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In this section, you will find some of my thoughts about the issues that I see facing our community.  Whether you agree or disagree, I welcome your thoughts, so feel free to use the "Contact Us" section to send feedback, or email GPurvis@Purvis4Fishers.com. 

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ANNEXATION
I do not believe in forced annexation against the will of the residents being annexed. 
NEWS FLASH!  While the Fishers Town Council made a show of "withdrawing" their forced annexation ordinances, then re-issuing them unannounced, Geist residents have responded by filing a petition with the County Commissioners to form independent towns of East Geist and West Geist.  The Fishers Town Council has completely bungled the handling of this matter, resulting in community hostility and what seems to be an inevitable and expensive legal fight.   The County Commissioners accepted the Geist petitions on Sept. 24 and will hold public hearings on December 4, 2007. 
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Fishers expansion has usually been by a developer seeking annexation for a new development that they are building.  While perfectly acceptable by itself, this has resulted in large areas, completely surrounded by Fishers, which are not incorporated into the town, or the sewer district.  This is known as the "swiss cheese" effect.  The current Town Council is doing nothing to address this, which involves large areas both in the older part of Fishers west of I-69 and the newer areas east of I-69. 
 
Instead, the Town Council is wasting taxpayer money by trying to force the annexation of Geist neighborhoods on both sides of the lake.  Many of the residents there are opposed to annexation by Fishers, and have been fighting in public to stay apart from Fishers. 
 
Frankly, the reasons given by the Town Council for annexation range from silly (they use our parks and roads) to outright false (they don't pay enough for fire service - they pay over $2 Million in 2007). 
 
The current Council is trying to grab the tax revenue from Geist, pure and simple.  And now they are offering free water and sewer hookups, at Fishers' taxpayer expense, to drop their opposition to annexation.  The Council has spent tax money on slick flyers to sell annexation.  They have spent tax money on slick law firms to lobby against annexation reform bills in the General Assembly.  And now they are trying, at taxpayer expense, to get bills written and passed that will be even more unfair to the property owner who does not want to be annexed. 
 
If I am elected to the Town Council, I will oppose involuntary annexation, and the waste of tax money in pursuing it.
 
10/18/07:  See the ANNOUNCEMENTS page for an open letter I have posted about the legal action the Fishers Town Council has taken to try to stop the Geist incorporations, and to prevent the will of the majority from being determined. 
 
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TIRED OF NON-RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT?
TIRED OF RUBBER-STAMPING MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT?  TIRED OF DEFICIT BUDGETS AND FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY?
 
VOLUNTEER, DONATE, VOTE!
 

TRAFFIC

Aggressive and creative means need to be taken to deal with Fishers' terrible traffic problems.

Bad traffic, especially at rush hour, is something every Fishers resident knows about.  And despite expensive road projects such as the 116th Street widening, the problem is not getting any better. 

 

Part of the problem is that the Town Council never met a new project that they didn't like.  Sure, they ask for and get design changes.  But they don't turn it down.  They are even seeking a massive improvement (Riverplace), that will further degrade the worst intersection in the area, 96th and Allisonville, according to both the developer and the town's own staff. 

 

Over-development and the failure to follow a comprehensive plan have led to this problem, from lack of foresight and leadership.  As a Town, not a City, we don't have a Mayor to be in charge of a long-term vision for Fishers.  But we still need to address the problems. 

 

Mass transit will be a necessity.  High speed light rail, even a monorail, has been discussed for years. The State is planning a future widening of

I-69 (in 2015).  The problem is, we need action now, not in the future, and the current council has only given lip service to this pressing problem. 

 

If I am elected to the Council, transportation issues and planning will be a top priority. 

 

UPDATE - JUNE 5, 2007

 

The Town Council voted 4 -1 with two absent last night, to approve the  Riverplace rezoning.  They were determined to approve this despite the fact that all the citizens who spoke, including me, opposed it, and are deferring to the future the massive traffic problems that will result, and the deep and lasting concerns about the increased risk of flooding along White River.  They "hear but do not listen" and they react, they do not plan for the future. 

 

 

VOTE NOVEMBER 6 ! 

 

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INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING OR VOLUNTEERING?  GO TO OUR "CONTACT US" PAGE AND SEND AN EMAIL. 

 

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YARD SIGNS!

 

If you want a yard sign for your home or business, go to the "CONTACT US" page,

or email Greg at GPurvis@Purvis4Fishers.com.