Grassroots group challenges jail plan, wants focus on jobs
A grassroots, church-based organization is trying to stir up voter interest in the city’s plan for a new criminal justice complex and questioning the need to expand jail capacity.
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Ballard unveils $32M plan to rent electric-vehicle fleet
Mayor Greg Ballard announced Tuesday morning a plan to replace gas-powered cars in the city’s fleet with 425 all-electric and hybrid vehicles by 2016. Indianapolis is the vendor’s first customer.
Rogue Democrat Mahern resigns from Indy council
Democrat Brian Mahern has left the Indianapolis City-County Council. Coming with more than a year left in the term, the resignation allows the party to appoint someone to the seat.
Fishers’ conversion from town to city brings prickly pay issues to fore
Six candidates ran for mayor of Fishers in the May primary without knowing what the job would pay. More than 20 sought seats on its first City Council. Now the outgoing Town Council—with at least two members who won’t return to the dais next year—must decide how to compensate the victors come Jan. 1.
Justice center deal tests transparency laws
Three teams competing to partner with Indianapolis on a half-billion-dollar criminal justice complex shaped the city’s yet-to-be released specifications in closed-door meetings.
Council OKs $70m road bond
The borrowing plan will target streets and sidewalks across the city. Also on Monday night, City-County Councilors approved a $1 billion city budget.
City-County Council to vote on $70M bond issue for roads
The plan scales back Mayor Greg Ballard’s original proposal for borrowing $150 million to help handle street repair.
Access counselor doubts city’s need for secrecy on RFP
Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke Britt told the city of Indianapolis that he wasn't swayed by its reasons for withholding its request for proposals for a new $500 million criminal justice complex.
Council Dems say they’re pushing preschool debate into 2016
City-County Council President Maggie Lewis and Vice President John Barth said children could be served next year by the state’s much smaller pilot program, which will reach nearly 800 economically disadvantaged four-year-olds in Marion County.
Former GIPC leader gets 2 years of home detention
The former executive director of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee was sentenced to two years of home detention Friday after pleading guilty to four counts of forgery. The plea agreement was approved after Matthew Hendrix turned over a restitution check for $126,356.
Dems block funding for preschool plan as meeting erupts
The Indianapolis City-County Council’s finance committee voted to table funding for Mayor Greg Ballard’s $50 million preschool expansion plan and quickly adjourned a three-hour meeting Tuesday night despite protests.
Lilly execs make pitch for local preschool education
Eli Lilly and Co. executives on Friday repeated their plea to local businesses to support early childhood education, highlighting the work force development and crime-reduction benefits associated with the effort.
Melangton leaving Sports Corp. for IMS
Allison Melangton plans to step down as Indiana Sports Corp. president and will become senior vice president of events with Hulman & Co., parent of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ryan Vaughn, chief of staff to Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, will succeed Melangton.
Democrats raise doubts about Ballard’s preschool plan
Funding concerns involving the homestead credit have prompted work on an alternative plan that Democrats expect to unveil soon.
Indianapolis council OKs public safety tax hike
In a 19-10 bipartisan vote, the Indianapolis City-County Council approved a hike in the public-safety income tax. The 43-percent increase will bring the total local income tax rate to 1.77 percent.
Lowe’s seeks $500K tax break from city on customer center
The home-improvement retail giant plans to hire 1,000 workers for the center at Intech Park on the northwest side. The jobs would pay an average hourly wage of about $16.
City Dems tap replacement for departed councilor Brown
LaKeisha Jackson was chosen to replace Vernon Brown in District 18. Brown stepped down in August after 11 years on the council.
Infighting bogs down digital billboards
Marion County is an untapped market for digital billboards despite years of lobbying by sign companies, and it’s not because of political opposition to the large, lighted signs. What’s holding back changes to the city code is industry feuding over the form of regulations that could determine their future market share.
Advocate brokers lower IPL rate hike for car-sharing service
Indianapolis Power & Light Co. customers would see less of a rate hike for an electric car-sharing program under a settlement agreement negotiated by the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor.
EMS service to lay off 361 workers in Indiana
Rural/Metro Corp. says the changing health care landscape and the challenges of covering rural communities are forcing it to end its area ambulance services. It’s also closing a billing operations center in Indianapolis.