Emily Sigler (left) and Andrew Bradford from Conner Prairie appear before the City Council Nonprofit Committee
Fishers City Council Nonprofit Committee Chair Cecilia Coble welcomed 2 new members of the panel at its first meeting of 2024 Wednesday morning – Councilors Bill Stuart and Tiffany Ditlevson.
The panel is sorting through the applications received for support from local nonprofit organizations. Councilor Coble indicated many church food pantries have asked for support, but cited “inefficiencies” among the many entities offering food to those in need. A local group is working to bring the various food bank operations together to work more closely and become more efficient in helping those locally with food insecurity.
The committee plans to invite local nonprofits that applied online for the city grants to appear before the committee in a future meeting. The city projects $250,000 total would be available in the next city budget cycle in nonprofit grants for calendar year 2025.
Two representatives of the Conner Prairie leadership, Andrew Bradford and Emily Sigler, provided background on what is happening with the Fishers organization, including major renovations underway. They both asked the city to continue its recent Conner Prairie support of $80,000 a year into 2025.
Hatem Mekky is the Director of the Engineering Department for the City of Fishers. Brad Pease has recently joined the department as Assistant Director. In this podcast, they both provide an update on a number of projects in and around Fishers. They discuss:
–The delay in work on Cumberland Road south of 116th Street
–The construction of a roundabout at 96th Street and Allisonville Road
–The status of roundabout construction plans on 141st Street and State Road 37
–The upcoming roundabout construction at 116th Street and Allisonville Road
Fishers Police Department (FPD) officers successfully apprehended a group of theft suspects Friday using a precision immobilization technique (PIT maneuver) to stop a vehicle allegedly connected to thefts at Target.
The incident began just after noon when FPD received a call about a theft in progress at the Target store on Commercial Drive. Target Asset Protection notified police that known theft suspects were inside the store. As officers arrived on the scene, the suspect vehicle was leaving the store and headed toward Technology Drive.
Officers attempted to pull over the suspect vehicle, which initially stopped. During a high-risk stop, officers detained three men in the vehicle. However, a female passenger suddenly climbed into the driver’s seat and sped away, prompting a pursuit.
Police believed the high-speed chase along Technology Drive posed a danger to officers, the public, and the other suspects due to the reckless nature of the female driver. FPD officers quickly initiated a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle, and the female driver was taken into custody.
Once all four suspects were in police custody, officers searched the vehicle and apparently found nearly thirty stolen items valued at $1,275.25. Officers also say they discovered two illegally possessed handguns.
The three male suspects and the female driver were arrested and transported to Hamilton County Jail on various charges.
The suspects arrested and charges are listed below. Also below is a video, from Fox59 News, of the PIT maneuver and arrests.
With the cancellation of a contract with Panorama to conduct a survey for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools over one year ago, administrators are working on a replacement survey. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Matt Kegley told the school board Wellness Committee Thursday that there was a meeting just this week on that subject among top officials of the district.
Kegley says any new survey needs to be tied into the program creating the “Portrait of a Graduate.” Kegley also says feedback from building principals will be part of putting together a new survey.
The HSE School Board will have a presentation on the new survey, but not until sometime during the next school year, beginning in August.
In action taken during March of 2023, the board discontinued the contract with Panorama in a 4-3 vote. Board member Sarah Donsbach said the school district paid $152,000 in advance to Panorama and should cost the school corporation $61,000, because the district paid for surveys that will now not be conducted.
–The Wellness Committee also received a rundown on the May 1 Wellness Expo, 6:00-8:30pm, at Fishers High School. Mental Health and School Counseling Coordinator Molly Kirwan listed the groups within and outside the school system that will participate in the Expo. According to the HSE Schools Web site, those attending the Expo will have the opportunity to listen to experts as they discuss important topics including student mental and physical health and wellness, nutrition, and school safety. You can also connect with more than 30 local agencies that provide wellness services in our community. The Fishers Health Department will be on-site to provide a pop-up Vaccine Clinic.
Childcare will be provided at no-cost for children ages 4 and up. The ‘Youth Zone’ will include yoga, arts & crafts, mindfulness practices and healthy snacks!
The City of Fishers is offering a series of educational opportunities for its youth to gain insights into local government and potential career paths through three upcoming programs: the Mayor’s Youth Academy, the Fishers Police Department Teen Academy, and the Fishers Health Department Teen Public Health Academy. These initiatives are free for participants and aim to provide students with hands-on experiences and insights into public service.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness emphasized the importance of engaging and educating young people in the community. “Investing in the education and engagement of our youth is essential for cultivating the next generation of community leaders, said Mayor Fadness in a city news release. “The City of Fishers is proud to offer these unique academies as a gateway for young people to gain hands-on experience in careers in government operations and public service. Through these programs, students have the opportunity to understand and contribute to the city they call home.”
The Mayor’s Youth Academy is designed for local high school juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and an interest in public service. The program provides opportunities for students to work alongside Mayor Fadness and other city leaders on important issues facing the community. Participants will take part in behind-the-scenes tours and discussions on policy questions, culminating in a presentation to Fishers City Council in spring 2025. Registration for the 2024-2025 Mayor’s Youth Academy is open through June 28 on the city’s website.
The Fishers Health Department Teen Public Health Academy offers a one-week experience for high school students to explore various public health disciplines. Students will interact with health department staff and city officials while participating in activities such as retail food inspections, water sampling, and vector control. The program runs from July 15 to July 20, and registration is open through May 31.
The Fishers Police Department Teen Academy provides law enforcement training for students in grades 7 through 12 attending Fishers-based schools. The program covers roles and responsibilities of police officers and introduces students to specialized units and skills such as the K-9 Unit and crime scene investigation. The four-day program runs from July 8 to July 12, and applications are open through May 17.
These programs reflect Fishers’ commitment to nurturing the next generation of community leaders and providing youth with the opportunity to explore careers in public service. Interested students can find more information and register for the academies on the City of Fishers website.
Christi Thomas, watching the HSE School Board meeting Wednesday
Christi Thomas has spent the past 11 years serving as the Geist Elementary School Principal, but will be moving into a new position when the current school year ends. Ms. Thomas will join the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Central Office as the new Director of Student Services.
Ms. Thomas has a total of 25 years experience as an educator.
This announcement is a part of the Central Office staff restructuring since the current school board majority assumed office in January of 2023.
“I am extremely excited to take my K-12 experience and viewpoint to positively impact the entire district through guiding and implementing student services for PK-12,” says Thomas in a school corporation news release. “I greatly appreciate the support and commitment I have received while serving the GES community and look forward to expanding my reach to provide essential services to all students so they may thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.”
In her new role, HSE Schools say Thomas will oversee aspects of student welfare, including enrollment, attendance, and student discipline procedures. Thomas will also serve as the designated authority for Title VI and Title IX filings and support the needs of homeless students as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act liaison.
Thomas plans to finish this school year as principal at Geist Elementary before taking on her new administrative position.
The red areas on this map are to be resurfaced this summer
Fishers plans to resurface roads this summer in a number of neighborhoods, particularly Sunblest. Two main throughfares are to be resurfaced – both 126th Street and Promise road, in the area of Fishers High School. The $2.9 million bid was under the engineer’s estimate. The funding will come from the Indiana Community Crossing Matching Grant of $1.4 million, with the wheel tax and other local sources rounding out the funding. The Board of Public Works and Safety approved the bid acceptance at its Tuesday morning meeting.
In others actions by the Board of Works:
–Federal funding is now approved for roundabout construction at 96th Street & Cyntheanne Road, along with 131st Street and Howe Road. Construction is expected in 2025.
–10 Verizon 5G towers will not be constructed in Fishers since it has been 2 years since initial approval of the rights-of-way. It is another sign Verizon may not plan to construct any new 5G towers in Fishers.
–The developer of Cyntheanne Woods plans to dedicate land to the city for a park as part of 61 residential units to be constructed. Since the city has no current plans for a park in that area, the perimeter path and pedestrian bridge (over Thorpe Creek) across the Cyntheanne Road frontage would be constructed, but not until the park land is developed. The developer has agreed to incorporate the construction of the path and pedestrian bridge into their residential development plans. In return, the city will provide Park Impact Fee Credits for the proposed 61 residential lots and a one-time payment for the improvement costs, which exceed the credit amount to compensate the developer for the improvements.
Commission President Jamie Nieves (right) and new member Maggie Sadler
Jamie Nieves will continue to serve as President of the Fishers Economic Development Commission following a commission vote Monday afternoon. Maggie Sadler has been named a new member of the commission. There is an opening for a third appointment to the commission that is currently vacant until the mayor makes the appointment. Sadler will serve as commission secretary in 2024.
The commission approved an economic development project agreement, including a $16 million bond for construction planned in the Gray Eagle neighborhood. JC Hart plans to develop 160 residential units in that area. This economic development agreement includes a $12-$14 million upgrade to the golf course clubhouse.
Fishers Economic Development Director Megan Baumgartner told the commission the agreement calls for developer purchased bonds, “which is great for us. We’re issuing the debt but (the city is not)carrying the liability of it.”
This went before City Council in March where it received a stamp of approval. The Monday commission action marks the final city approval for the project.
I have written countless times on this blog about how Fishers, Hamilton County and Indiana all have abysmal numbers when it comes to election voter turnout. Oseye Boyd has impressive credentials as a journalist, having served as editor of the Indianapolis Recorder, Public engagement Editor for the Indianapolis Star and now Editor-In-Chief at the Indy Mirror, a relatively new online local news outlet.
Ms. Boyd has written a piece for the nonprofit local news operation Capital Chronicle, providing her perspective on why Indiana’s voter turnout is so low. She cites the 2023 Indiana Civile Health Index, which shows Indiana ranking 50th in voter turnout among the 50 states and District of Columbia, and 40th for the number of voters registered in 2022.
The numbers cover the what, but how about the why? Ms. Boyd goes over the arguments often made as to why one should vote, such as how others died for this right and how your vote counts and does matter. She argues that, sadly, our vote often doesn’t count for as much as it should.
She correctly cites gerrymandering a major culprit, where competitive general elections are rare. But she also looks at what she describes as “gatekeeping” by the major political parties.
When an elected leader resigns or passes away during the elected term, it is the political party that gathers a caucus of precinct officials to vote on the person to serve the remainder of that elected term. Voters outside that realm have no say in that election.
Indiana also has a provision about candidates that may be listed on the ballot in a primary election. A candidate must have voted in that party’s primary election the last two times that candidate voted in a primary election. If a candidate doesn’t meet that standard, the chair of the county party decides whether that candidate may be listed on the primary ballot.
Ms. Boyd argues this is a very undemocratic way to run elections. She cites a specific example in Marion County.
I have no issue with Oseye Boyd’s points here. It does partially explain why voters do not vote because they believe no clear choices are available.
I would add one more. Media attention does make a difference. If voters know more about the candidates from a neutral journalist, as opposed to candidate advertising (which is often not accurate at all), there is a better chance that citizen will choose to cast a ballot.
This is a major reason I started LarryInFishers.com. Voters need to understand what is going on, not just at election time, but all the time an elected official serves.
An engaged electorate tends to vote. I fully agree with Oseye Boyd in her assertions that Indiana does not make voting easy or allow all the choices voters likely want in an election.
I am all for ways to increase the voter turnout numbers in Fishers, Hamilton County and the State of Indiana. Let’s hope people in a position to make a difference are working on solutions.
