Hamilton County Business Magazine June/July 2022

JUNE • JULY 2022

www.hamiltoncountybusiness.com

Koteewi Range Sport of Archery finds a home at Hamilton County Park

PLUS…

• Thriving in the Gig Economy • Handling Bullies in the Workplace • Fishers’ 150th Birthday

Tony Girt, owner Koteewi Sport and Target Archery Range and Pro Shop

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June • July 2022 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

June / July 2022

Koteewi Sport and Target Archery Range and Pro Shop is one of four recreational businesses at Koteewi Park north of Noblesville.

Features

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www.hamiltoncountybusiness.com Published six times per year by the Hamilton County Media Group PO Box 502, Noblesville, IN 46061 317-774-7747 EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Mike Corbett mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Bridget Gurtowsky bridget@gurtowskygraphics.com

Koteewi Range

Chamber Pages

Columns 6

Note: This is a hyperlinked digital magazine.

Please click on bolded names, company names or linked boxes.

Management Judith Wright

8

Ethics Cari Sheehan

16

History David Heighway

CORRESPONDENTS Chris Bavender crbavender@gmail.com Ann Craig-Cinnamon jandacinnamon@aol.com John Cinnamon jlcinnamon@aol.com Samantha Hyde samantharhyde@gmail.com Patricia Pickett pickettwrites@gmail.com CONTRIBUTORS

David Heighway heighwayd@earthlink.net Cari Sheehan cari.sheehan@btlaw.com Judith Wright jw3@iupui.edu Please send news items and photos to news@hamiltoncountybusiness.com Submission does not guarantee publication

Subscription $20/year To subscribe or advertise, contact Mike Corbett at

mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com Copyright 2022 Hamilton County Media Group.

All rights reserved.

Cover photo by Stan Gurka 4

June • July 2022 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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Management

Judith Wright

The Freelance Workforce Pros and Cons of the Gig Economy When companies like eBay and Etsy began to offer people the opportunity to work from home, the gig economy crept slowly into the mainstream American way of life. Some 25 years later, the workforce has reshuffled in the wake of the pandemic, and a large number of individuals have opted for the flexibility of gig-based work. Today, more than one third of Americans (nearly 75 million) are working in the gig economy, either part-time or as a full-time career.

The term ‘gig’ describes individuals who offer their services on a freelance basis rather than through regular employment. Workers accept individual assignments from clients, thereby creating a portfolio of work and a related income. Gig work was traditionally about finding short-term, project-based tasks, often with a creative output. In recent years, it has expanded to include ongoing, less-skilled work on an independent basis through companies like Lyft and Door Dash.

Obvious Advantages A gig worker can control how much work they take on while maintaining substantial control over when, where and how the work gets done. The worker can log on for small bits of time or for long hours. They may choose to be active only when demand for services is high, thereby enhancing pay. For many, that spells freedom and the ability to work around family issues like school schedules and child care.

The internet has facilitated gigs for all types of workers. Some use services, such as TaskRabbit, to find work assignments in their locales, while others perform gig work completely online with no geographic limits. Web-based services like Upwork connect available freelancers to companies with specialized work needs. With a cell phone, internet access and a generous data plan, 6

the worker has all the equipment they need to run a business.

Higher Pay and Job Satisfaction As a work force in 2020, freelancers contributed $1.3 trillion in total earnings to the American economy. The median pay rate for skilled freelance workers is about $25 per hour, with lesser-skilled workers earning an average approaching $20 per hour. Highly skilled experts with specialties in web design, computer programming and legal services can command hourly rates ranging up to $200 or more an hour. Of

and copywriters, there is a need to be hustling for new job assignments while completing the current ones. Upwork, TopTal and We Work Remotely are three popular services that help link skilled workers to companies through a variety of fee structures.

Gig entrepreneurs are often their own marketing department, IT staff and accountant. Online services can make things easier for these gig workers, offering a range of software tools for managing a one-man shop, but of course, those services also charge fees.

Recordkeeping is likewise a burden for gig workers.

Some companies, such as Uber and Airbnb, offer tools to help freelancers keep track of records needed for tax filings, but the onus is on the worker to maintain the records and file the taxes.

For example, an Uber driver must maintain records of expenses and items eligible for tax deductions, including everything from tracking mileage to saving receipts for car maintenance, gas purchases, tolls and insurance. If a car and phone are also used for family needs, then the individual must properly allocate expenses between work and personal use. The average driver/tax filer is not experienced in calculating the correct rate of depreciation on equipment.

Some companies are making big profits off of lower labor

costs of gig workers… note, an estimated 75% of full-time gig workers earn as much or more as when they worked in a traditional job setting.

The story is similar for part-time gig workers. Accordingly to Fortunly.com, part-timers earn a median annual income of $36,500 while working an average of 25 hours per week.

The flexibility of working from home and ability to find part-time work leads to high rates of job satisfaction for the gig segment of workers. A study conducted by Statista found that 77% of workers in the gig economy were highly satisfied with their independent work.

Trade-offs One downside of gig jobs is balancing workflow and demand. For skilled freelance workers, such as graphic artists, translators, photographers, tutors

Fewer Protections Since the onset of worker protection legislation in the U.S., employees have gained a lot of safeguards. Many of those benefits can be credited to the post-WWII efforts of the American labor movement. These laws were designed to look out for the interests of American workers, particularly those in a lesser position to protect themselves, particularly those in lower wage jobs.

June • July 2022 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

So how do we define the legal difference between an employee and a gig worker?

It’s probably no surprise to find that the answer is in the IRS Code. Employees are generally defined as those who work regularly in one place, who are told when and how to work and who are under the supervision of the hiring party. In other words, it’s less focused on what the worker is called than how the relationship is structured. As it stands today, most gig workers don’t fit the definition of an employee. That means they are not entitled to many of the legal employment protections.

Companies save substantially from hiring gig workers.

A traditional employee costs an employer somewhere between 1.25 and 1.4 times the worker’s actual pay. The additional expense results directly from the numerous benefits and protections employers are required by law to provide to employees.

Of course, if a worker isn’t an employee, the company doesn’t have these additional expenses. The company is only obligated to pay the rate negotiated between hiring party and gig worker.

Some companies are making big profits off of these lower labor costs.

drivers can cost $1200-$2400 more per year, depending on mileage and locale.

Social Security & Medicare Contributions. Wages are subject to an annual tax of 15.3% of net pay to fund the worker’s future federal retirement benefits. Employers are required to contribute one-half of the amount. Gig workers are often surprised to learn they must pay the entire tax for themselves.

Health Insurance. Companies are not required to provide health insurance to non-employee workers. While some gigbased companies try to facilitate access to affordable health care plans, they are not legally required to pay for any benefits. An estimated 40% of gig workers don’t have access to health coverage through an employed spouse, leaving them to buy health insurance on the open market.

Despite some of the

temporary disability when workers get hurt on the job. Gig workers, as nonemployees, don’t qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.

Overtime Pay. Traditional hourly employees are entitled to overtime pay once their work exceeds 40 hours in a week. While 57% of gig workers report clocking more than 40 hours per week, they don’t qualify for overtime pay.

Time Off Work. Gig workers don’t earn paid vacation time, sick leave or paid holidays. Likewise, they don’t get paid maternity leave, or paid family leave.

For most gig workers, a day off work is a day without pay.

Gig work is here to stay.

Despite some of the considerable tradeoffs, the work force continues to drift toward gig-based jobs. It’s estimated that more than half of Americans will be gig workers by 2025.

And corporations that have become dependent on the financial benefits are willing to fight to keep the trend.

considerable trade-offs,

A consortium of Californiabased businesses, including ride-share companies, ondemand car wash services, and food deliverers, has reportedly spent more than $200 million to fight an effort by the state to classify gig workers as employees. In 2019, the California legislature passed a law that would qualify some freelance workers as employees, thereby reviving many of the worker benefits described above. As it stands today, the law is on hold while legal battles ensue.

the work force continues to

drift toward gig-based jobs.

But those employment costs don’t evaporate, they merely get passed off to the non-employee workers. Here are some the legal requirements employers offload when they use workers who don’t meet the definition of ‘employee’: Indemnification. An employee who accidentally injures another person while working on the job has the legal right to be protected by the employer for any resulting claims. For example, an employee who causes a car accident while delivering for an employer will be covered by the employer. An independent driver running errands via gig work is likely left to defend himself.

Personal auto insurance almost always excludes coverage for business activity.

Commercial auto insurance for such

401K Retirement Plans. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that last year, 67% of employees in the private sector had access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Most were 401K plans with pre-tax employee contributions averaging a 3.5 to 6% employer match on minimum contributions. A 2021 Pew Research study found that only one in four gig workers had a working spouse with access to a retirement plan of some kind. While the study indicates that most gig workers don’t have access to 401K plans, they can voluntarily set up their own individual retirement accounts. The Pew study found that few gig workers say they have an IRA, and those who do are older.

Workers’ Compensation. In the early 1900s, laws were created to require employers to provide state-mandated benefits to cover medical expenses and

June • July 2022 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Gig workers have to ask if the freedom and flexibility are worth the trade-offs.

For now, approximately one third of American workers appear to be saying yes. The real measure of success will be determined down the road when they assess their financial well-being after shouldering more of the costs of working and waiving their rights to traditional worker benefits. HCBM Judith Wright is an assistant clinical professor-business law and Mosaic Faculty Fellow at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business at IUPUI. 7

Ethics

Cari Sheehan

The ‘Preyed’ Upon Dealing with Bullies in the Workplace Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson) from Back to the Future, Regina George (Rachel McAdams) from Mean Girls, and Scut Farkus (Zack Ward) from the Christmas Story all have one thing in common. They are all famous movie “bullies.” While most people classify the performances of actors playing bullies in the movies as funny, or Oscar worthy, not many people enjoy a real-life bully, particularly a real-life bully in the workplace.

There are several different types of bullies in the workplace but all types usually have a couple goals in common —to control another person and to strategically push the other person out of a company. However, bullies are not always in positions of power within a company, making them hard to identify. Bullies can be a linear colleague, a trusted friend, or even someone of lower seniority. But, no matter the identity of the bully, the tactics utilized can be vast and very harmful to company culture. Tactics can include, but are not limited to, isolation, intimidation, torment, and threats. These tactics strip someone of their power, security, self-worth, and identity making the person feel insecure in themselves and their work performance, which usually leads to performance and psychological problems. A friendly work environment can quickly become a place of fear and loathing. It is common for people that are being bullied at work to wake up in the mornings and become physically nauseous, or have another physical reaction, to the mere thought of going to work.

So, how does someone identify a bully?

How does a company stop a bully and promote a healthy company culture?

Four Types Some psychologists put bullies into four core categories: the screamer, the nagger, the fake snake, and the stone wall.

However, a talented bully can jump between the categories in the same

Everyone in a company is

The Nagger

responsible for creating a safe, respectful company culture where people

feel secure to speak and act with honesty and

integrity—a culture where people feel comfortable

standing up to something

that they witness as wrong, without fear of retaliation.

8

what hit them, or even how to respond, so they say nothing and blindly submit to the demands of the screaming bully.

Sometimes work groups will hear about the outbursts, or witness the outbursts, and also submit to the demands for fear that they will be next. Screaming bullies have also been known to slam doors, throw items, stomp out of a room, use profanity, speak in hate, or compose harshly worded communications. Luckily, studies have shown that the screaming bully is the least common, but just as intimidating.

week, the same day, or even the same hour. Bullies cannot always be lumped into just one category, which makes it difficult for others to truly pinpoint a person as a bully.

The Screamer The screaming bully prefers loud, angry outbursts and tactics, along with public humiliation of a targeted person. This bully is trying to control the emotions of a targeted person by asserting dominance through fear to paralyze the targeted person with shock. Usually the targeted person does not know

The nagging bully is one that will be a constant critic and scrutinize your work non-stop. The nagging bully is usually someone in power who is misusing the performance or appraisal system within a company’s culture. The nagging bully usually targets the person with the most seniority and the most well-liked. The nagging bully tears into the target out of their own fear. The nagging bully wants to demean the targeted person to obtain entry into their psyche and break down their self-esteem. The nagging bully does not make loud public scenes, but will request a closed door conversation to address performance issues.

However, the closed door conversation should not be trusted and normally ends up in a “he said, she said” situation unless there is a recording of the communication exchange. If there is not a recording, then the targeted person is usually not believed, instead the person in power usually is believed.

The Fake Snake The fake snake is passive aggressive with split personalities. The fake snake is usually a friendly hugger, but while they are hugging you they are trying to size you up, in order to stab you in the back. The fake snake spreads rumors, fails to put out rumors, and back-stabs coworkers if the opportunity arises. The fake snake is trying to control other

June • July 2022 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

people’s reputations. If the fake snake is in a position of power they will use their position to keep another person in the place where the fake snake wants them in the company. The fake snake holds back the growth of other people out of a personal need for control.

The Stone Wall The stone wall bully is a narcissistic person that can literally stop the workflow of a company because of the type of information that passes over their desk. If the stone wall does not share the information, then no one else can perform their job effectively. The stone wall intentionally filters out only bitsand-pieces of information, never vital information, to control other people and make themselves more powerful. This tactic can truly ruin other people’s careers, particularly if deadlines are withheld or the stone wall refuses to train and/or collaborate with other coworkers on vital projects. The stone wall can also be discriminatory in their actions since they pick-and-choose who receives what information on an arbitrary basis.

Strong Ethical Work Culture There is no one easy solution to stop workplace bullying. However, companies can maintain policies and procedures for reporting and investigating bullying. In addition, companies should maintain a consistent approach in the punishment of the bullies. Companies should also implement workplace training sessions for all employees so they know what to look out for on a daily basis. Managers and supervisors should keep their ear to the ground and continually talk to their employees about day-to-day operations and work interactions. Employees can also communicate with each other and model ethical, respectful behavior during everyday interactions.

Everyone in a company is responsible for creating a safe, respectful company culture where people feel secure to speak and act with honesty and integrity—a culture where people feel comfortable standing up to something that they witness as wrong, without fear of retaliation. Though, to have such a

June • July 2022 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

respectful culture, it takes more than just the actions of one person. It takes the aggregate of everyone. Bullying will not manifest, or multiply, if a company has a culture that does not tolerate bullying. So, if you witness any type of bullying— say something. Because preventing and stopping workplace bullying, starts with you. HCBM

Cari Sheehan is Of Counsel with Barnes & Thornburg, where she sits on the firm’s Professional Responsibility Committee. She focuses her practice on legal ethics, professional accountability and loss prevention.

This article should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances.

The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own lawyer on any specific legal questions you may have concerning your situation.

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Cover Story

On Target Archery Range Offers Unique Sporting Experience

By Ann Cinnamon Photos by Stan Gurka ucked away in Northeastern Hamilton County is a gem of a state park that you may not even know exists. It is however the largest park in Hamilton County and, arguably, the most scenic.

Strawtown Koteewi Park encompasses more than 800 acres, with eight miles of multi-use trails and three miles of White River frontage. Within the park are woodlands, wetlands and prairie, in addition to a large amount of wildlife.

Pronounced ko-TAY-wee, Koteewi means “fire” and possibly “prairie” in the Miami-Peoria language. The park was so named to pay homage to the Native Americans that called the land home and care has been taken to preserve and respect the historic significance of the land.

Koteewi Park is also home to a wide array of activities including ziplining, horseback riding, seasonal snow tubing, canoe launching, biking and hiking trails, fishing and a natural history center. There is also the White River Campground which repurposed two iron bridges from Washington County, Indiana, so that campers can easily access the entire park during their stay.

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Family Friendly Perhaps the most unique inhabitant of the park though is the Koteewi Sport and Target Archery Range and Pro Shop.

General Manager Tony Girt, who owns and operates the range and shop with his wife Mindy, says there is nothing else like it. “The Koteewi Range is unique and there is no other dedicated archery facility like it in the Midwest,” says Girt who adds, “Koteewi focuses more on archery and the enjoyment of the sport versus most bow shops that are focused on the hunting aspect of the sport.”

2015 and the Parks Department hosted a grand opening in June of that year.

“During the 3-hour event, we hosted nearly 2,400 people. The Parks director at the time said it was the most diverse crowd he had ever seen at a grand opening. Since that date, we continue to host approximately ten to 15 thousand guests each year. We have seen guests from nearly every state and participants from more than twenty other countries,” says Girt.

He says the archery range is popular with a wide variety of people. “”At Koteewi, we are able to help all archers The archery range and shop, which lease enjoy nearly every style of archery from the Hamilton County Parks and whether it be Olympic recurve, 3D, TraRecreation Department, opened in Sepditional, hunting or any other style they tember of 2014 prior to the building being would like to try,” he says adding that ready. Girt says they ran the pro shop they offer rental equipment, so anyone out of a storage container on the propcan try it out without spending a lot of erty until the building was completed in money on equipment. The range also offers enough space and equipment for groups from schools, churches, scouts and businesses to hold events such as team building or celebration events like birthdays, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and anniversaries.

The range is also perfect for families.

“Most families come out looking for something different to do outdoors. Archery is an activity that can be enjoyed by everyone. We also see families come back after one of their children has June • July 2022 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

been to our facility with the scouts or a school group or even a friend’s birthday party. They come seeking something new to do and to find a relaxing sport full of fun and entertainment that challenges everyone equally according to his or her own ability,” says Girt.

Socialization Skills The range and the pro shop employ about ten people many of which are of high school age, but there are also several certified archery coaches including Girt who is a USA Archery Level 3 Coach. He has 15 years of coaching experience and has been in the archery business for a quarter of a century. Employees are trained to instruct first-timers and anyone that needs help on the recreational ranges.

Koteewi Range also hosts special programs throughout the year including a youth program they call the Wolfpack.

“We are affiliated with the S3da organization and also participate in the NFAA, ASA, IBO and USA organizations as well. Our key focus is on the development of young archers and the S3da offers an opportunity for youth to get prepared for college-level and even professionallevel archery in the future,” says Girt. The current team includes both male and female archers ranging from eight to 18 years of age and there’s a new Junior Eagle program that starts as young as six.

Girt believes that kids develop the ability to focus, listen to instructions, and follow specific rules, as well as develop socialization skills through archery.

“Many kids come into our program shy or introverted and now have friends from all over. Several who have participated in the larger national-level events have friends from all over the country,” he says adding that another benefit is the college scholarship program that many universities offer.

Adults aren’t left out either. “We also offer adult programs such as our Traditional Archery Program which is nearly 500 members strong and offers weekend classes and lessons. The 50 and

over Olympic Archery Program is a low impact way to get some good exercise while having fun and socializing, and we also host several competitions each year for participants of all skill levels within this age group.”

Expansion Like many businesses, COVID-19 impacted Girt’s business. But in the end, being cooped up brought more people out and the summer of 2020 saw more people at the archery range than any year before. Girt says changes took place due to the virus, including the addition of air purifiers, hand sanitizers, touchless doors, and bathroom fixtures. They also went to a reservation platform instead of the first-come-first-serve format to help with controlling the numbers. Now reservations can be made on their website at koteewiarchery.com.

The future looks exciting according to Girt with discussions currently underway to expand the program to other parks departments throughout Southern Indiana. Additionally a new indoor facility is underway. “While we don’t have a date yet, we are inching closer to what will be another world class archery facility,” he says adding that it will have indoor amenities that will include archery game rooms for parties and groups. There will also be an area for 20-yard indoor target shooting, a 50-yard 3D range and the only indoor 70-meter target range in the area.

Girt says a goal with the addition is to help develop archers that become the best competitors in the world. “We are very excited about the future and the opportunities the new building will offer including hosting major tournaments and especially the relationship we can develop with Indiana’s National Archery in the Schools Program, which has played a part in introducing millions nationwide to the sport of archery for the first time. We hope to be able to host regional events that will benefit all the schools who participate in the archery program in their schools.” HCBM

June • July 2022 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Hamilton County Mended Hearts Chapter 350 Misson Statement: To inspire hope and improve the quality of life for heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support, education and advocacy.

SUPPORT GROUP MEETING TIMES 3RD WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH 11:30am - 2:00pm Meetings temporarily suspended due to COVID-19

RIVERVIEW HEALTH 395 Westfield Rd. Classrooms A & B Entrance 4

CALL (317) 776-7377 for additional information

Heart Disease in your family?

Think you or a family member needs a heart scan or EKG? Call Riverview Health at

(317) 773-0760 Ask for Central Scheduling to set an appointment for a $49 hear t scan or a $10 EKG. w w w.mendedhearts350.org

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Thank you to our Legacy Partners:

Upcoming EVENTS Event UPCOMING State of the County Luncheon - June 29, 2022

Join us for our annual "State of the County" luncheon with Hamilton County Commissioner Steve Dillinger. June 29th will be a great day to reconnect with other businesses in Hamilton County and hear about what is new and "in the works" in the County. Plan to attend this informative luncheon.

Women In Noblesville Annual Leadership Luncheon - July 27, 2022

Join us for the Annual Women In Noblesville Leadership Luncheon & Impact Award Luncheon. Mustard Seed Gardens provides the perfect backdrop as we celebrate women in business here in Noblesville. In keeping with this year's WIN theme, the luncheon will feature a panel discussion on Mentoring with several successful business leaders.

Joint Chamber Networking Breakfast - June 15, 2022

Join us for as we gather with the Westfield Chamber of Commerce for networking over breakfast at the Bridgewater Country Club. Start the day off right with new connections and a hearty dose of networking!

This 7:30-9am event is the perfect way to start your day.

WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS Trinity Free Clinic Armstrong Accounting Solutions Inc Lighthouse Autism Center HealthMarkets Deka Lash Cutting Edge Countertops Scherer Locksmith

Kemper Health Grid-Digital Media.com ASAP Payroll Service Agape Therapeutic Riding The Cooper House ISI Elite Training The Scout Guide Hamilton County Advance Auto Parts

O'C Satellite, Inc Ott Equipment Service The Berry Insurance Group Bose Public Affairs Group LLC T&W Corporation Service Plus Heating, Cooling & Plumbing Onya Marketing

New Corporate Partners

CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP BRINGS YOU    

CONSULTING RESOURCES - The Chamber solves problems. Just ask.

NETWORKING & RELATIONSHIPS - Leverage the collective power of a Chamber connection.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT - Build your connection to Noblesville.

ADVOCACY & PUBLIC POLICY - Let us stand up for you.

Noblesville Chamber of Commerce | P.O. Box 2015 | Noblesville, IN 46061 | 317.773.0086 | noblesvillechamber.com 12

June • July 2022 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Serving Northern Hamilton County Mark Your Calendar

Come tour our beautiful towns; Arcadia, Atlanta, and Cicero.

SATURDAY

CICERO CHRISTIAN

September 10, 2022 1715 Stingtown Pike Ride begins at 8:30 Cicero, IN 46034

Our second annual bike tour through Northern Hamilton County to highlight local businesses, increase awareness of this less-traveled area of central Indiana, and to support the business programs at Hamilton Heights and Sheridan High Schools. Registration for the ride will begin at 7:30 and the ride stars at 8:30. Refreshment stops along the way will feature our local businesses. Riders may chose the 28 mile or the 50 mile route.

Interested in becoming a sponsor?

Email jesy.ide@nhccoc.org.

REGISTER HERE

Our Newest Member Vector Sign Solutions 317-703-3598 1385 S 10th Street Noblesville, IN 46060 https://www.vectorsignsolutions.com/

2022 Advocate Members

Our Next Luncheon In June we will hear from representatives of INDOT and Duke Energy about the infrastructure projects on the docket for Northern Hamilton County. They will speak about projects along 31 now and in the near future. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of the construction schedule at this time and once completed, how these changes will improve connectivity, safety and mobility along this section of US 31. We also look forward to hearing about other improvements coming to our 4 towns!

This meeting will take place on June 9th from 11:30 am - 1 pm at the Hamilton North Public Library in the Jenkins room.

2022 Calendar Luncheons the second Thursday of every month.

June 9 - 11:30 am - 1 pm Infrastructure on US 31 Hamilton North Public Library July 14 - 4 - 6:30 pm Member Appreciation Party on the Patio Blackhawk Winery August 11 - 8:00 - 9:30 am Entreprenuership and the Chamber Choo Choo Cafe Please check the Chamber website and follow us on Facebook for the most up to date calander. nhccoc.org @NHCChamber

NORTHERN HAMILTON COUNTY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Communities Working Together 70 Byron Street Cicero, IN 46034 317 984 4079 June • July 2022 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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Upcoming Events JUNE

JULY

Young Professionals Meet Up Topgolf June 2, 2022 4:30pm- 6:30pm

New Member Reception – Invitation Only Ovation Audio Video July 13, 2022 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Caffeinated Conversation Round Room June 7, 2022 8:00am – 9:00am

Member Orientation COhatch Carmel July 14, 2022 8:30am – 9:30am

Member Orientation COhatch Noblesville June 9, 2022 8:30am – 9:30am

Caffeinated Conversation Monterey Coastal Cuisine July 19, 2022 8:00am – 9:00am

OWN Tactical Workshop Launch Fishers June 22, 2022 8:30am – 9:30am

Networking Breakfast (combined with Westfield Chamber) Renaissance Indianapolis North July 21, 2022 7:30am – 9:30am

OneZone Chamber Meet UP Knowledge Services June 23, 2022 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Don’t forget to stop by the OneZone office to pick up the latest Market Guide.

Welcome All of Our New Members!

Click on the New Member Company Names Below and Visit their OneZone Member Directory Contact Information.

360 Relocation Solutions 8393 Creative Agape Therapeutic Riding Butler Insurance Butler University Caring Dove Care Services Carmel Christkindlmarkt Chatham Hills CycleBar Carmel CycleBar Fishers Deka Lash FRECKLES GRAPHICS, INC.

Friends of Hamilton County Parks GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement CenterIndianapolis Hamilton County Council Impact Specialties & Promotions Indianapolis Indians Iron & Ember - MTS Collective Lancer + Beebe, LLC Local Trend/Celebration Mailers Meridian Closets and Murphy Beds Meridian Closets and Murphy Beds-By Appointment Only Mustard Seed Gardens - MTS Collective

Myers Roofing & Exteriors OrthoIndy - Carmel OrthoIndy - Fishers Rees Restoration Residence Inn by Marriott The Carrera Agency The Chris Center The Fresh Market - 146th St. The Fresh Market - Rangeline Crossing Opening Fall 2022 The Mortgage Exchange Woolridge Impace Marketing Group

Click Here Now and Visit the OneZone Member Directory

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June • July 2022 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

REBECCA FLEETWOOD HESSION

2022

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

JOSH ORENDI

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM IMMI Conference Center, Westfield, IN

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ADENIKE MAKINDE

Hamilton County History

Fishers’ 150 Birthday first wrote about the history of Fishers in December/January 2011 issue of this magazine and now that the city is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding, it time for a revisit. In the intervening years, I’ve found much new and interesting information to follow up. This history is appropriate for a business magazine because, in a sense, the town has always seemed to have been a business proposition.

Wicked Fishers To recap—in the earliest days of the county, the economic center of Delaware Township was at “Connerstown” (William Conner’s property at what is now Conner Prairie). It moved to the new-created town of New Britton with the arrival of Peru and Indianapolis Railroad in 1851. After the Civil War, the area saw the improvement of the plank road through the swamp (now 116th

Downtown Fishers today

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David Heighway

th

Street), the construction of Eller Bridge in 1869, and the extension of the railroad to Michigan City in 1871. This led to the establishment of the town by Salathiel Fisher in 1872 as a hot spot for agricultural transport to Indianapolis, Chicago, and other points. The railroad was the Highway 69 of its day.

The town had a rough beginning—Salathiel Fisher died in 1873 and the municipality seemed to struggle to get organized.

The swampy terrain had given the area the nickname of “Mudsock” by 1873. There was a gunfight on the main street in 1875 and a massive 1881 brawl became infamous as the “Battle of Mudsock”

(HCBM Dec/Jan 2017). The brawl resulted in one death, 32 injuries, and two buildings burned to the ground.

There were prize fights, train robberies, and bombings, with the crime wave culminating in a grave robbing scandal in 1903 (HCBM Dec/Jan 2014). Many of these stories can be found in the book Wicked Fishers by Robert Bowling which was published in 2021 by History Press.

There has been discussion about the early names of Fishers Station and Fishers Switch. Both were used in the 1874 directory of the county. Fishers is the only town on the 1876 county map. An 1878 map in the Library of Congress shows two towns, one named Fishers and the other named Fishers Switch. The Switch was south of the present-day town center and closer to 96th Street. The 1880 county map doesn’t show a switch or spur in that area. The two names were used in the press until around 1910. Perhaps

June • July 2022 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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the Switch community was a planned development that never happened.

Creek Township in 1986, and eventually annexed land down to Geist Reservoir.

After World War One, the town settled into being a quiet rural community.

Much of the railroad traffic had been taken when the Monon Railroad came through the county in 1883. Delaware Township was largely bypassed by the 1887-1920 natural gas boom, although Fishers was legally incorporated as a town in 1891.

The population has risen rapidly over the last half century.

Things changed in Delaware Township when it was split at the river in 1955. The western 2/3 of the township became part of Clay Township and eliminated any westward growth. The Eller bridge was burned by arsonists in 1957.

The first substantial housing development occurred in the mid-1950s when several modest ranch-style homes, a few storefront businesses, and a school were constructed. Still, by 1960 the population was only 344 and the town had minimal municipal services. The museum at Conner Prairie was established in 1964 and had a Noblesville address for many years.

2020 – 98,977

1970 – 628 1980 – 2,008 1990 – 7,508 2000 – 37,835 2010 – 76,794 The number of local businesses grew from 30 in 1980 to over 250 by 1991 to 7,907 in 2012 according to the US Census. Residents’ median income in 1993 was $52,100, and in 2020 it was $108,361. In the early 1990s the town board added two additional members.

Fishers was Incorporated as a city in 2015 and is now governed by a mayor and city council.

Fishers has seen some extraordinary events and changes over the last century and a half. It will be interesting to see what is in store for the next 150 years. HCBM

The construction of I-69 brought a building boom to Fishers in the 1970s. In 1972 the three-person town board government annexed 1,400 acres of surrounding land. In the mid-1980s, the 3,000home Sunblest Farms development brought an instant surge in population.

David Heighway is the Hamilton County The town first began annexing into Fall Historian.

June • July 2022 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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