The speech in recent days by Lilly CEO David Ricks before the Economic Club of Indiana raised more than a few eyebrows.  According to the story filed by WISH-TV reporters Richard Essex, Garrett Bergquist, Katiera Winfrey and Mary Gillis, Indiana is falling behind the rest of the nation in key areas.

“Our education attainment in the state is not good. The ability to reskill the workforce, I think, could improve. Health, life and inclusion, overall, I think, conditions rank poorly nationally in our state. And also workforce preparedness, also related to reskilling, is a liability for us,” Ricks said, based in the WISH-TV reporting.  “Hoosiers today have relatively low performance on national metrics of education.”

I searched my memory.  Where have I heard a message similar to Mr. Ricks’ comments?  Then it dawned on me.  It was May, 2019, and it was Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in his State of the City address.

Let’s just say the mayor did his homework preparing for that speech.  He cited data showing Indiana is in the bottom ten among the 50 states in public health, quality of life, higher education, environmental health and mental health.  Fadness also cited another piece of data – as of May, 2019, Indiana had an 11% increase in mental health distress cases (that was before we even knew the term COVID Pandemic).

He also cited statistics comparing us with other metropolitan areas in our general geographic area and found the Indianapolis metro area has the lowest percentage of population centers with a college degree.

I do not believe Mayor Fadness was bad-mouthing Indiana or the Indy metro area.  He was making the case that work needs to be done.  He has always been aggressive seeking economic development in our city.  He hears all about the data cited in Mr. Ricks speech and his 2019 address when negotiating with private firms to locate here.

Indiana has been known as a generally low-tax low-services state.  But in my recent conversations with people in the private sector specializing in how companies choose locations for their work force, there is much more than low taxes and loose regulations to consider.

Lilly is headquartered in Indianapolis but much of its recent expansion has been in states outside Indiana.  The CEO was sending a message to the movers and shakers of our state – time is running out to fix these problems.  Many of these issues have been lingering for years with little or no action from our elected officials.

My understanding is that Fishers is working on a number of announcements in the coming months.  I have no idea what will be announced, but economic development is likely the center of the activity.

If Fishers can continue to compete with other states and metro areas, all the data cited in those speeches by David Ricks and Scott Fadness puts us at a distinct disadvantage on the national and world stage.  It is a compliment to Scott Fadness and his economic development team that Fishers continues to attract employers.

All I ask is that we listen to what these important decision makers are saying.  We are in a competitive world and we must compete in all important areas if we want economic growth.

There are some occasions when Fishers City Hall is filled with energy and enthusiasm.  Friday evening was such a time as the Fishers Arts Council handed out awards for artwork done by students at HSE and Fishers High Schools.

Students, parents and many others browsed the halls of the city government center with the students’ artwork.  This will be the final chance for the Senior Showcase to be featured in this City Hall.  The building is facing the wrecking ball later this year, with the newly-constructed combination Arts Center and Municipal Complex projected to be completed by March of 2024.

June of this year will be the last time Fishers Arts Council will sponsor an art display as City Hall, as preparations will begin to exit that structure.  The monthly art displays will move to the Hamilton County Community Foundation, located at 11810 Technology Drive.

Several awards were handed out Friday, with Grace Vandiver of HSE High School winning the Best in Show award.  Tom Rich handed out the certificates & checks, with Fishers City Council President Todd Zimmerman offering opening remarks.

Below is is listing of all winners:

NOTE:  The Arts Council sent some corrections which were made at 1:00pm 4/25

Below are a few examples of the art on display at City Hall through April 29.

Continue reading Senior Showcase of art draws big crowd at City Hall →

The Fishers City Council has formally created the Advisory committee on Disability.  There had been an informal group, now it is official.

Mayor Scott Fadness announced Friday the members of the new committee, charged with providing strategic direction and guidance of the annual March Disability Awareness Month celebration and the Fishers ADA Transition Plan, along with providing feedback on the City’s current services, policies, and practices.

Here are the appointees, along with bios written by the City of Fishers:

====

Chrissy Pogue, Transition Specialist for Hamilton Southeastern Schools
Pogue’s responsibilities include working with both high school programs and overseeing Hamilton Southeastern School’s four transition programs. She has four job coaches on her team that help find volunteer and paid positions for students within the city. Pogue has been in this role for almost 11 years when it started with one transition program/classroom and an off-campus site. From there, it is has evolved into four different programs/classrooms servicing over 40 young adults. She enjoys helping families prepare for life after high school in whatever way is most meaningful for the young adult. Integrating all four programs within the community in various ways throughout the week and helping Fishers continue to be an inclusive city continues to be her goal every day. Pogue conducts parent trainings as well as training for other district employees throughout the year. She is currently on the board at Janus Developmental Services, co-facilitator for the Central Indiana Transition Cadre, and co-facilitator for the Inclusion in the Workplace Networking Group. She has been involved with the Fishers Disability Council since 2017, specifically within the employment subcommittee. Prior to her current position, she was a Life Skills teacher at Hamilton Southeastern High School.

Learn more about the committee and their full list of roles and responsibilities at this link.

There is construction along 116h Street east of the municipal complex with new structures on the way.  When the development was first announced, city officials made clear they wanted to preserve some of the older brick buildings as a tip of the hat to the Fishers many of us recall from years ago.

However, a story posted on the IndyStar Web site early Friday morning says some of those historic places are in such disrepair, they cannot be saved.  One building is the one that once housed the Nickel Plate Bar & Grille.

I had been hearing rumors for many months that the old Nickel Plate location, and a few others, were in such bad shape that there was no way to save them.  I was never able to get anyone to go on the record saying that, but Star reporter John Tuohy has CRG Development President Chris Reid going on the record about the historic buildings that will not survive the new development because they cannot be saved.

My wife Jane and I frequented the Nickel Plate Bard & Grille and were saddened when the establishment closed.  It is sad to see some history gone in Fishers, but if the building cannot be saved, then that’s they way it will be.

You must be an IndyStar subscriber to access the story at this link.  Once again, it is very inexpensive to buy an IndyStar online subscription.  Please, once again, I would urge you to support out local media outlets.  Without that support, we will not have local news.

The City of Fishers is looking to fill 100 summer seasonal jobs.  Both full-time and part-time positions are available.

The 2022 primary election day in Indiana is Tuesday, Mary 3rd, but voters in Fishers have a chance to vote early starting Wednesday, April 20th.  The locations will be Roy G Holland Memorial Park Building, 1 Park Drive, Fishers…and Billericay Park Building, 12690 Promise Road.

Here are the hours for Fishers early voting

April 20-21 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
April 22-23 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
April 27-28 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
April 29-30 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Fishers City Council looked on as a long-time civilian employee of the police department was recognized and a group of high school students presented 3 global trends.

Tammy King, a 20-year civilian employee of the Fishers Police Department, received an award for her service to the department.

Also, a group of local high school students, members of the Mayor’s Youth Academy, presented their top 3 global trends to council members.  They are: Eco-Awareness, Housing and Civic Education.

An early morning Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board work about student handbook language for grades kindergarten through 8th grade morphed into a school board discussion about dress codes and when a girl’s shirt is too short.

Board member Janet Pritchett began the conversation saying some students are missing class time due to being pulled away after to concerns about possible dress code violations for wearing shirts cut off above the waist.

Board President Julie Chambers indicated the slight cutoff of a shirt should not prevent a student from being in class.  She would like more information on who is being disciplined for dress code violations.

Superintendent Yvonne Stokes said safety is important in relation to any dress code, particularly in this era of COVID.

Board Member Suzanne Thomas asked why the district couldn’t have a policy of no midriff showing for anyone while in school.  Chambers responded that definitions of “midriff’ may not be the same for everyone.

One building administrator told the board most male teachers in his school wouldn’t touch the dress code issue.  Another administrator said dress code issues are only about 1% of what he handles in his building.

“How people are dressed has little to no effect on how they’re learning in a classroom,” Board Member Brad Boyer said.

Board member Sarah Donsbach argued that girls are being “disproportionately impacted” by the dress code rules.

CFO Katie Dowling cautioned board members to be aware of liability issues tied to all this.  She pointed to the board discussion as to how different people define midriff different ways.

The dictionary definition of midriff is, “the region of the front of the body between the chest and the waist.”

An administrator also suggested the board consider what specific people and families are comfortable with any dress code, and factor-in the issue of diversity into the mix.

Before the dress code discussion, administrators explained proposed handbook changes for grades K-8, dealing with attendance, academics and adding language about disciplinary  actions for micro-aggressions and hate speech.

It is now up to administrators to take the many board comments and propose handbook language for board approval.

When the Fishers City Council was briefed on plans for a new City Hall Monday night, I noticed something interesting about the rendering shown above.  The sign at the front of the building says “Arts and Municipal Complex.”  The words City Hall are not there.

In a podcast recorded Monday morning, Mayor Scott Fadness said, ““This is going to be an arts center with a few offices above it.”  Thus, the word “Arts” precedes the reference to “Municipal Complex.”

That is the vision for the new structure explained to council members.  Architect Jeremy Welu, a partner and co-founder of DELV Design, reviewed several renderings of what the finished product will look like once completed in March of 2024.

Welu described the breezeway between the 250 seat auditorium and the part of the building that will house city officials and staff.  The entire first floor will be dedicated to the arts.

When questioned about any supply-chain issues in obtaining needed material for construction, Kevin McGovern of Meyer-Najem said the plans contain contingencies built into the project just in case such issues arise.

The current City Hall is sinking, according to engineering studies, and the cost of keeping the current structure afloat would be prohibitive over time, says Mayor Fadness.  As a result, plans were launched last year to put together plans for a new center of Fishers City government.

Just don’t call it a City Hall.

Here are more artist renderings of the complex:

“This is going to be an arts center with a few offices above it.”  That’s how Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness described the new City Hall/Arts Center planned in downtown Fishers.

Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren joined the mayor on this podcast for a detailed look at how the new facility is coming together.