by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Proposed improvements for the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds will be revealed to county commissioners on Monday. Director of 4-H activities Susan Peterson has been working with county officials to plan various upgrades and expansion of facilities at the fairgrounds on East Pleasant Street in Noblesville.

Details on the plans were not available Friday, but will be reported when they are made public.

At their regular meeting, commissioners will also consider contracts with RQAW Engineering and C.H. Garmong Inc. for design and construction of a three-level parking garage to accommodate employee and public parking

The garage will be built on the north side of Clinton Street between 8th and 9th streets in downtown Noblesville on ground that is currently being used for surface parking.

The new facility which has been discussed for the past year is estimated to cost about $9.5 million. Approximately half the cost will be paid with funds from the sale of another county lot on the south side of Conner Street at White River. That ground will be developed into a large mixed-use development planned by a private developer.

The county has cash on hand to pay for the other half of the new parking garage, first of its kind in Noblesville. A date for start of construction has yet to be determined.

Highway construction is expected to start this spring on completion of the final mile of the upgrading of 146th Street from Shelborne Road to the Boone County line. County Highway Director Brad Davis said yesterday that contracts have been signed with Gradex Corporation for the work which will complete the dual-lane road from Interstate 69 to Boone County.

Commissioners will also hear from the County Clerk Kathy Williams on the possible need to change several polling places in advance of the primary election. Some nursing homes and churches have reported they cannot host voting due to the pandemic shutdown.

Voters will be notified if the changes affect their polling place.