speed controls calibrated to maintain a predetermined salt application rate regardless of the trucks’ speed. Hamilton County also uses salt brine as part of an anti-icing program to help keep snow and ice from bonding to the pavement, help prevent frost on bridges, and allow for a much easier post storm cleanup.

“The Highway Department should also be commended for the phenomenal job it does in inspecting and maintaining its snow-fighting fleet,” said County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt. “That fleet includes 14 snow trucks, two V-plows, pickup trucks, brine making equipment, and liquid storage tank pumps. Good maintenance not only extends the life of the equipment, but it ensures nothing breaks down during a snow event.”

The Highway Department is also prepared to maintain a 24-hour operation if necessary. County Councilman Steve Schwartz says additional CDL and non-CDL certified drivers are hired annually to supplement the normal highway staff.

“They may be called upon to drive the large snow trucks when split shifting is required or to take out one of the pickup trucks equipped with snowplows,” Schwartz said. “When things get real tight, Commissioner Heirbrandt and I have been known to lend a hand as well.”

“Snow routes have been reviewed, equipment has been checked, and materials have been stockpiled,” Davis added. “Now let’s hope for a mild winter, but rest well knowing we’re prepared for ‘the worst’.”

(From left) County Councilman Steve Schwartz, Highway Director Brad Davis and County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt. (Photo provided)

 

 

The Fishers Police Department was among the first group in the nation to receive approval from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) for national use of force policy certification, based on a letter to Fishers residents from Chief Ed Gebhart.

“This three-year certification is part of Presidential Executive Order 13929 to ensure that law enforcement agencies across the country provide transparent, safe, and accountable delivery of services to their communities by prohibiting chokeholds as a use of force technique and by maintaining use of force policies that adhere to all local, state, and federal laws,” Gebhart wrote. ” CALEA has reviewed our policies and found that we are in full compliance with all requirements for federal certification.”

Chief Gebhart, in his letter, writes that the certification is another way for Fishers Police to demonstrate the department’s commitment to serving and protecting the local community.

For more on the Executive Order, use this link.

For details on the Fishers Police Department “Use of Force” policies, use this link.

The City of Fishers, the Indianapolis Airport Authority and JLL Real Estate have been working on commercial development at the Fishers airport property near Allisonville Road and 96th Street.  Kurt Christian of the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) reports that a new distribution facility will be coming to the airport complex.

For the details, use this link to access the story.  (Note:  If you are not an IBJ subscriber, you may be limited on the number of stories you may access per month)

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

For the first time in local history, there will be no public swearing-in ceremony this year for newly elected public officials. Due to health concerns over the COVID-19 virus, county officials decided against the usual practice.

Normally there is a formal Courthouse ceremony for all officials winning office in the November election. The activities often draw around 200 family members and friends.

This year, new or re-elected officials will be sworn individually at a location of their choosing or they may go to the county clerk’s office to take their oath. The terms of office for those newly elected begins Jan. 1.

Taking office for new terms locally are: judges Paul Felix, William Hughes, Richard Campbell and David Najjar, County Auditor Robin Mills, County Treasurer Susan Byer, County Surveyor Kenton Ward, County Commissioners Steven Dillinger and Mark Heirbrandt, and County Councilors Brad Beaver, Sue Maki and Steven Nation.

All are Republicans. In addition, there are 14 nonpartisan school board members countywide who will be sworn in their school communities.

The Fishers Health Department is preparing to receive a supply of the COVID vaccine in the early part of January.  In a video update posted Tuesday evening, Fishers Public Health Director Monica Heltz says her staff will be finalizing plans to distribute the vaccine.  Who receives the vaccinations, and in what order, will be decided at the state level.

Fishers remains in the Red category for COVID community transmission with a positivity rate of 16.2%, up dramatically from the previous week.  Hamilton County’s positivity rate is 21.1%, down slightly.

In the past two weeks, there have been 1,037 cases of COVID in Fishers, with a total number of cases at 5,884.  There have been 47 deaths in Fishers as confirmed due to COVID.

The hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) availability locally has improved a bit, now at 23%.  However, Heltz added that some hospitals are at or near capacity now.

If you need a COVID test from the Fishers Health Department site, you can now get an appointment in 2 days or less, with the results of the test available in 1-5 days.

I have had some connection to teachers most of my adult life.  I have had teachers close to me.  I have relatives currently in the teaching profession.

I have had a special feeling for people choosing the career of fashioning the next generation.  If you think back to your K-12 education days, I am certain several teachers come to mind when reminiscing about that time with a major influence on your life and career choices.

I want to look at two situations with today’s teachers.  First, what is COVID doing with the teaching profession?

I have covered the local Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board for nearly nine years and cannot remember a time like this.  The novel coronavirus has impacted the local teaching staff to such an extent that our classes are being held virtually because there are not enough healthy adults, or not ordered into quarantine for exposure to COVID, to staff the classrooms.  There are not enough substitute teachers to keep the classrooms staffed in person.

I have talked to a number of local teachers and they will all tell you this has been a major challenge for them.  Their work load and stress level have gone through the roof this school year.  It is not just teachers, students and parents have had their share of stress, but the teaching staff is enduring extra stress and work load issues in a profession that is stressful and difficult in the best of circumstances.

So, if we ever have the community celebration I suggested in a previous post on this blog, teachers need to be honored right along with all the others in helping the community survive the pandemic.

I have heard anecdotal evidence that many teachers, nearing their goal of retirement, have chosen to retire early due to the stresses of instructing in the COVID era.  I am also hearing that there are teachers simply leaving the profession for another line of work as the stress levels and work loads mount during COVID.

This is a time I would hope everyone in the local community, parents and others, do something to let our local teaching staff know we care about them.  It could be something small like a note or e-mail of encouragement.  Just let them know how much we, as a community, value their toil.

The second issue relating to teachers is the recent report issued by the Next Level Teacher Compensation Commission.  This group was formed by Governor Holcomb when teacher pay and overall compensation became a major issue at the Statehouse, including a march of teachers from throughout the state one year ago, demonstrating for a better pay plan.  State lawmakers have a major say in how much money local school boards have available to compensate their teaching staffs.

The entire commission report is 182 pages.  If you want to read the entire document, it can be downloaded at this link.

In a nutshell, the report provides suggestions on how the state can create ways for local school boards to save money through efficiencies, in areas such as procuring health insurance coverage and prescription drug benefits.  But the most important recommendation is that state legislators shell out an additional $600 million to compensate the state’s teachers.

The commission found the average teacher salary in the state is about $53,000.  Commission members want that figure to rise, to $60,000.

The Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) is behind the $600 million in extra funding, but is worried that local school boards could move toward decreasing teachers health insurance benefits under this scenario.  ISTA is also concerned that state lawmakers would enact the cost saving measures and not fund the extra $600 million in the commission report.

Keep in mind that teachers are highly-educated individuals.  Most end up with a masters degree after in the profession a few years.  These teachers can find employment elsewhere, often making much more money than our local school boards can provide.

This commission report compared Indiana’s teacher compensation package to those offered by our surrounding states.  If all the recommendations are enacted, the commission report says the pay recommendation would put Indiana as “the third-highest average salary level in the Midwest.”

We need to thank our teachers and we need to advocate for a better compensation package.  Local communities are often judged by the quality of the public schools.  The HSE Schools, the 4th-largest school district in Indiana based on student population, has a quality reputation.

The only way that reputation can be maintained and enhanced is through providing a quality community for students, parents and teachers….and compensating teachers reasonably.

Every teacher I have known has said to me, just pay me fairly and I will remain here and remain a teacher.  They don’t want to be the best paid in the state necessarily, they just want a wage sufficient to support themselves and their families.

Teachers are so important.  Give them some love as Christmas break is on the way.  Advocate for their fair compensation.  It is the least we can all do.

The City of Fishers has been told by Verizon the firm plans to “pause” the rollout of 5G towers into Fishers neighborhoods.  In a message sent to subdivisions with pending or tabled 5G permits,  the city says “it is our understanding that Verizon will not apply for any new residential permits for a few months.”

Verizon has told city officials the company plans to concentrate on a fiber optic build-out.  The company also says it plans to come back to the city for more 5G towers in mid-2021.

The message to neighborhoods provided the following information:

• All tabled or pending applications and permits are now considered withdrawn. If your neighborhood was scheduled at an upcoming Board of Works meeting, these agenda items have now been removed.
• Tabled or pending applications and permits will likely be submitted again at a later date. At that time, the City intends to restart the permit process from the beginning, meaning you will have another opportunity to review placements and discuss locations with Verizon Wireless and City of Fishers.
• This does not mean 5G implementation has stopped in the city. Several 5G towers, located in public right of way outside of neighborhoods, will undergo permitting and construction into 2021.  Additionally, approved residential permits may be constructed within neighborhoods in 2021.
• Verizon Wireless has shared that it intends to re-launch its implementation of 5G in Fishers neighborhoods mid-2021