Hamilton County Reporter
amilton County Commissioner Steve Dillinger presented his 29th State of the County address Wednesday. He began by saying, “There is a lot of tension in Washington right now because people don’t know how to work together. I will show you the things today – almost all of them are the result of our cities and our county working together for the betterment of our citizens.”
His talk was divided into several segments.
Financial Stability
When addressing fiscal responsibility, Dillinger noted that Hamilton County reported an $18 million budget surplus in 2017. For 2018, the general fund has a current balance of $33.5 million and the rainy day fund has a balance of $13.7 million.
Infrastructure
According to Dillinger, during his term as county commissioner, which began in 1989, Hamilton County has grown from a population of 80,000 to 130,000. (Editor’s note: According to the U.S. Census data, in 1990 the population of Hamilton County was 108,936 and the estimated 2016 population was 316,373.)
Dillinger noted this creates some infrastructure challenges. Using the State of Indiana’s U.S. 31 and Carmel’s Keystone Parkway thoroughfare projects as examples, he explained that the State Road 37 project will pass under existing roads to create a new thoroughfare. This is similar to Keystone Parkway and stands in contrast to the overpasses of U.S. 31.
The State Road 37 project is being funded by contributions from the State of Indiana ($100 million), Noblesville ($24 million), Fishers ($24 million) and Hamilton County ($24 million). The projected budget for the project is $124 million, which Dillinger noted is not a final number, but rather a “moving target.”
Phase One of this project goes from 126th Street to 146th Street. Dillinger noted the hope is that Phase One comes in at or under budget so there will be funds remaining for Phase Two.
Dillinger said he considers State Road 37 to be the most important road project since completing 146th Street. It will, however, create necessary changes to drainage systems in the area.
The first portion of the State Road 37 project will be at the intersection at 126th Street, which is anticipated to take place between April and November of 2019. Dillinger said the county does not yet know which order the other major intersections at 131st, 135th, 141st and 146th streets will be addressed.
This will create additional challenges for 146th Street and Allisonville Road, which is currently not a funded project.
Dillinger also spoke briefly about the three-phase project for the Pleasant Street bridge and extension, noting that while it is a collaboration between the Hamilton County and the City of Noblesville, the bulk of the project falls under Noblesville supervision. Engineers and consultants have been selected and hope to begin work as soon as 2022. The projection is for a 29 percent reduction in traffic between 8th Street and River Road as soon as Phase One, the bridge construction, is completed.
Beginning in spring of this year, the first phase of the 146th Street from Lowes Way to the southbound Keystone Flyover project involves a roundabout as well as bridges over Cool Creek and Keystone Parkway. Beginning in 2020, Phase Two will involve and extension and improvements to Range Line.
Growth and Capital Improvements
The Government and Judicial Center, completed in 1992, is about to undergo a 132,000-square-foot expansion at a cost of $25 million. That project will begin in May of 2018 and should be completed in October of 2019. One reason for the expansion is to consolidate offices currently housed in the courthouse. The auditor, assessor, treasurer and recorder will be moved to the first floor after the expansion. The second and third floors of the expansion will be left unfinished for future expansion needs.
Dillinger explained the jail expansion is necessary due House Bill 1006, effective January 2016, requiring the county to keep level 6 felons (those sentenced to less than one year) in the jail rather than sending them to the Indiana Department of Correction. While jail capacity is 294 inmates, the county is often running closer to 400 inmates.
The new jail addition is set to begin construction in February and complete in February 2019. This project will add 120 beds to the jail’s capacity. It is a $13.5 million project. According to Dillinger, the solar panel portion of this project is projected to save $900,000 in utility costs in the first 18 months and $25.6 million over 25 years.
The new Riverview Hospital in Westfield is set for completion by June.
Dillinger spoke highly about Koteewi Park’s archery range, zip line, equestrian facility and the new snow tubing hill. He also mentioned the refurbished iron bridges added to Koteewi Park and the RV park.
Tourism
According to Dillinger, visitors to Hamilton County spend $738.2 million per year and generate $105.4 million in state and local taxes. He said 90 cents of every $1 visitors spend stay in Hamilton County. Tourism saves county residents $850 per year in taxes and is the seventh-largest industry in the county if measured by employment numbers, supporting over 14,000 jobs.