Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and I have some things in common, and there are some things we do not have in common.

Things we have in common:

–We both love Diet Coke

–We are not golf fans

— We both like government and neither of us sought a career running for office

Here’s what Scott Fadness & I do not have in common:

–He is a lot younger than I

–He is in much better physical shape

–Even though he didn’t seek a career running for office, he was coaxed into it and won the mayor’s office

When Lindsey Erdody wrote a profile of Scott Fadness for the latest edition of the Indianapolis Business Journal, she asked to talk with me about our mayor, since I have covered him going back to January of 2012 when he was Fishers Town Manager.

When the big debate was on during the fall of 2012 about what type of government the growing suburb of Fishers would have going forward, there were three choices placed before voters – continue as a town, become a “reorganized” city with a weak mayor and powerful city council, or a traditional Indiana city with a strong mayor’s office.

Voters chose the strong mayor’s office.  But Fadness was a very popular town manager. People advocating for a “reorganized” city made a major argument that Scott Fadness, as one trained as an administrator, would leave Fishers if we moved to a strong mayor’s office.

Once the results were in and voters in the referendum overwhelmingly approved a strong mayor’s office, I noticed something.  Scott Fadness did not leave.  He remained as town manager.  He obviously knew there would be a mayoral election coming, but he did not choose to move on.

One of the first conversations I had with Scott Fadness was in the Town Hall (were were still a town then) parking lot.  I point blank asked him why he was still here with a city election on the way.  He talked about how wonderful Fishers was as a place to live.  As he was talking I realized something.  Scott Fadness was at least considering a run for Mayor of Fishers, something he had previously shown no interest in pursuing.  It was just a few months later Fadness announced his exploratory committee for a mayoral run.

It was an honor to be quoted in Lindsey’s IBJ story.  She followed him around for the better part of a day.  I’m shocked she was able to keep up with the mayor.  It’s a good thing Lindsey is an avid runner.

When I retired after 28 years in the federal civil service, I remembered how much I missed journalism.  There was no desire on my part to go work for someone else as a reporter…besides, that is a young person’s business these days.  But I found the newspapers in Noblesville that had covered Fishers municipal government and our local schools had stopped publishing.  The weekly Current does the best it can with the news space it is provided. The Indy Star and local TV stations occasionally cover Fishers news, but regular coverage is lacking.

It’s always been my view that public bodies such as city councils and school boards do business differently if they know an independent journalist is there covering the event.  So I took it upon myself to attend the meetings and start writing about Fishers local government & schools.

Scott Fadness has been at the center of activity for municipal government the entire time I have been doing this.  First, I covered his work as Fishers Town Manager, then his campaigns for mayor.  FYI, the first city election was transitional, for one year terms, and there were six candidates for mayor.  A year later there was balloting for the normal 4-year terms, and Scott Fadness had no opposition in the Republican primary or the general election.

Scott Fadness has shaped the growth of this city.  As town manager, he and John Wechsler pushed for Launch Fishers, which has been a big  success by any measure.  He has had huge economic development successes, with IKEA the biggest feather in his cap.  He has pushed mental health in the city based on data he saw every week as town manager and mayor.

I could go on and on, but Scott Fadness has shaped the growing suburban community of Fishers.  He firmly believes cities are never standing still, they either are moving forward or backward.  Fadness has made it clear he plans on moving forward.

I am reminded of the old Will Rogers quote – “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

Fadness continues to enjoy public support.  But there are some that long for the old days of Fishers as a small town.  I get that, understand that, but recognize the old Fishers is gone and there is nothing anyone could do to bring that back.

I am often asked whether Scott Fadness will run for another term.  He was noncommittal when Lindsey asked that question.  Politics can often take unexpected twists and turns. Two years ago, could you have imagined Eric Holcomb as governor and Mike Pence as Vice President?  Predictions are shaky at best in the political world.  But I will say it is likely Scott Fadness will run for at least one more term as mayor.  I don’t seen him as a Jim Brainard, serving six terms as Carmel’s mayor.  But he may have one more term to complete the vision he has for the city he has been instrumental in shaping.

Scott Fadness and I have some things in common and some things we don’t have in common.  But we have one major common view.  We both love Fishers and want it to be the best place possible.

You can read Lindsey Erdody’s profile of Scott Fadness at this link

The City of Fishers and the local Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools have been campaigning on removing the stigma often associated with mental health, encouraging those suffering in silence to seek help.

Students at HSE Schools sponsored Hope For Happiness last Friday evening to place a spotlight on the campaign.

Below is a video featuring school staff, students and members of the Fishers community.  It is less than 5 minutes and is worth watching.

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Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

(NOTE: Commentaries by Fred Swift are posted here as the result of a partnership between the Hamilton County Reporter and LarryInFishers.com.  Views expressed are those of Mr. Swift)

In our rapidly growing county it is difficult, but important, to preserve some of the historically relevant landmarks that physically reveal the pathway to our current times. The Hull-Brennan House is such a landmark.  Located near Keystone and Smokey Row
Road, it is far off the road and largely hidden by trees.

On land originally granted to William Wilkinson in 1822, the house started as a pioneer log cabin, probably built before 1835.  Around 1853, an impressive two-story brick house was built adjoining the cabin.  The practice of incorporating an earlier house with a later one was common in the mid-19th century, but surviving examples are rare.

The brick structure is a good example of combined Federal and Greek Revival architecture which was often found in homes of the 1840s and 50s.  It is owned by descendants of the Dinkelaker family, which bought the home and surrounding farmland about 115 years ago. They operated a dairy farm there for many years.

The last occupant was William H. Hull who died in 2014 at the age of 93.  Dinkelaker heirs then listed the remaining 59 acres of farmland and the house for sale.  Beazer Homes of Atlanta, Ga. plans to buy and develop the property with 164 new homes.

Indiana Landmarks, a preservation organization which has participated in saving numerous significant historic structures,  has joined the Carmel Clay Historical Society in trying to save the Hull-Brennan House.

The Beazer application for zoning and development is pending in a Carmel Plan Commission review committee. There have been discussions among Carmel officials,
Landmarks, local historians and Beazer regarding ways to save the house, one of very few of its kind remaining in the rapidly developing community.

The zoning application will return to the Plan Commission with a committee recommendation, probably in the next month or two.  A zoning change to allow
what is called a Planned Unit Development on the site will go to the Carmel City Council for a final decision.

Local historians say the house is architecturally and historically worthy of saving
if a buyer can be found who wishes to restore and reside in the house.

The Landmarks foundation has been successful in helping locate buyers
of historic properties, including the former McShane Home, south of Carmel, which
is regarded as an outstanding example of preservation efforts.

Adam & Larry review the film Detroit, dealing with one awful incident during the summer of 1967 in the Motor City.  There are three guests this week – Annette Gross, Teresa Sabatine & Jeremy Whitham

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Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton County Director of Information Technology Chris Mertens has been honored by Indianapolis Business Journal and TechPoint as a 2017 CTO of the Year.

The three-year-old CTO of the Year program recognizes chief technology officers because of the role they play in helping their organizations innovate and grow.

IBJ and TechPoint honored a total of 15 chief technology officers Aug. 10 in five categories: Private Companies (Revenue $100 million or Less), Private Companies (Revenue Over $100 million), Not-for-Profit/Government (Revenue $100 million or less), Not-for-Profit/Government (Revenue Over $100 Million) and Public Companies.

Mertens was an honoree in the larger Not-for-Profit/Government category, along with Judd Williams, chief information officer of the NCAA, and Michael Hineline, chief information and technology officer at the Indiana Public Retirement System.

Since joining the county eight years ago, Mertens has transformed the information technology department to better serve Hamilton County residents. He is credited with improving access to online payment options, for example, and making it possible for property owners to receive tax statements via email.

Mertens, 46, has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Lincoln University of Missouri and an MBA from William Woods University.

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Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

(NOTE:  Commentaries by Fred Swift are posted here through a partnership between The Hamilton County Reporter and LarryInFishers.com)

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Here is my review of the latest Kathryn Bigelow film – Detroit

Mold mitigation efforts have progressed to the point that both fire personnel and equipment will start to move back into Station 92, located on 116th Street, near Brooks School Road, Saturday morning.  They were moved out Wednesday when mold was discovered in the fire station structure.

A Fishers Fire Department news release says Station 92 will be able to make emergency runs beginning Saturday.

Work in the bunk-room will continue for a few more days to replace the damaged walls and air monitoring will continue.  Until that room has been cleared by air sampling, firefighters will remain out of that specific area and it will remain sealed from the rest of the station.  Firefighters will instead place beds in other areas of the station on a temporary basis.

Once the bunk-room is cleared, the ladder company will return as well and normal operations will resume.

“Firefighters appreciate the patience and understanding of our community as this issue is resolved and we look forward to normal operations,” according to the fire department statement.

Talks between the City of Fishers and Irving Materials (IMI) continue over plans to buy property along Geist reservoir owned by IMI to construct a new city park.

“I think we remain optimistic that a resolution in the best interests of all parties can be reached,” Economic Development Director Brandon Didkinson told the Fishers Redevelopment Commission Wednesday evening.  “Then there’s a process we’ll go down and a path we’ll go down if it appears we have a mutual misunderstanding of the valuation of the land.”

The path Dickinson refers to is condemnation by the city of the IMI quarry next to Geist. Both sides appear to be making an effort to avoid that process outlined in state law, but there is no agreement yet.

The Redevelopment Commission approved next steps for several economic development projects at its Wednesday session, including The Yard culinary project, the new Knowledge Services headquarters, Central Indiana Orthopedics new building in the Saxony area and the proposed Geist Park.  Several public hearings were held but there were no speakers.

The commission’s job is to review redevelopment proposals for underdeveloped areas within city limits. Commission members also consider authorization of Tax Increment Financing districts.