‘Larry in Fishers’: Retiree and former journalist keeps busy with local blog, podcast

My first exposure to Current In Fishers was receiving the weekly local publication in my mailbox.  When I began this local Fishers news blog in 2012, I came to know the Current in Fishers editor at the time, Dan Domsic.  Dan did a quick story on my news blog, mostly as a favor to him because he had a news hole and needed one extra local story in that edition.

Dan has since moved on and I have had the pleasure of knowing the Current in Fishers editors since Dan had the post.  I have done some writing for Current, again, starting as a favor to Dan who asked that I do so, and wrote for several others in charge of the weekly.

Leila Kheiry is the Current in Fishers editor now.  We immediately bonded because she is a former radio person as am I.

Leila asked to interview me for a story so I said yes.  How could a refuse a fellow journalist?

I did not know Leila intended to put me on the cover of the print edition, but that appears to be the case.  It was a surprise.

I was not surprised by the skill Leila exemplified in her interview with me and the story she wrote.  It was a genuine reflection of my interview with her, which I would describe as more of a conversation than an interview.

I never started this blog for any kind of fame, but what I hope Leila’s piece might do is motivate others to start their on local news blogs.  Technology has made that so easy today.

You can access the story online, using the link at the top of this blog post.

It was 2013.  I had started this local Fishers news blog the year before.  We were a town then and the town council looked into a city-wide trash collection contract.  Councilor David George was the one behind the idea, believing such an arrangement would save residents and Homeowners Associations (HOAs) money.

So, the town went through the process outlined in state law.  A request for proposals was issued and the bids were submitted.  Republic was the lowest bidder, at just under $10 a month (if my memory serves me correctly).

Then there was a public hearing.  I was out of town and could not attend.  My good friend Scott Fulton covered that meeting foe mw and it was clear most residents choosing to speak then were against the whole idea of a city-wide trash contract.  Some were satisfied with the service they had and others saw no reason for the town to get involved.  So, the Town of Fishers in 2013 dropped the whole idea.

City Councilors Pete Peterson and John Weingardt were also on the town council in 2013 and the current mayor, Scott Fadness, was town manager at the time.  They all said that trash proposal in 2013 was the most contentious issue they had ever handled on town or city government.

That is the reason Fishers never revisited the city-wide trash collection contract again.  However, in 2024, things have changed.

In 2013, there were several trash collection firms operating in Fishers.  Today, 2 companies, Republic and Waste Management, have most of the contracts.  Another firm, Priority, does have a small presence in Fishers, based on a presentation from the mayor’s Chief of Staff Jordin Alexander.

Alexander made her presentation at the January City Council meeting.  For more on that, read my previous story at this link.

Any city contract would include a number of elements, according to Alexander.  They would include:

–a 5 year term

–Weekly Collection of Solid Waste & Yard Waste

–Bi-Weekly Curbside Recycling

–2 96 Gallon Containers for Solid (65 Gallon Option at Request of Resident)

–1 96 Gallon Container for Recycling

–Leaf/ Landscaping Waste Pick Up:During the months of April, May and October 15th to December 15th, each household is allowed 20 extra bags or bundles per week of landscape waste

–Special Needs Service: For those individuals that are physically unable to wheel trash carts to the curb

The city could consider some additional aspects of any contract, such as:

• Bulky Item Pickup: Collection of Multiple Bulky Items (residents would request and pay through the contractor)

• Option to Extend to 6-7 Year

• Option to Increase to Weekly Recycling

• Christmas Tree Collection: December 26th – January 31st

Our nearby communities of Carmel, Noblesville and Westfield all have city-wide contracts for trash collection.  Mayor Scott Fadness insists he does not want to create a city trash collection service, but is open to contracting with a private firm.

In the past, HOAs have been able to get deals with trash collection operations.  My HOA had the annual meeting a few weeks ago and our trash collection contract is set to increase 35-40%.  Other HOAs are seeing the same thing.

It is clear Fishers is taking the first steps toward a request for proposals (RFP) and see what bids are submitted.  Fishers is a different place now compared to 2013 and the trash collection scene is much different now.

Let’s see how this process moves forward in 2024.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation only has a few major fund-raising events each year, and one of them is coming up soon.  The 2024 Game Day is set for Friday, February 23rd, 6:30pm, at Hub & Spoke.

Game Day is a time to don your favorite sports outfit and support the foundation’s efforts to support education at Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

Game Day has become a signature event in Fishers, as the largest annual fundraiser benefiting all 22 Hamilton Southeastern schools and attracting a sellout crowd. Event attendees will be provided tailgating themed games, game day food, and the annual district-wide Pop-A-Shot contest. Proceeds from the event help support innovative teacher grants, student scholarships, mental health, and wellness initiatives across all grade levels.

The event also will feature the popular Game Day auction, a way for the entire community to support local schools. The auction annually features hundreds of unique items and experiences, including baskets from each of HSE’s schools and PTOs. You can view the auction items in person by attending Game Day or follow the auction online from anywhere until bidding closes on February 23rd. Each $100 ticket is a tax-deductible donation used to inspire innovation in local education with discounts available for HSE Schools staff and alumni.

Game Day tickets normally sell quickly, so do not delay in buying yours.  Tickets are available at this link.

The Fishers City Council voted Wednesday night in favor of a rezoning  on the north side of 116th Street, west of Olio Road, from residential to commercial.  This concludes a long series of developments with neighbors and City Council members, paving the way for approval of this Drive Planning headquarters.

Several City Council members were also serving on the Plan Commission and initially opposed the rezone, but all voted in favor Wednesday night in a unanimous Council vote, once all agreed on a final plan.  Drive Planning currently has 7 employees and plans to add 15 with the new building.

This council action allows Drive Planning to move forward on construction of the firm’s new building.

“It’s one thing to win a championship, it’s another thing to be truly dominant.”  That’s how Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness introduced the HSE High School Girls’ Volleyball team to the City Council Wednesday night.  Coach Jason Young sang the praises of his squad, not just for their athletic accomplishments, but for their outstanding academic achievements.  After 2 consecutive state championships, Councilor Pete Peterson asked the coach if there will e a 3-peat?  Coach Young provided the usual coach’s answer – “We’re going to do our very best.”

Tracy Gaynor, Director of Information Technology for the City of Fishers, describes Olga Cansino his “right-hand” on the city staff.  Olga Cansino is celebrating 20 years working for the City of Fishers, and was so honored Wednesday by the City Council.  Gaynor was quick to recognize her for “dedication and good hard work.”

Jordin Alexander is the Chief of Staff for Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, and she presented the steps required to create a city-wide trash collection service through a private sector contract.  The earliest any program would likely begin would be the first quarter of 2025.

Alexander provided rates nearby cities have obtained through a city-wide contract.  Carmel’s contract with Republic costs residents $14.70 per month in 2024, but slowly rises each year to $18.25 a month in 2029.  Westfield’s pact with Waste Management is $12.93 per month in 2024 and is scheduled to be $13.23 a month in 2025.  The Noblesville agreement with Republic is $13.85 per month in 2024.

The city placed a survey online and had over 2,500 residents and 120 Homeowners Associations (HOAs) respond.  According to the residents survey, 41% said cost of service would be the most important aspect of any city-wide contract, 21% said customer service, 17% collection frequency and 3% the trash collector.  The HOA responses were similar.

According to the survey, 70% of residents are paying more than $21 a month for trash collection, 22% saying they pay $31-40, and 24% say they pay more than $41 a month.  Among the HOA responses, 62% pay more then $21 a month, 33% with rates of $12-20 per month and 5% with rates $8-12 monthly.

The mayor’s staff plans to prepare a Request for Proposals (RFP) this month, to be presented to the Board of Public Works & Safety for a vote in February.  Proposals would be received from trash company bidders in May.  June would be set aside for negotiations that would lead to a public hearing on a proposed contract in July.  A tentative contract approval would happen in August, with a City Council Rate Ordinance Public Hearing and vote.  Any new contract with city-wide rates would be implemented during the first 3 months of 2025.   The process could stop at any point before Council approval of a rate ordinance.

Councilors Pete Peterson and John Weingardt were members of the Fishers Town Council 10 years ago when the town went through this same process and rejected the bids due to what Peterson described as a “visceral” reaction from most residents at the time.

There were other comments on how the situation is much different now, with basically 2 trash collection firms serving Fishers, Republic and Waste Management.  Much of the price increases resulted once Waste Management bought Ray’s Trash Collection Service.

There are many details to be worked out, such as how to handle HOAs that have contracts in place now with trash collection firms.

The mayor’s office is moving forward with the process.  Let’s see how it goes this time.

You can view Jordin Alexander’s PowerPoint presentation to the City Council Wednesday night at this link.

The first Fishers City Council meeting of the calendar year brings new council members and a new president.  Council members elected Cecilia Coble to be president during the calendar year 2024.  Pete Peterson was elected vice president.  Both were elected by unanimous council votes.

This was the first City Council meeting for new members Tiffany Ditlevson, John DeLucia and Bill Stuart.

There are plenty of issues relating to public safety in Fishers.  The video recording body cams on officers, the mental health of the force, how technology impacts law enforcement and many more.  Mayor Scott Fadness and Police Chief Ed Gebhart joined Larry to talk about all that and more.  Listen to the podcast at the link below.

The federal holiday that is Martin Luther King Day has been taken up by many in the private sector, providing a paid day off work.  The Martin Luther King Center has always encouraged those with a day away from work to use this day as a “day on” for helping your local community in any way you see fit.

King is praised almost universally today, but I am old enough to remember the time when he was doing his work and Dr. King was vilified horribly by many, up until the time of his assassination in Memphis. It is sad that so many in American history that worked for peaceful change ended up in a violent death.

I still remember watching the March on Washington on television in 1963 with my father.  My dad thought the world of Dr. King.  He told me then that if he had not been the father of small children, he would have traveled to DC to take part in that historic event.

The best way, in my view, to remember Dr. King is to work peacefully for change…the kind of change that lifts up people on the lower rung of society.  I am not saying this is easy.  As Dr. King taught us during his lifetime, it is hard.

I commend that City of Fishers for sponsoring a food drive as part of Martin Luther King Day.  To learn more about MLK Day activities in Fishers, use this link.