Fred Swift looks around our county

The County Line

The Carmel School Board met Monday night in regular session, but took no action on Superintendent Nick Wahl’s future with the school district. He was placed on administrative leave several weeks ago for what the board called a performance review. Apparently still under review, Wahl continues to draw his $195,000 annual salary. No date has been set by school officials on when he will either return to work or leave his position. The board meets again on Dec. 11.

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The Noblesville Preservation Alliance will hold its exclusive Homes for the Holidays Tour on Saturday, Dec. 9. Four of the city’s historic private residences will be featured on the tour from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets, which are limited in number, may be reserved online at noblesvillepreservation.org. Besides seeing the homes, tour-goers will “enjoy hors d’oeurves, drinks and sounds of the holidays,” according to sponsors of the event.

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Ice skating has become popular in Hamilton County with the opening of public ice rinks at Noblesville’s Federal Hill Commons and Carmel’s City Center. The Noblesville rink was very crowded over the past weekend, according to some observers. Carmel will keep their popular rink all winter. But, the Noblesville rink will close Jan. 8 unless current plans change.

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Home Place residents opposed to annexation by Carmel have given up their court fight waged over the past 12 years. Annexation opponents had until this week to appeal to the state Supreme Court if they wanted to continue the fight. Now the unincorporated area will become part of Carmel on Jan. 1. Residents will receive city police protection and city street maintenance which have been provided by county sheriff and highway departments.

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The Hamilton County Council and County Commissioners will meet in joint session at noon Thursday at the highway department. It will be an important meeting likely deciding the size and extent of jail and judicial center expansions. Both projects, recommended by Commissioners, await funding by the Council. The meeting will be held around one table to foster togetherness among the participants who sometimes hold divergent opinions.