After much discussion and public comment, the Fishers City Council voted unanimously in favor of a text amendment allowing Meijer to construct a grocery, pharmacy and fuel station at Southeastern Parkway and Cyntheanne Road. The Fishers Plan Commission had provided a unanimous vote recommending the council approve the measure. There was discussion of traffic patterns and vehicular access in and out of the parking lot. Meijer and city officials agreed; Meijer made changes requested by the city administration.
Brian Murphy was hired in March of this year as Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools assistant superintendent of human resources. As of September 30, he was no longer in that job. Murphy submitted his resignation effective at the end of September. The school board approved his resignation. Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) President Abby Taylor told a gathering of teachers just before the board meeting that Murphy’s resignation “is the best-case scenario for our teachers in the district.” Murphy was at the center of an unfair labor practice filing by HSEA, claiming a “hostile work environment.”
Hamilton County has introduced a cutting-edge locution system for its 911 services, a move designed to dramatically enhance communication and response times for first responders. The countywide rollout aims to streamline dispatching, allowing emergency teams to receive critical information with greater speed and accuracy. The new system automates emergency alerts, delivering key details like the location and nature of an incident the moment a call is received. This automation reduces response times and ensures that first responders can act without unnecessary delays. One of the key features of the system is its ability to facilitate zoned dispatching, meaning only the necessary personnel for a specific emergency will be alerted, reducing interruptions to others.
A pedestrian bridge over 96th Street, connecting the Nickel Plate Trail between Fishers and Indianapolis, is one step closer to reality, following recent action by the Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety. The city approved an agreement with the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority to pay the authority $100,000 over a 10-year period, and the authority will “eject” the billboard. The billboard was constructed based on a 1997 lease agreement between the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority and the billboard firm. This clears one more hurdle, allowing the pedestrian bridge connecting the Nickel Plate Trail from Fishers to Indianapolis to be constructed. There was no comment as to when the bridge construction will begin. In one more board action, the city approved the expenditure of $625,000, paying for equipment needed by two professional sports teams that will call the Fishers Event Center home: the Fishers Freight Indoor Football League (IFL) team and the Indy Ignite women’s volleyball squad. $500,00 will go to the Freight for football equipment and $125,00 to Ignite for volleyball equipment. The funds will come from bond proceeds.
Tom Killian has left his position as executive director of the Hamilton County Community Foundation (HCCF). He will be taking a position with a national organization. October 15 was his last day at the HCCF. When Killian was hired by the HCCF, the foundation’s total assets were $46 million. After his seven and a half years at the HCCF, the assets now total $133 million.
The Fishers Freight of the IFL will start its inaugural season in March of 2025 at the new Fishers Event Center. Dixie Wooten is the head coach and recently named his staff of assistant coaches. First, the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach will be the head coach’s son, Dixie Wooten III. Secondly, Chuck Miller has been named defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, a man with a lot of IFL experience. Finally, Matt Elam, a former first-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens, is set to be special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach.
Hamilton County has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Government Experience Awards, hosted by the Center for Digital Government, for its innovative Parks Finder program. The county’s Information Systems Services (ISS) Department tied for fifth place in the Overall County Government Experience category. The Parks Finder program, developed collaboratively by Hamilton County’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and ISS departments, provides residents with easy access to a comprehensive directory of parks.
