Hamilton County is considering buying land from a local hospital, as well as an interlocal agreement between the county and the recently reorganized Town of Sheridan. The agreement would be for the purpose of improving Dunbar Road. Citizens said they are concerned about both quality of life and property values over what some of them call a “path to nowhere.”
The Wednesday, Aug. 6 meeting of the Hamilton County Council addressed both issues.
Dunbar Road
After the recent Sheridan reorganization, all roads within what was formerly Adams Township became the responsibility of the Town of Sheridan. Before reorganization talks began, Hamilton County had begun work to obtain state and federal funding to widen and resurface Dunbar Road. Because the funding was obtained by the county, only the county can complete this project without starting the process over from the beginning.
A proposed interlocal agreement between Sheridan and the county was signed by all three county commissioners on July 14. If approved by the county council and by Sheridan’s town council, it would allow the county to proceed with the Dunbar Road improvement project. The county does not own Dunbar Road and would not be responsible for upkeep after the project is complete.
The project involves widening and resurfacing the road, as well as building a multiuse trail along one side.
It is the trail that residents object to.
Five citizens spoke at the Wednesday night meeting, all of whom asked the council not to approve the project unless the trail could be removed from the plan.
Citizens speaking at the meeting agreed that Dunbar Road needs to be improved, but voiced concerns about several potential impacts of a trail being installed.
Issues discussed were the number of trees that would need to be cut down in order to build the trail, the trail’s proximity to homes on Dunbar Road, and the fact that it would not connect to any other trail in Hamilton County.
Multiple people referred to it as a “path to nowhere” and asked the council not to fund that portion of the project.
The council questioned Hamilton County Attorney Connor Sullivan and Highway Director Bradley Davis about the possibility of removing the trail from the project without jeopardizing the already approved state and federal funds. Neither Sullivan nor Davis could say for certain.
After much discussion, Councilman Steve Nation made a motion to table the interlocal agreement for one month to see if the trail can be removed from the project. The motion was seconded by Amy Massillamany and passed unanimously.
Riverview land purchase
The first of two public hearings was held on the possibility of purchasing five parcels of land totaling just under 30 acres from Riverview Health. The land is adjacent to Riverview’s hospital on Westfield Road in Noblesville.
Attorney Max Adams from Barnes & Thornburg LLP said the bonds will not exceed $23 million. The exact amount will be determined when the value is assessed before the purchase.
According to property records available on the county website, the value of the combined five parcels as of Jan. 1 was $9,418,000. Property taxes payable in 2025 total $137,615, with half paid in spring and the other half due by Nov. 10. This is of note because the property will not be taxed if it is eventually owned by the county.
Before a vote can be taken to approve issuing bonds for the purchase of this land, a second public hearing will be held at the Sept. 3 meeting.
You can see the full Aug. 6 meeting online at tinyurl.com/mtcas5tb.
Agenda and packet for the Aug. 6 meeting is available online at tinyurl.com/ncv58bxp.
The Hamilton County Council meets again on Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Courtroom in the Government and Judicial Center.