By Sadie Hunter
Many city officials and those vying for elected seats in Noblesville for 2016 have long anticipated the New Year.
After November’s election cycle, the 2016 Noblesville Common Council was slated with four new faces and five returning councilors.
But 2016 has brought more than new faces to council. The City of Noblesville is now officially a second-class city, which adds two new seats to common council and splits the former elected seat of clerk-treasurer into and an elected city clerk seat – now belonging to Evelyn Lees, former deputy clerk-treasurer under former Clerk-Treasurer Janet Jaros, who retired at the end of 2015 after two decades of holding the seat – and an appointed financial controller for the city.
Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear, who won his fourth consecutive bid for mayor in May, announced Mike Hendricks, former deputy mayor, for that job Dec. 21. With more than 21 years of service to the city, Hendricks will now be responsible for all city finances to “ensure public tax dollars are utilized in a fiscally responsible manner in order to provide optimal services to Noblesville residents,” Noblesville Communications Manager Robert Herrington said.
And to take the deputy mayor spot? Former Planning Director Christy Langley. Ditslear appointed Langley shortly after Hendricks, on Jan. 1.
“In her new role, Langley will assist the mayor in making sure all departments are functioning together and working toward the same vision for the Noblesville community,” Herrington said. “She’ll also assist with managing daily operations and fill in for the mayor when needed.”
Just five days later, Ditslear named Assistant Economic Development Director Sarah Reed to serve as Planning Director, beginning Feb. 29.
“I know Sarah will utilize her background in economic development like Christy did when she made the departmental move and provide a new perspective and in-depth look in some of our major planning and business areas within the city,” Ditslear said at the time of Reed’s appointment.
On Jan. 12, the new arrangement of the Noblesville Common Council met for its first regular meeting after being sworn in Dec. 28. This year’s president was already named in Greg O’Connor, but the council also chose Mark Boice as its vice president for the year.
COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS
Other committee assignments and liaison roles for the common council were decided at an organizational meeting Jan. 4.
Committees
- Building and Land Acquisition: Ayer, Jensen, Johnson, O’Connor
- Economic Development: Ayer, Jensen, Rowland, Wiles
- Finance: Johnson, O’Connor (chair), Taylor, Wiles
- Nominating: Ayer, O’Connor, Taylor
- Parking Task Force: Ayer, Hampton, Johnson, Taylor (chair)
Parks: Hampton, Jensen, Rowland (chair), Wiles - Public Safety: Boice, Hampton, Rowland, Taylor (chair)
- Roads/Traffic/Engineering: Ayer, Jensen, Johnson, Taylor
- Wastewater: Ayer, Boice (chair), Hampton, Jensen
Liaisons
- Administrative/Legal/Controller: O’Connor
- Clerk: O’Connor
- Court: Hampton
- Economic Development: Ayer
- Engineering: Johnson
- Fire/EMS: Taylor
- Human Resources: Jensen
- Information Technology: Jensen
- Parks: Rowland
- Planning: Wiles
- Police: Boice
- Streets: Johnson
- Wastewater: Boice
Special appointments
- Architectural Review Board: Ayer
- Community Vision: O’Connor
- Plan Commission: Wiles
- Tree Board: Rowland, Taylor
What does it mean to be a second-class city?
Second-class cities are classified in Indiana as a city with a population between 35,000 and 599,999. Second-class cities’ governmental organization is made up differently upon the change. For Noblesville, the change with the New Year meant adding two addition common council seats – one At-Large seat and one district seat. The city’s clerk-treasurer position was also split, creating the title of city clerk, an elected position, and a city financial controller, appointed by the mayor.
NEWER FACES
Wil Hampton (R)
Position: City councilor, District 4
Background: Long-time sportscaster with WISH-TV, WRTV, Ball State University and the Indianapolis Colts. Previously served as chairman of the Educate Noblesville PAC. Current president of the Noblesville Schools Education Foundation. Executive director of communication and marketing at Marian University.
Personal: Wife Becky and three children. Member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. Coaches Noblesville youth sports.
Chris Jensen (R)
Position: City councilor, District 2
Background: Graduated from Butler University. Previously served as president of the Mill Grove HOA, executive director of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission, for many years in the office of former Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and was on the senior staff of U.S. Senator Dan Coats’ 2010 re-election campaign. Current treasurer of Hamilton Co. Young Republicans.
Personal: Wife Julie, son CJ and daughter Viv. Member of Grace Church.
Evelyn Lees
Position: City clerk
Background: Worked under former Clerk-Treasurer Janet Jaros as deputy clerk-treasurer. Has lived in the City of Noblesville for four years and in Noblesville Township for 29 years before that. Graduated from Hamilton Southeastern High School and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ball State University in English Education.
Personal: Husband Norman, three daughters, one grandson and two cats. Member of Noblesville First Christian Church.
Mary Sue Rowland (R)
Position: City councilor, At-Large
Background: Attended Ball State University. Former mayor of Noblesville, 1988-1996. Former common council member, 2004-2012.
Personal: Husband Ted and two sons.
Megan Wiles (R)
Position: City councilor, District 6
Background: Bachelor’s in Telecommunications from Ball State University. Former president of the Legacy Fund. Current executive director of the Riverview Health Foundation. Member of the Noblesville Schools High Ability Broad Based Planning Committee. Serves on the President’s Roundtable. Member of the Susan G. Komen grant review committee.
Personal: Husband Greg and two children.
