Rockin On Main Requests 2nd Appearance

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Speedway Fire Dept Lt Jeff Hartman with the Lions Club Outstanding Performance Award.

Photo by Jay Thompson

(posted Mar 11)

Kelly Spector of the Greater Speedway Chamber of Commerce submitted a proposal to the town council to host the second annual Rockin On Main Street on May 23 . The council took no action on the March 10th request.

The event hours are from 5 pm to 11:30 pm with the first hour offering free admission. A $5 charge will begin after 6pm.

Spector said they already have discussed the logistics with the police, fire and street departments for hosting the event between 14th Street and 16t Street. Spector explained that a "big tent" should help safeguard against weather conditions. Last year, the event experienced a low turnout due to rain. She said they are currently working with Barnes & Thornburg to assist with securing a beer and wine permit for the family event.

At the November 6 Redevelopment Commission meeting, the SRC agreed to step back to let some other entity organize the event.

The status of the redevelopment projects were also discussed. The Speedway Redevelopment Commission will now conduct the Speed Zone Expansion public hearing on March 25 instead of March 17 at the town hall.

The Feb 26 public hearing was continued to March 17 because of improper notice. SRC Executive Director Scott Harris explained by the time the corrected parcels were reviewed they could not meet the newspaper's deadline to publish the legal notice. Part of the expansion will include Conkle Funeral Home, Church's Chicken, and the manufactured home parks on Georgetown Road. The other expansion takes in the north and south side of Tenth Street from Winton Avenue to Lynhurst Drive.

Harris told the council that he has been in communication with the DPW about setting up public hearings for the 16th Street Realignment and the closing of Georgetown Road.

According to HNTB Engineer Tom Hutka, utility relocation work has not started for 16th Street and Crawfordsville Road. He said the firm is waiting for some answers but work needs to begin soon if 16th Street Realignment is to start by September.

As for Area 2, engineers and architects will be on hand to help the public illustrate their future vision of the area. The meeting will begin at 9 am and end around 4 or 5 pm on April 19 at the Brickyard Crossing Inn and Golf Resort. A second public forum is scheduled for 7 pm to review the ideas. By the first of May, American Structurepoint will present three master plan concepts for the area.

The council voted 4-0 to adopt a resolution to build the street department a pole barn through a design build process, hoping to streamline costs. The pole barn would be located on the foot pad of the old garage that was torn down. Street Commissioner Wendell Walters said the street department is currently storing equipment at the waste water treatment plant.

The money has been dedicated from a 2005 $70,000 General Obligation bond that must be spent by 2008. Councilor Jeff Hartman explained the decision to build a new pole barn started in 2006, but the project became too costly, so it was abandoned.

The design build process streamlines the process into one contract where the designer and contractor partner together. Hutka said a technical review committee will oversee the project and make recommendations to the council. The target date is to start construction in May and to be completed by September.

Walters said the design build process will stipulate how big the building will be. He also noted the building walls will be mobile in case the street department ever relocates
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Police Chief Jeff Dine asked Speedway businesses and residents that receive false alarm fine notices from City of Indianapolis to contact him or Assistant Chief Joel Rush to the correct the problem. The City of Indianapolis does not have jurisdiction to fine Speedway residents or business owners for false alarm runs.

The council honored Lt. Eric Emerson and Lt. Jeff Hartman for their heroic efforts of administering CPR to Speedway High School Girls' Basketball Coach John Fair when he went into cardiac arrest in January 2007. The two firefighters and engine crew received an award from the Lions Club.