Looking ahead to the new year, Greenwood and Bargersville mayors share plans for infrastructure, the economy and other developments
Compiled by Nancy Hammerstrom and Nicole Davis
Local city governments are coming out of the election year with optimism and promise for the new year and beginning of a new (and in one case, first,) term. Entering 2024, local Johnson County leaders share their goals and hopes for the coming year here, emphasizing excitement for important infrastructure projects and other plans for the future which will make their neighborhoods an even more inviting place to live. Here’s to a great new year!
Mark W. Myers
Mayor, Greenwood
Going into a new term as mayor, what will be some of your top priorities?
We are in the beginning stages of engineering the expansion of Smith Valley Road from State Road 135 to Emerson Avenue. This is an exciting and much-needed project that will take multiple years to complete. We are also working with an engineering company to look at widening Main Street from Five Points Road to approximately Airport Parkway. We will be coordinating with State Highway on improving traffic flow under I-65 and at Sheek Road.
The city was granted an Excess Tax Levy which will allow us to hire 12 additional public safety employees. We will be working quickly to get the application process going.
What do you feel was the biggest highlight to the city last year?
The completion of the downtown Main Street and Madison Avenue intersection along with the sidewalk widening in those areas has been very successful. It is great to see so many people using our trails system and to see our downtown businesses thriving.
What is the biggest challenge the city overcame in 2023? How did it do so?
The city applied for an excess tax levy in the fall of 2023. In Late December it was denied by the Department of Local Government Finance. I made a call and was able to get a meeting with the commissioner of that department. He made a special exception and met with my team the day before New Year’s Eve. He had his top staff attend and after explaining the need the city filed an addendum to the request and it was approved.
What projects are you most looking forward to this year? We started work on our new Sports Park at I-65 and Worthsville Road last year. This is a park with four baseball diamonds, four softball diamonds, a playground with splash pad and a soccer field. This should be finished in the spring and the fields will be ready for use in the fall.
Dan Cartwright
Town Manager, Bargersville
Going into this new year, what will be some of your top priorities?
Some of the top priorities for the upcoming year in Bargersville are continued residential growth throughout the town, commercial growth on the 135 corridor and at I-69, and the completion of the new Umbarger Plaza which is our new downtown event venue park.
What projects are you most looking forward to this year?
We’re looking forward to the completion of Umbarger Plaza and concentrated expansion of our Downtown District. Also, future growth in our Parks Department including events, more trails, and our new summer concert series.
What do you feel was the biggest highlight to the city last year?
The biggest highlight last year was the creation of our new Parks Department, the opening of our new Kephart Park, and updates to our infrastructure including our streets, water, sewers, and storm drainage.
What is the biggest challenge the town overcame in 2023? How did it do so?
The biggest challenge last year was being selective on development projects. The Town is growing fast and as we grow, we always consider how a project will benefit our citizens, our community, and the future of Bargersville.
