A new operator for the Nickel Plate railroad line could by chosen by July or August. However, since there is no operator at this time, there will be no Indiana State Fair Train in 2017.  The Hoosier Heritage Port Authority, which has oversight and maintenance responsibilities for the 37 miles of rail line, which extends from Tipton to downtown Indianapolis, will begin the process of legal advertising the details about requests for proposal from interested parties.

Authority President Mike Obergfell said the request for proposal will contain a scoring sheet to evaluate each submission.  The owners of the rail line – Fishers, Noblesville and Hamilton County – will then interview all the candidates.  Obergfell expects the operator will be selected at the next Authority meeting scheduled for Monday, July 10th.  However, if the interviews continue through July, a special meeting of the Authority will be scheduled in August.

“Obviously, the time is short,” said Obergfell.  “We’d like to get an operator back online as soon as possible.  Our owners have some other interests that they’re trying to work out. So, the sooner the better.”

Fishers and Noblesville have proposed transforming the Nickel Plate rail line within their city limits into a biking and hiking trail.

An independent inspection of the rail raised safety concerns about the condition of the track, resulting in the cancellation of the State Fair Train in 2016, which ran for many years between the fairgrounds and Fishers.  In response to a question from the audience, Obergfell said there will not be an operator in place in time to operate the State Fair Train in 2017.

In response to another question from the audience, Obergfell said the request for proposal includes the entire 37 mile line.

In another matter, the Authority will be losing Executive Director Rhonda Klopfenstein, who has been in that job for 17 years.  Members of the Port Authority will now be searching for a new executive director.  Klopfenstein is resigning due to her husband’s job reassignment to Tennessee.    `

The State Road 37 upgrade project is moving full speed ahead, with 40% of the design work already completed.  There may be some lane restrictions this spring and summer, but the construction will get underway in earnest during July of 2018 and should be complete by fall of 2020.

As the plans stand now, two lanes of traffic will be maintained north and south along State Road 37 in Fishers, with a few lane restrictions occasionally.  The first two interchanges to be constructed will be 141st and 131st Streets.  East-West traffic will be blocked as each bridge is constructed.  Once the first two interchanges are complete, 126th and 146th Street interchanges will be built.

One contentious issue over drainage along 141st Street was resolved by routing the drainage north to 146th Street, then routed west from SR37.

Traffic engineers say they will be watching traffic flows carefully as the construction begins.  Once officials see where the motorists are detouring, adjustments can be made. Temporary traffic signals and stop signs are just two of the tools available to handle traffic overflows during construction.

Traffic Engineer Troy Woodruff cautioned those at the Tuesday night meeting that these are the plans for now…there could be changes as design work and data are evaluated.

An environmental impact hearing will be conducted on May 16th, 6pm, at Fishers High School.  Citizens may testify and ask questions, but officials will not be able to answer those questions on the spot, the answers will come in writing later.

The State Road 37 improvement project will cost $124 million, with $100 million from the state and $12 million each from the City of Fishers and Hamilton County.  Fishers is in charge of the construction phase.   The project calls for underpasses along State Road 37, and access ramps  and roundabouts for the Fishers intersections.  The design will be much like the Keystone Avenue project in Carmel.

The Hamilton Southeastern Schools and WTHR’s investigative news team are locked in a battle over what personnel records should be made public.  This is a balancing act between the right of employees to privacy and the public’s right to know.

Here is my commentary, at this link.

The words Uber and litigation have been synonymous lately, and Hamilton County has just joined the fray.  An Uber driver in the local area has gone to federal court, arguing he is not an independent contractor.

A story posted to the Indianapolis Star Web site, written by reporter Fatima Hussein, identifies the driver filing the lawsuit as Clinton Price.  He has been an Uber driver since 2014.

Price claims he is an employee, not a contractor.  The distinction is an important one.

Minimum wage laws and other employee protections in the statutes do not apply to independent contractors, who are treated more like business owners.  The tax situation is much different for contractors, because they must pay the entire tax for Medicare and Social Security, where employees are only responsible for half the tax, which is withheld from their pay.  Employers pay the other half.

According the the Star story, Price’s attorney claims Uber treats it workers like employees, but classifies the drivers as independent contractors.  The law provides several factors to be used in determining whether someone being paid to perform work is a contractor or employee.  It is often a contentious issue and Uber has been the target of many legal actions surrounding the employee versus contractor issue.

When you are proposing to build something, you submit what is called a plat with the local government, which details how a plot of land will be developed, be it commercial or residential.  The City of Fishers is proposing to make changes in the local ordinance governing the platting process, in an attempt to simplify and clarify the whole process.

The city planning staff proposed such a plan to the Fishers City Council Monday.  The idea will now head to the Fishers Plan Commission for a public hearing and recommendation.

Here are some of the proposed changes, from the city staff proposal:

These changes include:

– Updated language for the Plat Committee.

– Language to establish an incremental platting process.

– Updates for noticing timelines to be aligned with State code.

– Adding a procedure for minor subdivisions and minor plats.

A separate set of changes to the Plan Commission rules of procedure will also be needed to facilitate these changes. The updates to the rules include:

– Updated language for the Plat Committee.

– Required elements and items for the various applications.

– Signature of secondary plats by the Mayor or Mayor’s Designee.  

The Plan Commission will consider the ordinance changes at its June 7th session.  The council could give final approval as early as August 21st

The City of Fishers is moving forward with plans to formulate ordinances governing what is commonly described as “open space” in residential and some commercial properties.  The ordinance is expected to deal with issues such as what percentage of open space is required in certain types of development, what amenities will be required, connecting the development with others in the area through trails and other means and will clarify ownership and maintenance responsibilities for these open spaces.

The open spaces generally are made up of land not being used, but part of an overall development.

The city plans to talk with groups that would be most impacted by these standards, such as the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI), as well as area builders and developers.

In a Monday night work session, city council members were told the first reading of this proposed ordinance will be presented to the city council in May, the Fishers Plan Commission will hold a public hearing in June and final council approval could come as early as July

2017 marks the 16th year the Fishers Police Academy will be available to those 13 years of age and older.  This year’s academy will be held at Riverside Junior High, July 17th-21st. Youngsters may be dropped off at 9:00am and picked up at 3:30 pm each day.

This is a chance for teens to learn more about the local police department, and includes both classroom and physical training.  This is also a chance for local junior high & high schoolers to better understand how and local police officers go about their business each day.

There are only 40 spots available.  Each person signing-up must go through a screening process.  If you are interested, contact Officer Cory Robinson at robinsonc@fishers.in.us and the screening process can begin.  Once the 40 spots are filled, that’s it.

Below is the full news release from the Fishers Police Department:

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The 16th annual Fishers Police Department Teen Academy will be held July 17^th – 21^st in conjunction with the Fishers YMCA.  This year’s academy will be held at Riverside Junior High in Fishers.  The academy is one week of law enforcement type training that will allow teens to better understand how law enforcement works.  The academy will also allow teens to get to know several officers through a variety of social activities. 

Each day will begin at 9:00am. The teens will start each day with physical exercise.  The students will then attend classroom training followed by practical hands on skills to reinforce the lesson of the day. Each day will conclude with a social activity between officers and students. Parents can pick up their teen at 3:30pm.

            The purpose of the academy is to allow teens to better understand police officers and to strengthen the relationship between the police department and the community.  Officers will teach blocks of instruction on various topics such as making traffic stops, meeting our K-9 units and learning how they work with police, learning about the Fishers Dive Team, meeting our Crime Scene Investigators, learning about Internet Safety and much more. Students will have classroom instruction as well as practical “role play” training each day.

            The academy is open to any applicant 13 years of age or older.  Applicants must be enrolled in a junior high or high school in Fishers.  Each applicant is subject to a screening process and therefore walk-ins will not be allowed. We only have 40 spots available for this year’s academy!  If you are interested, please contact Officer Cory Robinson at robinsonc@fishers.in.us to begin the screening process.

I have been away from podcasting for a short time…here’s what has been going on in Fishers lately

(picture provided by Fishers Fire Department)

Fishers firefighters were sent to 10711 American Way just after 6am Sunday to battle a business fire.  The location is along I-69, north of 106th Street.  There were no injuries.  No dollar loss figure is available at this time, but a fire department news release described the damage as “significant.”

No cause has been determined, but fire officials  indicate it appears the fire began outside the building and ran up the outside wall into the structure.

The building is owned by a limited liability company,  GR Prairieview.

A Saturday in the middle of April is now becoming an annual custom locally, as Keep Fishers Beautiful day.  Nearly 300 volunteers across the city worked to make the community look and feel a little nicer on Saturday, April 15th.

One of the biggest events featured recycling at Billericay Park, near 126th Street and Promise Road.  Volunteers took in unwanted items, such as paint, electronics and sensitive paper in need of shredding.  A long line of vehicles stretched around the parking areas, but volunteers were quick to get people in and out.

The day’s festivities began at Cheney Creek Natural area.  Other spots around town for sprucing-up included The Ambassador House, Ritchey Woods, Harrison Thompson Park, Holland Park and Cyntheanne Park.

“It’s a great day to be out in the green space here in Fishers” Mayor Scott Fadness said as he visited Holland Park.

The weather cooperated this year, with sunshine and temperatures in the 70s.