Monday was an important day in the history of Fishers.  At mid-day, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to officially open the new City Hall & Art Center.  At 7pm, the Fishers City Council convened its first meeting in the new City Hall auditorium.

But the meeting was more than ceremonial, there were some important issues resolved.

The first issue was approving the grant from the city to local nonprofit organizations.  The Council Nonprofit Committee looked at a number of applications from area nonprofits and presented its proposal to the full Council.  Councilors Pete Peterson and Todd Zimmerman voted no, arguing the city should support nonprofits more aimed at serving Fishers residents.  Both emphasized they are supportive of nonprofits doing good work in Hamilton County, but are not supporting the idea of Fishers tax dollars going to some groups that serve a wider clientele.

The vote was 5-2 with Bill Stuart casting his vote  remotely.

Here are the nonprofits receiving grants from the City of Fishers:

$65,000   Hamilton County Youth Assistance

$45,000  Youth Mentoring Initiative

$55,000  Conner Prairie

$3,000   Indiana Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse & Suicide

$5,000   Humane Society of Hamilton County

$5,500   Indiana Parkinson Foundation

$10,000  Outside the Box

$10,000  HSE Education Foundation

$10,000  Same As U

$12,500  Recovery Cafe Hamilton County

In other items before the Council:

–An incentive package was approved for a pharmaceutical firm planning to use a currently vacant space at Exit 5.  The city did not disclose the name of the firm, but Mayor Scott Fadness told the Council Fishers is competing with a site in North Carolina, and the company has indicated it will choose Fishers if the incentives are approved.  The Council voted in favor of the incentives.

–The city has received a grant of $30,000 for an outdoor fitness facility.  The city has not decided where this equipment will be located.