Writer / Jamie Hergott
Photography Provided
Can you give us a little of your personal background?
I’m an Indiana girl. I grew up and attended high school on the southwest side of Indy, lived on the north side during my 20s, and migrated to Brownsburg in 1990. Eventually, I moved to Avon in 2010, where I currently reside with my goldendoodle, Milo.
Tell us about your career.
I became licensed as a realtor in 2003, obtained my broker’s license in 2005, and worked for a nationally known real estate company. I founded Community Real Estate Group, LLC in January 2017. I pondered over choosing a name for quite some time. It was important to me for the name of the company to reflect my commitment of giving 5% of my commissions back annually to the communities I serve each year. One year, I sold a home in a very small community. I remembered the church across the street from the home was having vacation Bible school when we first looked at the house, so I donated to their program for the following year.
Tell us about your family.
I have one son, Benjamin (of whom I’m very proud), who serves in the U.S. Navy. I’m enjoying having him back in the U.S. after serving overseas for the past two years!
What are some of your hobbies?
My favorite hobbies are golf, traveling, gardening and volunteering. However, when the Indiana weather turns cold, you will most likely find me in front of the fireplace with a good book. I read them all, fiction and nonfiction.
Where is your favorite place to travel?
Probably Playa del Carmen, Mexico. I typically stay at the Secrets Capri resort. They have a lot of outdoor activities like jet skis, parasailing and snorkeling, in addition to the resort-planned activities and a beautiful beach area.
What is your favorite restaurant in Avon?
I can’t say I have a favorite place. I enjoy the variety of cuisine we have locally, and for me it’s more about enjoying the time with friends, family, clients and neighbors. I like to relax over lunch or dinner and catch up on everyone’s busy lives.
How did you come to be on the Avon Town Council?
I was first approached by Bev Stafford, who had decided to not run for another term. After that, several others began approaching me about running for the upcoming vacant ward position. I didn’t know much about the inner workings of town government at the time but felt my experience as a realtor gave me a unique perspective. In my work, I speak with many people moving in and out of Hendricks County, to and from other central Indiana areas or across the country. I always ask, “What do you, or did you, like about a specific community, and what criteria is important to you when considering a community to relocate to?”
I also communicate with peers in the industry and hear their feedback from their clients too. I felt I could share that information with the other Council members for discussion on growth and amenities within our town. We have a myriad of experiences among the current Council members – engineer, banker, information technology, law enforcement and real estate. I think this balance of perspectives provides for good discussions for matters that come before us, and when planning future goals and budgets.
What is your vision for Avon?
I’d like to see more trails added to our current ones and eventually have them connect from Brownsburg to Plainfield, and even the B&O Trail into Indy. I’d also like to see some family entertainment venues, kind of like a Dave & Buster’s but family oriented. I think there is a void for that in Avon and Hendricks County.
Most importantly, I would like see Avon have a more balanced tax base. It’s important to help relieve the tax burden on our residents. In Indiana residential property taxes are 1% of the assessed value, whereas commercial development is taxed at 3%. We currently have several developments approved that will begin construction in 2021. You will begin to see warehousing and distribution along 100 South that backs up to the railroad, and some light industrial developments along Ronald Reagan Parkway. This not only helps to balance the tax base, but provides opportunities to live and work without the commute.
What’s coming up for Avon?
Residents may not have heard yet, but we are in the process of purchasing additional acreage to expand Town Hall Park to the west.
The Council has set a 2021 goal to study town and township consolidation. This is a very complex agenda that requires cooperation with many other entities such as Washington Township, Avon Community School Corporation and the Avon Library. We will encourage residents to reach out to Council members and staff with questions as we begin the study. There will be a public input meeting as we proceed with the discussion on merger feasibility. Your attendance is welcomed.
Is there anything else you want people to know about Avon or the Town Council?
I would like to remind everyone that Avon has only been a town for 25 years. We are mere infants compared to Danville, Plainfield and Brownsburg. We have growing pains such as traffic, tax base, etcetera, because of this fact. I would remind everyone to be patient, attend meetings (or watch on Facebook Live or on the town website after meetings have ended), and sign up for boards or commissions if they wish to have an active role in the town’s future. Lastly, I would say that all five of your current Council members truly care about our community and although change may seem slow to some, we strive to make good decisions on growth and to operate within our fiscal budget.
