The Buzz - Town Council Meetings: B'burg's Youth Sports Plan, Rezoning, Overdevelopment, Local Students Serve

 In This Issue of the Buzz:

  🌤️ Local Weather

 🔥 Town Council Discusses B’burg’s Youth Sports Development Plan

 🔥🔥 Town Council Discusses Rezoning & Economic Development

🏛️ Local Brownsburg Students Serve At Statehouse

 🚓 Coding Mistake Blamed for Nationwide AT&T Outage

👉 Local Businesses - Shop Local / Buy Local

 📆 Upcoming Local Events

Shop Local - Visit Our Local Businesses:

Building the Future of Youth Sports: Brownsburg's Comprehensive Development Plan

Brownsburg Town Council - Special Meeting - Feb. 22, 2024

The town council meeting focused on the development and expansion of youth sports facilities in Brownsburg, led by representatives from Brownsburg Youth Sports. Below is a summarized account of the discussions and activities during the meeting:

• Introduction and Welcome: The meeting began with a welcome and the introduction of representatives from various youth sports organizations, emphasizing the collective focus on youth sports rather than any single sport.

• Representatives' Introductions:

  • Daniel Whitaker introduced himself as the Vice President of Brownsburg Youth Sports and President of Brownsburg Girls Softball League.

  • Morgan Grismore was introduced as the Director of Development for Brownsburg Youth Sports.

  • Jason Grisez, President of Brownsburg Little League and Vice President of Brownsburg Youth Sports, outlined the organization's agnostic approach to sports and mentioned a phased development plan starting with softball due to a land swap agreement with the school court.

• Development Plans:

  • The initial phase focuses on softball, with future phases to include baseball diamonds and other sports facilities on a 60-acre property acquired by the organization.

  • The property is expected to host various youth sports, including lacrosse, football, and soccer, maintaining a core foundation of Little League values.

  • There was a mention of a significant land agreement with the school court for property acquisition and future expansion plans.

• Community and Funding:

  • The representatives discussed community involvement, philanthropic support, and sponsorships critical for the development and maintenance of the sports facilities.

  • The organization aims to expand and enrich youth sports programs in Brownsburg, emphasizing inclusivity and the broad impact on the community.

  • Funding strategies include leveraging Little League resources, pursuing private financing, and seeking town support for infrastructure development.

• Infrastructure and Expansion:

  • Discussions about infrastructure needs for the new sports complex, including water, sewer, and energy considerations.

  • The possibility of hosting tournaments to support operational costs, with plans for turf infield and grass outfield to facilitate year-round use.

  • There were inquiries about further expansion, including additional baseball and softball diamonds, and the integration of other sports facilities in the future.

• Town Council's Role and Support:

  • The town council expressed support for the project, discussing potential contributions like infrastructure development and the provision of additional sports facilities.

  • The importance of inclusivity of various youth sports beyond softball and baseball was highlighted, with suggestions for a comprehensive approach to support youth sports in the community.

• Future Steps:

  • The meeting concluded with a proposal for ongoing communication and collaboration between the town council and Brownsburg Youth Sports to further detail and support the project.

  • There was an emphasis on the long-term vision for a community-centric sports complex that serves a broad spectrum of youth sports and activities.

Town Council Discusses Rezoning, Services, and Economic Development In Last Night’s Meeting

Brownsburg Town Council - Regular Meeting - Feb. 22, 2024

• Opening and Pledge of Allegiance: The meeting began with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Steve Stone. All five members of the Brownsburg Town Council were confirmed to be in attendance.

• Public Comments on the Agenda:

  • 
    

  • John Raybould discussed the C2 and M3 rezoning request, questioning the council's consistency in addressing the school population problem and the need for official documentation from the school corporation regarding housing developments.

  • Rob Kendall voiced skepticism about the developer's commitment to the town's best interest after observing their departure post-approval in a previous meeting. He urged the council to prioritize the community's needs over developers.

  • Garin Karns offered insights on the proposed development, emphasizing the vastness of the land in question and the unrealistic expectations for it to be solely commercial. He advocated for a mixed-use approach, considering the existing conditions and market demands.

  • Dr. Dan Baum expressed opposition to more apartments and houses, suggesting a preference for commercial development to avoid overcrowding schools and diminishing the town's residential-commercial balance.

    

• Consent Items and Claims: The council approved the minutes from the February 2024 meeting and a claim docket totaling $1,945,300.92 for civil town and fire territory expenses.

• Reports from Commissions and Boards:

  • Police and fire department updates were provided, including staffing changes and a correction of a payroll error affecting overtime calculations.

  • Economic development and redevelopment commission reports highlighted ongoing industrial projects, with several buildings fully leased and efforts continuing to attract tenants for the available spaces.

  • The Park Authority discussed the father-daughter dance event's success and the upcoming review of the five-year plan, indicating a slight delay to incorporate feedback from the Department of Natural Resources.

• Ordinance and Rezoning Requests:

  • The council discussed and approved a conditional rezone for a project north of County Road 900 East and 56 Street, considering its potential to address housing needs while being mindful of the community's concerns about infrastructure and school impacts.

• Grant Applications:

  • Kathy introduced a competitive grant application to identify lead service lines, with potential funding up to $300,000 to help offset the costs associated with the project.

• Library Bonds: Denise Robinson from the Brownsburg Public Library presented a bond issuance proposal to fund maintenance and improvement projects, emphasizing the minimal impact on the tax rate.

And then … the lights went out! Literally.

The power went out at the Town Council meeting and finished in the dark! 😆

Senator John B. Crane Welcomes Local Brownsburg Students To Statehouse

STATEHOUSE (Feb. 21, 2024) – State Sen. John B. Crane (R-Avon) welcomed the following local students to the Statehouse who served as Senate pages in January.

• Sean Nolan, from Avon, attends Greenwood Christian Academy

• Shilo Nolan, from Avon, attends Greenwood Christian Academy

• Chloe Wheat, from Brownsburg, attends Brownsburg High School

• Olivia Wheat, from Brownsburg, attends Brownsburg High School

Pages spend a day at the Statehouse touring the historic building, observing debates from the Senate floor and interacting with their state senator.

"I appreciate seeing our youth taking an interest in state government by extending their civic education beyond the classroom," Crane said. "The page program is a unique opportunity to educate our young Hoosiers on the legislative process."

Students in grades six through 12 participate in the page program on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays during the legislative session. Groups serve on Wednesdays.

To learn more about the Senate Page Program, visit www.IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Page-Program.

State Sen. Crane (R-Avon) represents Senate District 24,
which includes portions of Hendricks and Putnam counties

Contact: Abbey Webb, Press Secretary
[email protected]
317-234-3560

Tomiya Hamer, Press Secretary Intern
[email protected]

Coding Mistake Blamed for Nationwide AT&T Cellphone Outage

AT&T experienced a significant outage across its U.S. cellphone network due to a technical error, not a cyberattack. The disruption, which affected thousands of users, was attributed to a coding mistake during network expansion efforts. Outage reports peaked at 73,000 but reduced to fewer than 1,000 by the evening.

The incident also impacted Cricket Wireless users and caused network issues for some Verizon and T-Mobile customers. The Federal Communications Commission, Department of Homeland Security, and FBI are investigating, while Congress seeks to understand and prevent future occurrences.

Shop Local - Visit Our Local Businesses:

Upcoming Local Events

February 2024

• Brownsburg American Legion Post 331 - Events & News

• Brownsburg Library Events

• Free Headshot Day!

  • Date: Friday, February 23, 2024

  • Details: A day for professionals to get a free headshot.

  • Website: Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce

• BPL Night in the Stacks

  • Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024

  • Location: Brownsburg Public Library, Brownsburg, IN

  • Details: An adult night of fun at the library with various activities including a bounce house, board games, and more.

  • Website: Event details and registration at Brownsburg Public Library.

• Holy Spirit Night

  • Date: Sunday, February 25, 2024

  • Description: Hosted by the Brownsburg Vineyard Church, this event invites you to a powerful night of worship, prayer, prophetic ministry, and a time to rest in the goodness of our loving Father. Childcare will be provided, making it a family-friendly event.

  • More Information: For more details, please visit the event page on AllEvents.in.

• Indiana Sigma/Zeta Day on the Hill - Mental Health Matters

  • Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024

  • Location: Indiana State Capitol

  • More information can be found here on Eventbrite.

• AAAI - Seat At The Table with Ting Gootee

  • Date: Wednesday, February 28, 2024

  • Location: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

  • More information can be found here on Eventbrite.

• Professional Services XBE Outreach

  • Date: Thursday, February 29, 2024

  • Location: Weddle Bros. Building Group, LLC

  • More information can be found here on Eventbrite.

• Indy Ad Connect - Winter Social

  • Date: Thursday, February 29, 2024

  • Location: Ale Emporium

  • More information can be found here on Eventbrite.

• The HR Lab

  • Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2024

  • Location: Eiteljorg Museum

  • More information can be found here on Eventbrite.