by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Plans to develop a housing project on the site of the former Farm Bureau Co-op grain processing plant in Noblesville have been abandoned. For more than two years the Hamilton County Neighborhood Development (HAND) tried to secure funding from state housing authorities for an apartment development on the site at 8th and Mulberry streets, but has now decided against pursuing the project.

An option on the ground expired in recent months. The land is owned by North Central Co-op. The property, formerly the site of huge grain silos, is now vacant. Its future use is undetermined.

Before Farm Bureau began operations, the ground was the site of the Noblesville Milling Company founded in the late 19th century and was a major employer in the city.

HAND is now focusing on two other projects in the county. Cooperating with the Woda Group, Inc. of Ohio, HAND will be able to provide 32 living units at Blackhawk Commons in Sheridan, a project announced earlier that is now cleared to get underway in July. Approval of federal rental tax credits resulted in the final go-ahead.

The apartments will be located in the former Sheridan High School, an 88-year-old structure later used as Adams Elementary which is currently vacant.

In addition to the housing for moderate income tenants, the school’s gymnasium will become a community recreation facility made possible with $300,000 in county funds. The gym, once the largest in the county, hosted sectional basketball tourneys prior to the mid-1950s and is considered a local historic structure.

HAND also has a small apartment project underway in the Home Place area of Carmel. Located near 106th Street and College Avenue, the 10-unit complex will be completed before the end of the year, according to a release from HAND officials.

The non-profit organization has 96 living units for rent in Hamilton County, not counting the Blackhawk Commons and Home Place complexes. HAND was founded in 2003 with the mission of providing affordable housing for county residents.

Here is yet another story in my March series on Disability Awareness Month

Spring weather is showing itself occasionally in the Fishers area, but a look at the road construction listing would make you think spring has already sprung.  Lots of restrictions and closures around town.

Below is the road construction listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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There will be lane closures and/or restrictions in place on the morning of Saturday, March 10 throughout the Nickel Plate District for the FT5K Mudsock. Restrictions will occur at North Street and Lantern Road, moving west on North Street, and north on Municipal Drive to Lantern Road.

Restrictions will also take place along Sunblest Boulevard from Lantern Road, moving southwest around Ellipse Parkway and north on Saksons Boulevard. Also, the eastbound lane of 126th Street will be closed to Lantern Road, and expect additional restrictions on Lantern Road from Commercial Drive to North Street. View the complete route.

106TH STREET   

106th Street is closed to through traffic from Eller Road to Allisonville Road for the 106th Street Infrastructure Project. Closures for through traffic will also take place on Eller Road from Allisonville Road to Hague Road. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

HOOSIER ROAD   

Beginning on or after March 19, Hoosier Road south of 116th Street will be closed to all traffic through the cemetery for sanitary sewer repairs. A detour will be in place on Cumberland Road while work is completed.

131ST STREET   

Periodic lane restrictions will occur at the intersection of 131st Street and Cumberland Road as utility relocation work is completed.

Expect lane restrictions, weather permitting, along 131st Street between Allisonville Road and Lantern Road to allow for tree clearing prior to the construction of the Conner Trail from Conner Prairie to the Municipal Complex. Lane restrictions will also take place on Lantern Road between 131st Street and Municipal Drive.

136TH STREET   

Lane restrictions will be in place, weather permitting, along 136th Street between Southeastern Parkway and Prairie Baptist Road to allow for tree clearing prior to the construction of a new roundabout.

MEADOWS DRIVE  

Meadows Drive is closed between Frances Drive and Morgan Drive, weather permitting, for the installation of sanitary sewer.

ELLER ROAD   

Eller Road is closed to through traffic south of 106th Street. Also, the intersection of 106th Street and Eller Road will be closed for 2 to 3 weeks for the 106th Street Infrastructure Project.

126TH STREET   

Expect possible lane restrictions on 126th Street from Allisonville Road to the railroad tracks while aerial utility work is completed.

ALLISONVILLE ROAD RESURFACING & INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT   

Lane restrictions will be in place, as weather permits, along Allisonville Road from 126th Street to 131st Street for tree clearing ahead of the start of the roadway expansion project. Restrictions will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and flaggers will be on site directing traffic, as necessary. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

MORGAN DRIVE   

Morgan Drive is restricted to one lane between Lantern Road and Emmanual Court for work on stormwater structures.

I-69   

As part of a $92 million design-build contract, Milestone has added a third lane in each direction to the median, repaired and resurfaced existing pavement, and rehabilitated bridges and drainage structures on 15 miles of I-69 in Hamilton and Madison counties. Construction of an additional auxiliary lane between the 116th Street entrance ramp to I-69 South and the I-69 South Exit 204 ramp to 106th Street will continue through next spring.

I-69 South will be temporarily reduced to two lanes to allow space for the State Road 37 and 116th Street entrance ramps to safely merge while construction continues on the southbound auxiliary lane between the 116th Street and 106th Street ramps.

Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT via email or at 1-855-463-6848.

STATE ROAD 37  

The Meeting Minutes and Meeting Presentation from the December State Road 37 Project Public Meeting, along with additional project information is available.

The State Road 37 improvement project is a $124 million joint project between Fishers, Hamilton County, Noblesville, and INDOT. Questions or concerns may be directed via email to Drive Fishers.

Hamilton County Commissioners Mark Heirbrandt (left) and Christine Altman stand next to one of the 9,300 solar panels that will be installed on the roofs at the correctional campus and three acres adjacent to State Road 37 north of State Road 32. (Photo provided)

Hamilton County Reporter

by

Stu Clampitt

Hamilton County Reporter

In the wake of the death of Boone County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Pickett, one Hamilton County businessman is working to make a difference by setting up a fund to help Pickett’s family.

Darren Peck, owner and vice president of Indiana Restoration and president of Noblesville Fifty Club from 2010 to 2017, has set up the Deputy Pickett Memorial Fund to help the fallen officer’s family. Peck is also working to help establish a Fifty Club for Boone County.

“We have two objectives,” Peck explained. “One is to receive money for Deputy Pickett’s family; to relieve Sheriff Nielsen of that burden. He has to lay to rest his deputy, so we need to take that burden off of him – collect the money and distribute that to his family at the time and place that’s appropriate.”

Peck has helped set up an account at Key Bank called the Fifty Club of Boone County. People wishing to make contributions to the memorial fund can make checks payable to “Fifty Club of Boone Co.” or “Deputy Pickett Memorial Fund.” According to Peck, you can take money to any KeyBank in Indiana or you can leave it at the Boone County Sheriff’s office.

“Our second objective is to establish this same type of club in Boone County,” Peck said. “While Indianapolis has had a club for 60 years and Noblesville for almost 50, Boone County has never had a Fifty Club.”

Peck was kind enough to give The Reporter a bit of history on the Fifty Club.

“The Hamilton County Fifty Club was started in 1969 by 10 Noblesville businessmen,” Peck told The Reporter. “Our bylaws are pretty specific. It was originally set up to provide a ‘line of duty death benefit’ to Hamilton County sheriff’s deputies, Noblesville policemen, Noblesville firemen and state troopers patrolling Hamilton County. Back in the 50s was when the Indianapolis Hundred Club was formed and into the 60s there wasn’t the type of city, state and federal-provided benefits that they get now. That was the reason these clubs were formed.”

In addition to helping the families of fallen officers, from the day the Fifty Club was formed the members have offered police officers and firemen a place to blow off steam.

“We’ve always had two golf outings a year,” Peck explained. “It’s not a traditional golf outing. It’s just that two firemen or policemen play with two business people, so you get to know the guys. We don’t have tee sponsors or try to raise money. We always have a big dinner after at the Moose Lodge where there are 100 or 150 guys in the room and we’re just cutting up and having a good time. In recent years we’ve added sport shooting. Cabela’s has always been a great sponsor of that.”

Checks payable to “Fifty Club of Boone Co.” or “Deputy Pickett Memorial Fund” may be taken to any KeyBank in Indiana or to the Boone Co. Sheriff’s Department. You can also mail a check to 2 N. 9th St., Noblesville, IN 46060. Peck noted that 100 percent of the money collected will go to Deputy Pickett’s family.

My Disability Awareness Month mini-podcasts continue – here is Episode 9

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Basketball fans interested in watching the upcoming regional game between Carmel and Fort Wayne Homestead will find it telecast live online by HCTV starting at noon Saturday. Carmel, winner of the Noblesville Sectional, advances to the Logansport Regional where Zionsville plays Fort Wayne North Side in the first game at 10 a.m. Winners of the two daytime games play Saturday evening for a trip to the Semistate.

* * *

No firm date has yet been established for the Indiana Transportation Museum’s departure from Forest Park. Noblesville city officials want the museum’s train cars and equipment out by June 1 of this year. ITM says it can’t get everything out and cleaned up until June of 2019. Negotiations are proceeding with no date firmly set. The city did not renew the museum’s lease on their site in the park which expired on March 1.

* * *

Some Indianapolis political leaders are suggesting they need a “commuter tax” on residents of Hamilton County and other nearby counties who work in the city in order to repair and maintain Marion County streets. City streets deteriorated badly this winter. Such a tax would require action by state legislators who say there will likely be no action on the tax in the current legislative session. There has been little to no discussion on taxing the 15,000 Marion County residents who commute to work in Hamilton County each day.

* * *

Noblesville Main Street director Chris Owens has resigned. A search is underway for a new director. Main Street, which promotes downtown business, sponsors a number of programs especially in summer months including the popular Street Dance, Jazz on the Square, an annual chili cook-off and a major art exhibit.

* * *

A hearing has been postponed to March 29 on a lawsuit filed by Hamilton County Council candidate Rick Sharp seeking to restrain County Commissioners from enforcing a new ordinance against signs in county right-of-way. Sharp claims the ordinance was passed last month to exclude candidates from exercising their right to freely appeal for consideration by voters. Court Magistrate Will Greenaway agreed to postpone a March 5 hearing to the 29th.

My mini-podcast series on Disability Awareness Month Continues – Here is Episode 8

A national movement is forming, calling for students to walk-out of their classes March 14th for 17 minutes, in memory of the 17 student victims in Parkland, Florida.  The question that everyone is asking is this – will students be disciplined for participating in such a walkout?

Based on a letter addressed to HSE Students, parents, staff and community members from School Superintendent Allen Bourff, Hamilton Southeastern School District administrators reserve the right to discipline students choosing to participate in the walk-out planned for 10am March 14th.

“Students have a constitutional right to free speech and expression,” Dr, Bourff wrote in his message, “but those rights do not extend to the creation of a substantial disruption to the learning environment, which could occur in the event of a walkout.”

Bourff suggests other ways students can express themselves, such as 17-minutes of silence, writing letters to elected officials, or taking part in a social media movement prompting students to “Walk Up Not Out,” which involves supporting peers and school staff.

It appears HSE Schools are taking a different approach than at least two other nearby county school districts.

According to a story in the March 7th edition of the Hamilton County Reporter, Carmel Schools will allow their students to participate in this demonstration without
repercussion, according to district spokeswoman Courtney Taylor.  Westfield
Washington Schools will allow their students to participate in an “awareness walk.”

If you are wondering whether your student will be disciplined for participating in any walkout or protest March 14th, it appears administrators do have some leeway in deciding whether to impose penalties.

Below is a listing of the questions and answers included in Dr. Bourff’s message:

What if students wear armbands, t-shirts or other expressive clothing? What if they carry signs, banners?
Students may express political views that are not disruptive to the school setting. The student handbook contains more detailed guidance.

Will students be penalized if they exercise their right to freedom of speech?
Our students have the right to free speech and expression, but those rights do not extend to the creation of a substantial disruption to the learning environment. We encourage students to exercise their right of free speech in ways that will not disrupt the education of others.

Will students receive disciplinary consequences for walking out or violating any provisions of the student handbook? For example:

·      What if students plan to congregate inside of the school for a portion of the day, sometimes referred to as a walk-in or sit-in?

·      Will students have to leave the premises if they protest by leaving class?

·      What if students do not show up to class or arrive late as a protest?

·      Will students who walk out of the school/class be excused?

According to the student handbook, students are expected to be in their assigned areas during instructional time. Students who choose to leave class or school violate this policy. The consequence for being out of an assigned area, according to the student handbook, generally involves a disciplinary response. Administrators always talk to students who violate school policies, and administrators take into account extenuating circumstances before assigning consequences. HSE Schools sees disciplinary consequences as an opportunity to teach and not as a punitive experience.

How safe will students be if there is a walkout?
We will maintain our normal safety and security protocols.

May I protest with my child at school?
For the safety and security of our students, adults will not be allowed to protest on school property.

Will teachers continue to teach if students walk out?
Yes. Absent students will be required to make up any missed work.

What will happen if I call my son or daughter out of school on March 14 and bring them back after the protest is over?
Parents may follow the regular procedures for calling students out of school and re-entry into school. Delays may occur based on the volume of call-ins.

Are students allowed to pass out flyers about a protest event?
Students must follow the normal procedures for posting informational flyers, posters, etc.; however, schools must remain politically neutral.

After a flurry of public comments from residents on one specific area, Fishers Plan Commission members voted unanimously to postpone a decision on adding Greenway overlay areas in some Geist neighborhoods.

City Planning Department staff assured the residents that language in the Greenway proposal would not require individual land owners with homes in the proposed Greenway to add a walking path along their property lines when improving their property.  A total of 13 residents spoke during the public hearing, arguing that the language in the proposal was so vague they feared that installing a walking path on their property could be required if they choose to improve their home or add a barn to their property.

City staff said the language is aimed at requiring subdivision developers to build such walking paths when the development is built-out, in line with the city’s long-range comprehensive plan.

Commission members instructed staff in the city’s Planning Department to look at language that is more precise in order to ease the concerns of the residents.

The Plan Commission is expected to take the matter up again at it’s April 11th meeting.