There remains a long list of road projects in and around the Fishers area.

During a Webinar in mid-June of this year, the city engineering department said the construction of a roundabout at 96th Street and Allisonville Road would be “fully functional” for traffic, in all directions, by October of this year.  Based on the summary below, the City of Fishers has moved back that date from October to late October/early November.

Below is the full listing of road construction in the area, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Fishers area Road construction update for Monday, October 7 →

Kenton Ward, Hamilton County’s long-serving Surveyor, was recognized as the Outstanding County Surveyor by the Association of Indiana Counties (AIC) during its 66th Annual Conference last week. The event, themed “Moving Indiana Forward,” gathered county officials from across the state for a series of workshops, networking opportunities, and an awards banquet.

Ward, who has served as Hamilton County Surveyor since 1977, will retire at the end of this year, capping off a long career in land management. Known for his proactive approach to floodplain management and erosion control, Ward has been instrumental in shaping sustainable land-use practices in Hamilton County. This marks the third time Ward has received the AIC’s Outstanding County Surveyor Award.

Nancy Marsh, Hendricks County Auditor and President of the AIC Board, praised Ward’s dedication. “This recognition reflects Kenton’s commitment to excellence in surveying and land management,” she said. “He has consistently demonstrated leadership and duty to his profession, making significant contributions to the community and state.”

Ward’s career has been filled with accolades, including receiving the Arthur R. Himsel Award in 2009, the highest honor the AIC bestows.

Mark Heirbrandt, President of the Hamilton County Commissioners, also commended Ward’s legacy. “Kent’s unwavering dedication to our county and his tireless public service have greatly benefited Hamilton County,” Heirbrandt remarked.

I have often wondered – what would I do if I had to make a split-second decision that could save a life?  Adam Barr came across such a situation, a serous auto accident where the vehicle ran into a house.

Adam, wasted no time in getting the young driver, only named as Jackson, out of the vehicle, just minutes before his vehicle burst into flames.  Adam then knocked on doors nearby to warn residents of dangers in the gas lines.

During the afternoon of Thursday, October 3rd, Fishers invited the news media to learn the story of Adam’s heroism.  Family members were on hand, and Jackson, the young man rescued by Adam, was there as well.

When Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness asked Adam if he had anything to say, he looked at Jackson and said, “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“I was so stunned when the accident happened, I didn’t know what was going on, I was scared,” Jackson said. “Adam, you saved my life.

Adam was presented with a special award from the City of Fishers for his heroic actions.

Anyone in the news business, even a volunteer such as myself, spends a lot of time with bad news.  It is refreshing to report on Adam Barr and his quick action that saved a life in my city.

The Fishers Police Department has released a police body-cam video of an officer that arrived on the scene after the flames broke out and spoke with Adam.  That video is available at this link.

S&P Global Ratings has assigned Hamilton County a ‘AAA’ long-term rating for its existing general obligation bonds (GO) and lease debt. The rating also extends to the county’s upcoming 2024 general obligation refunding and project bonds, which carry a preliminary par value of $55 million. The outlook remains stable.

The high rating comes as the county embarks on a significant project to upgrade its Judicial Center. The savings generated from refunding existing bonds will enable Hamilton County to fund the center’s improvements while keeping the tax rate steady for an additional four years.

“The savings on the refunded bonds will allow the county to finance improvements to the county’s Judicial Center by extending the current tax rate for four years,” said Amy Massillamany, president of the Hamilton County Council. “That ensures the project can be completed with no tax increase.”

S&P analysts commended Hamilton County’s “very strong economic profile,” highlighting its robust growth, including the fastest population increase among all Indiana counties in the latest census.  These practices, according to the report, have allowed Hamilton County to preserve a strong reserve position while managing its operating costs, capital projects, and limiting new debt accumulation.

“This rating saves our residents money by providing a lower cost of borrowing to finance capital projects,” said Mark Heirbrandt, president of the Hamilton County Commissioners. “This also makes the county more attractive to businesses and signals a sound and stable economic climate. It certainly speaks to the hard work and teamwork of our county commissioners, county council, and finance team over the past three months.”

The City of Fishers is poised to start a city-wide trash collection contract with Republic Services.  Implementing this contract is described by Mayor Scott Fadness as a “big undertaking.”  Despite best efforts by the mayor and his staff, expect some challenges as this contract starts in 2025.

Here are some key dates to know:

Weeks of December 30th & January 6th Those not already on the Republic service will have their new bins dropped-off.

Week of January 6th Current Waste Management customers will have their trash bins collected (the city says there should be no fee charged by Waste Management for this)

January 10, 2025  Last service date for Waste Management customers in the City of Fishers

January 13th The start date for city-wide Republic trash collection service

Current Republic customers may well have a new trash collection day as the city-wide service is implemented.  That information should be available in the coming weeks.  It iwill be posted on the Web site and each household in the city will eventually be individually notified.

Current Republic customers will keep their current trash carts.  A recycling bin will be delivered.  If a customer wants to change-up or downsize the number of bins, they need to contact Republic directly by Web site or telephone.

Customer service will be split between the city and Republic, depending on the issue.  For example, if a customer needs a new bin or trash pickup was missed that day, contact Republic.  For any billing issues or recurring service problems, contact the city.

There was a long list of questions asked, some were answered, others will be followed-up and answered on the city’s trash collection Web page at this link.

The story only touches a few main issues, there are many more.  I will do my best to keep everyone up-to-date on this big transition, impacting 31,000 families that will be switching to Republic Services for trash collection.

On Monday, October 7, the Humane Society for Hamilton County (HSHC) will receive  support from the 2nd Annual Tom Greiwe Fall Classic Charity Golf Scramble, an event created to honor the memory of Tom Greiwe, a beloved local resident, golfer, and animal lover. The event kicks off at 9:30 a.m. and is set to make an impact on the lives of homeless pets in Hamilton County.

Last year’s inaugural event, held in October 2023, raised over $2,000 in honor of Tom, who passed away in July 2023 following a courageous battle with cancer. Tom’s passion for animals, especially his dog Bella, was well-known to his family and friends.

“Tom would be so proud of the community’s support for the Humane Society for Hamilton County,” said his partner, Beverly Purtlebaugh. “Tom loved Bella, and they were inseparable. The unconditional love between an animal and its human is something special, and there’s no better way to honor Tom’s memory than by helping animals in need.”

This year’s event has seen overwhelming community support, with registration closing early and officials anticipating a record turnout. The charity scramble has grown significantly, expanding from 10 teams with 40 players in its first year to 24 teams with 96 players this year.

“More than 25 local businesses have stepped up, contributing services, merchandise, gift cards, and cash donations,” said Ed Ferris, a friend of Tom’s and the tournament’s organizer. “Their generosity ensures that 100% of the proceeds will directly benefit the Humane Society and the animals they care for.”

Lily Darling, HSHC’s Community Engagement Manager, expressed her gratitude for the ongoing support. “To know that so many animals will be helped in Tom’s memory is humbling. We couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to continue Tom’s legacy and help these animals find the care they need.”

The funds raised will support HSHC’s mission to provide shelter, medical care, and adoption services to homeless pets in Hamilton County.

I have covered the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board for 13 years, and this is the first time the district has chosen to have a required public hearing outside a regular board meeting.  State law requires a public hearing before formal bargaining begins between a local teachers union and a school corporation.

With that formal bargaining about to begin, the HSE Schools chose to have a public hearing not part of a school board session Tuesday evening.  The hearing was not live streamed on video as in regular board meetings, but administrators said a video recording would be posted by the school district October 2nd.

There were nine speakers at this public hearing, all expressing strong support for the teachers’ union, the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA).  Many argued they moved to the Fishers area to be a part of HSE Schools, a district with a solid reputation.  Most argued that reputation could wane if teachers are not compensated properly.

Teachers said if there is no pay raise this year, a more than 8% increase in health insurance premiums will equate to a pay cut for the teaching staff.

There were comments on the district’s decision to move away from interest-based bargaining to a traditional, or positional, bargaining model (For more on that use this link).  They were critical of going to a more confrontational method of negotiations.

Representatives of the school district and HSEA will now enter into formal talks, with the goal of reaching agreement on a new contract.  State law provides a deadline of November 15 to reach an agreement.  If no agreement if reported to the state by then, the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board  will begin a mediation process.

Fishers High School senior Trenton Qualls has earned the prestigious Congressional Award Gold Medal, a recognition that honors young Americans for their dedication to personal growth and community service.

The award, established by Congress in 1979, encourages young people to achieve personal goals in four areas: Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration. Unlike many accolades based on competition or academic performance, the Congressional Award highlights a commitment to self-improvement and community impact.

Qualls spent the past two years meeting the rigorous requirements for the Gold Medal, including completing at least 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness, and a week-long expedition in a new environment.

“What I enjoy so much is helping others and giving them a smile,” Qualls said, reflecting on his efforts. “Whenever I see someone who needs help, I ask, ‘Hey, can I help you with that?’ Knowing that I’ve helped them always makes me feel better too.”

Qualls credits his father for introducing him to the program after the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially uncertain about taking on the challenge while balancing swimming, Scouts, and schoolwork, Qualls says the support of his family and Boy Scout troop helped him succeed.

As he approaches graduation, Qualls advises fellow students to embrace opportunities without becoming overwhelmed. “Take advantage of as many opportunities as you can, but make sure it’s not a burden,” he said. “Hit the ground running but know when to pace yourself.”