Saxony Beach may have a new structure completed by Christmas Day. Saxony Hall is planned to be a a reception hall with an office, storage, concession area and public restrooms. Tony Elliot, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Fishers, told the Board of Public Works and Safety at its Monday session that the building itself is not yet under construction, but the foundation has been built, along with the utility connections. Elliot said even if there are unforeseen construction delays, the building should be complete by February of 2016. He made the comments as the board approved some technical legal documents related to Saxony Lake. You can view some early conceptual drawings for the planned hall at this link.
The Board of Works also approved a curb cut on 116th Street, near Olio Road, for the Community Lutheran Church. The city engineering department had reworked plans to cut into part of the median in the middle of 116th Street after the proposal was considered at a previous meeting.
Nickel Plate Review Committee is briefed on Four Day Ray building plans
The Four Day Ray Brewery and restaurant planned for downtown Fishers cleared one administrative hurdle Monday night when the Nickel Plate Review Committee approved waivers in the Nickel Plate Code. This will allow the development to move forward as planned.
The Nickel Plate Review Committee is a body charged with overseeing the core area of downtown Fishers and how it is developed.
The planned Four Day Ray Building is to be constructed at the corner of North Street and Lantern Road. It will include a working production facility to brew beer, a restaurant and office space. The proposal includes a small parking lot, with street parking also available.
If you are the parent of an 8th Grade student in the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School
Corporation, you will soon be receiving information about a new appeals process to switch high school assignments. Normally, your student would start high school in August of next year based on the district in which you live, according to lines drawn many years ago.
Under a new policy enacted by the HSE School Board at the October 12th session, your 8th grade student will be allowed to file an appeal to attend the other high school. For example, if your family lives within the district boundaries of HSE High School, and you child wants to attend Fishers High, the appeal can be filed. Whether the appeal will be granted or denied will depend on when the appeal was filed (earlier the better) and whether the enrollments of the two district high schools stay within 5% of each other.
This application process will only require the student to list a home address. No reasons need be given as to why the family wishes to attend the other high school.
This program replaces the re-balancing program used the past few years. School officials say the new appeals program will be a one-year test and will be evaluated before a decision is made on whether it will continue.
In other school board news from the October 12th Session:
–HSE Schools Chief Financial Officer Mike Reuter gave an overview of the 2016 budget. Matt Stolle, an unsuccessful candidate for HSE School Board in the last election cycle, was the only one to speak at the public hearing. Stolle asked board members to pay attention to class sizes, particularly in the elementary buildings. School officials responded that they are working on more Instructional Assistants to assist teachers will large elementary classes. The board must approve the 2016 budget by November 1 and will take that final vote at the next regular board session.
–Superintendent Allen Bourff told the board the City of Fishers has offered to pay the cost of installing trees at Lantern Road Elementary School to give more separation from Interstate 69, with the coming construction of a new interchange on 106th Street. The trees could cost up to $40,000. This is to address some concerns voiced by parents with children at Lantern Road Elementary.
–The board voted to increase the pay of substitute teachers. The proposal would increase HSE’s daily substitute rate from $65.00 per day to $70.00 dollars per day and would increase permanent substitute pay from $75.00 per day to $80.00 per day. Some substitute teachers are permanent employees and work every school day.
–School administrators asked board members to consider changing the schedule of regular board meeting nights from Mondays to Wednesdays next year when the board reorganizes in January 2016. No decision was made.
–Superintendent Bourff updated the board on what he has been hearing on his listening tour of schools, which will soon be expanded to community groups outside the schools themselves. Here are some of the concerns he has heard, from his presentation to the board:
• Affirmation ‐ World Languages
• Personal Costs inTaxes
• Technology
• Future Building Needs
• Redistricting
• ENL (English as a new language) IAs (Convert to Teachers)
• Future of IA’s
• Substitute Teacher Shortage
• Building Cleanliness
• Fees (Textbook, technology, supplies, etc.)
• Pay to play
• Class size
• Taxes
• Sure that’s enough?
• Both Assistant Principals &TDS
• School security?
Pasta Bowl winners from New Britton Elementary, Riverside Intermediate and Fishers High School, all honored at the school board meeting
Before a Hamilton Southeastern School Board meeting begins, there is usually a relaxed mood with people greeting each other. A few jokes may be exchanged.
The mood before the October 12th was very subdued, even quiet. The hearts of many school officials were heavy. They had learned that a Geist Elementary School second grade student had died.
At the start of the session, board President John DeLucia read the following statement:
I am saddened to share the unfortunate news of the passing of one of our Hamilton Southeastern Schools students, Adedayo “Dayo” Adeniyi. He died on Sunday evening as a result of a medical condition.
Dayo was a second grader at Geist Elementary. Our hearts are heavy at the loss of this wonderful and promising young life. We join with GES and the entire school community to offer our condolences to the Adeniyi family and all those affected by this tragedy. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Please join me in a moment of silence as we remember Dayo.
Please allow me to join school officials in expressing my most sincere sympathies to the family.
On July 1st this year, officers of the Fishers Police Department formed a recognized and established Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Chapter of their own. As Fishers and its police department have continued to grow in size, local officers decided it was time to organize a Fishers FOP Chapter.
The FOP is planning an event on October 17th and the entire Fishers community is invited. It is a Cornhole tournament at the downtown amphitheater, featuring 64 teams with cash prizes for the winners. Proceeds from the tourney, and the silent auction planned as part of the event, will go to charitable causes supported by the FOP.
You can find more information at the local FOP’s Web site at this link. You can also access the local FOP’s Facebook page at this link.
The hours have been set, the Fishers Chief of Police George Kehl has announced that youngsters throughout the city may Trick or Treat on Saturday, October 31st, 6:00pm-8:00pm.
Fishers Police remind parents of the usual Halloween safety rules in a news release:
Give and accept wrapped or packaged candy only.
· Only go to houses that you know the owner.
· Have children bring treats home for adult inspection before they are eaten.
· A parent or adult should accompany children when they are trick-or-treating.
· Carry a flashlight.
· Stay within your neighborhood; only visit homes you know.
· Use make-up or face paint instead of masks. If masks are used, make sure the child has good visibility.
· Choose costumes that are flame retardant.
· Wear light-colored clothing, short enough to prevent tripping. Add reflective tape to dark colored costumes.
· Watch for vehicle traffic and use caution when crossing the street.
Fishers Police officers plan to be patrolling the city’s neighborhoods on Halloween night. If you notice anything suspicious, Chief Kehl encourages you to call 911 immediately.
The Fishers Fire Department has a brand new engine in service as of October 9th. The Pierce Arrow XT 4 is a 105-foot aerial truck, with its new home at the headquarters fire station. It replaces a 1997 platform aerial. The new engine carries a price tag of $840,000. Fire Officials were able to save approximately $350,000 by participating in the HGAC Buying Cooperative, which pools the bidding process with other fire departments in the area.
The old engine being replaced will still be around, but placed in a reserve status, to be used if needed in spots and will handle staff training
According to a city news release, the Fishers Fire Department has a response capability of 3 ladders, 6 engines, 3 paramedic transporting ambulances, 1 heavy rescue, and a tanker truck responding out of 6 firehouses and 1 ambulance sub-station. .
You have likely seen the political signs sprouting up throughout the City of Fishers the last few days. The election campaign is underway. Although Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd, there are ways to cast your ballot earlier.
The Hamilton County Election Office in downtown Noblesville will be the place to cast your ballot in what is termed “early voting.” If you plan to be out of town election day, the absentee voting process is in place for you, if you do not wish to early vote. You can find more information at this link.
Most Fishers city offices have already been decided. Only one Democrat is on the ballot this time around. Greg Purvis is running for an at-large seat on the Fishers City Council. He is facing the three Republican incumbent at-large council members – Todd Zimmerman, Rich Block and Cecilia Coble.
In past election cycles since I began writing this blog in 2012, I have interviewed the candidates and written background pieces on each. Due to other commitments this time around, I am unable to do that. However, I would urge you to get to know these candidates, if you don’t already. Each has a Facebook page. Here are links to each one:
The best part of utilizing Facebook is its interactive nature. You can ask questions of the candidates and they can respond to you. Their platforms and views on local issues are also a part of each Facebook page.
In an at-large city council race, everyone in the City of Fishers votes on these candidates. Of the four hopefuls, the three receiving the most votes will win four-year terms on the council.
I have written often about the low voter turnout in recent elections. Keep in mind that the more local the government, the more impact the elected officials have over your everyday life. Take the time to look at each candidate, and then take the time to cast your vote.
If you have hazardous materials around your house, the City of Fishers is offering you an opportunity to safely dispose of all that.
Below is the rest of a city news release from the City of Fishers with all the details…
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Load up vehicles and head to Billericay Park, Fishers Stormwater Utility and the Fall Recycling Day along with Keep Fishers Beautiful return to a new location at Billericay Park on Saturday, October 31 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. While disposing of unwanted recyclable materials and household hazardous wastes residents will receive a pack of Dutchmaster Daffodils from Keep Fishers Beautiful volunteers. Bulbs are free to take on a first come, first served basis, and can be collected on site from a Keep Fishers Beautiful representative. “Our Fall Recycling Day is a great opportunity to keep the community beautiful while providing a valuable service for residents,” stated Mayor Scott Fadness. “By engaging residents in planting bulbs, we’re able to work together to keep Fishers a vibrant community as the seasons change.” The Fishers Stormwater Utility aims to keep dangerous chemicals and pollution out of our local waterways by providing this very important service. Keep Fishers Beautiful (KFB) is an initiative that seeks to unite residents, volunteers and businesses/organizations with meaningful projects that beautify our public spaces and neighborhoods. Individuals interested in learning more or volunteering are encouraged to visitwww.Fishers.in.us/KFB or contact Dan Domsic atdomsicd@fishers.in.us. Specific details about materials being collected during the Fall Recycling day can be found on the City of Fishers’ website.
Brian Lott’s firefighting career began on the Fishers Volunteer Department in 1981. In 1986 he joined the Lawrence Township Fire Fire Department full-time. Once Fishers started hiring full-time firefighters, he came back to Fishers in 1991.
During the growth spurt years of Fishers, Brian Lott has been at the center of the corresponding growth of the firefighting operation in Fishers.
He held the ranks of Chief, Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal during his 24 years as a professional firefighter with the Town of Fishers.
“Chief Lott and his family have shown great leadership to this department and this community through his years of service and his dedication to the men and women of this department is greatly appreciated,” Fishers Fire Chief said in a department news release. “He will be missed, but the legacy of his work will continue.”
A retirement recognition party for Brian Lott is planned at Fishers City Hall, 1-3pm, on Monday, October 12th.
