Big Updates to Water & Sewage
- Anita Joshi
- Aug 6
- 5 min read
Hello neighbors,
This summer is wrapping up quickly! I wish those of you who are teachers or have school-age children a very successful back-to-school season.
Also, I had the opportunity to participate in the Jim Irsay Acts of Kindness Day by helping a neighbor in need clean her yard. Some of our Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders stopped in to lift the neighbor's spirits. Plus, it was a joy to sign thank-you cards for our veterans at the Carmel VFW.
You can watch the entire City Council meeting here.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING UPDATES
Land Use Committee
We had been working on the micromobility ordinance and are very close to sending this back to the whole council. We are focusing our efforts on ensuring the safety of the children who ride ebikes and e-motos, as well as the pedestrians and cyclists who share the paths and roads with them. The goal is to deter unsafe behavior and prevent a tragedy.
E-motos are basically motorcycles.
Ebike injuries are more complex and severe than those from traditional bikes and should be treated differently.
I had the opportunity to speak with Channel 8 about the strides the Council is making towards safety!
Mayoral Comments
Marley, an elementary student, talked to us about upcoming Carmel events!
Community Shred It and Electronic Recycling Day will be held on August 8 from 10 am to 1 pm at Creekside Middle School.
Public Safety Day is on August 15, from 9am to 1 pm at 11611 N. Meridian Street, Carmel.
Celebrate culture, family, and community at Carmel's annual Día de la Familia on August 16 from 2 pm to 6 pm at Carter Green.
We are also getting ready for the Chinese Mooncake on September 19 at Midtown and, of course, Carmel Diwali on October 10 at Carter Green.
Council Comments
There will be a micromobility education meeting with the Police Department on August 27 at 6 pm at Wilfong Pavilion at Founders Park.
Carmel Redevelopment Report
It’s so satisfying to see all these developments come up! Some highlights include:
The City has approved facades for an eleven-unit condo project.
The hole has been dug for the basement below the 3rd Avenue Residences.
Learn more by reading through page 45 to 64 of this report.
Parks Department Report
The Parks Department gave us an update on their successes this quarter. The numbers are:
Highest summer camp enrollment ever: 9,216
Waterpark attendees: 103,617
Total revenue: $7.9 million
Director Klitzing showed, in great detail and with hard numbers, that non-Carmel residents play a significant role in keeping the parks financially sound.
Project updates:
You can now visit the new playground along the Monon.
Parks is expanding the Japanese Garden.
The School Board has approved an easement agreement for Parks to take over Odom Woods.
Founders Park Floating Boardwalk is being installed.
It will be opened to the public by September at the latest.
At Central Park, they are replacing the Central Park Lagoon Boardwalk and repairing the Westermeier Commons Playground safety surfacing.
At the Monon Community Center, they will replace sidewalks by the west and east building entrance.
White River Greenway is now open for the public to enjoy!
Carmel Environmental Stewardship Committee Report
The Environmental Stewardship Committee gave an update on their priorities.
They have made so much progress on these projects that they are being taken off their priority list:
The composting initiative, which is only $15 a month for Carmel residents!
Adding EVs and other sustainable vehicles to the City’s fleet policy
They are now moving on to more priorities, including a zero-waste event policy.
Old Business
Ordinance D-2772-25
Not approved
This ordinance adopts requirements for nonprofit organizations receiving public support from the City.
Councilor Locke asked for a 3-week extension to September 10 at the request of the outside counsel reviewing this ordinance.
I voted both this meeting and last meeting to allow the extension, and it seems foolish to me not to allow the 3 weeks to ensure a complete and compliant report.
The deadline will remain August 20, which is the next council meeting.
Ordinance D-2834-26 & Ordinance D-2835-26
Approved
These ordinances consist of several much-needed waterworks and sewage works projects.
Project I
Replacing a water main installed in 1969 that begins on Medical Drive, continues to AAA Way, turns south on AAA Way, and proceeds east along Keystone Way and Station Drive
They will also eliminate infrastructure gaps by connecting unserved areas to the water main.
Project II
Replacing a water main installed in 1972, which will begin on Carmel Drive at AAA Way and continue east to Keystone Avenue
This will also eliminate gaps in the infrastructure.
Project III
Relocating the water main at 146th and Hazel Dell to accommodate new improvements
Project IV
Installing a new water main extending west from Weston Drive to connect with the Michigan Road corridor
Project V
Replacing the existing water main at Concord Village along Lexington Boulevard and Concord Lane
Project VI
Replacing the sanitary sewer that extends from Rangeline Road east to AAA Way
Project VII
Replacing a sanitary sewer that extends from AAA Way east to Keystone Way and north up Kinzer Drive
For the waterworks projects, they estimate a total funding need of $10 million, to be financed by the proposed waterworks revenue bonds.
For the wastewater projects, they expect a funding need of over $26 million to be covered by the sewage works bond.
The Carmel Utilities Director assured us that these projects were not a result of the Gramercy building and that the developer has contributed enough to cover the benefits they will receive from these projects.
Public Hearings
Ordinance D-2838-26
Approved
This ordinance appropriates $173,770 to cover costs related to the White River Greenway South Extension project.
This is already the Parks Department’s money; they just need Council permission to move it.
Ordinance D-2842-26
Approved
This ordinance appropriates $332,191.32 to cover the costs of City road maintenance and repairs.
New Business
Ordinance D-2843-26
Approved
This ordinance would amend regulations of the use of micromobility and e-moto devices within the City of Carmel.
Added new materials:
Expansion of a particle dismount zone from City Center Drive to East Main Street
Prohibition of ebikes without a distributor label
Prohibition of wheelies, jumping curves, drifting, riding on maintained lawns, etc.
Expansion of ways to identify an e-moto device and distinguish it from ebikes
Events Around Carmel
Clay Terrace is hosting their Back 2 School Bash at Village Green on August 8, from 11 am to 2 pm.
Carmel Food Truck Nights brings together Indiana’s favorite food trucks every Friday from May 1st through October 16th, 5 pm to 9 pm. Come to 930 N. Rangeline Road for great food and fun outside!
Enjoy free outdoor movies at Midtown Plaza throughout the summer! Movies at Midtown runs from June through September, Tuesdays at 6 pm, and Thursdays at Noon & 6 pm.
Thank you all for reading this recap. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions.
Caring for Carmel,
Dr. Anita Joshi
If you have a fifth-grade Carmel student who would like to give the mayoral update at a council meeting next year, please reach out to me, and I will be happy to put your student's name forward.
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please reach out to me. I’m always here to listen and advocate for you. If you wish to review the details of our city meeting, the recording is available here, and the meeting agenda is available here! If you’d like to attend a City Council meeting, committee hearing, or other council events, please visit our website for the calendar!
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