The County Line comes this week in the form of news briefs, hopefully of interest to our readers.
U.S. Sen. Todd Young will be a featured speaker at this year’s Hamilton County Lincoln Day Dinner. To be held April 19 at the Ritz Charles, the price for single admission is $50. The annual dinner
party, held in most counties throughout the U.S., is a Republican Party event, and a “must” for aspiring politicians. Sen. Young, who spent his youth in the county, is a 1990 graduate of Carmel High School.
The Indiana Office of the Public Counselor said today that a new law on the books provides for a civil fine of $100 for the first proven violation of the state’s Open Door Law. A second offense brings a $500 fine. The City of Noblesville could have been one of the first to be assessed a fine when a closed meeting was held to discuss the sale of Seminary Park last month. But, Mayor John Ditslear said such a violation would not happen again, and so there will be no pursuit of the matter, the counselor said.
The annexation of Home Place by the City of Carmel is far from resolution. The case is pending before the Indiana Court of Appeals. The city filed its final brief March 15 in the case that began a decade ago. Carmel wants to add the unincorporated community of about 5,000 to the city, but Home Place residents have long resisted. Stephen Buschmann, attorney for the residents, estimates a decision in four to six months.
County Commissioners and County Council members were told on Friday that the estimated cost of the planned expansion of the Government and Judicial Center is $23.3 million. County Deputy Auditor Dawn Coverdale said officials were told that taking bids on the project can be set for the spring of next year. Design work needs to be completed between now and then. When the project is bid, an alternate for building out offices on the first floor will be included.
Debbie Knox, Indianapolis TV anchor, will emcee a May 6 fundraising gala to benefit the Youth Assistance Program. The dinner and program will begin at 6 p.m. at the Ritz Charles in Carmel. The theme of the event is Design Bright Futures. Tickets are available at www.CarmelGala.org