For the Reporter
Hamilton County Commissioner Steve Dillinger presented the annual State of the County Address on Wednesday at the Embassy Suites in Noblesville to a crowd of over 400 residents, business owners and community leaders.
Dillinger described his presentation as a story of the community that we all live and work in, the background that shapes our lives.
Commissioner Steve Dillinger was presented a Congressional Record by Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks at Wednesday’s annual State of the County Address. (Reporter photo by Denise Moe)
“This isn’t a speech, it’s a story with a beginning, middle and end,” Dillinger said. “It’s important for the community to see what we’ve accomplished in the past year, what we’re still working on in the new year, and what we’re planning for the future. Hamilton County is constantly evolving.”
According to Dillinger, in 2019 Hamilton County had $820 million dollars in visitor spending and 1.5 million hotel rooms were sold to over 4 million visitors, all boosting the economy and proving that Hamilton County really is a destination. Dillinger said one of those draws is the Nickel Plate Express that began operations in September of 2018 and since that time has had over 25,000 passengers.
Dillinger provided updates on the Government Center and jail expansions projects, in addition to reporting the county’s recent solar energy project has saved the county $810,000 in 2019 and expected to save $25.6 million over the next 25 years.
Dillinger also provided updates on a number of construction projects throughout Hamilton County including completion of the Logan Street Bridge, Phase Two of the Lowe’s Way expansion, as well as reconstruction of State Road 37 through Fishers and Noblesville, which won the Outstanding Team Effort Award from the Indiana Association of County Commissioners.
Reporter photos by Denise Moe