What Happened: The Carmel City Council unanimously approved $698,050 in arts funds.
What It Means: Every year, the city appropriates money for the arts fund, which is usually around 1 percent of the city’s overall budget. This year, the total amount was less than 1 percent of the city budget so there was no objection from any city councilor and it was approved unanimously.
The funding is as follows:
- Actors Theatre of Indiana – $145,000
- Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre – $190,000
- Carmel Arts Council – $13,000
- Carmel Community Players – $14,000
- Carmel Symphony Orchestra – $200,000
- Central Indiana Dance Ensemble – $11,000
- Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre – $42,000
- Indiana Ballet Conservatory – $18,600
- Indiana Symphony Society – $7,500
- Indiana Wind Symphony – $12,000
- Indianapolis Children’s Choir – $3,700
- Indianapolis Symphonic Choir – $12,000
- International Talent Academy – $14,000
- Museum of Miniature Houses – $12,500
- Young Voices Inspire – $2,750
What’s Next: The various arts organizations will receive the money.
What Happened: The Carmel City Council unanimously approved a new contract with the firefighters union, along with somewhat related ordinances/amendments dealing with tuition reimbursement and city employee salaries.
What It Means: The council took its time to examine the new contract with Carmel Firefighters Association (Local 4444) because there were new additions to the agreement. One city councilor raised questions about tuition reimbursement in the contract, leading to another ordinance to be introduced to specify the rules regarding tuition reimbursement. Another amendment to city ordinance specified city employee salaries, especially bonuses for firefighters who work on ambulances or become fluent in another language.
What’s Next: All three ordinances were passed unanimously without debate and go into effect.
What Happened: Various bills remained in committee
What It Means: The issue of what to do with the 126th Street and Auman Drive stop sign still remains in committee until a solution can be reached. The council is also still considering changes to the public notice for the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission.
What’s Next: The stop sign changes remain in the Utilities, Transportation and Public Safety Committee which meets next on April 2. The Historic Preservation ordinance remains in the Finance, Administration and Rules Committee which meets next on March 19.
