Guest Columnist
Having spent nearly 20 years in public service, as Mayor of Noblesville for eight years and three terms on the Common Council, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly.
In September 2018, I walked away from my post as a Common Council At Large elected position with no official communication to the citizens of Noblesville or explanation for my actions. Now, it gives me no pleasure to speak. I have always put the citizens first and have always represented them aggressively and sincerely. The practice of including the citizens, in the discussion concerning the issues that affect them, has become lost in the fog of self service.
My observation then and now is the current seated council holds little regard for the citizen’s opinions or the community in which they serve. It was the lack of open process that gave me the courage to say enough is enough.
If you think any of the following city business approved the last 3.5 years, by the current Council and presented by the Administration, represented excellence in government, then stop here. If you think, the city government was not inclusive or thoughtful in their work, continue to read and remember how your dollars were spent with little regard for you, the taxpayer.
It was the ordinance at the first meeting in January of the new council voting 6-3 to pass the cost of trash pickup back to the citizens. The Council consisted of several newly elected members in 2016 who were not concerned with the impact of such a decision and did what they were told by the administration. They also knew the next election was four years away and people would forget, so “get the deed done early in the term” was the strategy. I was stunned and spoke against such an action noting the resulting unfair costs to citizens.
The same Council members making decisions in 2016 are sitting in the seats today – the same Council running for re-election this May 7. The good news is several Council seats are being challenged, as is the Mayor position, by concerned and informed citizens.
Do you remember?
Remember, it was the attempt to sell off the historic Old Town Seminary Park for development presented in a closed session between the city administration, Council members and the Park Board.
It was the take-over by the city elected officials of a 50-year non-for-profit, Indiana Transportation Museum, housed at Forest Park for as many years, again without a fair exchange with citizens. Even more unfair was process and demands made by the city to the volunteers, many Noblesville residents, who were forced to move and sell their collection of historic train cars that can never be replaced including the priceless Flagler Car. The personal train car of Henry Flagler was worth millions. The city forced the car to be sold, for a fraction of its value, to an out of town buyer. The taking of the rails for a trail that is still in discussion was also a hidden agenda for development rather than the historic train experience adding to the draw for tourism and economic growth through tourism and the quality of life issues for our citizens.
It’s the “Downtown Plan” costing nearly $100,000 that will turn the downtown into a circus instead of preserving what was passed down by people who did better planning in 1823 than today. The same Council members who accepted the plan will, if re-elected, be charged with implementation. Little thoughtful time has been given to the most important element of the community, our historic downtown. Everyone talks about it, but in fact nothing has been done in 100 years to restore and enhance the center of the community.
That brings up the new development planned for downtown, the Levinson Building that will tower over the downtown and be like every other “box” built today with millions of taxpayer dollars going into the developer/city partnership all approved by the Council. The new downtown housing structure passed the Council with glowing remarks, even though a rendering was never presented until the last discussion.
It is the Council passing abatements for new business with only one new employee promised.
What are they doing? If Pleasant Street corridor or bypass goes as now planned, “will it be pleasant” or just another project with no special design or enhancing features to improve a 200-year forgotten neighborhood of Noblesville? The goal is to move traffic at any cost.
Voters, stop the rubber stamping and vote for something new.
A new Mayor and a new Council is before you, the citizens of Noblesville, this May 7 Primary Election. On May 7, candidates representing city districts and the city as a whole will be selected by each political party for Mayor and the nine-member Council.
Then in November, the selection will be made from the winners in May representing their party affiliation. In Noblesville, the May election is important as the field is reduced to one in each category. May is the last chance for real change that will affect the community for the next four years.
The May 7 election consists of three mayoral candidates, including a seated Council member with strong ties to the development community, an experienced school board member with 12 years of elected experience who is also an attorney, and the third candidate is a business owner with years of community service and a concern for the giveaway of tax payers dollars, inclusion of the citizens, the historic value and all quality of life issues.
This election could give the community a new direction, a new inclusion for every citizen and a better future – if the voters take responsibility.
It is the year the voters can bring something new to Noblesville and be a part of the future. With a new Mayor and at least five new members of the Council (five votes is majority), the tax and spend era of developer handout deals can end.
The doors of city hall can swing open to let in fresh air and welcome the community to the new discussion of how our town will grow and thrive. New energy and new dedication to the citizens and their vision is possible.
First I encourage the voters to vote. The polls are open now at the Judicial Building on 8th Street between the Conner Street (State Road 32) bridge and the Logan Street bridge in downtown Noblesville overlooking the White River. The voters can vote at their neighborhood polling place on May 7 also.
Second, if you believe that government can work for the people and can make good decisions, then look toward the new candidates. They bring business experience, passion, preservation, arts and quality growth, including all the good things that make great communities. Candidates who care about the citizens more than the developers are on the ballot.
Making good decisions is not easy. Always it means stepping out and stepping up and not just going along. Rushing to the next “shiny object” is one example of how government usually works and has been the order of business for years at city hall.
It is time to vote for the best, brightest, most dedicated public servants on the ballot and let those who promote the politics of government go find another job.
Thank you for reading and considering the outcome of this important election.
Mary Sue Rowland was the Mayor of the City of Noblesville from 1988 to 1996 and most recently served three terms on the Noblesville Common Council.
I appreciate Mary Sue’s service and perspective. Ultimately, we’re in a different time and different culture than when she performed the bulk of her service. We face increased drug issues, technology challenges, complex infrastructure needs, and yes…a rise in tragic events such as that which occurred on May 25th. Any of the mayoral candidates can keep our city stable. In electing a candidate, I’m looking for someone who can A) attract new opportunities and B) best lead us in times of challenges or tragedy. Say what you want about Mr. Jensen, but if/when something goes awry, he’s the one with the Governor on speed dial. And at the age of 35 with a young family, he understands the growing needs of those who will lead the future of our city.
As a citizen who has attended several common council meetings and listened to items that had already been decided for the people before the people had a chance to hear, respond, or react, I became very disheartened. You don’t have to be a political person to see what has been going on in our city. And regardless of how you may feel about the train, the pleasant Street bypass, or even historical preservation versus business development (which can go hand-in-hand even though the majority may want to persuade that it can’t), I think we can all agree that the common council should be for the people. And closed meetings, or even closed ears as citizens rise up to speak should not be tolerated. One thing I do know is that at EVERY meeting, regardless of the issue or the way she voted, Mary Sue used her voice to assist the public in being heard and understood. I have never met this woman, but because of her direct and respectable behavior as well as her obvious and clear intentions to SERVE her community and it’s people, I trust that my worry over how our local government has been treating the public and OUR city plans has not been exaggerated. Her concern urges me to encourage others to hear her message. I truly felt we lost our last courageous public servant on the council last fall and didn’t know why her stepping down was so silent. I am grateful that she has spoken up in time to help voters see the need for change.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought there were four candidates for mayor on the Republican ticket this year.
Well yhe one city street department employee that was encouraged to run so the votes would be split and Jensen would be the benefactor. So its actually 3 TRUE candidates.
If your son wants to be named as a candidate maybe he should do more than just file paperwork. That man has done nothing, he got $3000 from you in donations. He claims to have paid almost that same amount to a sign company even though he’s got almost no signs and knowing what they cost I know for a fact it’s WAY under what he says he spent. He’s flat out refused every single invitation and opportunity to attend candidate events, speak to the public or get his name and message in front of people. He wont sit down and meet with citizens either. All he’s done is attend the three forums hosted by the chamber of commerce and all he did was say he agreed with Chris Jensen. The guy is a sham. A plant by the establishment to siphon votes away from their chosen one. His last name starts with a B which puts him first on the ballot that otherwise would have listed Corbett first and he works for the city. Mark my words if the establishments rigging of this election works and Chris Jensen is elected this so called fourth candidate is in for a hefty raise and/or promotion. Fourth candidate… HA!
Mary Sue Rowland was the best Mayor Noblesville has ever had. She was and is loved by Noblesville citizens. Read her comments and you will see how thoughtless decisions have been made by the City Council.
Good argument or bad, I won’t put up with politicians who serve their own interests(and interests of their backroom-deal friends). I will literally cut off my nose to spite my face, with respect to people who abuse their office in the name of greed.
I don’t know what the story is, here in our town. Maybe everything is above board and this woman may not be seeing the reality of the situation clearly. But I’ll be doing the research this week to make an informed decision next Tuesday. And I’ll be sure to communicate my findings to anybody who will listen. Public servants serve The Public, not the other way around.
Interesting how the Jensen for Mayor team was positioned and ready to have that first post. I agree with Mayor Rowland that this town has lost its way and I fear that Jensen will do the same thing to this town as Mayor Fadness has done in Fishers. The current Mayor and City Council members have not done us citizens any favors nor included us in some very important decisions that have been made with zero community input. The new Levinson building will look exactly the same as the ones in Fishers and other communities. Why not make it look like an extension of Downtown, like its been there for 100’s of years. I’m sure the facade can be made look that way.
The Pleasent Street bypass will cut through a neiborhood on South 8th st and those families will have no choice but to move and find new places to live. The city made a huge deal of beautifying that park down there to appease the residence, but a few flowers, grass seed and swingset aren enough Mayor. I bet our beloved ribbon cutter of a Mayor hasn’t stepped foot in that park since.
The greatest asset this city has is the river that runs through it. It’s time and we’ll over due that something spactacular be made from this asset.
Could we not have come up with a beautiful design for the bridges that cross that river? Make it a beautiful gateway into our downtown. Our very own little Golden Gate Bridge so to speak. Just think how beautiful Carmel would have made a riverfront that ran their downtown. No we get cement.
Lastly, that Federal Hill Park(ing) lot should have been extended all the way up the hill. If so we could have gotten rid of 2 more eye sores in this town, that Wendy’s and Mexican Restaurant but we couldn’t do that because our city officials had already made that sweet back door deal with Blue Sky.
We can’t keep losing valuable assets in this city. Our current Mayor got the council he wanted and look what happened. Is it a surprise the the outgoing Mayor has endorsed Jensen. Hmmmm.
Vote! Vote! Vote them all out and let’s get
OUR train back on track in Noblesville.
My neighbors and I recently challenged a zoning variance request by a non-resident who wished to build a business on their property that would be a large disruption to their neighbors. Our hearing with the BZA was a sham. There was a map presented that showed the opposition (in red) and that opposition covered the strong majority of the map. The BZA ruled in favor of the variances despite receiving petitions, emails, and hearing many neighbors speak. They even went so far as to cut off several speakers and the prevent others from speaking because they, “didn’t want to be there all night.” There was no one who spoke in favor of the variances. To top this off, because of our geography, we are subject to the city BZA but cannot vote for them as we are county. (between the river and 206th on Cumberland) Legislation without representation is inexcusable. Any mayor or council that will allow this sort of corruption to run rampant cares not for their residents or town. They care only for their pocketbooks.