What Happened: City Councilor Sue Finkam introduced an ordinance to remove a stop sign at 126th Street and Auman Drive.
What it Means: Several people spoke for and against the ordinance before it was even introduced. Basketball legend Bobby “Slick” Leonard and his wife Nancy both spoke for removing the sign. Finkam gave a detailed PowerPoint presentation on why she thinks the sign should be removed. Council President Eric Seidensticker, who represents the affected area, was not present because he had eye surgery. One Auman Drive resident, Aaron Barker, spoke at length about why the sign should stay.
What’s Next: The bill was sent to the Utilities, Transportation and Public Safety Committee.
What Happened: Mike Shaver, a consultant with the company Wabash Scientfic, spoke at the meeting to apologize for his role in a “joke” accidentally left in a Clerk-Treasurer report.
What it Means: City Councilor Ron Carter later used his time to scold Shaver, saying, “I would like for him to apologize for the shoddy work he’s done,” especially given the amount of money he’s been paid for his consulting services. City Councilor Rick Sharp shot back, “So much for gracious civility.”
What’s Next: Sharp has asked the Council to discuss the content of the Clerk-Treasurer report at a meeting of the finance committee.
What Happened: Several bills remained in committee
What it Means: Corrie Meyer, executive director of the Carmel Redevelopment Commission, later asked Current about why several ordinances were still in committee. Specifically, she was curious about bills regarding paying to fix the reflecting pool and issuing a bond for a parking garage for Carmel City Center phase two. The finance committee meeting was rescheduled because many of the members were attending a fundraiser for the Humane Society that night. Sharp said the delays for the land use committee had nothing to do with the City Center. He said he wanted to allow for more time to consider any remonstrance associated with the Sunrise on the Monon development. Sharp said he suspects some people are concerned about traffic regarding that development along Range Line Road and so it wanted to give that more time.
What’s Next: Land use and finance committee meetings will be rescheduled for after the Thanksgiving holiday.
What Happened: An ordinance was introduced to transfer a piece of property from the city to the CRC.
What it Means: The land in question at 130 1st Avenue SW surrounds the Carmel Fire Buffs And Fire Department Museum. Right now it is unused warehouse space and Mayor Jim Brainard emphasized that the museum will stay where it is. Once the land is transferred to the CRC it would be put up for sale. Some people said it was important to be careful with that transaction considering the value of the land, close to both Midtown and Old Town.
What’s Next: The matter was sent to the Finance, Rules and Administration committee.
