For many years, Fishers had no long-term, strategic plan.  Not long after converting from a town to a city, Fishers spent months formulating the 2040 plan, the new blueprint for the city’s future.

That 2040 plan is due for a review and city officials are inviting the public to be a part of that review.  Since the pandemic is not yet over, two virtual meetings are on the calendar.

The first virtual open house for public comment is scheduled for Wednesday, April 21, 6pm.  You can register at this link.

The second open house is set for Thursday, May 6, at 7pm.  Register for that session at this link.

Here is what the city has to say about the process.

The Fishers 2040 comprehensive plan lays out a roadmap of how we reach that vision. The plan is structured around a vision that takes a holistic view of the future of Fishers, including topics such as future land use, quality of life, parks and open space, transportation, and housing. By analyzing all aspects of the city government, we can produce a comprehensive, strategic, and sustainable approach to future decision-making that will lead to a higher quality of life for Fishers residents.

We may not know the name of the new Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Superintendent yet, but we do know the provisions in that person’s contract with the district.

April 22 is the date we have been given for the announcement of the individual set to replace retiring superintendent of schools Allen Bourff.  But the school  board will be holding a public hearing and voting on the new superintendent’s contract before we know anything about the individual to be hired.

I understand the school board’s desire to have the pact in place as the new superintendent enters the job, but it is hard for the public to comment on a contract for the head of our local public schools when we have no idea of that person’s background and experience.

The compensation package for the newly-selected superintendent will be slightly lower that the current contract with Allen Bourff.

The contract spans three years, includes an annual salary of $180,000 and has many other benefits listed.

Here is the public notice published by the school district with the contract provisions of the new HSE Schools superintendent:

Continue reading No announcement yet on new HSE supt, but contract is up for a vote →

The Fishers Arts Council is set for the 12th annual Senior Showcase at Fishers City Hall, featuring works of art from seniors at Fishers and HSE High Schools.  A free public reception is set for Friday, April 16th, from 6:00pm to 7:15pm, followed by the Awards Ceremony at 7:30pm.

This will be an in-person reception, but COVID protocols will be in place. Facial coverings are mandated as is social distancing.

The award winners this year will receive scholarships totaling $2000. The categories are – Best of Show ($500), First ($250), Second ($150) and Third Place ($100) in the categories of Drawing, Photography and Painting/Mixed Media.

The artwork will be on display at Fishers City Hall from April 4th thru April 29th, with the gallery open daily from 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday.

Jesse Kramer, Director of Exhibits at Conner Prairie will be the judge. The artwork for the exhibit was selected by Jasmine Osborne, Chair, Visual Arts Department, Chair, Visual Arts Department, Fishers High School and Angela Fritz, Chair, Visual Arts Department, Hamilton Southeastern High School along with art department teachers Danielle Ontiveros and Lisa Brown.

The corporate sponsor for the exhibit is Star Bank.

The artwork shown in this post are from last year’s event.

Fishers Student Karissa Stiner

The American Rescue Plan (ARP), the $1.9 trillion in spending recently enacted by Congress, provides local governments money, and Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness says his city is receiving $19.8 million.  The mayor wants to work with his city council on how the funds should be spent.

According to Fadness, there are some restrictions in the federal law as to how the money can be spent and he wants to sift through all the provisions before working with council members on spending the cash.

“We are in a very good financial position, so Fishers will not need to use this money to plug holes in our budget,” Fadness tells LarryInFishers.

According to national news reports, the local ARP money must be spent by the end of 2024 on certain projects, including:

–reimbursement and expenses related to the coronavirus pandemic

–grants to assist small businesses, nonprofits and industries impacted by the pandemic.

–water, sewer and broadband projects

All ARP funds must be spent by the end of 2024 and the money cannot be used to lower taxes or to pay into municipal pension funds.

I have been experimenting with recording my podcasts on both audio and video.  I have this podcast available as audio only but have added this video version if you prefer it.

Let me know if you like, or dislike, my video versions of the LarryInFishers.com podcasts

This is the video of my podcast with Jason Taylor and Hatem Mekky of the Fishers Engineering Department.

Ever since moving to Fishers in 1991, municipal officials have always advised local motorists to be patient as road construction is ongoing.  Some things never change.

In this podcast with Jason Taylor, Director of Engineering for the City of Fishers, and Hatem Mekky, the Assistant Director, both ask for your patience as we enter the road construction season in 2021.

We discuss State Road 37, the status of the Nickel Plate Trail and a number of other subjects in this podcast.

HBO has offered-up three documentary films on contemporary issues that looked quite promising to me.  The first deals with the impact of COVID on American sports.  The second looks into the fascination many Americans have with a thing called Q-anon.  Finally a cruise ship is the first one hit with a COVID outbreak early in the pandemic and the film uses amateur phone videos to tell the story.

Sadly, only one of the three would be recommended by me.  Here is the review podcast.

The Fishers Health Department is issuing a new Public Health order effective once the current document expires April 6, “strongly advising” mask wearing, but no longer mandating it.  The new Public Health Order can be accessed at this link.

Here is what the Fishers Health Department strongly advises as of April 6:

• Continued mask-wearing
• Distancing from those outside your household
• Sanitizing high-touch surfaces
• Getting vaccinated when eligible

The city is also challenging  all adults to sign-up for a COVID vaccine appointment, now that anyone 16 years of age and older is eligible for the shot.  The Health Department wants 85% of those eligible to be vaccinated.  Vaccination rates for Fishers will be  tracked and reported by the health department during the week of April 5th.

The order contains the expiration of the mask mandate and social gathering restrictions , along with ending limits on capacity for restaurants and other businesses.

For previous Orders, visit this link.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Charles (Chuck) Kiphart, longtime Director of the Hamilton County Planning Department, will retire on April 16. No successor has yet been named. Applications for the position are currently being received.

Kiphart has served as director for 32 years. He is a native of Frankfort, Ind., and a resident of Indianapolis. Following retirement, Kiphart plans to continue his pottery-making avocation.

County Planning has planning and zoning authority over unincorporated areas of the county outside the jurisdictions of cities and towns. Department offices are located in the county Government and Judicial Center.

The county’s comprehensive master plan has recently been updated with the final step of approval by county commissioners upcoming soon.