If there is one thing I have noted in the  local rails vs. trails debate, it is the fact that there are emotions running very high on this issue.  Sometimes, when emotions run that high, facts get a bit distorted.  I want to make a few specific comments here.

First, I have taken no position on whether the Nickel Plate rail line running through Fishers and Noblesville should be transformed into a trail or remain a rail line.  I have written about my fondness for the history of the train in shaping this area over the past decades.  I can also see the benefits of a trail.  But I have not come down on either side.

I wish to clarify something that appeared on the Noblesville Neighbors “Save the Train” Web page recently.  You can see it at this link.

In that posting, it states the following:

“Larry of Fishers reported today that the only proposal matching the desires of the Owners was the Northern-only bid submitted by the Hamilton County Visitors and Convention Commission. (a government agency…possible conflict of interest?)
Didn’t the HHPA make a statement that all proposals are confidential…? So how did Larry come to know this information?”

First, I did not report this.  What I did was repost a commentary written by
Fred Swift and originally published in the Hamilton County Reporter newspaper.  The Reporter and I have a partnership agreement.  That means the Reporter prints items from my news blog, and I post some items from the Reporter.

Fred Swift’s commentaries appear on my news blog as part of that partnership.  That does not denote that I agree or disagree with Fred’s observations, analysis or opinions.  His commentaries are posted as food for thought.

If you read the post on my blog at this link, you can see the item is clearly posted as a commentary by Fred Swift and not my own.

I am not being critical of the Noblesville Neighbors Web page.  They have strong feelings about this issue and are trying to put together all the information about the Nickel Plate’s future in one place.

I just was to be clear that I have taken no position either way on this issue.  I have no idea which proposal for the future of the rail line will be awarded by the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority.  Fred expressed his view based on the people he talks to and his own analysis of the situation, and that should be considered.

The Hoosier Heritage Port Authority has a meeting scheduled for July 10th.  We will likely know more at that session.