Early voting at satellite locations begins today from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the remote voting sites in the Carmel Public Library, the Fishers City Hall and Westfield City Hall. Any registered voter in Hamilton County may use these locations. They will be open again Thursday on the same schedule, and again on Wednesday and Thursday, May 2 and 3. On Friday, May 4 satellite sites at Westfield and Carmel will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Voting is offered at the Judicial Center during regular business hours plus on Saturdays April 28 and May 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Early voting ends at noon Monday, May 7.
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Nearly all Republican candidates in the May 8 primary appeared last week at a forum sponsored by the Carmel Clay Republican Club. Congresswoman Susan Brooks spoke briefly and said that despite what the news media concentrates on, Congress has made considerable progress on a number of matters including tax reform, deregulation and veteran services. There were no fireworks during candidate presentations and only general references to a struggle for control of the County Council between incumbents and challengers.
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Bids were received last week for the new $23 million expansion of the County Government and Judicial Center. Bids for actual construction were just short of $21 million, but there will be some additional allocations for contingency, bond preparation and minor “soft costs.” Construction managers, Meyer Najem, will review and recommend the lowest and best bids, with commissioners likely to award contracts by the end of the month. Construction is expected to begin in May.
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Noblesville city officials have placed a citizen survey online seeking opinions on the planned widening and extension of Pleasant Street west across White River, a plan which would provide a bypass of the downtown area. The survey may be found at surveymonkey.com/r/887T7GD. City officials also reported that several properties along Pleasant Street have now been purchased in anticipation of the improved traffic artery. These purchases were only made when a property was available for sale. Thus far there have been no condemnations for the needed right-of-way.