Motegi Students Return to Speedway

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Masao Takahashi presents a gift to Gary Raikes as councilor Eileen Fisher watches.
The host families were honored for their efforts.
Masao Takahashi, Ed Frazier, Gary Raikes, Noriko Tanaka and Jeff Hartman
The town is flying Motegi's flag at town hall in honor of these student's visit to Speedway.

Photos by Jay Thompson

(posted Mar 25)

As part of the ongoing relationship between Speedway and her Japanese sister city Motegi, 15 students from four schools in Motegi have come to town for a week long visit.

During the March 24 town council meeting, Town Council President Gary Raikes and Noriko Tanaka agreed the next step is to formalize the friendship relationship between the Town of Speedway and Motegi, Japan.

Tanaka requested expanding the relationship from more than a student cultural exchange program into opening doors for business opportunities. Tanaka, representing the town of Motegi, was among several adults who accompanied the students to Speedway for a cultural and educational exchange.

The council honored their visit through a Proclamation. Masao Takahashi of the School Board explained the most important part of the trip is to continue to build on the friendship level. The group also delivered gifts to the councilors.

Raikes sees the future of Speedway tied to racing and that the IRL presence in Motegi would be a natural stepping stone to building business racing ties to Honda Racing to promote the future Speed Zone's racing campus. He also envisioned Praxair, Allison Transmission, and small high tech businesses finding new overseas markets in Motegi.

The council also honored the Speedway Trails Association with trail week starting April 13. STA President Bev Alexander said they have cleared a half mile of trees and brush starting at Leonard Park. The clearing is necessary for the April 19 Diamond in the Rough walk/run/bike event. Alexander explained the STA's focus is clearing the trail, and not picking up trash. She welcomed a community trash pickup. Councilor Bill Suffel recommended the town have a community cleanup day since Keep Indianapolis Beautiful furnishes the bags, dumpster and gloves.

Solid Waste Commissioner Christie Manion announced that April 26 is heavy trash collection day at the street department. She said there are no limits and encouraged the residents to come as many times as they want during the hours of 9 am to 3 pm. Manion has expanded the scope of vendors this year. Asset Recycling will collect building materials and provide receipts for tax write-offs. Goldsmith will accept old computers and monitors as they did last fall. She advised people to remove their hard drives for identity protection. Shred It will also be present in the police department parking lot to shred important papers with a $5.00 per box donation going to Crime Stoppers. She is still formalizing the paper work for Appliance Recycling USA to collect TVs and freon appliances, and a vendor to collect tires at $2.00 apiece.

The council approved of Kieser Consulting to seek a $350,000 grant to improve owner-occupied homes. Councilor Jeff Hartman said some of the homes are in need of rehabilitation. Dave Kieser recommended the council form a committee to determine the eligibility requirements to disperse the grant.

The council also approved to seek a $500,000 grant for the sewer and storm water separation of Gerrard Avenue and Allison Avenue. Hartman said it is about $3 million project with design fees of $330,000. Kieser requested the residents that have documentation of being flooded in the area to contact him so he can include that in the application to illustrate "show of need."

Hartman said the project should start by Spring of 2009.