WISH-TV/Hamilton County Reporter

Mount Vernon Community Schools (MVCS) recently announced how parents can download a free app and use it anytime to locate their child’s school bus within their fleet of more than 60 buses, thanks to a new app developed by a Fishers-based company, Mobil Trackr, an Internet of Things wireless provider.

Derek Shelton, Director of Operations at Mount Vernon Community Schools said, “The app tracks the bus, whether it’s parked or driving, and the parent or child can pull the app up and see where their bus is. In after-school activities, when our buses have to travel significant distances, parents can still track the bus and know that the kids are on their way home.”

Parents can adjust the settings in the “Don’t Miss the Bus!” app to send them a push notification when the bus nears their child’s stop. The app also alerts parents when a bus number changes or if the schools have a delay or cancelation. Shelton, a father of two children attending Mount Vernon schools, says he feels incorporating the app into their system shows parents the schools prioritize student safety.

“You just have the peace of mind as a parent that the kids are safe, and where they’re at, and if they’re there when they’re supposed to be there,” Shelton said.

Other school districts in central Indiana have similar programs, but Mount Vernon’s system includes WiFi on all buses and several layers of security to ensure only those authorized to enter the app can see the bus locations.

Logan

“I think tech that is going to help you keep kids safe is completely needed,” said Bob Logan, vice president of sales for Mobil Trackr.

“When you can protect them when they go on the internet, and looking at them when they go places, as a parent, you feel very secure,” Logan said.

Logan says he’s a graduate of Indianapolis Public Schools and has been in the wireless industry for almost three decades. He hopes to share this technology with other school corporations around the state and help more parents and guardians make informed decisions about their children.

“That’s why Mount Vernon is so cutting edge — because they’re wanting to deliver something to their parents to show they care enough to put these systems in place to do things for their young people,” said Logan. “We’re excited to be a part of it.”

By

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

(NOTE: This is a commentary written by Fred Swift of the Hamilton County Reporter. The views expressed are those of Fred Swift and do not necessarily reflect the views of LarryInFishers.com.  This opinion piece is posted here as part of a partnership between the Reporter and LarryInFishers.com) 

Congratulations are in order for our local street and road departments. This winter has been hard on roads, but Hamilton County streets and roads are in good shape compared to neighboring Marion County.

Chuckholes (or potholes if you prefer) have made a shambles of many streets in Indianapolis. We have some broken pavement, no doubt about it, but nothing like our neighbors where a near state of emergency exists. Damage to a car is a distinct possibility when driving south of 96th Street.

What has made the difference? It could be that a better job of rebuilding and resurfacing was done in this county, or it could be that more heavy trucks in Marion County have ruined the roads, or it could be that our better maintenance and quicker repairs have kept ahead of widespread problems.

We could still have a lot of extreme winter weather in the next several weeks, and anything could happen, but so far it looks like our streets are holding up well and street crews are on top of the situation.

But, probably the most important thing about all this is the fact that areas like Indianapolis with big road problems will be spending much of their time and money this year simply filling chuckholes to get by for another year.

Whereas, in Hamilton County our street and highway departments can put their efforts into actual resurfacing and building new roads after repairing the relatively small amount of damage done by winter weather.

Good management and effective work crews have helped bring about this situation. That’s why we say congratulations and thank goodness we are not in the situation that some neighboring areas find themselves.

Now that the City of Fishers will be paying more than originally proposed for the new Geist Park property, the Fishers City Council will be asked to approve a $5 million general obligation bond to fund the remainder of that land purchase.  The council has already voted for a $12 million bond issue for the project, which remains in place.

The eminent domain process is valuing the land, now owned mostly by IMI Incorporated, at $15.7 million, $6 million more than originally budgeted for the land purchase.

The Fishers City Council Finance Committee voted 2-1 to favorably recommend moving forward with the $5 million bonds issuance.  Committee President Selina Stoller voted no, while John Weingardt and Cecilia Coble voted yes.  Eric Moeller was not able to attend the Wednesday meeting.

Coble expressed concerns about the condition of Geist Lake.  Weingardt said a conservancy district needs to be created so property owners around Geist Reservoir would pay for the upkeep of the waterway.  However, several government jurisdictions other than Fishers have land on that lake, making the creation of such a conservancy difficult.

Coble expressed concerns about the city spending money to buy the land for the park if the lake is not being kept in good shape.  She did, however, vote in favor of recommending a “yes” vote by the council on the bond.

“I think we need to get that conservancy district,” Stoller said in explaining her “no” vote.   “We need to go into a partnership with (Geist Lake property owners) to clean up that lake and to get it done.  This project is already over budget from the beginning, and to know there’s residents out there and the way I look at it, they’re just sitting back (and saying) ‘well, there’s a mess out there, yes it’s at my back door, why don’t you clean it up for me?’  I don’t feel, until they’re on board with cleaning this up, that we need to be putting this type of money into (the park).”

The city council is being asked to suspend the rules and approve the bond on first, second & third reading Monday night.  Since it takes a unanimous vote to suspend the rules, I asked Selina Stoller whether she plans to vote yes or no on suspending the rules and allowing a final vote on the bond Monday.  Stoller declined to comment.

After a member of the public criticized Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School officials for being silent and not being responsive to allegations of sexual assault, HSE School Board President Matt Burke responded.

“At the risk of doing something inappropriate here,  I am going to make a statement,” said Burke during the board meeting Wednesday night.  “The assumption that nothing is being done is ludicrous.  There are legal rights and their is a legal process that has to be followed.  We do not have a choice in that matter and we will follow a legal process and that legal process is being followed.  It will not necessarily follow the timeline that some people want, and I regret that, but I think the situation, personally, sucks, because this is not a situation that the school, in any way, created.  It was a situation that happened in the community, and we’ll have to let the process run its due course.”

Burke then said he would not discuss the issue any further.

News stories in the Indianapolis Star and television station WTHR have reported that a student at HSE High School has been investigated by police on rape allegations.  One story quotes a police officer as saying their investigation has been turned over to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s office for a decision on whether charges should or should not be filed in that case.

The Fishers Internet of Things (IOT) Lab grand opening isn’t scheduled until March 21st, but the facility already has a few people working there and continues to draw attention state-wide.

The First Lady of Indiana University is Laurie Burns McRobbie, wife of IU President Michael McRobbie.  Mrs. McRobbie visited the IU suite at the Lab  and begin giving the area an IU feel by painting the wall red, even painting the IU insignia.

I had a chance to chat with IU’s First Lady briefly during her visit…

The campaign of Dennis Quakenbush announced it has received the endorsement of current Hamilton County Sheriff Mark Bowen.  According to a story posted In the Hamilton County Reporter, a news-gathering partner of LarryInFishers.com, Bowen emphasized the importance of local residents feeling secure and safe.

“Captain Dennis Quakenbush is aware of the issues that are affecting not only the agency but the community as a whole, and he stands committed to providing effective, efficient and professional leadership to both,” Bowen says in the news release . “He genuinely cares about people and keeping them safe, and it shows. He has my full support.”

Sheriff Bowen joined the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy in 1991. He has spent 27 years with the Department, including time as Chief Deputy under Sheriff Doug Carter, before being elected Sheriff in 2011 and reelected in 2015.

Quakenbush is one of four candidates in the Republican primary election seeking the office of Hamilton County Sheriff.

by

Jeff Jellison 

Hamilton County Reporter

The Hamilton County Commissioners voted Monday to approve an ordinance that prohibits the placement of signs in Hamilton County rights-of-way and on thoroughfares maintained by the county.

Commissioners say placing signs in public rights-of-way makes it difficult for motorists to recognize regulatory signs which are necessary for safe travel and can often block the vision of motorists at intersections. “Public safety is our number one priority,” said Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt.

Monday’s meeting drew a crowd of opponents, many of which felt the ordinance was specifically put in place to hinder campaign efforts of current political candidates; however, according the Hamilton County Attorney Mike Howard, the ordinance prohibits all signs, not just candidate signs.

Hamilton County Council member Rick McKinney addressed commissioners Altman and Hierbrandt. “The little guy, the candidate that does not have unlimited campaign resources from vendors and contractors doing business with the county, such as the two of you, should be allowed to place their signs in the right-of-way for the short time a campaign entails. Such a move, as the one you are proposing, smacks heavy handedness and absolute control one would expect a dictator to impose.”

Howard responded by stating the ordinance actually levels the playing field for political candidates. “It prevents the big budget candidate from purchasing a large number of signs and placing them in the right-of-ways.”

In a statement issued to the Reporter, McKinney said, “Attempting to couch proposed changes as being in the interest of public safety or saving tax payer dollars is both shallow and hollow at best. Will the commissioners go as far as prohibiting signs of all nature, including realtor signs, which are far more intrusive and trashy, but present year-round?”

Christine Pauley, clerk treasurer for the City of Carmel and candidate for Hamilton County Council District 4, agreed that she does not like the litter of the signs in the right of ways; however, Pauley felt there needs to be an effort to educate the community before enforcement of the ordinance.

Commissioner Steve Dillinger, who was not in attendance at Monday’s meeting, told the Reporter in a telephone interview that he agreed with Pauley. “I think Christine makes a valid point, we do need to educate the public.”

Dillinger is suggesting the county work in cooperation with the cities to create an educational meeting to explain the ordinance.

“In the past I felt people placing signs in right-of-ways was an affordable opportunity for exposure; however, right of ways are being abused more and more,” said Dillinger.

Dillinger believes there needs to be consistency throughout the county. “We asked all of the mayors for their cooperation in implementing ordinances that would be consistent throughout the county,” stated Dillinger.

Commissioner Altman said, “I’ve been against using right-of-ways for advertising. If you are running for office you should have the support of your friends and neighbors, your signs should be on their property.”

The ordinance defines a Hamilton County right-of-way as the land contiguous to a Hamilton County street, including sidewalks, multi-use paths, land conspicuously used for the placement of public utilities or directional signs. Violation of the ordinance is a Class C Infraction and subject to a fine up to $500 per sign.

(Editor’s Note:  Fishers already has a sign ordinance.  City Spokesperson Casey Cawthon says an amendment to the city’s ordinance is up for a vote in next week’s city council meeting in order to update the ordinance to be consistent with court decisions to write such laws more generally and be less specific in defining signs not allowed in the right-of-way.)

Hamilton County Reporter

Jeff Heinzmann, Fishers, has announced his candidacy for Hamilton County Judge, Superior Court No. 1. Mr. Heinzmann is running in the Republican primary to fill the seat that will be vacated by Judge Steven R. Nation’s retirement at the end of 2018 after four terms.

Mr. Heinzmann graduated from Indiana University Law School in 1993 and began working at the firm now known as Cohen Garelick & Glazier, where he practiced in civil litigation, representing small businesses in central Indiana courts. In 1997, he continued his practice as a litigator at Landman & Beatty. Four years later he left private practice and from 2001 through 2011 served the State, first as counsel and deputy state auditor, then in the Daniels administration directing the state wide small business development program at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. After three years as in-house counsel for an IT staffing and consulting firm, he opened Heinzmann Law Office LLC in 2015, operating out of Launch Fishers. His practice is a general civil practice, including business law, civil litigation, family law, wills and personal injury.

“Judge Nation leaves big shoes to fill. With my diverse background in the law, government, business and the community, I have broad experience that will translate well to the bench,” said Heinzmann. “As judge, I will impartially evaluate the facts and apply the law in all cases with integrity, diligence and respect to all who come before the court, be they parties, attorneys, jurors, or witnesses.”

Santiago Jaramillo was once one of those entrepreneurs working to find his way at Launch Fishers.  Now, Jaramillo, co-founder and CEO of the local firm Emplify, has seen sales growth of 250% in the last year and is expecting to hire more than 30 additional workers.

Emplify also announced the addition of Rachel Clark as the company’s Vice President of Product and Engineering,

In a news release, Emplify says it has added over 150 new clients, including Ivy Tech, Appirio, Harley Davidson, Crew Carwash, Cook Pharmica and Herff Jones.

“As we continue into the new year, it’s a great time to be a part of the Emplify community, whether you’re a team member, investor, or customer,” said Jaramillo in the company news release. “We are thrilled for Rachel to join our team to ensure our product is scaling to meet industry demand as the need for strategic employee engagement is at an all-time high. We look forward to partnering with many more world-class leaders to maximize their team’s potential in 2018 and beyond.”

Emplify specializes in assisting companies in their employee engagement efforts, using data and analytics to take insights by employees and use them to better the business.

There are multiple news reports, including an Indianapolis Business Journal story you can read at this link, that a Hamilton County Court has ruled on a purchase price for the land the City of Fishers is seeking to purchase in order to build a new park on Geist Reservoir.  The price of $15.7 million is being set as part of an eminent domain proceeding.  This is about $6 million more than the city originally proposed to pay for the 70 acres along the Geist Lake.

Mayor Fadness told me in January that he was negotiating with the owners of the land, IMI Incorporated and Marina Limited Partnership, as the eminent domain process was moving forward.  If no agreement was reached, and so far there has been no agreement between the city and the owners, the eminent domain process sets the purchase price.