Some years Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness uses the occasion of his State of the City Address to make big announcements, other years he likes to just highlight what is happening in city government.  In 2023, the mayor invited three of his department heads – Public Health Director Monica Heltz, Fire & Emergency Services Chief Steve Orusa and Police Chief Ed Gebhart, up to his State of the City stage.

Chief Gebhart focused on technology and how his department has a DNA lab used for identifying illegal weapons and getting them off the streets.  He also talked about how his Internet Crime Unit identifies those preying on children through technology.

Chief Orusa explained why his department has a paramedic assigned to each engine to assist quickly if needed.  Heat attacks, he said, need attention quickly, the sooner the better.

Director Heltz explained how her department uses data from 911 calls to identify how her staff can help prevent such emergencies before they happen.  She also discussed the food inspection program and how she works with business owners and managers of restaurants to educate them if there are problems with the inspection results and get the operation up to standards.

Orusa and Gebhart also talked about how their staff copes when dealing with difficult situations all during a shift and how their respective departments strive take care of both the physical and mental health of those on the front lines.

The mayor raised the issue of social isolation.  The panel agreed it is a good idea to keep an eye on neighbors in need of help.  The mayor told the story of a neighborhood complaining that a deck was not being kept-up properly, and when city staff knocked on the door, they found a man nearly dying of malnutrition and very dirty, with no one else living in the home. The bottom line message – look out for your neighbors.

This year’s State of the City address was held at a One Zone Chamber of Commerce luncheon held at the Forum Conference Center, before a sellout crowd.