Commentary by Jeff Papa
Zionsville has many changes to look forward to in the new year. One of the most significant efforts underway is the pursuit of appropriate commercial development to improve our tax base.
Creekside Corporate Park is a major component of this effort, and we will see significant infrastructure put in place early in 2016. Several companies are currently in various stages of negotiations with the RDC to locate in or near Creekside Corporate Park, and each of them would be welcome additions to our town.
Our multi-year inquiry into the most efficient long-term solution to town hall facilities is nearing completion. While the option of making major repairs and upgrades to the current building still exists, it becomes more clear with each bit of research that in the long run, that option is far less efficient and very costly. Our efforts around the new building concept continue to focus on efficient design and the ability to build the project without raising any taxes to do so.
Another significant building project in 2016 will be the new Nature Center facility. By working together, the town and the parks department will spend less than it would have cost to find temporary space solutions to build a permanent, larger home for the Nature Center, which can also serve as an emergency operations facility should the current town hall become unusable at any point unexpectedly.
Zionsville’s efforts on electronic information also continue to improve. A new website will soon be functional and much easier for citizens to utilize, and we recently signed an open data protocol with Indianapolis, Greenwood and Fishers; the first regional cooperation of its kind in the nation.
Town government will continue to change, as Tim Haak will become mayor. Amy Lacy will become head of the Dept. of Finance and Records. I will move back to the city council, and three new members will join the town council.
Jeff Papa is mayor of the Town of Zionsville.
