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Indianapolis Star
06-05-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Carmel City Council votes for Christkindlmarkt investigation, at odds with mayor
Carmel City Council votes for Christkindlmarkt investigation, at odds with mayor Show Caption Hide Caption See inside the 2024 Carmel Christkindlmarkt and try the food with us The award-winning Christmas market in Carmel is underway again! See inside this year's version with IndyStar's Madyson Crane. The Carmel City Council unanimously voted to investigate actions surrounding the city's iconic Christkindlmarkt Monday evening — a sign the council is at odds with Mayor Sue Finkam and her oversight of the market. The council also introduced a proposal that would grant it more influence over Finkam's Christkindlmarkt board appointees. The actions came less than a week after the founding CEO of the market resigned and said she was pushed out by the organization's board of directors, who were appointed by Finkam. The city council will investigate "the actions taken by representatives, contractors and the Carmel Christkindlmarkt Inc. Board of Directors as it relates to the Carmel Christkindlmarkt," but it also has the power to look into any of Finkam's Chriskindlmarkt decisions. The investigation was introduced as verbal motion from councilor Jeff Worrell then was approved by an 8-0 vote. Councilor Rich Taylor was not at the meeting Monday. All members of the council will be on the investigative committee. 'Sunlight is the best disinfectant,' said City Council President Adam Aasen. 'If we want to make this go away and we want to stop talking about this, we need to have tough conversations and have them in public. I have a lot of questions.' Drama surrounding the Carmel Christkindlmarkt began last fall when, under Finkam's leadership, the city dismissed two former board members, and then-board Chair Susan McDermott resigned shortly after. On the same day McDermott resigned, four new board members, who were appointed by Finkam, approved a new operating agreement between Carmel Christkindlmarkt Inc. and the city. More recently, city officials drilled into the finances and operations of the market at an Affiliate Review Committee meeting. The committee was created by a City Council ordinance last year and tasked with reviewing finances and operations of the city's nonprofit affiliates. There was an emphasis on the staffing levels of the market and compensation for Christkindlmarkt employees during the committee's April 16 meeting. Market employees and some city councilors have complained that the Affiliate Review Committee meetings have been one sided, with all of the information presented coming from the city's perspective. Volunteers and employees of the market have also expressed fear that operational changes could impact the market's quality going forward. In defense, Finkam said the information presented has aligned with the ordinance that established the committee in the first place. And since the fall, the mayor has said she is trying to protect taxpayer dollars, while pushing for the market to rely less on the city for its operational costs. It's not yet clear how the City Council investigation will run or what specific information will be sought after, but councilors seemed to be on the same page that Councilor Ryan Locke should run it. Previous coverage: Carmel Christkindlmarkt CEO 'excluded from key decisions,' resignation letter says Councilor Tony Green said there needed to be assurance that politics would not play a role in the investigation. He voted in favor once learning the investigative committee will include all members of the council. Throughout the meeting, the mayor and some city councilors pointed out that there were more pressing issues city officials could be focusing on, instead of the operations of the Christmas market. 'We shouldn't be spending time on this, but it's our job,' said Worrell. Locke, who chairs the Affiliate Review Committee and is expected to head the City Council investigation, pointed to the transition of leaders as a culprit behind the drama. For nearly 30 years, Carmel was led by former Mayor Jim Brainard and the Christkindlmarkt began in 2017, during his time in office. Finkam, a former city councilor, took over the mayor's office at the start of 2024. 'That concept of transition is something that, as a city, we have not had to grapple with before,' Locke said. 'We're grappling with it clearly now, in open session.' Mayor, some city councilors not on the same page Before city councilors voted in favor of the investigation, Finkam pitched a new idea for structuring the city's nonprofit affiliate organizations, including the Carmel Christkindlmarkt. 'This current system and processes we inherited are not working, and our taxpayers deserve our very best efforts to collectively improve them,' Finkam said. The mayor proposed the creation of a new nonprofit, with co-equal governance between her office and the City Council. The new nonprofit would be called Experience Carmel and manage all the city's public spaces and events, with shared staff, Finkam said. 'The work associated with running these events and supporting these philanthropic efforts is a distraction from the truly important work that our community is facing,' the mayor said. But Finkam's idea did not gain much traction from city councilors, at least publicly at Monday's meeting. Worrell said he did not hear about the idea ahead of the meeting, while Aasen said he was only informed a few hours before. At Monday's meeting, Aasen, Worrell and several other city councilors introduced their own proposal to change the operations of nonprofit organizations receiving support from the city. More coverage: Carmel committee probes Christkindlmarkt salaries, pushes for less reliance on city dollars Their ordinance would impact any nonprofit corporation that receives at least $25,000 of support from the city, not appropriated by the City Council through the annual budget process. This would include the Christkindlmarkt. The ordinance would require at least one member of the organization's governing body be appointed by the City Council. The remaining members of the governing bodies would have to be approved by the City Council under the proposed ordinance, as opposed to just being appointed by the mayor. Samantha Karn, corporation counsel for City of Carmel, said she had not fully reviewed the ordinance, but she believes it could be an overreach of the City Council's authority. The ordinance will be discussed further in the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee, which is expected to meet May 13. Finkam led her own investigation while on City Council Carmel city councilors have formally investigated city matters before. In 2020, councilors launched a formal investigation to review cost overruns of the city's Hotel Carmichael. The review was led by the City Council finance committee, which at the time was chaired by Finkam. Maria Adele Rosenfeld, the former CEO and president of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt, who resigned last week, said she was grateful for the discussion surrounding the market at Monday's meeting. 'I'm hopeful that this investigation will provide an opportunity for many important questions to be answered and for meaningful changes to be implemented,' Rosenfeld said in a statement to IndyStar. Contact Jake Allen at Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @Jake_Allen19.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NWS confirms that an EF1 tornado hit Carmel and an EF2 tornado hit Hendricks county
After a night of destructive winds tearing through parts of Hamilton and Hendricks County, the National Weather Service of Indianapolis confirmed Thursday afternoon that both areas had been hit by tornadoes. The National Weather Service of Indianapolis survey teams confirmed that Carmel had been hit with an EF1 tornado, which could clock between 86 to 110 mph, while the northeast end of Hendricks County was hit by an EF2 tornado, which could clock between 111 to 135 mph. Carmel city leaders confirmed at their Thursday afternoon council meeting that no one had been injured during the storm. This falls in line with information that was reported last night, the NWS radars indicated that a tornado was forming shortly after 9:30 p.m. in Zionsville, which was moving northeast at 65 mph. The city of Carmel alerted residents on social media that "a tornado is on the ground in the area. Take shelter immediately." After the tornado tore through the city, photos and videos began to emerge of the damage that occurred throughout the city. The powerful storm appeared to hit a Midtown industrial corridor just west of the Monon Trail particularly hard in Carmel, according to information released by the city. Several businesses along Third Avenue SW and Carmel Drive had torn-up roofs and shattered glass across parking lots. Earlier in the night, the Hendricks County tornado severely damaged a warehouse in Brownsburg. The sheared-off wall and partially collapsed roof of the Sur La Table warehouse was one of the most striking images from Wednesday night's storm damage. In response to the damage, Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam declared a local state of emergency Thursday at 1 p.m. as the Hamilton County city reckons with ongoing storm damage and recovery operations. The Carmel City Council also voted in an emergency meeting to allocate up to $250,000 from the city's general fund to pay for damage and cleanup in addition to up to $50,000 to be directed to a parks fund. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun also announced he would activate the Indiana National Guard to help residents impacted by the severe weather. 'Hoosier Guardsmen always answer the call to serve our state and our nation,' Braun said in the press release. 'In times like these, I'm immensely grateful for the soldiers who are on the ground ensuring Hoosier safety.' The full extent of the damage in Carmel and across the state has not been determined yet. The Governor's Office team is still investigating the matter and will update the public as it learns more. Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@ follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NWS confirms an EF1 tornado hit Carmel in last night's storm
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NWS confirms that an EF1 tornado hit Carmel and an EF2 tornado hit Hendricks county
After a night of destructive winds tearing through parts of Hamilton and Hendricks County, the National Weather Service of Indianapolis confirmed Thursday afternoon that both areas had been hit by tornadoes. The National Weather Service of Indianapolis survey teams confirmed that Carmel had been hit with an EF1 tornado, which could clock between 86 to 110 mph, while the northeast end of Hendricks County was hit by an EF2 tornado, which could clock between 111 to 135 mph. Carmel city leaders confirmed at their Thursday afternoon council meeting that no one had been injured during the storm. This falls in line with information that was reported last night, the NWS radars indicated that a tornado was forming shortly after 9:30 p.m. in Zionsville, which was moving northeast at 65 mph. The city of Carmel alerted residents on social media that "a tornado is on the ground in the area. Take shelter immediately." After the tornado tore through the city, photos and videos began to emerge of the damage that occurred throughout the city. The powerful storm appeared to hit a Midtown industrial corridor just west of the Monon Trail particularly hard in Carmel, according to information released by the city. Several businesses along Third Avenue SW and Carmel Drive had torn-up roofs and shattered glass across parking lots. Earlier in the night, the Hendricks County tornado severely damaged a warehouse in Brownsburg. The sheared-off wall and partially collapsed roof of the Sur La Table warehouse was one of the most striking images from Wednesday night's storm damage. In response to the damage, Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam declared a local state of emergency Thursday at 1 p.m. as the Hamilton County city reckons with ongoing storm damage and recovery operations. The Carmel City Council also voted in an emergency meeting to allocate up to $250,000 from the city's general fund to pay for damage and cleanup in addition to up to $50,000 to be directed to a parks fund. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun also announced he would activate the Indiana National Guard to help residents impacted by the severe weather. 'Hoosier Guardsmen always answer the call to serve our state and our nation,' Braun said in the press release. 'In times like these, I'm immensely grateful for the soldiers who are on the ground ensuring Hoosier safety.' The full extent of the damage in Carmel and across the state has not been determined yet. The Governor's Office team is still investigating the matter and will update the public as it learns more. Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@ follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NWS confirms an EF1 tornado hit Carmel in last night's storm
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
'A harsh reality': Carmel cleans up severe damage after the strongest storm many have seen
CARMEL — For nearly 50 years, Ritron, a Carmel manufacturing company, has operated without drawing too much attention, despite the business making common devices Hoosiers use every day, such as two-way radios. But on Thursday morning, the business in Midtown on Carmel Drive was turning heads after extreme winds and a tornado blew through the area, dismantling the front of the warehouse. The front wall was completely ripped off with shattered glass spread all over the parking lot, and two letters missing from the sign on the building. Workers could be seen collecting personal items and family photos from the wreckage. Owner Steve Rice said he was figuratively "running on steroids" as he drove to Ritron to see the possible damage late Wednesday night. "Unless you've been through it, you think 'Oh, that won't affect me. It's just a thing I observe," Rice said. "It's a harsh reality." The National Weather Service said Carmel sustained EF1 tornado damage, meaning speeds ranged from 86 to 110 miles per hour. The Hamilton County storm was one of as many as four suspected tornadoes that ripped through Central Indiana late Wednesday night, leaving various degrees of destruction in their path. At least one person died in Hendricks County during the storms. Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam declared a state of emergency for the city early Thursday afternoon, allowing public safety departments to operate at full force to respond to neighbors' needs. The Carmel City Council also voted in an emergency meeting to allocate up to $250,000 from the city's general fund to pay for damage and cleanup, in addition to up to $50,000 to be directed to a parks fund. More: See path of unconfirmed tornado that tore through Carmel, Hamilton County When the morning sun broke in Midtown Carmel Thursday, a string of business owners showed up to work to find ripped-off roofs and overturned trees. At one gym, equipment had flown nearly 50 feet into the adjacent Monon Trail. Nearby, drywall of a warehouse hung in the trees. Dozens of neighbors roamed the streets early Thursday morning, snapping pictures of the visible damage. The area of severe damage appeared to be relatively narrow and at times random along Third Ave SW between Carmel and Gradle Drive. Roads a block away were clear of debris and damage. There are no known deaths, and one minor injury related to the storms in Carmel. At Ozwell Fitness, a glass dome had been blown out, with equipment flying into the nearby ditch and Monon Trail overnight. Manager Grace Huber arrived at 5:45 a.m. to see the damage with her own eyes. "I was checking the weather off and on, and once the security cameras went out, I was like, I have to get there before we open just to assess," Huber said. "The wind just came and blew everything out." While the gym was closed, members showed up early Thursday morning to help clean up instead of work out. Several building inspectors and insurance representatives were out in the area inspecting damage. Most businesses along the street did not have power. Rebecca Harden clutched a cup of coffee as she walked through the parking lot next to Ozwell, dodging rogue tree branches and a downed light pole. Harden said she works at a construction company across the street and came in this morning to make sure the building was still standing. "Thank God we even have an office to go back to," she said, looking at the banged-up structures all around her. Hendricks County: Trees toppled, warehouses wrecked as Brownsburg assesses tornado damage Mandy Dickey of Anderson and Bonnie Meredith of Middletown pulled over to the side of the road to stop and take a picture of the damage at the Carmel Old Town Antique Mall, where the south end of the building was gone. The building's insulation hung in trees nearby. The sisters drove to work like normal Thursday. On their commute, they didn't see too much out of the ordinary besides the occasional tree down on the side of the road, until they turned the corner and saw the antique shop and its surrounding businesses. "We've never seen anything like this," Dickey said. Though it's unclear how much the damage will cost his business, Ritron owner Rice was grateful that the storm hit overnight, and no one was in the building at the time. He said he would "chalk it up to God's favor." Rice believes the tornado path on the north side went directly over the building based on visible damage and news reports. Early reports from Rice's structural engineers were a relief. The offices got hit the hardest, and expensive circuit equipment and ready-to-go products were safe from water damage. On Thursday morning, the biggest thing on his mind was the number of people who showed up before the sun rose to survey the damage. "I'm really just grateful for these relationships you build up over the years that are little jobs and repairs and then you have something like this, and that trusted vendor is here at 8 in the morning," Rice said, growing emotional. "I don't want to take them for granted." Residents whose homes received structural damage from the storm should report it to the Street Department, and Carmel City Building Inspectors will schedule an assessment, city officials said. To contact the Street Department, email street@ or call 317-733-2001 (This story was updated to add new information.) Contact IndyStar reporter Alysa Guffey at amguffey@ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Carmel residents face aftermath of unconfirmed tornado on north side
