Local Fishers residents worried about the escalating cost of trash collection should know the City of Fishers is moving along with reviewing the three responses received following  the Request for Proposals (RFP) on a city-wide contract.  Republic, WM (formerly known as Waste Management) and Priority all submitted proposals

City of Fishers spokesperson Ashley Elrod says staff is reviewing all three bids, which all “are in line with our expectations.”  The city is currently in a negotiation period with all 3 firms bidding on the contract.

The public hearing on the bids was originally expected to be held in July, but that may slip into August, with no firm date set.  Elrod says the timeline, other than the public hearing, is “still on track.”

The earliest any new city-wide trash contract would be in place would be January of 2025.

I write this on July 1, generally accepted as the half-way point in a calendar year.  I took a look at what has happened in Fishers during the first 6 months of 2024 and came up with a few major stories.  I list them below, in no particular order.

–Patrick Mapes was selected by the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board as the new Superintendent of Schools.  He replaces Yvonne Stokes, who resigned last fall.  Dr. Stokes was recently names superintendent of Gary Indiana Schools.

–Mayor Scott Fadness reacted to a court ruling impacting the tax distribution formula in Indiana which Fadness argues short-changes Fishers.  He cites the fact that Carmel receives $60 million more annually in this distribution system compared to Fishers.

–3 new city councilors assumed their seats on the Fishers City Council.

–Fishers City Hall & Art Center opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

–The roundabout construction begins at 96th Street and Allisonville Road.  The roundabout is expected to be essentially completed in October.

–Fishers began the process to take bids on providing city-wide trash collection service.  This is in response to local residents complaints about rising trash collection fees.

–Construction began on a new city community center at 121st Street and Hoosier Road.

–Melissa Loiselle has been named Hamilton East Library Director.

What will the second half of 2024 bring us?  I am not into speculation, but there are a couple of items we can anticipate.

There will be an election in November with 3 HSE School Board seats on the ballot.  Some county offices will also be up for election.

The first half of 2024 has generated plenty of news.  I expect the coming 6 months to do the same.