29-Jan-2024
ROCKY RIPPLE TOWN COUNCIL 2023 SUMMARY/ LOOK AHEAD FOR 2024
Dear Rocky Ripple Resident,
The Rocky Ripple Town Council strives to keep everyone informed of what is going on regarding town council activities. Updates are provided at monthly Rocky Ripple Town Council meetings on the second Tuesday of each month, and with detailed minutes of each meeting posted on the town’s website (www.rockyripple.in.gov). E-blasts with important updates are also distributed to those of you who are signed up to receive them. With a new board in place and many projects ongoing, we wanted to take the opportunity to summarize what happened in 2023 and what we expect to happen in 2024. We also want to provide updates and commentary on other Rocky Ripple town actions and initiatives. Please feel free to contact us with any questions and/or if you would like to discuss anything contained in this summary.
Sincerely,
Megan Hulland Rachel O. Hunter Randy Sanders
Contained in this letter:
- Flood Protection Update: A lookback at 2023 activity and a look forward to key 2024 dates.
- Update on installation of City Sewers in Rocky Ripple: Citizens Energy Group (CEG) now anticipates construction of sewers in Rocky Ripple to wrap up in February 2024.
- New Police Car/New Snow Removal Equipment
- Road Maintenance/Paving
- Introduction to new Town Board
- Town of Rocky Ripple still seeking Clerk-Treasurer
- Chili Supper Celebration with RRCA
- Annual Indy Runners 10K, Bulldog Jog 5K Will Go Through Rocky Ripple again in 2024; Discounted Registrations available for Rocky Ripplers
Flood Protection Update
After some major changes to the proposed flood protection plan throughout 2022, progress on the project slowed in 2023.
Following the November 16, 2022 public meeting at the Riveria Club, the board noticed that there were changes to design requiring significantly more land and impacting more outbuildings among riverfront residents than had been previously discussed. The board held a meeting with DPW on December 22, 2022 and were able to address several outstanding questions, although more remained. In roughly the same time period, two independent appraisers contracted by the City appraised town hall. The City also requested that the town board help facilitate discussions related to the new town hall, which prompted two town hall brainstorming sessions in February and March. In February, board members had individual meetings with the new DPW Director, Brandon Herget, where DPW explained monthly update meetings on the project would remain suspended indefinitely.
The Town sought external legal counsel, Yasmin Stump, to review the initial version of the ILA sent by the City of Indianapolis in late 2022. On March 3, 2023, the Town sent a commented copy of the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) between the City of Indianapolis and the Town of Rocky Ripple back to the City of Indianapolis. In this same timeframe, DPW also shared an updated schematic with impacted outbuildings and a visual of the tentative placement for the pumping station. In this same window, the Rocky Ripple board held a vote to select the new location for town hall; Holht Park received the most votes.
In April, appraisals started for all riverfront property impacted by the floodwall. Two separate appraiser teams reviewed property and shared their findings back with a DPW subcontractor, DLZ. The ILA remained in DPW’s possession and Shannon Killion, Stormwater Administrator, shared with Mandy on April 10, 2023 that there was a growing distance between what the town requested and what DPW was able to commit to. The board decided to start working with other elected officials to track down some answers. By early May, DPW communicated to Rocky Ripple that – while design was ongoing – 100% final design would not be shared with the town until the Indy North Flood Reduction project was accredited by FEMA, which was anticipated to occur by the end of 2023. The board received a copy of the appraisals for town hall, conducted in December 2022, which appraised town hall at $320,000 and $295,000, respectively.
In June, the board communicated the fact that the floodwall project was essentially on hold, pending accreditation of the Indy North project. On June 27, 2023, the Board sent a letter to DPW expressing frustration with the lack of communication and requesting a public meeting to reengage with the City. The Board repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction on behalf of the 13 homeowners who have been living in a state of limbo for years. The Board received a response on the ILA on July 31, 2023 with very few of Rocky Ripple’s suggested changes accepted. Director Herget also shared at this juncture that DPW plans to submit design plans for a CLOMR (Conditional Letter of Map Revision) prior to finalizing design to avoid the delays and rework experienced by the Indy North project.
In October, the board met to talk about the ILA and shared with DPW that they are directionally comfortable with the approach to revised ILA, pending a few edits, including a quit clause for Rocky Ripple. DPW also shared with Rocky Ripple that – as of October 2023 – FEMA had accepted the revised maps for the Indy North project. It is anticipated that there remain at least 4-5 months before project completion. Based on timelines posted on the City of Indianapolis’ website and confirmed by DPW, DPW currently anticipates sharing 100% design with the town of Rocky Ripple in the winter of 2024 before submitting for CLOMR in the spring 2024. A current draft of the ILA can be found on the Rocky Ripple town website here.
Please note that the Rocky Ripple Town Council will not agree to proceed with the floodwall project and any related floodworks construction until the 60% design questions are answered and a signed Interlocal Agreement with DPW is in place. The Town Council has also committed to holding a town-wide poll to ensure majority residential alignment on DPW’s updated design, which has changed considerably since the 2017 survey conducted by the prior Town Council. A committee was formed to this end with the intent of drafting a fact sheet for distribution and for helping get the word out about the poll, although committee activities have largely been put on hold pending design updates and information.
Update on installation of City Sewers in Rocky Ripple
Citizens Energy Group (CEG), which has responsibility for the City of Indianapolis STEP (Septic Tank Elimination Program) initiative, began construction of sewers in three phases starting in May 2023. Phases I and II are complete as of this writing and CEG anticipates that Phase III will be complete in early 2024. Over 70% of homes in Rocky Ripple chose to hookup to the service as part of the program.
CEG has confirmed that the 13 homes impacted by the floodwall project – along with town hall – will be eligible for sewer hookup for the reduced STEP price, even if the floodwall project is canceled.
New Police Car/New Snow Removal Equipment
Through townwide fundraising efforts and the federal government American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds received, the Rocky Ripple Town Council was able to source, purchase and have delivered a new snowplow truck, which was received in April and subsequently outfitted for the upcoming winter. Special thanks to Town Marshal/Town Manager Mike Kiefer for coordinating the purchase activities. The old snowplow was sold via a Govdeals.com online auction in August 2023 for $9,000.
Road Maintenance/Paving
Continued grants that cover 75% of paving costs through the state of Indiana’s Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG) Program allowed for additional streets to be repaved during 2023. Streets that were repaved included: Clarendon Road from 53rd to 54th, Crown Street from 52nd to 53rd, Patterson Street from 51st to 52nd and Annette Street from 51st to 52nd.
For 2024, Town Manager Kiefer is working to submit the grant application for repaving of the following streets: 5100-5200 Riverview and Lester Street from 52nd to the Butler fields.
Introduction to new Town Board
A new Town Council was sworn in as part of the January 9th, 2024 meeting, serving a term through 2028. As only three candidates ran in the election, Megan Hulland, Randy Sanders and new Councilor Rachel O. Hunter were not on the ballot in 2023 and were instead automatically elected. Thank you again to former Rocky Ripple Town Board President Mandy Redmond, who decided not to run for the board again after over a decade of service to the town; you have made a lasting impact in our unique corner of the world.
No ”Meet the Candidates” event was held in 2023, as only three individuals ran for office. Instead, each board member has decided to share a short introduction below:
Megan Hulland: A Midwestern transplant, I moved to Rocky Ripple in 2016. I’m in awe of the natural environment that surrounds us and love to be outside. You’ll often find me paddle boarding on the White River or hitting the Butler trails with my two yellow labs during the summer and cross-country skiing on the towpath during the winter.
I love our precious, eclectic community and am proud to call Rocky Ripple home. I will always advocate for our town and want to lead through new challenges ahead. As Ed Wenck put it in NUVO in the 1990s, “Rocky Ripple is a triangular thicket cut from utopia and dropped into the heart of an imperfect world”. I’m looking forward to serving another term in our shared utopia together.
Rachel Hunter: Since moving to Rocky Ripple in 2018, I’ve had the great pleasure of getting to know my countless remarkable and welcoming neighbors. I’ve been a lifelong admirer of Rocky Ripple’s utopian spirit of equity and independence, summed up in the phrase: live and let live.
I ran for office with the goal of building on this legacy by encouraging more active participation in shaping our community. As an independent, incorporated town, we have a rare opportunity to
address community needs on a micro level—to create a space that serves us all and responds to the diverse needs of our residents. My primary goal is to make the most of this opportunity and invite everyone to get involved, in any small way they can. I look forward to working with the Town Council to engage new residents in town politics and activities, improve communication, and adapt to changing community needs while maintaining our time-honored traditions.
To newer residents: If you don’t know much of Rocky Ripple’s history, go introduce yourself to anyone who’s lived here more than a decade. Then take a seat. A steady flow of stories is headed your way—antics of the innumerable free spirits and outlaws whose varied talents and passions helped build our island town. The takeaway: we all have something to offer this vibrant community and, in my experience, the rewards are worth the effort.
Randy Sanders: My partner, Mike, and I moved to Rocky Ripple 8 years ago. We discovered the town through a friend, another RR resident, and felt like we’d found a piece of country in the middle of the city.
In our first year, we got involved with the festival, and I began attending Town Board meetings each month to learn more about the community. Many may know us from seeing us walk our dogs around the neighborhood each evening. Or know our house as having a table out front with fresh tomatoes and hot peppers each summer. Or maybe you’ve spotted the large Galapagos tortoise in our front yard.
I love living in this community and find it very rewarding to give back, whether sharing extra vegetables from our garden, growing plants for the annual exchange at Burkhart Garden, working on the festival, or serving on the Town Board and helping residents with issues that arise.
Town of Rocky Ripple still seeking Clerk-Treasurer
No one volunteered to run for Clerk-Treasurer in the November election. In the interim, outgoing Clerk-Treasurer Julie Smith has offered to stay on to support key projects and make sure that Rocky Ripple’s bills are paid, and budgets are submitted. Special thanks to Julie for her support and service throughout this transition.
If you are a current Rocky Ripple resident who wants to contribute to local government and shape the future of our strong, quirky but wonderful, little place in the universe, please consider stepping up to serve as Clerk-Treasurer! The town cannot continue without people willing to take on these roles. Please feel free to contact any member of the current Town Council for more information on what the position entails, or with any questions. We need you!
Chili Supper Celebration with RRCA
A chili supper celebration and send-off for outgoing Rocky Ripple Town Board President, Mandy Redmond, will be held on February 17th. Keep an eye on the town calendar for additional details!
Annual Indy Runners 10k, Bulldog Jog 5k Will Go Through Rocky Ripple again in 2024; Discounted Registrations available for Rocky Ripplers
After a successful run on the new course last year, Indy Runners has decided to continue to route the annual Butler Bulldog Jog through Rocky Ripple again in 2024. The race will occur on Saturday, April 20, 2024 beginning at 8:00 am. No streets will be blocked during the runs; motorists will just be sharing roads with the runners. Rocky Ripplers are encouraged to participate in the run or Bulldog Jog or cheer the runners on during the runs. More information and registration information can be found at butler.edu/bulldogjog. Use code RockyDawgs2024 to obtain 10% off registration for the 5k or 10k runs.