On this Sunday night, I have a few brief items of news around Fishers.

First, I posted a podcast interview this past week with Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and Rick Farnham, Director of Water Quality for the city.  The subject was the storm water fee increase to be included in the mayor’s 2019 city budget proposal.  The proposed fee hike would cost homeowners in Fishers $20.52 extra per year beginning next year, if enacted.

But the increase will be much larger for many commercial users of the storm water system.  One of the operations most impacted will be the Hamilton Southeastern School District, which could face a $63,000 increase in their annual storm water bill.  IKEA would also see a large increase.

One question raised at the City Council Finance Committee meeting was whether the city should carve out waivers for some entities, such as the school corporation.  I asked Mayor Fadness whether he would be in favor of such waivers, even though the council has the final say.

Fadness responded that the commercial fees are based on usage of the system and he believes this is more of a user fee.

“So, at this time, I would not be in favor of making any kind of accommodation for any of the entities that are out there,” the mayor said during the podcast. “I can’t speak for the city council in that regard, but, in my opinion, I think the rate should be what it is.”

I also asked the mayor about the proposed low-income housing project planned for Lantern Road, near Fishers Elementary School.  The developer behind the 70 unit project is RealAmerica, a local firm that has built such housing around Indiana and other states, but this would be its first apartment complex in Fishers.

Fadness is solidly behind this effort, saying even municipal employees are having a difficult time  finding affordable housing in the city where they work.  The mayor said he believes the city is being “thoughtful” about the location and type of housing planned for the site.  He said some homes would be demolished to make way for the apartments, but no homeowners would be displaced because the developer has had contracts for those houses.

The city council approved up to $100,000 in fee waivers for the project.  The developer is now waiting on state and federal authorities to approve tax credits before the plans can move forward.

On another issue, Fadness says the roundabout at 131st Street and Cumberland Road currently under construction is scheduled to open July 25th, barring any last-minute construction issues.  The mayor could have ordered the roundabout open a few days earlier, but some traffic restrictions would still have been required to finish up the work and Fadness wanted the roundabout to be open later to get it done in final form.

The city is also looking to install flashing lights to alert drivers when school is in session and lower speed limits are in place.  Fishers is waiting on federal funding to install these flashers, and the mayor expects them to be in place and working by the end of the year.

You can listen to the podcast with Mayor Fadness and Rick Farnham at this link.

Also, the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) featured two stories about Fishers in this week’s print edition.  One deals with input the city is seeking in developing the new park on Geist Reservoir, and another about the state’s IOT Lab located in Fishers.

You can read the IBJ story about Geist Park at this link .  

the IBJ story about the IOT Lab can be found at this link.  (NOTE:  If you are not an IBJ subscriber, you may be limited in the number of stories you may access each month)

The time to begin officially filing for the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board election doesn’t begin until July 25th, but we already have two announced candidates in District 2, which encompasses the western section of the HSE District.

Matt Molter, in a letter to the editor published by my news gathering partner at the Hamilton County Reporter, cites his experience as a police officer, entrepreneurial small business owner and parent as reasons for throwing his hat in the ring for a local school board seat.

“This amazing community that we live in has inspired me to give back,” Molter wrote in his letter published in The Reporter. “It is with this in mind that I am thrilled to announce that I am running for the District 2 seat on the Hamilton Southeastern School Board this November.”

Molter served as a police officer for 11 years.  He now owns two small businesses, Agency360 and DogTeamPro, out of the local co-working space Launch Fishers.  His wife is a teacher, and they have three young boys.

“I will work to make life managing kids in school easier for parents and also help empower great teachers to use their incredible skills to reach every child,” Molter wrote in his letter.

Frank Whelan, who ran unsuccessfully in the Delaware Township at-large school board election two years ago, has already announced his intention to run in District 2 during this year’s November election.

You can view the boundaries for all HSE school board districts at this link.

Michelle Fullhart has announced plans to run for re-election in her District 3 seat.  Brad Banks says he will run in District 4, where the incumbent Terry Tolle says he does not intend to be a candidate this time around.

The time to officially file for a seat on the HSE School Board ends at noon, August 24th.

This week, Adam & Larry review the film Leave No Trace, about a father & daughter living in the wilderness, but forced to deal with the system around them….our guest this week is David Dearing, a producer for Sports Radio 1070, WFNI, The Fan.  David loves film and we talk about movies in general and sports films in particular

The Conner Prairie Museum in Fishers depicts life as the area was being populated by settlers, on what was, at that time, known as the prairie.  The Art in City Hall series is unveiling a new art collection, Life On The Prairie.

The Fishers Arts Council, Nickel Plate Arts, The City of Fishers and Conner Prairie have joined forces to present this art work, some from the Conner Prairie collection, others created by local artists.  The local artists contributing their work include Alice Harpel, John Hollinger, Carolyn Martens, Craig Mullins and Carol Griffith.

The City Hall exhibit will be on display August 3rd through August 28th.  There will be an artist reception on August 7th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. free and open to the public to meet the artists and representative from Conner Prairie.

(Editor’s Note:  The date of the reception was corrected Sunday evening, 7.22, per a correction notice from the Fishers Arts Council….The reception date was originally shown at August 20th, but has now been corrected to the August 7th date shown above)

(Above, click to listen to hear the mini-podcast I recorded with Edra Waterman (Left) and Katelyn Coyne) 

When I think of ignition, I think of a car or a spacecraft take-off.  But the Fishers Library has opened up space in its lower level. which housed Launch Fishers before that group moved to more spacious quarters, and named it Ignite.  Some call it maker space.  It is basically a place to create artistically.

I visited the Ignite area of the the library Friday afternoon, and below are some photos I snapped while given a tour by Edra Waterman and Katelyn Coyne ( link above is there if you wish to listen to my mini-podcast chat with them).

Continue reading Mini-Podcast: Fishers Library Opening Up Ignite, The New Maker Space →

It’s another work week and another week with a long list of road projects.  Below is the listing, as provided by the City of Fishers for the work week beginning Monday, July 23rd:

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CYNTHEANNE ROAD

Beginning Monday, July 23 lane restrictions will be in place on Cyntheanne Road between 101st and 104th Streets for pavement repairs. Repairs are expected to last approximately one week, weather permitting. Flaggers will be in place to help direct traffic.

113TH STREET & FLORIDA ROAD 

Beginning on or after Tuesday, July 24, the intersection of 113th Street and Florida Road will close for approximately 90 days for the realignment and construction of a new roundabout at the intersection. See the Detour Map.

SOUTHEASTERN PARKWAY 

Southeastern Parkway isclosed from 136th Street to Isle of Man Way (Avalon subdivision) for approximately 30 days to complete a roundabout. Traffic to detour up Prairie Baptist Road to 136th Street. See the Detour Map.

ALLISONVILLE ROAD

Allisonville Road construction is in full swing. Traffic has been shifted to the east to allow for widening on the west side. Restrictions may be in place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and flaggers will be on site directing traffic, as necessary. Through September, all southbound left turns from Allisonville Road onto 126th Street will be prohibited.

This will be an active construction site with reduced speed limits. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

131ST STREET   

The intersection of 131st and Cumberland Road is currently closed for 45 days to construct a new roundabout. The project is nearing completion and roads will reopen soon. Check the Drive Fishers Twitter page for updates. See the detour map here.

Expect lane restrictions, weather permitting, along 131st Street between Allisonville Road and Lantern Road for the construction of the Conner Trail from Conner Prairie to the Municipal Complex. Lane restrictions will also take place on Lantern Road between 131st Street and Municipal Drive.

NICKEL PLATE DISTRICT 

On Saturday between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m., road closures will take place along the east side of the Municipal Circle along Municipal Drive for the Fishers Farmers’ Market. Access to Municipal Drive from North Street will also be closed during this time. Farmers’ Market parking is available in The Depot and The Switch garages (see the Parking Map for more details).

The Board of Works recently passed an ordinance for no parking in the Nickel Plate District between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. See the Parking Restrictions Map for more information.

BROOKS SCHOOL ROAD  

Brooks School Road is closed for 30 days south of 116th Street between Desert Glen Drive and Club Point Drive. The detour route is Hoosier Road and Fall Creek Road. View the Detour Map.

Brooks School Road is also closed between 126th Street and 136th Street to build a sidewalk to the east side of the bridge over I-69. Detours via 136th Street, Promise Road, and 126th Street to get around the closure. The road will reopen in early August. Questions can be directed here.

106TH STREET   

106th Street is closed to through traffic from Eller Road to Allisonville Road and from Allisonville Road to Hague Road for the 106th Street Infrastructure Project. Closures for through traffic will also take place from Hague Road to the Crosspoint Boulevard/Lantern Road roundabout. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

I-69   

As part of a $92 million design-build contract, Milestone has added a third lane in each direction to the median, repaired and resurfaced existing pavement, and rehabilitated bridges and drainage structures on 15 miles of I-69 in Hamilton and Madison counties. Construction of an additional auxiliary lane between the 116th Street entrance ramp to I-69 South and the I-69 South Exit 204 ramp to 106th Street will continue through next spring.

I-69 South will be temporarily reduced to two lanes to allow space for the State Road 37 and 116th Street entrance ramps to safely merge while construction continues on the southbound auxiliary lane between the 116th Street and 106th Street ramps.

Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT via email or at 1-855-463-6848.

STATE ROAD 37

A public meeting was held on Tuesday, May 15at the Delaware Township Trustee Office. The meeting presentation and updated information is available on the project’s new website. The State Road 37 improvement project is a $124 million joint project between Fishers, Hamilton County, Noblesville, and INDOT. Questions or concerns may be directed to SR37@rqaw.com. 

OUTSIDE OF FISHERS   

The City of Carmel has closed 116th Street between Towne Road and Ditch Road, and between Clay Center Road and Spring Mill Road, until August 8.

A residential development is coming to the area southwest of 146th Street and Allisonville Road, in a place that had been set aside as an assisted living project.

For more on this, read Samm Quinn’s story at the Indianapolis Business Journal Web site at this link.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Next year’s election contest for mayor of Noblesville appears to be starting early, very early. The all-important Republican primary is in May of 2019, but already at least three names have surfaced as likely or potential candidates.

City councilman Chris Jensen has made it clear that he will be running. Mike Corbett, publisher of Hamilton County Business Magazine, has given every indication he will also run. And, current school board member Julia Church Kozicki has filed an Exploratory Committee which could well mean an intention to run for mayor or, if not, some other elective office.

Mayor John Ditslear has indicated he will not be running for re-election. The mayor’s office and the other city officials including city clerk, city judge and all nine city council members are up for election next year.

It’s very early for the beginning of any city election campaign. This fall’s general election comes first. But, campaigns are beginning earlier each year as candidates do not want to see potential opponents gather supporters before letting it be known they are going to be seeking office.

With Ditslear not running, other candidates could join the race in coming months since the mayor’s office will be considered an open seat. All current city officials are Republicans, and a winner of the GOP nomination is regarded as an odds-on favorite to ultimately win election.

In Carmel, Mayor Jim Brainard has announced he will run for a seventh term. There has as yet been no indication of opposition. Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and Westfield Mayor Andy Cook are also expected to seek re-election, although they have not formally announced.

Before the city elections next May, voters will elect a host of county and township officials in November. Also on the ballot will be non-partisan school board elections in all six county school districts. Very few candidates have yet announced plans to run for the important school positions.

(Editor’s Note: Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness told me during a January 3rd podcast recording session he does plan to seek re-election in 2019…you can listen to that podcast at this link) 

The Fishers Police Department is set to hold the 35th Citizens Academy.  It all starts August 8th, and application are being accepted through July 30th.  This is a 12-week program, every Wednesday night from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Citizens Academy will put you through a number of police programs, including: Crime Prevention/Neighborhood Watch, Bicycle Patrol, Criminal Law, Police Canine, Traffic Stops, Weapons Familiarization, Self Defense, Criminal Investigations, Evidence Collection, and Narcotics. The instructors will be police officers from the Fishers Police Department.   Participants in the Citizen’s Academy are eligible complete a ride along with an on- duty Fishers Police Officer.

The Citizen’s Academy will give community members the opportunity to ask questions about law enforcement and other related activities.

Apply online at www.fishers.in.us/police  or apply in person at the Fishers Police Department.  Applications will be accepted until July 30th.  If you have any questions contact Officer Rob Thompson at thompsonr@fishers.in.us  or (317) 595-3300.

The Fishers City Council is considering a fee increase for the local Storm Water Utility as part of the 2019 budget process.  If enacted, it would raise homeowners’ fees by $20.52 a year, and much more for many commercial customers in the city.

I spoke with Mayor Scott Fadness and Rick Farnham, City Water Quality Director, during a podcast interview July 19th.