What happened: A request to approve purchase of audio equipment passed
What it means: Construction on the new amphitheater in the municipal complex moves forward. The vote allowed the Town Manager to “execute this purchase,” according to a council action form. The price tag for the audio equipment was $61,878.40 of the $62,000 budget. The equipment is for both the amphitheater and “throughout the adjacent courtyard space on the main municipal town complex.”
What happened: The council voted for a continuance on a request to approve a driveway cut at 10748 116th Street (St. George Church)
What it means: When the council reconvenes in two weeks, with most likely all seven members, there will be a vote on the project. The project, according to a council action form, allows for right-in and right-out access for the property. The councilors were concerned that such a project will be disruptive and wanted to allow some notice for St. George Church’s neighbors before construction starts, giving them the opportunity to voice ideas for a safer, more efficient project. However, the present council members expressed that they will likely approve the project anyways.
What happened: A public hearing for the determination on the Hagerman Group Tax Abatement was held
What it means: The hearing accounted for more than half of the meeting. The business, the Hagerman Group, was approved for a tax abatement by the town council in July 2009. Hagerman Group agreed to reach certain payroll and job numbers, among other requirements, by December 31, 2013. The debate between the business’s representative and the council focused on the amount of money that would be called back since the group didn’t meet its marks, the lack of “benchmarking” expectations by the council, whether or not the council could determine the group’s compliance before the end of next year and the principle of holding businesses accountable when they make this type of agreement. In the end a motion was made by Councilor Stuart Easley to deem that the Hagerman Group used reasonable efforts to comply and added a legal amendment that will allow for a review of the abatement at the end of 2013.
What happened: An amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance was approved
What it means: A host of changes were made to the UDO, which “serves as the Town’ Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Control Ordinance for the Town’s entire planning and zoning jurisdiction.” In a previous meeting parts of it were sent back to the Plan Commission for further scrutiny. This vote finalizes the changes, which can be found online by accessing the agenda for the meeting at fishers.in.us.