The Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety turned down two drainage requests by local citizens, arguing approval would set a dangerous precedent.
The first was a recommendation by city staff to deny a stabilization petition for the White River Place Ravine Bank. The issue is totally related to private property and the attorneys have determined the city has no legal responsibility for erosion on private property. Nonetheless, residents in the impacted area north of 116th Street near the White River asked the city for help in fixing the problem. The price tag could be a high as $495,000 if matching grants cannot be obtained. Mayor Scott Fadness and the other 2 board members listened to area residents. In the end, Mayor Fadness said approving this request would have implications for sewer rates for others on the system. The Board voted 3-0 to deny the petition.
The second request centered on Jason Cittadine, property owner at 9529 Fortune Drive. He asked the board for a drainage easement variance in a fence installation. The board voted 2-1 denying Mr. Cittadine’s request for building the fence on the city’s easement. Board Member Jason Meyer voted no. Once again, a majority of the board expressed concern about setting a precedent.
In other actions at the Board of Works Monday session:
–The city’s information technology staff will need to be relocated as construction will soon begin on a new police station. The board voted to enter into a lease agreement with Delaware Township to rent 2,000 square feet on the second floor of their offices at 131st Street at the cost of $2,000 a month. The lease is for 18 months and goes month-to-month after the 18-month period.
— The board approved a bid of $408,565 from Morphey Construction, Inc., the lowest and most responsive bidder according to city staff, for construction of a traffic signal on 116th Street near Olio Road. Kroger agreed to pay for the signal as part of the deal to construct a new and larger store along Olio north of 116th Street. The previous bids were rejected as too high. The signal should be in place by May of 2017.
–$77,100 was approved by the board for professional services leading to a new roundabout construction at 131st and Cumberland Road. Mayor Fadness verified that the contractor is aware the city wants this roundabout in place before construction begins on the State Road 37 project, which is likely to start construction in 2019.