Ruth Lilly Dies

Ruth Lilly, 94, a philanthropist who was the last surviving great-grandchild of pharmaceutical magnate Eli Lilly, died yesterday in Indianapolis.

The New York Times has the story here.

Sewer Payments Returned

From a press release submitted by Lindsae Gogulski of International Society of Primerus Law Firms in Grand Rapids, Mich.:

The outlook for the New Year just got a little brighter for 31 families in the Northern Estates subdivision located on the northwest side of Indianapolis. In the case of City of Indianapolis v. Christine Armour, decided on December 18, the Indiana Court of Appeals found that, due to a violation of the U.S. Constitution, the City of Indianapolis is required to pay back $8,968 to each of 30 households for a sewer assessment that they paid in 2005. An additional household will receive about half as much as a result of this decision. The City has also been ordered to pay interest and attorney’s fees to each of the homeowners.

In 2004, the City assessed each property owner $9,278 per parcel for a sanitary sewer project in the subdivision. The following year, the Indianapolis Board of Public Works decided to change the way it financed sewer projects and in doing so, adopted a policy which forgave 90% or more of the sewer assessments to the residents of Northern Estates who had elected to pay in installments over many years. However, the Board denied any forgiveness to those homeowners who had paid in one lump sum. As a result, the lump sum payers were out of pocket the full amount of $9,278 while many of their neighbors paid only $309 for exactly the same City service. In its opinion, the Court of Appeals concluded that this different treatment of similarly situated homeowners violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The Court of Appeals found that the City did not have an adequate reason to justify its different treatment of lump sum and installment payers. The court affirmed an order entered in December 2008 by Judge John Hanley of the Marion Superior Court requiring the City to equalize the burden by refunding to the lump sum payers the same amount that had been forgiven from the installment payers.

The homeowners were represented by Ron Waicukauski and Davy Eaglesfield of the firm Price Waicukauski & Riley, LLC.

IUPUI Commencement Set

Commencement ceremonies will be held at Indiana University-Purdue University 8 and 9 May 2010. For more details, email.

Countdown to Noon at The Children’s Museum

Now, this is the way to do it! Celebrate the New Year while you're still awake!

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 North Meridian Street, hosts a "Countdown to Noon" on New Year’s Eve, giving children and families an opportunity to participate in the excitement of the countdown to the New Year together. Activities in the museum's Sunburst Atrium from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday (31 December) include face painting, noisemakers, music and dancing. At noon, confetti cannons will herald the "Noon Year" and everybody'll join in the singing of "Auld Lang Syne", that most traditional of New Year's tunes.

As every Indy resident knows (or should know!), the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. Wow!

Why Ballard's Gonna Lose

"If anyone wonders why I and other Republicans are disgusted with Mayor Greg Ballard's performance in office, one need only look at the tax increases he pushed in 2008," writes Indy blogger Paul K. Ogden.

When even his fellow Republicans are jumping ship, what chance does the "accidental mayor" have in the next election? Sayonara!

New Use for Defunct YMCA Property

The Center Township Advisory Board has picked Buckingham Companies to redevelop a 2-acre property the township owns at 860 West 10th Street near the Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis campus, reports Cory Schouten of Indianapolis Business Journal in "Property Lines".

The locally based developer plans to tear down the former YMCA branch and replace it with a $20.5-million mixed-use project featuring retail space, a fitness center and 210 apartment units.

Ponzi Probe Ensnares Indiana Businessman

That's the headline on a page one story in the "Money & Investing" section of The Wall Street Journal today. "The federal investigation into Timothy S. Durham, who is also known for is extensive car collection and 30,000-square-foot mansion, is roiling Indiana politics, where Mr. Durham was a big contributor to Republican politicians, including Gov. Mitch Daniels," reporter David Kesmodel writes.

(And, just for chuckles, note that Durham was born in and grew up in Seymour, Ind. -- hometown of Johnny "Cougar" Mellencamp.)