Welcome to The Timesheet. This column is a report of work done on behalf of the people of Hamilton County. It’s to be informative, too – a place to learn about projects and how our county government works.
As your employee, it’s important to me that you know what is being worked on as transparently as possible in government. You hired me as your County Councilman, and my hope is that you’ll choose to be informed by regularly reading this column, getting involved, consider volunteering, and by asking questions. Council meetings are at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month at the Hamilton County Government and Judicial Center in downtown Noblesville. Meetings are also available to watch online for those unable to attend in person.
Here is where my time this past month has been spent.
In addition to the County Council public meetings, July work included: attending Board of Commissioners public meetings, Noblesville Town Council meetings, a Board of Zoning appeals meeting, the Not-For Profit Grant Review Committee meeting, a joint Council Executive session, and a highway bridge public information meeting for a project in White River Township.
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The July personnel committee had both a meeting and a poll in lieu of a second meeting. The in-person meeting evaluated requests from the Assessor’s Office to reclassify two field appraiser positions, a reclassification and job title change request from Court Administration, a request from Information Services for flexibility in hiring a new Lead Web Administrator, multiple requests from the Prosecutor’s Office to revise job descriptions and two compensation adjustments, requests from the Coroner’s Office to reclassify three Deputy Coroners to higher compensation within their respective pay band classification levels, and we discussed at length correcting a budget error from 2024 and the 2026 budget submissions from the Parks Board to Council.
The personnel committee poll was requested to address a resignation backfill position in the Legal, Governance, Risk & Compliance department. The committee approved hiring the replacement above the position minimum compensation level.
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The insurance committee also met twice in July along with our benefits consultant, NFP: once for the insurance plan annual renewal meeting and once to review and discuss the county’s prescription drug program options.
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The finance committee did not meet in July.
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This month I received nearly two dozen constituent service requests and communications.
One set of communications was regarding the Strawtown Road / Lincoln Smith Drain project in White River Township. Issues ranged from the width of ground being acquired by the county from landowners to the authorities of Madison County, DNR, and Hamilton County. This project has been an issue for residents in the area for a long time. Ultimately, there was a public information meeting held on July 16 affording all the residents the opportunity to ask questions of the County Highway Department leadership, engineer, and project manager. The meeting was cordial but leave it to be said that at least a couple of neighbors impacted weren’t pleased with the final plan. We did our best to help them, answer questions and address concerns. Unfortunately, in the end the project width requirements were beyond what they thought necessary.
Next, I received many inquiries regarding the proposed battery storage facility on Overdorf Road and the rezoning required for it to be built. After researching the County BZA process, the company that requested the rezoning, and pulling together the safety information on the proposal, this package of information was provided to each person that asked for it. I attended the BZA meeting (along with 140 others) and ultimately the zoning change was denied, making the project request at this location moot.
The next set of inquiries centered on the movement to reorganize Northern Hamilton County. In short, Jackson Township is seeking one or more partner town(s), to join them in pursuing a financial feasibility study for reorganizing into another legal municipality. The questions asked of me were fact-based and questioned the comments of the organizers of an informational meeting held at Hamilton Heights Middle School on July 21. I attended the meeting where the audience of over 150 people heard one of the organizers report as factual that the County had spent $80 million on the Utility District and that the County had bonded $80 million of debt to pay for it. I did the research and provided accurate current data on costs ($68 million total, all but $13 million came from the federal or state government, no bonds or debt to date) and expected next steps. In short – and I am trying to be delicate here – what was presented was completely erroneous and not factual. All the neighbors who asked for the accurate data from the County have been provided with it.
Lastly, the other primary set of communications centered on 236th Street west of Cicero and the bridge and road project that is still unopened. I’ve pushed and pushed on this project with the explanation for delays not changing. I hosted the Highway Department and engineer at a Cicero Town Council meeting and live-streamed them speaking on the project, issues, and expected completion date. Lastly, and somewhat out of frustration expressed to me, I drove up there last Saturday morning, parked the truck and walked the entire site. I’m no engineer, but it looks 99 percent done to me. In fact, people drove over the bridge (around the barricades) while I was there taking pictures. I can’t make it open any more quickly, but from my first-hand view it should be open soon.
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This month I began researching the counties collection activities for monies owed to the county. SB1 will impact county funding for the next several years, and while I will continue to hold the line on spending, finding funds is the other side of the equation to a reasonable 2026 budget. In speaking with Community Corrections, Court Administration, Probation, and the County Clerk, I can say that we have a large amount owed to the County that remains outstanding. I have additional research planned but to date the amount is more than $6 million. County attorneys are beginning to join me in the effort to collect the money owed to Hamilton County.
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Noteworthy items from July include meeting with the Director of Community Corrections to understand the scope of outstanding fees and discuss the possibility of using public safety funding to enhance the wearable technology tracking of those being monitored.
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Also worth noting was the review of not-for-profit grant applications. Almost 90 applications were thoroughly reviewed by the committee members and our recommendations will be presented to the full council during budget hearings. Lastly, I picked up my 2026 budget book: 27 departments, almost six pounds of paper, with 24 four departments asking for increases, only three asking for less funding next year over this year. 2026 budget hearings are in early September requiring that much of August will be reading, asking questions, and assessing needs versus wants.
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It was an honor to represent you this month at the 2025 Hamilton County 4-H Queen Pageant, at the Delaware Township Government Center Groundbreaking Ceremony, the Noblesville Fourth of July parade, at the Local 4416 20th Anniversary Celebration, and at the Colts Training Camp open house, hosted by Westfield Mayor Scott Willis.
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This is my timesheet. This is where my time went during July 2025. While my job is primarily the financial oversight of the county budget, it is important that I understand the Board of Commissioners’ priorities and balance them with the stewardship of taxpayer dollars. That is the job, and I am excited to do the people’s business.
As a taxpayer myself, and listening to so many of you, our employers, it’s important for the taxpayers to have access to all the information you want. I work for you, and although you may not choose to do a deep dive into what your County Council does, it’s important that you can always do so.
Feel free to contact me at (317) 832-1104 or mark.hall@hamiltoncounty.in.gov with questions, feedback, or if you would like to talk about county business.