I rarely miss a Fishers City Council meeting, but I could not attend the December 20th session due to visiting family from out of town.  That meeting, and an update on COVID from the Fishers Health Department, are of note as I catch up on my volunteer blogging duties.

One important discussion which, as of this writing, is not available on video, is a work session held about the possibility of utilizing the Hamilton County Community Foundation to decide where the city’s charitable giving should go.  The city has budgeted $250,000 for funding local nonprofit groups in 2022.  The past few years, the City Council has used a committee of council members to decide what funding will be provided to which groups and how much each one will receive.  It appears the mayor and members of the council are considering a change in that process, possibly using the foundation to decide which organizations will be funded by the city and how much each will get.  Council members were provided a presentation by the foundation.  It is not yet clear what next steps will be.

Council President Selina Stoller recognized the work of former Town Council Member Ray Sakson.  He died recently at the age of 76.

Stoller also announced that proposals to formalize a committee system for the council passed first reading last October and will be considered once again at the January council session.  In October, the proposal was criticized by several council members, particularly the provision saying the council president will make the appointments, rather than have the full council approve those chosen to serve on committees.  Democrat Crystal Neumann was the only Democrat serving on the committee coming up with that proposal and said the recommendation “does not speak to me and it does not speak for me.”  President Stoller insisted she would be committed to diversity in making the appointments.  It is not known what language will be included in the committee proposal to be before the council in January.

Two members of the Fishers Police Department were presented service awards for 25 years with the department – Angela Ellison and Mathew Simmonds.

Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren presented a proposal for an Armed Services Commission for the City of Fishers.  The measure passed on 1st reading and will come back to the council for consideration.  For the language in the proposed ordinance, use this link.

Now, to the latest from the Fishers Health Department.  Late on Tuesdays most weeks, Epidemiologist Josh Robinson updates the community on COVID locally through a video posted on the city’s YouTube channel.  This week, Mr. Robinson reviews what the Omicron variant is and why it is causing so much publicity of late.  He also provides some stark numbers on COVID risks for those unvaccinated vs. those that are COVID vaccinated.  I think Josh Robinson lays this out very clearly in his video update, which you can see in its entirety at the link below.