During its first meeting in January, the Fishers Arts & Culture Commission did not officially conduct business, it was more of a briefing session by city staff on what the organization is expected to handle.  In the body’s second session held Tuesday night, members voted to install David Decker as its first Chairman.  Cecilia Coble was elected as Vice Chair.

The commission was briefed by staff on a number of issues.  There were two items from the Fishers Parks and Recreation Department worth noting.

First, the Farmer’s Market held outside at the Amphitheater will run from May to the end of October in 2019.  After October, the Farmer’s Market will move inside to the Holland Park shelter house November and December.  Parks officials say the attendance at the indoor Farmer’s Markets dropped off dramatically after Christmas, resulting in the schedule change.

Second, the Amphitheater will host three Saturday night concerts aimed at music fans in their 20s.  The events are expected to be scheduled in mid to late summer.  The acts that will perform have not yet been announced, and no specific dates have been announced.

The next meeting of the Fishers Arts & Culture Commission will be May 14th.

As Fishers becomes a more diverse community, the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District has ramped-up its English language programs.  The State of Indiana has recognized HSE Schools for the efforts in English education.

The Indiana Department of Education (DOE) announced Tuesday HSE Schools have been awarded of the 2018-2019 Title III Distinguished Indiana School District Award. Hamilton Southeastern Schools was chosen to receive this distinction for demonstrating a commitment to English Learner success through strategic programming, rigorous instruction, inclusive school culture, and beneficial partnerships with families and the community, according to a DOE news release.

“I applaud the dedicated work of the students, families, staff, and communities of Hamilton Southeastern Schools,” said Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Allen Bourff and Director Danielle Riego, Hamilton Southeastern Schools represents the vision of working together for student success by ensuring English Learners, and all children, have opportunities to succeed.”

HSE was selected after a review of English Learner performance data by DOE from all public-school districts and charter schools, followed by a two-part interview process, including an on-site visit.

The Title III Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient (LEP) and Immigrant Students of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 aims to help ensure that children who are LEP attain English proficiency, develop high levels of academic attainment in English, and meet the same state academic content and student academic achievement standards as all children are expected to meet in the State of Indiana.

The City of Fishers is gearing up for the summer road resurfacing season.  The Board of Public Works and Safety approved a $1.342 million bid Monday from Calumet Contractors to perform the work.  The resurfacing will be done in Timber Springs, Hamilton Proper,
Hawthorne Ridge, and 121st Street from Cumberland Road to Hoosier Road.  The city engineering department says those streets are in poor condition and in bad need of resurfacing.  Funds for this project will come from the Wheel Tax.  Resurfacing work is expected to get underway this spring.

In another road matter, the board approved the final part of the road widening on Allisonville Road to 4 lanes.  Rieth-Riley was awarded the $1.58 million project, widening the roadway from Smock Creek to 0.3 miles north of Smock Creek. This
location is between the existing 4 lane section just south of Smock Creek and ties
into the two new projects of 126th and 131st and Allisonville.

The board approved a supplemental agreement for the planned roundabout at 126th Street and Ford Road.  The city plans to move forward with the design if the Board of Works approves the agreement for construction in late 2019 or 2020, and dependent upon the right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation

The city long-ago worked out an agreement with the Indianapolis Airport Authority to develop land within the local airport near 106th Street and Allisonville Road.   The board voted for an extension of the contract with Jones Lang LaSalle to market the airport land for sale or lease, for another year, until March 16, 2020.  The city will not be liable for any broker fees under this agreement.

Neighborhood Matching Grants were approved by the board. $35,000 will be spent by the city on these grants.  For a full listing, use this link.

The board also voted to approve $20,000 in neighborhood tree matching grants.  To view a map of the areas approved, use this link.

“Indiana already has one national black eye in the aftermath of the RFRA debacle. It doesn’t need another because some legislators insist on letting it remain one of the few states without a meaningful hate crime law.”

–Greg Weaver, former government and politics editor at The Indianapolis Star.

Indiana is at an important crossroads.  If our lawmakers at the Statehouse make the wrong decision, the entire state will pay a dear price.  It is all about a hate crimes law (also known as a bias crimes law) and Indiana is on a list that is not a good one.

The Hoosier state is one of 5 states without a hate crimes law.  The Indiana Senate passed a strong piece of legislation out of committee early in the session, then the bill was amended on the Senate floor in a way that cut the guts out of the proposal.

The bill is now in the hands of the Indiana House of Representatives.  What happens next will have major economic ramifications for us all.

The Senate cut-out the list of groups covered by the bias crimes law, including race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.  Without that list as part of the law, Indiana will remain on the list of 5 states without a hate crimes law.

Two men attended a news conference at the Statehouse a few days ago, put on by the Indiana Technology & Innovation Association.  One was John McDonald.  He is the CEO of Clear Object, one of the fastest growing tech companies in the state, headquartered in downtown Fishers. The other was John Wechsler, founder of Launch Fishers and the Indiana Internet of Things Lab located in Fishers.

Both men understand what is at stake here.  If our state legislators do not enact a meaningful bias crimes law, tech companies cannot survive here.

Check out what McDonald said about the importance of including a specific list of the groups covered in this law.

“Technology is Indiana’s fastest growing sector, but we’re in a death match for talent. There aren’t enough skilled workers to fill the jobs we’re creating,” said McDonald. “Having Indiana on the list of 5 states without a bias crimes law is a barrier to attracting skilled talent to our state. We can’t get off this unflattering ‘list of 5,’ without a list.”

Firms such as Eli Lilly and Cummins Engine have told lawmakers much the same thing….without a meaningful hates crimes law, young talent will not locate here.  Our reputation will be that of an intolerant state.

Anyone living in Indiana, and I’ve lived here all my life, is aware we are, by and large, a welcoming place.  Like any other state, we have our small segments of people with other ideas, but we are a largely welcoming place.  If our laws do not reflect that, our reputation elsewhere will not reflect that.

Greg Weaver was an editor of politics and government at the Indianapolis Star.  I have never met Mr. Weaver, but based on comments I have seen and heard, the reporters working under him all thought the world of him.  Sadly, he left journalism by taking an early retirement incentive from the Star’s owner, Gannett.

If you want a view on the importance of Indiana’s reputation, read the piece he recently wrote, published in the Terre Haute Tribune Star, at this link.  He says it much better than I ever could.

A letter to the editor was published in the Indianapolis Business Journal’s March 8th edition, signed by Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, several other area mayors and a number of business leaders.  They all urge Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma to restore “the list” to the hate crimes bill (SB12).

Governor Eric Holcomb is solidly behind a meaningful hate crimes law.  Some people are worried the governor has not been aggressive enough in using his bully pulpit to make the case.  It should be noted that Indiana’s governor is institutionally weak in dealing with laws.  The governor can veto legislation, but a simple majority in the Senate and House can override a governor’s veto.

The issue before our lawmakers is clear.  If a meaningful hate crimes bill is not enacted, high-tech firms will not grow, and maybe need to leave the state of Indiana because employees will refuse to live here.  Large companies founded in Indiana, such as Lilly and Cummins,  will not be able to grow their work force and, over time, could be forced to move their headquarters elsewhere because employees will not come to live and work in a state they do not view as welcoming.

So, here we are, at a crossroads.  Our state faces the real possibility of becoming an economic backwater.  What will our lawmakers do?

I know one thing, after getting to know many legislators over the years.  They read their mail.  They pay attention to comments made in phone calls and e-mails.  They all pay attention to what their constituents are saying.

If you have strong feelings about the bias crimes law, now is the time to let your member of the House and Senate in the Indiana Legislature know what you think.

Supporting a meaningful hate crimes bill, with a list, is not just critical to the economic future of Indiana…..it’s the right thing to do.

Fishers Mayoral Candidate Logan Day held a Meet & Greet event at the Holland Park building Sunday afternoon, attracting 25-30 of his supporters.  The Republican primary hopeful discussed campaign issues and the importance of voter registration.

Day is challenging incumbent Mayor Scott Fadness in the May 7th GOP primary election.

Hamilton County Reporter

A ceremony was held on Friday to recognize and celebrate officers in several divisions of the Sheriff’s Office who were promoted in rank. The promotions were a combination of hard-rank positions accomplished through a competitive testing process and positions appointed by Sheriff Quakenbush. The selection process for promotion consists of written tests, interviews, practical examinations and evaluations, among other factors.

Dustin Dixon was promoted to Merit Lieutenant. Dixon will head the Nights A squad in Patrol. Lt. Dixon has been a K9 deputy for many years and oversees the program as well as the Tactical Tracking Team.

Dan DeYoung was promoted to the rank of Merit Sergeant. DeYoung came to the Sheriff’s Office in 2013 after serving with the Illinois State Police. He is assigned to the Nights A squad and also serves as a firearms instructor and on the Bike Team.

The Reserve Division falls under the Patrol Division and several promotions were appointed in the area. Reserves serve as volunteer deputies to augment Sheriff’s Office full-time staff. Reserves have employment outside the Sheriff’s Office but work numerous hours in volunteer capacities to assist in any ways they can, most often as road deputies.

Matt Snively was appointed Reserve Captain after recently serving as a lieutenant in the division. Snively has been with the Reserve Division for 20 years.

Ryan Horine was appointed Reserve Lieutenant. Horine has served in numerous capacities around the Sheriff’s Office and has been part of the Reserve Division since 2001.

Kurt Delong, Mike Gordon, and Blaine Mallaber were appointed as Reserve Sergeants. The Reserve Division is divided into three squads with a sergeant overseeing each squad. Delong joined the Reserve Division in 2000, Gordon in 2005, and Mallaber 2013.

Scott Goff was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant in the Investigations Division. Goff was hired in 2007 and spent his early years in the Patrol Division before moving into Investigations. In addition to his work as a detective, Goff provides Critical Incident Response with the Peer Support Team, is active on the Tactical Tracking Team, and is a certified bike instructor.

Michael Stanisz was promoted to the rank of Corrections Sergeant in the Jail Division. Stanisz has been with Sheriff’s Office since 2013 and been active in numerous ways in the jail. He will be busy as the jail continues to expand.

Bryant Orem was promoted to the rank of Merit Sergeant in the Operations Division where he will oversee Records Management and Data Analysis. Orem was hired in 2008 and served in the Patrol Division and as Public Information Officer among other tasks.

When it became known through a number of media reports, and ads asking people to apply for jobs, that Shake Shack was looking into expanding into the Indy metro area, the rumor mill began to get lively.  Will Shake Shack end up in the now-under-construction Yard project in Fishers?

After all, the culinary area of The Yard and Shake Shack would appear, on the surface, to be a perfect match.  But don’t start longing for those burgers and shakes just yet.

Lori Wick, spokesperson for Thompson Thrift, developer of The Yard, tells Larry In Fishers, “…we do not have a signed lease with Shake Shack and cannot provide any additional information.”

Now, that does not preclude Shake Shack from entering into a contract agreement with Thompson Thrift to have a presence in The Yard at a future date, but as of this writing, there is no contract in place. Most developers will not comment on a tenant without a signed contract in hand.

So, no contract now, but let’s wait and see what the future brings.

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) 

Daylight Saving Time starts Sunday at 2 a.m. It was just beginning to get light at 7 a.m. Now it will be dark again.

Of course it will be lighter in the evening, but with cold weather still here, what good does that do us?

Now I read that there is a move to leave us on Eastern Daylight the year around.

It’s time to stop this foolishness. Indiana belongs on Central Standard Time. That’s historically accurate and is easily seen by looking at a U.S. map.

The fact is come Sunday morning most of Indiana will be on double daylight time again as we now are every summer season.

Our state legislature’s desire to beat the clock and give us more light in the evening started in the 1960s when Indiana was “moved” from the Central Time Zone to Eastern thanks to various lobbying groups who wanted us on the same time as New York.

For many years we stayed on Eastern Standard the year around while most of the other states went to Daylight Time in the summer. That was not bad, but the pressure groups got busy again a few years ago and convinced the legislature we needed to observe Daylight time, which amounts to double daylight when compared with the Central Time zone where we really belong.

Hamilton County’s Sue Dillon has been working on this for years. She is sometimes misunderstood by folks who think she is against daylight time. No, she is telling us the simple fact that we belong on Central Time where we could observe daylight time in the summer.

Let’s not let this latest lunacy of maintaining Eastern Daylight the year around go any further or school kids will be standing in the dark at the bus stop until 8:30.

When Miss Indiana Lydia Tremaine began speaking before lunch crowd of students at HSE High School Friday, she made a couple of things clear….no, she was not a popular kid during her days as a student at East Noble High School in the northern Indiana community of Kendallville, but she used her talents in music and singing to win the Miss Indiana title and won the right to be a part of the Miss America pageant.

Miss Indiana was in Fishers to meet with students and promote the dance marathon benefiting Riley Children’s Hospital.  She encouraged HSE students to get involved in raising money for Riley.

Ms. Tremaine also promotes programs for those with disabilities, and participated throughout the day Friday in events around Fishers promoting Disability Awareness Month

When starting this blog in January of 2012, I vaguely remembered a small notation on the first Fishers Town Council meeting I covered.  I went back and checked the story about that January 17th session, & found the following last sentence in that piece: “A new town employee, engineering consultant Jeff Hill, was introduced to the council.”

Jeff Hill began his stint as an employee for the town, later the city, of Fishers in January of 2012, about the same time I began writing LarryInFishers.com.

As the Director of Engineering for the city, he oversaw the department’s staff.  But Jeff accomplished some major tasks when it came to managing vehicular traffic.

Anyone remember when IKEA opened its doors in Fishers?  That was October 11th, 2017.  Local residents were predicting a motorized apocalypse, with gridlock in all directions once the IKEA story opened its doors.

Granted, there were traffic challenges, but I heard stories of how Jeff Hill was presiding over a command center to manage all the traffic coming in from all directions, especially I-69.  There was a lot of traffic, but the predicted apocalypse never materialized.  You can credit Jeff Hill for managing what would appear to have been an unmanageable situation.

A growing suburb needs a plan to control traffic and anyone living here for any length of time has experienced traffic jams.  But I suspect our traffic situation would have been much worse had Jeff Hill not been on the job.

City Spokesperson Ashley Elrod confirmed for LarryInFishers a rumor going around town the last day or so – Jeff Hill will be leaving his position with the city in early April.  I don’t have all the details, but it appears Jeff received an offer from the private sector he simply could not refuse.

With this major staff opening, it will be interesting to watch Mayor Scott Fadness and what he will do.  Will he simply replace Jeff Hill or will he reorganize some city staffing arrangements?

I know one thing for sure, Jeff Hill will be a hard person to replace.  I wish Jeff Hill the best of luck in his new job.  He has always been friendly, professional and straightforward in dealing with me in my reporting duties.  Jeff Hill will be missed.