At last month’s Fishers City Council meeting, 5 people criticized the Fishers Pride September 7th, asserting a drag show with children in the audience was “sexualized.”  The organization Fishers Pride reacted after the meeting, saying that was not the case at all.

At Monday night’s City Council session, 4 speakers defended the Fishers Pride event and how the children present were a part of the celebration in a “safe place” for members of the LGBTQ community.  One mother was emotional about how her 11-year-old daughter had been bullied in school related to the Pride event.

At last month’s meeting, Council President Cecilia Coble had said the police department would be looking into the Pride event as to whether there had been any law violations.  Coble said Monday no laws had been broken at the Pride event and no action will be taken.

There were other issues discussed in community comment.  One student, part of the Fishers Citizen Government class, cited 4 areas of the city where safety could be improved.  Another resident, complimented the city and the mayor’s office for constructing a sidewalk in his neighborhood.

The Fishers City Council failed to pass a change in the local noise ordinance. There were 4 votes in favor, 2 not in favor.  Because only 6 of the 9 Council members were present at Monday night’s meeting, 5 votes were required to pass the new ordinance language.

Councilors Bill Stuart and Cecilia Coble voted no on the change.  Both said the change may not have gone far enough.  Council President Coble later asked if she could amend her vote to yes and was told once the vote was taken, should could not change her vote.

The new ordinance before the Council would reduce the decibel level to 80 decibels, down from the current 90 decibels passed by the Town Council 10 years ago.  The failure of the vote Monday means, at least for now, the decibel level required to violate the ordinance will remain at 90.

Councilor Stuart made a motion to amend the decibel level to 75, but that failed for lack of a second.  The original proposal at last month’s Council session was 70 decibels, but complaints from two establishments resulted in a postponed vote and discussions on a acceptable decibel level.

Both Councilors Stuart and Coble said they had received a number of complaints by residents close to certain businesses that the noise levels were too high, even to allow small children to sleep.  Residents also complained about patrons of some businesses filling their neighborhoods with parked cars.

Mayor Scott Fadness said he is exploring other ways to handle this issue through zoning laws, but no conclusions have yet been reached on that approach.

It is very possible another noise ordinance will be proposed, but city staff would need direction from Council members on the next steps.

The Fishers Arts Council invites the community to explore the natural beauty of Indiana and beyond through its latest exhibit, “Scenes from Indiana & Beyond,” at the Art Gallery at City Hall, located in the Fishers Municipal Center, 1 Municipal Drive. The exhibit runs  through November 1 and is open to the public on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

A free reception will be held on Friday, October 11, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., as part of the Fishers Arts Council’s Second Friday event. Attendees can enjoy live music by Elizabeth Lee, who will perform thanks to a grant from the Fishers Arts + Culture Commission. The reception will also feature the Focus on the Artist segment at 6:45 p.m., where board member Pat Grabill will interview artists Sara Blalock, Shelley Feeney, Mark Rouse, and Casey Williams.

The exhibit features works by artists from Fishers, Noblesville, Indianapolis, and McCordsville, including Sara Blalock, Margot Bogue, Stephanie Carignan, and several others. Their art highlights the picturesque landscapes of Indiana and beyond, blending various styles to reflect on the beauty of nature.

In collaboration with the Fishers Parks Department, the exhibit honors the long-standing partnership between the two organizations, which began over 20 years ago. Notably, the department selected its favorite pieces in the exhibit, marking them as “Parks Picks” for visitors to enjoy. The gallery will also be open on Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., during the Fishers Parks’ Boo Bash event, featuring a free cultural activity focused on Día de los Muertos.

The exhibit is free and open to all ages.

Tom Segura is a standup comic with a highly-rated Netflix show, and his act is coming to the Fishers Events Center February 28.

Tickets will be available via pre-sale starting Wednesday, October 9 at 10AM local time using Artist Presale Code: TOMMY. The general on sale will be Friday, October 11 at 10AM local time. For more information and tickets, visit www.FishersEventCenter.com.

“This is the most fun I’ve had on tour and I’m excited to continue touring this hour of material to a bunch of great cities across the globe,” said Segura. “If my Instagram algorithm is any indication of the state of humanity this very well might be the last tour anyone can see on earth. Can’t wait!”

Ticket buyers will have the option to purchase a Platinum charity ticket. Segura will donate a portion of the proceeds from these Platinum ticket sales to the World Central Kitchen, a non-profit devoted to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters. For more information about World Central Kitchen, use this link.  The Event Organizer has priced these tickets according to their market value. Availability and pricing are subject to change.

“We are so grateful for this incredible support— efforts like this make World Central Kitchen’s work possible,” said Chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen. “Whether we’re responding to a hurricane, wildfire, or humanitarian crisis, we are grateful to be fueled by people who share in our belief that a hot meal is so much more than just food… it’s hope and a sign that you aren’t alone. Gracias, Tom!”

The Indianapolis Star posted a new story on its Web page Monday morning, and the Monday morning print edition features this piece on the front page, all about the proposal to establish a charter school in the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school district.

Reporter John Tuohy does a deep dive into the idea of allowing a charter school to provide career and technical education (CTE) opportunities for students in the local school corporation..  He quotes Steve Loser of HSE Schools (listen to my podcast with Mr. Loser on this issue at this link) talking about what the proposal would entail.  Tuohy also quotes opponents of the charter school within the HSE District.

Reporter Tuohy also quotes Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in the story.  Here is a little of what the mayor had to say in the Star:

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said he supports exploration of the charter school and said it could prove to be “a bridge to future jobs in our community.”

“It is something being discussed across the state and the country,” he said. “I hear every day from companies asking where is their workforce going to come from. Everyone is trying to figure out how to do it.”

You can access the full IndyStar story at this link. (NOTE:  You may need an IndyStar subscription to access this story.  Online subscriptions are not that expensive.  As I have argued many times before, subscribe to your local news outlets.  If you don’t, they will go away)

I started this local Fishers news blog in January of 2012.  There were many reasons as to why.  I had just retired and looking for a volunteer activity.  Local news was becoming scarce even 13 years ago.  But there was one more important reason I began this blog.

I noted a very low voter turnout locally, particularly in local elections.  I believe many choose not to vote because they do not know much about local issues and do not have the time or energy to research all that themselves.

That is a major reason I started this volunteer news blog in 2012 and have continued it to this day.  I have tried to quit this blog endeavor twice and people just wouldn’t let me.

The best way you can support what I do on this blog as a volunteer is to do something we all can do as citizens – vote.  Just vote.

In order to vote, you must be registered.  If you have not registered to vote, the deadline is Monday, October 7.  It is easy to register online and check on your registration to ensure you are currently registered.  There is a Web site for that in Indiana at this link.

You can also register at your local election office by close of business October 7.  And, if you mail your registration paperwork, it must be postmarked by midnight October 7.

The most important compliment I have ever received writing this blog is from several local residents telling me they decided to vote because they have read this blog and followed local events.  You can be one of those people.  Register to vote online and check your registration online if you are registered to verify you can vote in this round of elections.

Thanks for reading this blog!

The Fishers City Council will receive some good news at Monday’s meeting from City Controller Lisa Bradford – impact fees coming into the city coffers have exceeded the projections for 2024.

Based on City Council Action Forms, Council members will be asked to vote on two measures.  One would add $350,000 to Park Impact Fee funds this year.  The second adds $550,000 t0 2024 road impact fees.

Impact fees are charged to developers by the City of Fishers for developments within the city limits.  The fees go toward infrastructure, in this instance to parks and roads.

Controller Bradford told the City Council Finance Committee last Wednesday the extra impact fee cash was realized due to the timing of certain projects coming online.  She cited the new Kroger store at 116th Street and Allisonville Road as one example.

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.