In the weekly Fishers area road construction report, watch for lane closures along 116th Street in downtown Fishers, as work continues on the Cafe Patachou sidewalk installations.  Rumors are that the restaurant should be opening late this year or early 2025.  In the meantime, watch for lane closures in the area.

Here is the full road construction update for the work week starting Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, as provided by the City of Fishers:

======= Continue reading Fishers area road construction update for the work week starting Monday, November 11 →

The election is over and Leila Kheiry joins me in this podcast discussion about the election, roundabouts and much more in this podcast.

The Hamilton Southeastern School Board will be asked to approve a $15 million bond, funding 12 new classrooms at Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate and Junior High School (also known at the HIJH), along with additional cafeteria space.  The debt should come from other bonds being paid-off, keeping the school District’s tax rate stable.  School board member Ben Orr emphasized that the funds for this project come from a  pool of money apart from most staff salaries.  This HIJH project is not part of the 10-year plan in place to maintain district buildings, but Superintendent Patrick Mapes told the Finance Committee he and his staff are working on an updated 10-year plan, which will be presented to the board at a future date.

Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown told the committee his office is looking into “creative ways” to hold down the spiraling cost of health insurance.  Insurance premiums are set to increase $2 million for the district in 2025, but increased use of high-deductible plans could bring that increase down to about $500,000.  Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) can be used to handle costs not covered by a high-deductible health plan.  HSAs have tax incentives for employees.  More details on that should be known once bargaining is completed between the school administration and the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA).  Mr. Mapes told the committee bargaining sessions with HSEA are scheduled for Monday and Friday next week.  If no agreement is reached by November 15, the state process begins with mediation and possibly fact-finding, where a contract could be imposed on both parties.

Superintendent Mapes told the committee the district is working on adding scoreboards and video boards to each high school gymnasium.  He expects most or all of the expense would be covered by commercial sponsors over time.  This could be installed over the winter school break.  Also, a phone app is in the works that would not provide a video feed of sports contests, but would update scores and time left, with commercial sponsorship on the screen.

A new day care center is planned for Cyntheanne Road and Southeastern Parkway, and the Fishers Plan Commission voted 9-0 Wednesday night sending a favorable recommendation to the City Council for a rezoning proposal.

The Kid City development needs the rezoning of 2.669 acres of land on Cyntheanne Road, adjacent to Cynteanne Park.  The next stop will be the Fishers City Council to formally approve the rezoning.

City planning staff told commission members this day care does not match
the 2040 Comprehensive Plan of Suburban Residential but it does fit within the context of providing small scale vital neighborhood services.

In Tuesday’s general election, Republicans continued to control offices in Hamilton County.  County Commissioners Steve Dillinger and Mark Heirbrandt were unopposed.  In the at-large County Council election, GOP incumbents Brad Beaver, Sue Maki and Steve Nation all won re-election.  The only Democrat in the mix, Kelly Gladieux, was not able to garner enough votes to win a council seat.

Republican Gary Duncan won his race for County Surveyor, defeating Democrat Thomas William Davis.  County Auditor Todd Clevenger and County Treasurer Susan Byer, both Republicans, were unopposed.  All county judgeships up for election were unopposed.

In Indiana Statehouse races, Democrat Victoria Garcia-Wilburn won another term in House District 32.  Speaker Todd Huston was unopposed.  Republican Alaina Shonkwiler won House District 29, Chuck Goodrich’s former district.  Scott Baldwin was the winner in Indiana Senate District 20.

In Hamilton County, Indiana and nationally, it was a good night for the Republican Party.

The three women on the ballot all came up at-large election winners for Hamilton Southeastern School Board in the 2024 general election.  Latrica Schooley won over Greg Lannan in Delaware Township with just over 54% of the vote.  Suzanne Thomas won re-election against former board member Terry Tolle in Fall Creek Township with just under 61% of the ballots cast.  Sarah Parks-Reese earned a second term on the board, defeating John Stewart in Wayne Township with just over 58% of the vote.

All voters within the Hamilton Southeastern School District voted in each race, but each candidate ran in their home townships.

In this case, the 3 best-funded candidates were losers, based on pre-election finance reports.

“To all our supporters, you guys are the best of the best,” wrote Latrica Schooley in a social media post.

“Wow Hamilton Southeastern Community, I am once again humbled by your support and faith in me,” wrote Sarah Parks-Reese in a Facebook post. “I am honored and grateful to serve another 4 years!”

“While the outcome of the election was not what we had hoped, I want to extend my sincere congratulations to Sarah Parks-Reese on her reelection to the Hamilton Southeastern School Board,” wrote John Stewart in a Facebook post. “I know she works tirelessly and is committed to representing the families of Wayne Township.”

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association endorsed the 3 winning candidates.  “HSEA congratulates Sarah Parks-Reese, Suzanne Thomas, and Latrica Schooley on their election to the school board!,” said the local teachers’ union in a social media post. “As we look to the future, we are excited to work with these women and the current members of the school board to do what is best for students and teachers!”

Fishers One, a conservative group locally, won 2 years ago, placing 4 candidates it backed on the board.  In this round, all 3 Fishers One endorsed candidates lost.

The three winning candidates will begin their 4-year terms in January of 2025.

Below lists the latest information on the election for Hamilton Southeastern School Board.  There are 3 seats up for election, one each for each of three townships.  The winner in each township will earn a seat on the board.

220 of 220 precincts reporting (all of Hamilton County)

Delaware Township  

Greg Lannan                                  21,614          45.86%

Latrica Schooley                          25,516          54.14%

Fall Creek Township

Suzanne Thomas                      29,411           60.90%

Terry Tolle                                    18,880          39.10%

Wayne Township

Sarah Parks-Reese                    27,965           58.14%

John Stewart                              20,132           41.86%

Hamilton County Democrats say a complaint will be filed with the Hamilton County Election Board over the late start of voting in “at least six” polling locations this election day, according to a news release.  Democrats say those polling sites did not open for voting until 6:15-6:30am.

“The polls in Hamilton County did not open on time at 6 AM local time as required by state law, and an unknown number of voters were disenfranchised and walked away. We want to make sure every registered Indiana voter has the ability to fairly and equally cast their ballot, and that was not the case this morning,” said Indiana Democratic Party Executive Director Dayna Colbert. “Everyone who was unable to vote this morning or because of the long lines the backup created throughout the day should not be disenfranchised of their constitutional right to cast a ballot and vote in this election because of a technical error.”

The release from the state Democratic Party says lines to vote remain long in Hamilton County today.

Comedienne Leanne Morgan was one of the initial bookings announced for the new Fishers Events Center for November 30.  A change in her schedule has required that performance to be rescheduled several months later, to July 26.

Ticket holders should retain their tickets as they will be honored at the rescheduled date. Fans unable to attend the rescheduled show can receive a refund at point of purchase.

Here is a statement from Ms. Morgan:

Y’all, it’s with a heavy heart that I must announce the rescheduling of my show in Fishers, IN on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at Fishers Event Center. I’ve been working hard on my TV series and the production schedule has shifted and I now need to be in LA that night.  My fans mean the world to me and I’m so appreciative of all your support.  I’m so sorry for any inconvenience.  I can’t wait to see you on the new date, Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 7pm. All tickets for the original performance will be honored, so please hold on to your tickets. For ticket inquiries, please contact your point of purchase. For tour information, please visit leannemorgan.com.