by
Fred Swift
Hamilton County Reporter
Rarely in our time has there been an event that has affected every person in our county as has the current COVID-19 epidemic. About 275 lives have been lost to the invisible enemy.
Schools, churches and most businesses have curtailed activities. Many sports programs, Fourth of July activities, organizational meetings and large gatherings have been suspended in an attempt to stem the spread of the virus.
At year’s end, there is hope that the newly introduced vaccine will enable the community to return to some degree of normalcy during the new year.
Second on our list of top stories for 2020 was the social unrest following the death of George Floyd that spilled over into Hamilton County with several protests conducted in Carmel, Noblesville, Fishers and Westfield. Unlike other protests conducted throughout the nation, all in Hamilton County were peaceful.
Election 2020 is our third story of the year. Locally, Democrats mounted their greatest effort in a century to break the Republicans hold on public offices. But, in the end, the GOP won out.
Although Democrats point to getting an increasing percentage of the vote, in raw numbers Republican candidates won by huge margins except at the top of the ticket where President Donald Trump’s vote total was only 14,000 ahead of challenger Joe Biden.
The fourth story involves the sudden surge in plans for downtown Noblesville redevelopment as the city moves to catch up with neighboring cities. Plans for three new mixed-use projects and a three-level parking garage were unveiled, and at year’s end another earlier project, The Levinson, is nearing completion.
Early in the year, allegations of favoritism for some taxpayers led to a lengthy State Police investigation in the County Treasurer’s office. Police found no illegal practices but civil lawsuits followed. A former employee, Susan Byer, made the allegations of wrongdoing, then ran and won the office in the November election.
Late in the year, a still-unresolved spat developed between Noblesville city leaders and officials of Industrial Dielectrics Inc. (IDI) The city’s planned route of the Pleasant Street Bypass takes out a portion of the IDI parking lot. It’s a move that the longtime business strongly opposes and has indicated it will leave Noblesville if the city pursues its current plans.
High school sports, always popular in our county, continued to make history during the year. The Carmel girls swim team won a national record 34 consecutive state championships.
The Noblesville girls soccer team won a second consecutive state championship while Westfield’s football team, rapidly becoming a state power, became state runner-up in the “big” school Class 6A. They won the state in 5A a few years ago.
And, in basketball, defending state champion Carmel won a sixth straight sectional before the state tourney was suspended due to health concerns.
The county’s taxable assessed valuation surged this year by $1.3 billion mostly due to record new construction. The big increase in assessed value enabled taxing units to hold tax rates to existing, or in some cases lower levels.
A community controversy developed in October when Beaver Materials Inc. announced plans to dig a gravel pit along Allisonville Road south of Potters Bridge. Residents of nearby subdivisions protested vigorously, and after a plan commission tie vote on the gravel proposal, Beaver withdrew its request for rezoning. It can reapply later, but there has been no indication if or when that might be.
Work got underway this year on the State Road 37 conversion to a freeway-style highway, but major cost overruns of at least $40 million were announced in November. Work will continue as Fishers city government and county officials vowed to take the project to completion.
And, last but not least, Clay Township officials unveiled a huge $60 million Community Impact Program, likely the largest township building program in the state. It includes new fire department facilities, park upgrades, a historical society museum and a fieldhouse for the Carmel Dads Club.
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