Yours truly was asked to help serve on the committee and I enjoyed meeting with the Town manager, local builders, the Head of the Avon Parks Department, and other community leaders to discuss the idea. It is always great to be able to be a part of the community.

What is an Impact fee? An Impact fee is often charged to builders as a way to help pay for the “impact” that a new neighborhood will have on a community. For every new neighborhood that gets built in Avon, there is an influx of new residents as well. New people who will be using our roads, our utilities and our parks. Impact fees are common and can be used for any number of things to help the community. Most of the towns surrounding Avon have already adopted these fees.

In Avon, the impact fee will be used towards recreation. We do have wonderful parks, and when you add in the facilities provided by Washington Township, there is a lot to offer in our community. We are proud of our parks, and want to be sure that we are able to keep up with future demand. The Town will focus on using the fees collected to purchase more land, install more walking trails and a  destination playground. In the future we will be able to take another look and decide what else we would like to use the fees for.

I think this is a great step towards helping our community keep up with the growth we are experiencing. I know that it will cause an additional burden on builders, and that they might decide to pass the additional cost to the buyers. On the other hand, I feel that keeping our community moving in the right direction will help Avon be even more desirable to new buyers.

I would love to hear your thoughts on impact fees. What would you like to see the fees used for? What improvements do you think Avon needs most?

Here is a video made by the Town of Avon in 2010

My favorite thing so far has been my fitness orientation. The fitness coach helped me make sure that I knew how to use all the machines, and saved all my settings in the FitLinx system so that I don’t have to remember how weight to use or how many reps to do. The little computer even measures my range of motion to be sure I’m doing the exercises right. I’m proud to say that after only 2 attempts, I can do ALL of the exercises assigned to me, and do all my reps

There is a Subway inside, as well as the pool, sauna, rock climbing wall, basketball courts, fitness center, classrooms, and locker rooms. My next goal is to attempt some Zumba classes! Who’s in?

Why do you care about that? Fewer homes on the market means fewer homes for buyers to choose from. This could help create a sense of urgency and get some buyers off the fence. It could also possibly create a shift in demand (remember supply vs demand?). Hopefully we will see this trend continue!

Here’s the issue–

An Operating Fund Referendum was created by the Indiana Legislature to allow local school districts to request permission through a direct vote to assess property taxes above the property tax cap (1% for residential property) for the purpose of allowing a community to support its schools through additional revenue or to help replenish monies lost from recent state funding cuts.

The school district will add a referendum question to the May 3 ballot asking the community to support a property tax. The question will read: “For the seven (7) calendar years immediately following the holding of the referendum, shall the Avon Community School Corporation impose a property tax rate that does not exceed 17.05 cents ($0.1705) on each One Hundred Dollars ($100) of assessed valuation and that is in addition to all other property tax levies imposed by the School Corporation?”

Why are they asking for this referendum? With recent property tax caps, reduced state funding, and loss of investment income, the school budget has already been cut drastically. We are fortunate that our community is growing, and we are adding schools to fit the population, but it takes money to do that. This referendum is asking the community to pay additional property taxes that would go directly to help the schools operate. Voting will take place on May 3.

There has been a lot of discussion among the residents of Avon about this referendum, obviously, some support it and some do not.

MY OPINION? Avon has a reputation for great schools in the Indianapolis area, which is certainly an important factor when people are considering moving to the community. Having great schools benefits us all, whether you have kids that attend those schools (like me) or not. I want this to pass both for my own children, and for the benefit of the entire community. I think it is important to help support the schools in the community, and I am willing to pay for that through my property taxes.

I would love to hear your thoughts, I am sure that some readers will not agree with my opinion, and I”m ok with that as long as the discussion is polite. 

For a lot more info, you can go to www.SupportAvonChildren.org or www.NoMoreAvonTaxes.org

The nearly $6 million park expansion includes 89 acres of woodlands and pastures for hiking and biking, a new 12,000-square-foot Washington Township Pavilion Center, large amphitheater, two shelters, a splash pad, playground and plenty of parking. A free grand opening celebration is scheduled for Oct. 9.

So how do you get there if nobody knows where it is? The new facilities are located about a mile beyond the current park. You will follow Broyles Road (That’s the road the runs along the back side of Washington Twp Park) through wooded areas, under and old bridge, over the river and through the woods… oh wait… sorry, follow it about a mile to the secluded recreation area. Sounds like it will be beautiful!

The pavillion will be able to handle large parties with up to 300 people, it includes a warming kitchen, fireplace, cathedral ceilings, and temporary walls if you prefer a more intimate setting.

Hendricks County Jan 10 Stats

Sunday, February 28th from noon-2pm.

Click here for details about 6078 Pine Bluff Drive!

Directions: From 465, follow US 36 WEST through Avon to County Road 625 E (look for the ball fields) Turn SOUTH on 625, follow for about 1.5 miles to Whispering Pines on the Right. Take the first right on LongLeaf, and follow around to home. (Long Leaf turns into Pine Bluff)

Discovery Education's Clip Art Gallery created by Mark A. Hicks, illustrator

Well, last week with all the snow, the kids really enjoyed the snow days they got! Tuesday and Wednesday they were able to sleep in, relax, play outside in the snow, come to my office with me, and play a lot of video games.

The only problem? Those days need to be made up! Avon schools has announced that school will be in session on Friday, April 30 and Thursday, May 27, to make up for the missed days.

http://www.avon.k12.in.us/

Call me for your tour!

Welcome to 6078 Pine Bluff Drive, in Avon, Indiana! This Estridge home is located in Whispering Pines, and is only 3.5 years old. They chose the best lot in the neighborhood to build on, and now it can be yours.