The proposal to contract with one private firm for city-wide trash collection service will take an important step in April.  At the Tuesday morning meeting of the Fishers Board of Public Works & Safety, Mayor Scott Fadness said that body will be voting on the request for proposals (RFP) which will contain the specifics of what the city expects private sector bidders to include in any bid.

The mayor’s Chief of Staff, Jordin Alexander, presented the first draft of an RFP at a recent board meeting and the mayor indicated several changes would be made before the final version is approved.

Once the bids are submitted, the board will consider each bid.  That may require a much larger meeting room than the board’s normal location at the City Court.  It is possible the new City Hall/Arts Center will be ready in time to host such a meeting.

The City Council will have the final say on any trash collection contract.  The earliest any contract with a private firm would be effective is 2025.  Residents have been voicing concerns recently about the spike in costs for trash collection service.

In  other board action:

–The board approved buying 3 flatbed trucks for the city fleet at a cost of $176,056.80.  Tabatha Miller from Fleet Management told the board the cost of this equipment is gone up 30 per cent in just 2 years.  Delivery is hoped to arrive by the end of 2024.

–Beginning July 1, city customers of the stormwater and sanitary sewer system will be placed on a paperless billing system.  This is projected to save the city money by streamlining the billing system.  Customers will be provided an “opt-out” choice if deciding not utilize the paperless system.

You may recall that Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness recommended a $50 nonresident parking fee last summer at Geist Waterfront Park.  The City Council voted in favor of the fee and it was enforced during the summer of 2023.

In a podcast recorded Monday, March 11, Mayor Fadness tells me the fee will be reduced in 2024.  He is working with his Parks Department staff and “a new scenario” will be put before the City Council in April.  The mayor did not provide any additional details on that scenario.

“We’re excited about that fact that we have some additional capacity,” Fadness said during the podcast recording session. “Some of the concerns we had last year about – is this thing going to be swamped by people – (have) been alleviated.”

On another issue raised during the podcast, Fadness says he is aware of cities providing incentives to move into the community, with the popularity of working from home.  According to a story in the Indianapolis Star, Noblesville is offering an incentive package valued at $15,000 for those qualified, including relocation fee reimbursements, golf club memberships and co-working space.

According to Fadness, “We’re all racing for talent.”  But the mayor was clear, he doesn’t excpect any such program coming to Fishers.

“I don’t see us doing this anytime in the foreseeable future,” says Fadness. “Our focus is really trying to build a quality of life, an amenity package that would be attractive for people to want to be part of our community and our focus is really trying to build a quality of life and amenity package that would be attractive.”

Although the mayor admitted he hasn’t spent much time thinking about this concept, “I continue to wonder – do people make life decisions like where they’re going to move based on those types of (incentives)?”

The podcast, also featuring Police Chief Ed Gebhart and Fire Chief Steve Orusa, will be available Wednesday afternoon.

It has been 12 years since Fishers has hired a Chief of Fire & Emergency Services.  Fishers was still a town when Steve Orusa was hired for that job.  He has been Chief more then 12 years and is now working with the city on a smooth transition to a new Chief as Orusa plans on retiring later this year.

“While I couldn’t be happier for this next chapter in his life or more grateful for his service to our city, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that Chief Orusa’s leadership and vision for building the industry-leading Department we have today will be missed,” said Mayor Scott Fadness in a statement posted to social media Monday.

Chief Orusa is wrapping up a 40 year career in public safety work.

“In the months to come, there will be a change in our Fire and Emergency Services Department,” according to Fadness.  “But we’ve always leaned into opportunities to change to make us better, more efficient, & serve the community. I look forward to supporting Chief Orusa’s transition to retirement.”

Fadness says his administration will work “diligently and methodically” in the search for a new Chief.  Orusa told the mayor he plans on retiring “sometime before late fall.”

When I began writing about the House Bill (HB) 1338, containing provisions basically gutting the Indiana Public Access Counselor, I had no idea whether there were others sharing my view.  Based on the number of people reading my stories, and comments from other media outlets, there are others with the same opinion.

The latest came in the March 8 print edition of the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ).  The IBJ Editorial on Page 14A was written before the General Assembly gave final approval for HB 1338.

Based on the assumption lawmakers would pass the measure and send it to Governor Eric Holcomb’s desk, the IBJ editorial staff wrote the following – “…we call on Gov. Eric Holcomb to veto (HB 1338) – not for journalists but for the public who deserves access to government.”

The IBJ editorial points out that, yes, journalists have used the Public Access Counselor’s office for advisory opinions, but others in the public realm have also used the office for advisory guidance.  The Public Access Counselor, Luke Britt, and his small staff are considered the experts on Indiana public access law.

Once again, if you agree with IBJ, Indiana Capital Chronicle’s Nike Kelly and myself, I would urge you to e-mail or call Governor Holcomb’s office and ask him to veto HB 1338.  As to how, use this link.

You can read the entire IBJ editorial at this link.  (You may not need an IBJ subscription to access this editorial)

The Chief of Police for the City of Fishers, Ed Gebhart, issued a letter to the community Saturday about a gathering of motorists last Sunday involving about 300 vehicles and a number of reported law violations.

The Chief says reports of business parking lots filling-up with cars led to calls into his department about speeding, noise, trash, loitering and businesses being blocked along 116th Street Sunday.

When a group that size gathers, cities such as Fishers require a permit for such a situation.  It appears this group sought no such permit.

Fishers Police are working with businesses along 116th Street impacted by this, and will post “no trespassing or loitering” signs for any Fishers business requesting the sign.  “We will aggressively enforce any violated ordinances or state laws, including these signs,” wrote Gebhart in his letter.

In his letter’s conclusion, Chief Gebhart says “people who do not obey the law by driving erratically, speeding, racing, creating loud noise, littering, loitering, vandalizing, bothering businesses, and breaking other laws are not welcome in our city.”

The Chief encourages working together to “discourage such behavior.”

The Fishers Police Department (FPD) is doing something I do not recall the department every doing before – trying to stop false rumors that begin spreading around the community.

FPD posted a statement on its social media accounts regarding rumors going around Fishers about a reported attempted child abduction at the Fishers Target last weekend.  After investigating these reports, no evidence of an attempted abduction was found.

“On Sunday, March 3rd, (FPD) received a report from a citizen who said a woman pulled on her passenger side door handle after she loaded her child in the car,” per the FPD social media post.  Detectives reviewed surveillance video and found no evidence anyone was being followed in the store “and it didn’t seem they were there to harm children.”

I have been writing lately about my concerns concerning HB 1338, a measure that would essentially gut the Indiana Public Access Counselor.  I have urged readers agreeing with me to call or e-mail Governor Holcomb and urge a veto of this bill (for more information use this link.

Now, Niki Kelly of the Indiana Capitol Chronicle has added her voice to the criticism of this legislation.  You can read her commentary at this link

After the posting of my piece urging readers of this blog to contact Governor Eric Holcomb’s office, asking that he veto HB 1338, many have commented on how gubernatorial vetoes work under the Indiana constitution.

In many states, and under our federal constitution, a veto of legislation passed by a state legislature or the U.S. Congress requires a larger majority in each house to override that veto.  Indiana, and a few other states, have a different system.

Let’s say Governor Holcomb decides to veto HB 1338.  It would take a simple majority vote by both houses of the General Assembly to override that veto.  In other words, even if all state legislators just voted as they did the first time, the veto would be overridden and HB 1338 would become law.

I know all that.  I would point out that the provisions in HB 1338 weakening the Public Access Counselor’s office were slipped into the bill as a committee amendment in the waning days of the session.  There was very little notice to the public this was happening.

If Governor Holcomb vetoes this bill due to public pressure, members of the legislature would be less likely to override the veto.  No guarantee, but a possible outcome if the public responds.

I believe it is worth the risk to urge the governor to veto this legislation.  If that happens, the second phase would be to let members of the General Assembly know where the public stands on this issue.

Also, State Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn, (D-Fishers), voted against HB 1338.  Here is her statement as to why:

“Sunshine, transparency and open access all make for healthy government, and right now, we have proof that our current processes work. Last summer, several Hamilton East Public Library board members were accused of violating the Open Door Law. When this happened, I had full confidence in the public access counselor to evaluate whether the majority of a HEPL board subcommittee convening at a coffee shop was a violation of the transparency statute. In the end they were found to have violated the statute, but public confidence was restored because the public knew there were enforced standards to maintain government transparency. This bill will erode that confidence. Once again, the Indiana General Assembly is overstepping into local matters that are already being handled appropriately.

“I voted against House Bill 1338 because all Hoosiers benefit when we have someone looking out for the public’s best interest without having to worry about blowback or retaliation for opinions issued in good faith.”

I believe Representative Garcia Wilburn is correct.

Once again, if you agree that HB 1338 is bad law, contact Governor Eric Holcomb (information at this link) and urge him to veto HB 1338.

When I learned Fishers Fire & Emergency Services Public Information Officer John Mehling was set to retire March 8, I let him know a podcast about his career was in order.  Spokesperson for Mayor Fadness, Ashley Elrod, joined the conversation.  Listen to the podcast at the link below.

I try to be a journalist and not get involved in advocating for any particular point of view.  But in situations where the public’s right to know and accountability of elected officials are involved, I can get worked up.  I am worked up now.

It’s about House Bill (HB) 1338.  The piece of legislation in the Indiana General Assembly started out as a statute providing guidance to those running local government meetings on how to handle disruptions.  It also clarifies laws on trespassing, a response to some people calling themselves “auditors,” providing legal language on what constitutes “criminal trespass.”  Those provisions do not raise concern for me.

What does concern me is an amendment added in House Committee.  I wrote a commentary on this March 3rd, available at this link.  I expressed hope in that piece cooler heads would prevail among a majority of our Statehouse lawmakers.  Let’s just say that did not happen.

HB 1338 has now passed the Indiana House and Senate and is headed to the desk of Governor Eric Holcomb.  Here is what concerns be about this measure.

It would do away with the four-year terms for the Public Access Counselor.  That position would serve “at the pleasure of the governor,” meaning he/she could be dismissed at any time without cause.

Another provision of HB 1338 would instruct the Public Access Counselor, when issuing advisory opinions, “may consider only the plain text of the public access laws and valid Indiana court opinions.”  A major role of the Public Access Counselor is to provide advisory opinions on issues not specifically spelled out in state statutes and have no clear authority from the courts.

There is also language exempting certain committees appointed by elected bodies from provisions of the Open Meetings Law.

Why are lawmakers so fearful of a Public Access Counselor, which issues advisory opinions?

Reporter Tom Davies of State Affairs quoted Amelia McClure, executive director of the Hoosier State Press Association, saying HB 1338 “functionally guts” the access counselor’s ability to consider the context of a situation unless it has been directly addressed by the Legislature or court.

Reporter Davies also quotes Representative Ed Delany, (D) Indianapolis, as saying the elimination of the Public Access Counselor’s four-year term would expose the Public Access Counselor to political pressures.

“We’re setting it up so that they can be fired if they don’t say exactly what we want,” DeLaney said. “It seems to me that this is a real step backwards for public access.”

Davies notes in his story that the Public Access Counselor’s office was established in 1999 “after a review by several newspapers found widespread violations of the public access laws by numerous local governments across the state.”

Based on a number of news reports, it appears Republicans are pushing this legislation.  I would argue it is bad for both political parties, and all ideologies, when an office like the Indiana Public Access Counselor is gutted, as the state press association asserts.

Open meetings and open government are key to citizens knowing what is happening with their local elected bodies.  Indiana has one of the lowest rates of voter participation in the nation.  Legislation like this will not help.

If you agree with me that HB 1338 is a bad idea, call or e-mail Governor Eric Holcomb, at this link.  Urge home to veto HB 1338.  So far, the governor has not indicated what he will do with this bill.

This is the first time in my 13 years of blogging where I have taken a stand on a particular piece of legislation. As a long-time journalist, this cuts to the heart of media and citizen involvement.  That’s why I am worked up about HB1338.