Carmel City Council votes to change city to second-class status
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard wasted no time Monday night upgrading the city to second-class status with the approval of the newly elected Carmel City Council.
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Hogsett takes office, appoints key staffers
New Mayor Joe Hogsett picks the Indy Chamber’s Angela Smith Jones to be deputy mayor for economic development and taps his campaign manager, Thomas Cook, to be his chief of staff.
Missed vote puts spotlight on Brainard’s business trips
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard traveled out of state using public money nearly every month this year. His trips aren’t lavish, but he was gone on city business a total of 79 days, raising questions about both the hard and soft costs.
No relief in sight for shortage of affordable housing in area
Marion County is suffering from a severe shortage of affordable housing and the inventory is not expected to increase anytime soon. The most popular financing option to help build affordable housing projects is so limited that only a small fraction of the developments get built.
Ballard wrapping up 8 years as Indianapolis mayor
Greg Ballard, 61, ends eight years as Indianapolis mayor on Thursday, capping a period during which he oversaw the city’s hosting of the Super Bowl while also struggling with violent crime problems.
Indianapolis ends curb-side Christmas tree pickup
The city of Indianapolis tried curb-side pickup of Christmas trees last season, but it's going back to asking residents to resume dropping trees off at city parks.
City smoking ban dispute heads to Supreme Court
The Indiana Supreme Court wants to hear more from Hoosier Park about why patrons at its off-track betting parlor in downtown Indianapolis should be allowed to light up when smoking in similar public places is generally banned by city ordinance.
Archaeological finds boost transit center costs, delay opening
Construction work on the IndyGo transit center, which is expected to become a hub for most of Indianapolis’ bus lines, has been delayed by seven months. The project’s estimated cost has risen from $20 million to $26.5 million.
Rare year with extra paycheck costs city $8.1 million
There are 27 pay periods in 2015 for employees paid bi-weekly instead of the usual 26. That means the city had to come up with extra cash to make payroll.
Ballard: A legacy shaped by deals
Republican Greg Ballard was full of surprises after an unlikely mayoral victory eight years ago. As he leaves the mayor’s office, he hopes his legacy is a new group of GOP leaders.
State audit expresses doubts about Terre Haute’s future
The audit of Terre Haute’s finances raise doubts about its ability to continue to operate as a municipality. It notes that the city is one of those hardest hit by reductions in property values and property tax caps.
Carmel on road to $217M in infrastructure projects
The list of projects slated over three years includes about 30 more roundabouts, other street improvements, and land acquisition. It would lead to property tax increases for most residents.
New York Street to open to two-way traffic through IUPUI
The goal of the change is to slow traffic through IUPUI and increase traffic circulation for commuters to and from the campus and nearby hospitals.
Aid for Carmel rose to $5.4M, to council leader’s surprise
Carmel City Council President Rick Sharp said he was under the impression that the city only needed to borrow $2.9 million to fix a budget shortfall, and wasn’t told the actual amount until after the council voted to approve the deal.
Hogsett taps former Lt. Gov. Davis as ‘city systems engineer’
Local pastor David Hampton and not-for-profit director Jeff Bennett have been picked as deputy mayors by Mayor-elect Joe Hogsett. Former Lt. Gov. Kathy Davis was chosen to help to solve the city’s budget challenges.
City-County Council members approve pay raise
Indianapolis City-County Council members voted Monday night to give themselves their first pay hike since 2002.
Carmel City Council OKs borrowing $2.9M from CRC reserves
The agreement between the council and the Carmel Redevelopment Commission gives the CRC the authority to use $2.9 million in its supplemental reserve fund to make a bond payment for the city.
Carmel asks to borrow $2.9M from redevelopment commission
Carmel is short of revenue this year, prompting the city to look for other ways to pay claims, debt service and payroll for the next couple of weeks.
Critics vindicated by Carmel cash woes
A budget shortfall at Carmel Utilities has led to a deficit in the city’s general fund—a problem critics of Mayor Jim Brainard have been warning about for months.
Groups seek to amp up Indy’s star power with TV, film initiative
The two-year, $300,000 initiative will court production crews for movies and TV commercials and shows. A consortium of city, civic and tourism groups think it could have a $6 million annual impact.