When I take some time away from Fishers, it seems news breaks and I play catch-up.  That is certainly true the past few days.  However, it is good to see that Indiana’s largest newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, is taking more of a journalistic interest in our fair city and has posted stories on the two situations that emerged while I was away.

One note, the union representing journalists at the Star has been in negotiations with Gannett on a new contract for about 3 years.  Due to a lack of any movement in those talks, Star reporters are withholding their by-lines.  I believe the HSE Schools story was written by Rachel Fradette and the story about 96th Street came from John Tuohy.  Just for the record, I support the Newspaper Guild at the Star in their quest for a decent contract with Gannett.

Wednesday night, the HSE School Board chose not to give what is normally a routine contract extension to some top District administrators.  Those people and positions are:

• Jimmie Lake, chief operations officer
• Katy Dowling, chief financial officer
• Nataki Pettigrew, chief equity & inclusion officer
• Matt Kegley, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning
• Kim Lippe, assistant superintendent of staff and student services

Read the Star story at this link.

Another Star piece about Fishers came as a result of the Board of Public Works and Safety session this week.  Steps were taken to move forward with plans to remove the “Michigan Left” at 96th Street and Allisonville Road and construct a roundabout.

For more on that story in the Star, use this link.

(NOTE:  If you are not a Star subscriber, you may be limited in your access to these stories.  I have said it before and I’ll say it again – subscribe to your local media!)

Thompson Thrift is a firm with a big footprint in Fishers.  They developed the thriving Fishers District near I-69 & 116th Street and is set to develop the addition to that project, the Crossings.

The real estate company is a 2023 winner of the Association for Talent Development’s (ATD) BEST Award. Thompson Thrift is among 72 organizations from around the globe to receive the award this year. Companies were recognized May 22, 2023 during an awards ceremony at ATD’s International Conference & Exposition in San Diego, California.

“Talent development is a critical aspect of our company’s success and desire to make a positive impact,” said Brett Barnes, vice president of organizational development for Thompson Thrift, in a company news release. “Our training and leadership development team has done a tremendous job putting a program together and fostering a culture where our team members can thrive professionally and personally.”

To see a full listing of the companies receiving a BEST Award in 2023, use this link.

Fishers has announced a project that has been in the works for at least two years.  It is a new Community Center, containing most of what a survey of local residents told the city they would like to see in a new center.

I spoke with two people heavily involved in bringing this Community Center from a concept to reality.  Todd Zimmerman is a Fishers City Council Member At-Large and Jake Reardon-McSoley is the city’s Director of Recreation & Wellness.

Both joined this podcast to talk in depth about what local residents will find once the Community Center is open in the spring of 2025.

It has been the subject of a big community survey, construction cost volatility and lots of discussion, but Fishers officially announced plans for a new 105,000-squre-foot Community Center Tuesday morning.  The $60 million facility will contain most of what citizens said they wanted, including indoor walking/running trails and an indoor aquatic center.  The location will be at 121st Street and Hoosier Road in an area known as “Johnson Farms.”

“As we strive to build a culture of health in our community, a vital component of this is creating a place where our community can come together to care for their overall wellbeing,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in a city news release. “With this new community asset, we not only offer a place for health, fitness, and recreation, but also a place to gather and socialize with the friends, family, and neighbors, which we know is equally important in fostering a strong quality of life in our community.”

Art Johnson now owns the property where the Community Center will be constructed.

“My family has been part of this community for generations, and I am excited to be a part of Fishers’ legacy and have our land serve as a central spot in the community for gathering and recreation for years to come,” said Johnson.

The new community center was designed based on input from residents. In 2021, a steering committee chaired by Fishers City Councilor Todd Zimmerman (At-Large) was formed to identify and prioritize community needs and how they could be served by an indoor facility. Nearly 3,500 residents completed a survey to share the amenities they most desired in this facility. Top items like a dog park, indoor playground, indoor walking/running track, and aquatics facility were included in the design, while other items like fine arts classes and performing arts were included in the new City Hall & Arts Center currently under construction in the downtown Nickel Plate District.

“What I hope for residents to get out of this center is a sense of place and community,” said Councilor Zimmerman. “More than the sports or athletics of it, this is a place to bring our residents together. It’s also a place that is welcoming to all, from our neighbors in the surrounding communities to out of town visitors exploring Fishers for the first time.”

The Center will offer both memberships and day passes with discounts for Fishers residents, many amenities will be accessible for free to both residents and non-residents, including a large indoor playground, indoor track for walking and running, and café.

The main level of the center will include a 5,300-square-foot indoor playground; aquatics facility with a lap pool and zero-depth entry warm water pool with a waterslide and play features; an 18,600-square-foot gymnasium featuring three basketball courts, which can also be converted into volleyball and pickleball courts; clinical rooms and offices for the Fishers Health Department; childcare facility; multipurpose rooms; public gathering spaces; a café, and more. The second level will feature a large fitness and wellness center, including a spin studio and group exercise rooms, along with an indoor track for walking and running. A roof terrace to host outdoor exercise and gatherings is planned for future phases.

Through collaboration with community stakeholders like the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability, accessibility features such as adult companion care rooms with adult changing tables, a zero-depth entry pool, water wheelchair, and accessible fitness equipment were added to the facility. The community center will also house Outside the Box’s adult day program to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Center is estimated to cost $60 million and will be paid for through city-issued bonds following a build-operate-transfer agreement that is slated to end in 2026. City leadership does not anticipate the Fishers City Tax rate to increase as a result of financing this project.

The project resolution will be presented to the Fishers Finance Committee on June 14 and the Fishers City Council on June 19 for approval.

The project is anticipated to break ground this fall and open in spring 2025.

Artist rendering depicting part of the Community Center interior

Those attending the 2023 Spark Fishers summer festival will find one big change – the fireworks on the final night will be replaced by a drone show.  However, the city will have three fireworks displays available July 4th.

Below is the city news release with more details:

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Phoenix Financial Services LLC , located at 9775 Crosspoint Blvd, in Fishers, is facing penalties from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  Indianapolis Business Journal reporter Susan Orr writes that Phoenix faces a $1.68 million penalty over allegations the firm violated federal debt-collection and credit-reporting laws.

To read the entire IBJ story, use this link.

(NOTE: Your access to the linked story may be limited if you are not a subscriber of IBJ)

The Fishers Police Department is once again looking to be re-accredited by a commission that requires adherence to international policing standards.

Below is an FPD new release about the process and how you may submit written comments:

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The Fishers Police Department is seeking its sixth re-accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).  Administered by CALEA,  accreditation requires agencies to comply with state of the art standards in four basic areas:  policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services.  Accreditation is a four year process during which the police department must adhere to strict international guidelines of policing and organizational practices.  Compliance Service Members conduct electronic reviews of policies and procedures to verify compliance every year for four years.  At the end of the fourth year, an assessor visits the agency to conduct interviews and review day-to-day operations of policies and procedures.  In May, FPD successfully completed the fourth electronic review.  The onsite visit will be held from June 19-21.

According to Chief Ed Gebhart, “The CALEA Accreditation process provides ongoing external review of the Fishers Police Department to ensure that strategic, operational, and tactical operations of the organization stay current with best practices in law enforcement.  By being accredited, we send a message that the Fishers Police Department is committed to legitimate delivery of law enforcement services and is determined to meet the needs of those we protect and serve.”

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Fishers Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may do so via the Public Comment Portal on our website, CALEA Public Comment Portal for Fishers Police Department or send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA, 20155.

A complete listing of the standards can be found at:

https://www.calea.org/node/11406

In a June 5th post on this blog, I expressed concerns about the Fishers decision to charge a $50 per day parking fee for nonresidents at Geist Waterfront Park, during the summer months.  In other words, if a vehicle is parked in the Geist Waterfront lot with no Fishers resident in the vehicle, there will be a $50 charge for that summer day.

My concern is that this decision could tarnish the reputation of Fishers outside the city limits.  I wrote then I hoped I was wrong.  It appears, sadly, I was not wrong.

Indiana Week In Review is produced by Indiana Public Broadcasting, recorded in Indianapolis each Friday afternoon and is broadcast on public television and radio stations throughout the state.  It is a panel discussion consisting of a moderator, one Democrat, one Republican and two journalists.

Public broadcasting may not have the audience size of commercial operations, but the demographics of a program like Indiana Week In Review tend to skew toward people in decision-making positions in both the public and private sectors.  In other words, movers and shakers in the state are watching and listening to this show.

The Indiana Week In Review episode recorded and first broadcast Friday, June 9, had a brief mention of the Fishers $50 parking fee at the end of the program.  Lauren Chapman of Indiana Public Broadcasting  moderated this edition and Oseye Boyd is Public Engagement Editor for the Indianapolis Star and a journalist on the panel.  Below is a transcript of their discussion about Fishers, starting with a tongue-in-cheek comment from the moderator, with some laughter, that turned a bit serious:

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Lauren Chapman: Fishers, a suburb of Indianapolis, recently announced a new public beachfront park in the affluent Geist Reservoir area.  To discourage people who don’t live in Fishers from using the park, the Fishers City Council approved a parking fee for nonresidents of $50 per day.  Oseye, what would be a better way to keep out nonresidents – armed guards, a moat, a wall on the southern border of Hamilton County off of 96th Street, what do you say?

Oseye Boyd:  I say a wall and a moat.  Let’s just go ahead and let people know that we don’t want them coming (laughter among the panel) and keep them out, and keep us out, keep them in, whatever.  But it definitely sends a signal of – people are not wanted.  $50 to park?

(at this point, several panel members are speaking at once)

Oseye Boyd:  You bring that up about parking (in) downtown (Indianapolis) – people complain about that, but you’re saying $50?  That’s an extreme amount of money.

Lauren Chapman:  That’s an extreme amount.

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As a 32-year resident of Fishers, it was painful to watch this exchange.  It is one thing to be criticized, it is quite different when your city is ridiculed on a respected, state-wide public affairs program.

This exchange says the Fishers brand has been tarnished by the $50 parking fee decision.  The question now is, what comes next?  Will this be a long-term hit on the city’s reputation, or will this be a short-term issue soon to be forgotten?

That is up to the mayor, his staff and members of the Fishers City Council.

Fishers has become a very diverse place during my time living here and people hold a variety of views.  But, overall, my experience has been that the people of Fishers believe they live in a community that is welcoming.

I know a number of people in Fishers support the decision by the mayor and City Council to impose the $50 nonresident parking fee, but people outside Fishers generally do not see it the same way.  Fishers has much to brag about as a quality place to live, but any branding expert will tell you even a long list of positives can be negated by one long-lasting negative impression that lingers.

I will be watching this issue as we move forward.

You can view the Indiana Week In Review episode at this link

It’s another week, and there is another busy road construction report for the Fishers area.  If you have been keeping abreast of these weekly reports, you have noticed the report is about more than road construction in Fishers.  Added are updates on the Nickel Plate Trail and the huge “Clear Path” project rebuilding the interchange at I-69 & I-465.

Here is the report, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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STATE ROAD 37 AND 141ST STREET
A pre-construction phase at SR 37 & 141st Street is currently in place. During this phase, 141st Street will be a Right-In-Right-Out (RIRO) traffic configuration. 
This is not the permanent configuration. This will allow for traffic to flow more freely along SR 37 until the next phases of construction can be activated. This will eliminate backups along SR 37 that have caused dangerous stops to the free flow traffic and backups on the 146th Street interchange. Again, this is not the permanent configuration for 141st Street. The full timeline for the 141st Street interchange will be provided after project bids are accepted in the Summer of 2023. View detour routes here.

To learn more about the Clear Path Improvement Project and sign up to receive text and email updates, visit clearpath465.com 

I-465 & I-69
Drivers will see an increase in construction along the I-69 corridor in the coming months. This work will focus on reconfiguring the interchange at I-465 and I-69. New ramps will provide direct movements from eastbound I-465 and northbound I-465 to northbound I-69. Binford Blvd. will also be reconstructed to separate local traffic from traffic entering and exiting I-69 and I-465. Access to I-69 from Binford Blvd. will remain open. Drivers can expect to see significant activity on I-69 at the 82nd Street interchange.

The ramp from I-69 North to 82nd Street and the ramp from 82nd Street to I-69 North is currently closed through late 2023. For detour routes and additional project information, visit clearpath465.com 

To learn more about the Nickel Plate Trail, view the Capital Project Dashboard here.

NICKEL PLATE TRAIL
The City of Fishers is working on the completion of the Fishers portion of the Nickel Plate Trail. The remaining paving work from 96th Street to 106th Street is underway, and construction crews are currently working to clear and prep the area for paving. In the coming weeks, construction crews will begin the paving process.

Hague Road is currently closed at the NPT crossing for construction of the speed table and is anticipated to reopen by Monday, June 12. The detour shall use Crosspoint Blvd. to 106th Street. View detour route here.

116th Street between Eller Road and River Road is currently under daily lane restrictions for bridge joint replacement by Hamilton County. The estimated completion date is Friday, June 16. Lane restrictions will be in place daily between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Flaggers will be in place. 

There are daily lane closures currently on Cumberland Road, just south of 126th Street for sanitary and water line work. The northbound right turn lane and the southbound passing blister will be closed.

Phase 1 construction for the grade separation intersection improvement is currently taking place at 146th Street and Allisonville Road. One through lane and one left turn lane in all directions will be closed through the intersection. In addition to these closures, the worksite speed limit will be 35 mph. Please exercise caution while driving through this construction zone.

For additional project information, visit Hamilton County website here. 

A proposal for the financial planning firm Drive to construct a commercial office at 13562 E 116th (near Olio Road) was opposed by a unanimous vote of the Fishers Plan Commission Tuesday evening.  A parade of residents in the area spoke at the public hearing that this proposal is not one that fits into this the area.

Commission Vice President and City Councilor Pete Peterson, presiding over the meeting in the absence of Commission President Howard Stevenson, said the architectural design is a good one, but is not right for this location.

The petitioner did not attend the first reading of this proposal at the last Fishers City Council meeting, and the builder took the blame, saying he made on error on the date and time of that meeting.

Drive is asking Fishers to rezone this property from residential to commercial, allowing for office space.  The proposal now goes for a final decision before the Fishers City Council with a unanimous unfavorable recommendation from the Plan Commission.

In another matter before the Commission, the developer was granted a continuance for a proposal for two nearby housing developments north of 96th Street, one along Cyntheanne Road, the other along Georgia Road, in southeast Fishers.  The plans also call for a commercial part of the project.

Neighbors, one-by-one, took turns opposing the plans during the public hearing.  Some had no issues with the housing development, others were against it.  But nearly all were opposed to the commercial plans.

Some commission members expressed opposition to the housing plans, but all said they were against the commercial proposal.  The Commission voted unanimously to grant a continuance.

The rezoning request will be on the agenda for the next Plan Commission session, while Planning & Zoning staff will work with the developers for the proposed Flat Fork development on changes in the project.