It happened around 10am Saturday morning, a crash involving a Buick SUV and a bicycle, resulting in the death of the bicyclist.  Robert Lackey, 61, from Fishers, died in the crash.  No one else was hurt.  It happened near Brooks School Road and Broadmoor Drive.

Fishers Police say it appears the bicyclist and the Buick were both traveling northbound on Brooks School Road. The driver of the Buick told officers she did not see the bicyclist in time to avoid the crash.  Mr. Lackey was taken to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis, but died from injuries suffered n the crash.

The driver of the SUV, identified as Deborah A. Sundstrom, 59, from Indianapolis, is said to be cooperating with authorities.

Fishers Police say this is still an active investigation.

This is the one-year anniversary edition of Hamilton County Goes To The Movies…yes, we have faithfully posted a new podcast every Saturday.  Adam & I talk about the past year of podcasting…Adam reviews “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” and I look back at two 1970s films featuring famed actor William Holden.

by

Jeff Jellison

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton County Judge Paul Felix has issued a decision on a court battle involving the Indiana Transportation Museum (ITM) and the City of Noblesville’s decision not to renew the museum’s lease at Forest Park.

As a part of the case, ITM had asked the court to issue a restraining order blocking a June 1, 2018 date established by Noblesville for the museum to vacate the property.

In late May, Felix conducted a hearing on the matter. On Thursday, Felix issued a ruling requiring ITM to immediately vacate Forest Park.

Felix’s ruling stated:

• The ITM is to immediately vacate the property.
• That any structures, additions, equipment or property remaining on the premises will be deemed abandoned if not removed by July 12, 2018.
• After July 12, 2018, Noblesville will be granted possession of the premises and is authorized to change the locks on the property.
• After July 12, 2018, the Sheriff is ordered to dispose of and remove ITM and all other occupants from the property at the expense of ITM.

On Friday, Noblesville released a statement regarding Felix’s ruling.

“We are thankful to Judge Paul Felix and his fair, unbiased judgement on this matter. This case was based on the lease not being renewed and setting a deadline for the removal of the Indiana Transportation Museum and its property within Forest Park, which originated from ITM suing the city. The order speaks for itself and is very clear and transparent. We are very pleased with the court’s order and believe it is the right ruling and in the public’s best interest. The property is a mess but will be restored in a safe and efficient manner. The city will continue to hold ITM responsible for any environmental issues remaining at the site.”

More information on the environmental activities within Forest Park is available at this link.

If you are wondering how traffic will be impacted by the June 30th Spark Fishers Festival in the downtown area of Fishers, there is information about that in this week’s road construction report.  Also, look for lane restrictions on part of 141st start beginning in the coming week.

Below is the complete listing for the work week starting July 2nd, as provided by the City of Fishers:

==========================

SPARK!FISHERS FESTIVAL

The inaugural Spark!Fishers community festival is Saturday, June 30. Setup will begin at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 29. Lanes will be restricted for setup on the south side of Municipal Complex from North Street to Fishers Center Drive, and on Maple Street from North Street to 116th Street. Street parking and surface lots around the Municipal Complex will be restricted beginning at 5 a.m. on June 29 and will reopen at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, June 30. For parking information, please visit sparkfishers.com.

On June 30, restrictions and closures will be in effect in the following locations:
Full street closures beginning at 5 a.m.

• 116th Street between Municipal Drive and Lantern Road (reopens at 9 a.m.)
• Entire Municipal Complex (reopens at 11:59 p.m.)
• Maple from North Street to 116th Street (reopens at 11:59 p.m.)
• North Street from Lantern to Municipal (reopens at 11:59 p.m.)

Full street closures beginning at 7 a.m.

• 116th Street between Holland Drive and Municipal Drive (reopens at 9 a.m.)
• Lantern Road between 116th Street and 126th Street (reopens at 9 a.m.)
• 126th Street between Lantern Road and Saksons Blvd (reopens at 9 a.m.)
• Saksons Blvd/Holland Drive between 126th Street and 116th Street (reopens at 9 a.m.)

Lane restrictions beginning at 5 p.m.

• Technology Drive (reopens at 9 p.m.)

Full street closures beginning at 6 p.m.

• Lantern Road between 116th Street and Sunblest Blvd (reopens at 10 p.m.)
• Holland Park Drive to Ellipse Parkway to Sunblest Blvd. (reopens at 10 p.m.)
• 116th Street from Lantern Road to Holland Park Drive (reopens at 10:30 p.m.)

141ST STREET   

Beginning July 2, there will be lane restrictions along 141st Street between Allisonville Road and SR37 for resurfacing work. Flaggers will be in place to direct traffic.

ALLISONVILLE ROAD

Allisonville Road construction is in full swing. Traffic has been shifted to the east to allow for widening on the west side. Restrictions may be in place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and flaggers will be on site directing traffic, as necessary. Through September, all southbound left turns from Allisonville Road onto 126th Street will be prohibited.

This will be an active construction site with reduced speed limits. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

116TH STREET

Eastbound 116th Street from Allisonville Road to Fishers Pointe Blvd. is reduced to one lane between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for resurfacing of the path on the south side of the roadway. Westbound 116th Street from Fishers Pointe Blvd. to Hague Road will be reduced to one lane between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for work on the street lights on the north side of the roadway.

There will be temporary lane restrictions on Eller Road south of 106th Street for pavement restoration. Flaggers will be in place to direct traffic.

116TH STREET & BROOKS SCHOOL ROAD

There will be lane restrictions on 116th Street and Brooks School Road this week for resurface work on both streets.

131ST STREET   

The intersection of 131st and Cumberland Road is currently closed for 45 days to construct a new roundabout. See the Detour Map.

Expect lane restrictions, weather permitting, along 131st Street between Allisonville Road and Lantern Road for 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.

NICKEL PLATE DISTRICT 

For the Tuesday evening concert on Central Green, Municipal Drive in front of City Hall will be closed for stage construction beginning at noon. Also beginning at noon, North Street and Municipal Drive will become a right turn only, and Fishers Center Drive and Municipal Drive will become a left turn only. Beginning at 5 p.m., there will be road closures on Municipal Drive at 116th Street, on Municipal Drive at Fishers Center Drive (vehicles will still be able to turn left), and on Municipal Drive at North Street (vehicles will still be able to turn right). Roads will reopen at midnight. Street parking on Municipal Drive will be restricted from 2 p.m. until midnight. Guests can access the event from Fishers Center Drive, Municipal Drive (north), and North Street. Parking is available at The Switch garage, accessed from North Street.

The Board of Works recently passed an ordinance for no parking in the Nickel Plate District between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. See the Parking Restrictions Map for more information.

BROOKS SCHOOL ROAD  

Brooks School Road will be closed for 30 days beginning on or after July 5, south of 116th Street between Desert Glen Drive and Club Point Drive. The detour route is Hoosier Road and Fall Creek Road. View the Detour Map.

Brooks School Road is closed between 126th Street and 136th Street to build a sidewalk to the east side of the bridge over I-69. Detours via 136th Street, Promise Road, and 126th Street to get around the closure. The road will reopen in early August. Questions can be directed here.

136TH STREET

136th Street is closed between Southeastern Parkway and Prairie Baptist Road for the construction of a new roundabout. See the Detour Map.

106TH STREET   

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

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

A public meeting was held on Tuesday, May 15at the Delaware Township Trustee Office. The meeting presentation and updated information is available on the project’s new website. 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 to SR37@rqaw.com. 

OUTSIDE OF FISHERS   

The City of Carmel has closed 116th Street between Towne Road and Ditch Road, and between Clay Center Road and Spring Mill Road, until August 8.

While this list encompasses numerous project updates, it does not list all DPW projects throughout the city. The most recent projects are detailed, however please keep in mind that all construction activities are weather permitting. We appreciate motorists’ patience and caution while driving through construction sites.  

A Camby man faces faces one count of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon in connection with a gun incident Monday at the Fishers IKEA store. According to my news-gathering partner, the Hamilton County Reporter, Francis Wright faces the charge, described by prosecutors as a level six felony.

Police said Wright  sat down on a couch, where his firearm fell out of his pants and got lodged in the piece of furniture. Wright got up from the couch and continued to walk around the store without realizing his gun was gone, according to investigators.

A child found the gun and fired it inside of the store. No one was injured.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness made a surprise appearance before the Hamilton Southeastern School Board Wednesday night to issue a proclamation for June 27th, 2018, to be Mike Beresford Day in Fishers.

Dr. Beresford has been hired by the Carmel-Clay School Corporation to serve as their superintendent as of July.

‘It’s my understanding that one of our leaders of our school administration is taking the courage and the courageous act of taking a mission trip to the far land of the west, across the majestic White River,” joked the mayor.  “We are confident he will meet several circular curves .”

When the mayor got serious, he cited the fact that he has known Mike Beresford for over a decade.  “He has been part of the foundation of the relationship between the city and the schools,” Mayor Fadness said.

The school board, at the end of the meeting, gave Dr, Beresford three large street signs, one of Fishers High School, one of HSE High School and a final one bearing the educator’s name.

Community Health will become a much larger presence in the Hamilton Southeastern School District following the passage of a resolution empowering school administrators to finalize a contract with the health network.  Community already provides mental health services, but will now staff the employee health center and eventually employ nurses working in the district’s school buildings.

IU Health cancelled its pact with HSE Schools to provide an employee health center on 90 days notice, meaning their clinic will close as of September 2nd.  Community Health has committed to making every effort to open its health clinic by September 2nd, but if that cannot be done, HSE School workers will be directed to other Community Health facilities in the area.  Community had expected to open the health Center January 1, 2019, but the IU cancellation created a need to speed-up the process

Marianne Lawson Vogt spoke on behalf of the nursing staff in HSE Schools.  “While we can’t say we are not disappointed to be leaving as HSE employees,” Vogt told the board, “We would like to thank the board, especially Michelle Fullhart and Sylvia Shepler.”

Vogt says this has been a “very long and hard process, and we believe we’ve all made the best of the current vote before the board. There’s always compromise and balancing, saving funds in our students’ best interest.”

Part of the compromise will expand the types of medications nurses may dispense in their schools, greatly expanding the list from what Community Health had originally proposed.  This changeover of nurses becoming Community Health employees will not happen until the 2019-2020 school year.

In a related action, Methodist Health will continue to provide sports training services to the HSE Schools, in the 2018-2019 school year, but Community Health will take that program over in the 2019-2020 year.

When the Indiana Internet of Things (IOT) Lab, located in Fishers, brought-in executives from The Cook Group, a medical device firm headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, you would think the subject would be the state of the medical device industry.  That was not the subject most on their minds.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness led the discussion featuring Cook Group Chairman Steve Ferguson and company president Pete Yonkman.

Ferguson told the assembled crowd that in the Bloomington area, there are 29,000 people lacking a high school diploma.  Cook decided to do something about finding qualified job candidates.

Rather than looking to government for a solution, Yonkman explained how Cook faced this issue.  The company hired people without a high school degree to work part-time at Cook, and set them up to go to school and get their high school equivalency certification.  For example, a part-timer would work in the morning, and head for school in the afternoon.    Then Cook worked with Ivy Tech and WGU (a university based in Indiana) to further their workers education once the high school degree was done.

“We went from having 75 people in our program to more than 1,200 in less than a year,” Yonkman said.  “We showed that the pent-up need is there for education if you take away the barriers.”

Mayor Fadness talked about a manufacturing firm in Shelby County that has $50 million in annual revenue but ran the entire operation with seven employees.  He cited data that shows Indiana’s manufacturing output continues to grow, but it requires fewer and fewer workers to produce the product.

The discussion also centered on the importance of corporate culture.

Indiana IOT Lab Founder John Wechsler introduces Mayor Fadness

When Hamilton Southeastern School officials first discussed the idea of contracting out nursing services in the school buildings to Community Health, the nurses were very opposed to the idea, wanting to remain employees of the school corporation.  However, based on a Facebook post Tuesday night by Marianne Lawson Vogt, it would appear an agreement has been reached acceptable to all parties involved.

Ms. Vogt, a nurse working in a school within the HSE School District, says in that Facebook post, “we have reached what seems like an acceptable solution to all sides regarding standard of care. Although it seems the school nursing services will be contracted to Community Hospital, it is expected that the contract will allow us (school nurses) to continue to give our students medications with only a few changes from our current status. This is a huge win and what we felt was necessary to maintain the HSE School’s current standard of care.”

The school nurse expressed special thanks to board members Michelle Fullhart and Sylvia Shepler, along with school board candidate Frank Whelan.  She also thanked the many members of the local community supporting the nurses.

The nurses working in the school buildings would prefer to remain HSE School Corporation employees, but Vogt wrote, “…we are hopeful that it will be good for everyone involved.”

HSE administrators told the school board at the meeting earlier this month that contracting the nursing services to Community Health will save the local schools $4.6 million over 4 years.  The board is expected to vote on the final language of the Community Health pact at the meeting Wednesday night.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter