Compiled by Peg McRoy
The Avon Town Council met Oct. 5. Meetings can be viewed at avonindiana.gov/livestream. The council normally meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of the month at the Avon Town Hall, 6570 E. U.S. 36. However, the council will meet the first and third Thursdays of the month for the balance of the year in Avon Town Hall. The next scheduled meeting is Oct. 19.
What happened: Garmong Construction was approved by the council to be the construction manager for the new Avon civic center that will be built as part of the Easton Grey project. All four of the members of the primary team at Garmong are Hendricks County residents. This was scheduled to go before the Avon school board on Mon. Oct. 16.
What this means: A five-member selection committee reviewed five responses to the town’s request for proposals process for this project. Garmong was selected as the committee’s recommendation to the council. The redevelopment commission has approved Garmong as well. The Easton Grey project is a planned mixed-use housing development that will be built in the western section of Avon. There will be a river district that will serve as a gathering center with shopping, retails establishments, and a new civic center. Garmong has projected that construction on the civic center will begin in the second quarter of 2024 and be completed in the third quarter of 2025.
What happened: A five-year agreement between the Avon Police Department and Axon Enterprises was approved for the purchase of new tasers at a cost of $186,378. The cost will be paid in a five-year purchase plan that also includes a warranty and technical support associated with the new devices.
What this means: This agreement with Axon Enterprises (formerly known as Taser International) is for the purchase of 45 new taser devices, identified as the Taser 10 that is considered a game changer within the industry. These newer devices are less lethal and have up-to-date technology that improves accuracy. The new platform also provides more use information following the deployment of the tasers. Three staff members from the police department have attended training on these new devices and are prepared to begin training within the department. This is the first complete department taser upgrade since 2007.
What happened: A request from Lennar Homes to rezone approximately 11 acres near N. 900 E. and Prairie Trail (next to Costco) from R2 (low density residential) to R4 (most often for apartment complexes and/or townhomes) was presented to the council. This was only an introduction.
What this means: Lennar came before the council last year with a different proposal for the building of 109 townhomes on this property. That proposal did not come to fruition. This proposal reduces the number to 80 townhomes on that property. The density then would go from about ten townhomes per acre to about seven per acre. Lennar also added a common park and playground area to their proposal. This introduction is only the beginning of the approval process.
