Your Hometown Week in Review . Oct. 19, 2020 Arcadia | Atlanta | Cicero | Sheridan | Carmel | Fishers | Noblesville | Westfield Get Our Economy Working Again Business Owner • Mom www.SpartzForCongress.com Finance Executive • Farmer Paid for by Victoria Spartz for Congress Continuance granted on Brainard to give virtual Beaver’s proposed gravel pit ‘State of the The REPORTER Last month, the Hamilton Due to the continuance, no The City of Noblesville announced last County Parks Department an- public comment period regard- Thursday that Chris Beaver has requested a nounced that if the project was ing the application will be held continuance of his Noblesville Plan Com- approved, expansion would hap- at the Oct. 19 Plan Commission City’ address mission application that would potentially pen in two phases. meeting. All written comments The REPORTER move forward a controversial proposed Phase 1 entails a 10-acre land and petitions received to this Mayor Jim Brainard will present the gravel pit near Potter's Bridge. donation by Beaver Materials. point will be included with the annual State of the City virtually at 11:30 According to city officials, the project Phase 2 would be an addi- information at the Nov. 16 Plan a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4 as OneZone was to be heard by the Noblesville Plan tional 40-acre land donation by Commission meeting. hosts the November Commission on Monday, Oct. 19. It has Beaver Materials. Phase 2 would The Planning Department Lunch Break. Brainard now been scheduled for the Nov. 16 meet- include the creation of a 30-acre Beaver will continue to gather public in- will give an update on ing. lake by Beaver Materials for the use of rec- put and comments on this project over the how the city is doing Once gravel operations are complete, reational activities provided by the Hamil- coming month. You can submit addition- on several subjects, in- Beaver has pledged to give the property to ton County Parks Department. al written comments via email to Denise cluding finances, eco- the county parks department to allow for The project has been adamantly op- Aschleman at daschleman@noblesville. nomic development the expansion of Potters Bridge Park to the posed by a group of Noblesville citizens in.us, or at Noblesville City Hall, 16 S. and business matters. north. known as “Don’t Leave It To Beaver.” 10th St., Suite B140, until Monday, Nov. 9. In order to ensure the health and safety of all OneZone members, Brainard partners and guests, this year’s event will be held virtually. Plan to watch from the Outdoor classroom now open comfort of your own home or perhaps hold a small viewing gathering from your office. at Carmel’s Coxhall Gardens See Address . Page A4 The REPORTER Hamilton County Parks & Recreation Department held a special ceremony mark- Request for ing the opening of the recently completed Outdoor Classroom at Coxhall Gardens, located on 116th Street between Hoover new Hamilton Road and Towne Road in Carmel. Thanks to the generosity of the dedicat- County court ed members of the Coxhall Guild and the diligence of the Hamilton County Master moves forward Gardeners, visitors to the popular Chil- dren’s Garden in Coxhall Gardens will now The REPORTER be able to enjoy the new Outdoor Class- A push to bring a new court to room – an open-air shelter that provides the Hamilton County took a step forward space for nature education programming in last Friday, according to State Reps. an outdoor environment. Donna Schaibley (R-Carmel) and Jerry The Outdoor Classroom is encircled Torr (R-Carmel). by a pollinator garden, comprised of plants The Interim Study Committee on selected for their ability to attract observ- the Courts and Judiciary, chaired by able pollinating insects, such as butterflies. Torr, recommended to the Indiana The garden serves as an extension of the Photo provided General Assembly to allow Hamilton Members of both the Coxhall Guild and Hamilton County Master Gardeners County to create a new court. Schai- See Coxhall . Page A3 gathered at the opening of the Outdoor Classroom. bley said the court is needed because of the population growth in the past 10 years. Currently, Hamilton County is the fourth most-populous county in the state and projected to be Indiana's Judge: Absentee ballots must be second-largest county by 2050. "Rapid growth has proven to be received by noon on Election Day See Court . Page A2 Hamilton County party chiefs respond to court’s decision The REPORTER “I am deeply concerned that so many efforts “I respect the decision of the court. Voters HSE school board Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill are being expended to limit voting in this state. have had sufficient time to request a ballot, last Tuesday applauded a federal appel- You have to ask why is the current Secretary of and continue to be able to do so by Oct. 22. State and Governor so presented with late court’s summary decision reversing a Over 24,000 absen- afraid of the public and district court injunction that would have tee ballots that were their ability to vote? required Indiana election officials to count sent out by Hamil- $259.25M budget Why does Indiana have mailed absentee ballots received after the ton County election short voting hours, only officials in the first By LARRY LANNAN statutory deadline. excused absentee bal- mailing on Sept. 14 LarryInFishers.com Indiana law says officials may count lots, and now demand- and continued high only those absentee ballots received by ing mail-in ballots must volumes of absentee Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school be in the hands of the noon on Election Day. In response to a law- requests shows that election office by noon? board members were recently presented suit from Common Cause Indiana; howev- voters are aware of It seems that they are with a 2021 spending plan totaling $259.25 er, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the their right to request in fear of a large voter million, a 3.37 percent increase over the an absentee ballot, Southern District of Indiana said that law turnout that will result in a possible change on 2020 budget. and we recommend that voters fill out and is unconstitutional for the upcoming elec- who gets elected, so let’s do everything we can return the ballots as soon as possible.” Chief Financial Officer Cecilie Nunn tion because the COVID-19 pandemic has to limit voting.” told the board the student population num- – Laura Campbell, Hamilton County created a risk that ballots mailed close to – Joe Weingarten, Hamilton County Republican Party Chair ber is down about 400 this school year, Election Day will not be received on time. Democratic Party Chair mostly at the kindergarten level. Nunn at- The judge issued an injunction requiring tributes the decline to COVID. the state to count absentee ballots received late court wrote that while the COVID-19 delayed during the pandemic can protect Since state funding is largely tied to by 10 days after Election Day. pandemic has “caused great loss,” it is themselves by using early in-person vot- the number of students enrolled, there will In response to the State’s motion to “not a good reason for the federal judicia- ing or posting their ballots early,” the court be a deficit in the education fund provid- stay the injunction, the U.S. Court of Ap- ry to assume tasks that belong to political- wrote in its ruling. ed by the state. Nunn says a budget study peals for the 7th Circuit summarily re- ly responsible officials.” versed that ruling on Tuesday. The appel- “People who worry that mail will be See Ballots . Page A4 See HSE Budget . Page A4 Paid for by Campaign for Mark Heirbrandt A2 “Go Purple” with Prevail! Week of Oct. 19, 2020 Fighting For For State Senate Hoosier Healthcare Bringing Balance Back www.SaundersForIndiana.com Paid for by Saunders for Indiana Former judge Sturdevant passes away The REPORTER Former Hamilton County Superior Court 5 Judge Wayne Sturdevant died on Friday, Oct. 16. Sturdevant served as judge for 20 years prior to his retirement in 2017. Rendering provided Prior to his Once construction on the new apartments begins, Cityscape representatives say it is expected to finish within 24 months. position as a judge, Sturdevant served as Hamil- ton County Chief Sturdevant Deputy Prosecutor from 1985 to 1996 Noblesville Council hears and as a deputy prosecutor from 1980 request for zoning change to 1985. Heart and Soul 290 luxury apartments planned for former Marsh Supermarket The REPORTER Services Manager Joyceann Yelton, City- gather spaces, bike room, massage room Free Clinic Last Tuesday, the Noblesville Com- scape Development plans to build 290 lux- and outdoor living space with grills. mon Council heard a request for a zoning ury apartments on the site. The council took no action on the re- holding a virtual change of 7.5 acres located at 17901 River Yelton said the development will in- quest at the Tuesday meeting. Represen- Road, the site of the former Marsh super- clude four-story apartment buildings with tatives for Cityscape say once the zoning market. The change in zoning would be the mostly one- and two-bedroom apartments, change is approved, demolition of the old “Mask”-a-rade next step in a planned apartment building but may also include some studio apart- Marsh building will begin in early 2021 on Noblesville’s west side. ments. Amenities will include an inground and construction on the apartments should Gala on Nov. 7 According to Noblesville Development pool, co-working space, conference space, be completed within 24 months.