By Dan Domsic
The Fishers Town Council met in a retreat and special session last week, holding a short special session to approve the purchase of property in relation to the mixed-use development in front of town hall.
Property purchase
The council voted to allow the Fishers Redevelopment Commission to purchase Post Office Drive from the USPS. The road is located in front of 8500 E. 116th St. This is a step toward the new mixed-use development in front of town hall. Multiple appraisals were made of the property, and it will cost $390,000 to acquire it. The project should break ground later next month.
The budgeting process begins
The town staff began briefing the council on the town’s finances at the July 29 retreat. Fishers Town Manager Scott Fadness said pieces of the budget will be talked about at each subsequent work session. Presentations of the next fiscal year budget at regular council meetings appear toward the end of the year. Mike Reuter, Hamilton Southeastern School District CFO and consultant to the town, presented financial forecasts for the town with a fiscal plan. Reuter’s lengthy report included forecasts through 2016. Reuter forecasts the town will have more than $42.4, $42.8 and $43.1 million in total revenue in 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.
Amphitheater programming continues with fall schedule
Fadness said after meeting with the parks and recreation staff, the town plans to bring a kids-oriented movie series this fall back at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, 6 Municipal Dr. In addition to that series, big upcoming events include the Humane Society for Hamilton County’s Dog Day Afternoon featuring Woofstock, a large Halloween-oriented event and a large Christmas-oriented event.
Council briefed on cul-de-Loops
After some concern and maintenance requests came from residents about cul-de-loops in their neighborhood, Jeff Hill, director of engineering, briefed the council on the ownership of the roads in various subdivisions. A cul-de-loop is a small road that creates a bump or “eyebrow,” allowing developers to squeeze more lots into areas, usually corners, of a neighborhood. Hill said there are 103 of these roads in more than 50 subdivisions. A memo from Hill states taking on these types of roads, which are treated as private in other communities, would be a $5 million liability, a no-go for the town. Fadness said the town will reach out to impacted homeowner’s associations so they know to include the upkeep of those roads in their capital budgets.