The Fishers City Council paved the way for a new building at the corner of North Street and Lantern Road in the downtown Nickel Plate District.   Four Day Ray Brewing will take up half the 16,000 square foot structure with the remaining footage dedicated to office space, a scarce commodity lately in downtown Fishers. The development, according to Mayor Scott Fadness, is valued at about $4.5 million.  The city is offering a ten-year property tax abatement (for both land and equipment) and a waiver of impact fees.  Under the package, the developer plans to buy an adjacent property for parking that the city will rent from the owners for a six year period at $25,000 a year.  This will add additional parking spaces for downtown activities.  Council members unanimously approved a series of agenda items approving the economic development package.  During the public hearing, Democrat City Council Candidate Greg Purvis voiced his opposition to the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts…this development would be in a TIF District.  Purvis claims TIF financing robs the area of tax dollars and is a technique over-used by Fishers.

Council members approved an agreement with the Census Bureau to conduct a partial census of city areas that have grown in population since the last count was completed in 2010. The next regular census is due to be done in 2020.  The cost of the special census to the city could be as much as $450,000, but the additional revenue from the special census is estimated at $1.4 million through 2021.  A higher population count provides a larger share of funding from the state in many areas when distributing tax money.   The 2010 census put the Fishers population count at 76,794.  City officials believe the current number of city residents is 86,000-88,000.

City Police Officer Gerry Hepp was recognized by council members for his 20 years of service to the department.