Compiled by Peg McRoy Glover
The Avon Town Council met Dec. 16 at Avon Town Hall. Meetings can be viewed on the town’s Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter. The council meets on the second and fourth Thursdays each month, 6570 E. U.S. 36. The next scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Jan. 13 at town hall, 6570 E. U.S. 36.
What happened: Council president Dawn Lowden encouraged Avon residents to visit the town’s website, contact a council member or town manager Ryan Cannon if they are interested in serving as a committee, board or commission members.
What this means: Board, commission and committee members are appointed and announced in January. Applications to serve are posted on the town’s website under the individual department pages. Email addresses for each council member can be found at http://avongov.org/council.
What happened: An interlocal agreement between Avon and Hendricks County was approved for improvement on County Road 900 East. The county will construct drainage improvements and a trail along County Road 900 E from County Road 100 N to a 1/2 mile north. The town will pay for the costs associated with the construction of the trail portion.
What this means: Hendricks County is the lead agency on the construction of this project and will make all of the required filings and applications with state and federal agencies. There has been a flooding problem on the east side of County Road 900 East, and the county is constructing new drainage to alleviate this problem. The town’s trail and sidewalk master plan calls for a multi-use trail along that area. The town is partnering with the county, and it is estimated that Avon will pay $195,095 for the construction of the half-mile trail portion. The cost of this trail is dramatically reduced for the town by piggybacking on the county’s construction. Cannon said that the town normally spends about $1 million dollars per mile on similar projects. The county is expected to begin construction of the drainage project in January. It is anticipated that the trail will be completed by summer.
What happened: Avon is forming a youth community engagement council to help create a strategic vision on the future direction Avon from the youth perspective. The youth on the council will participate in leadership training, meet monthly and work on projects to improve Avon.
What this means: This program will educate kids on what their government does and will give them an active role in addressing community issues. Cannon is working with Matt Hines, Avon High School assistant principal, and Jim Dittoe, owner of Winning Communities, to create the council. Winning Communities is a community planning, visioning and consulting firm that helps communities with developments for the future. Cannon said that Dittoe has developed this program in other communities, and he will implement the program. Hines and Cannon will manage the program. Implementation cost is $5,000.
