[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 11 (Friday, January 17, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E56]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO HAMILTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER STEVEN DILLINGER

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                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 17, 2020

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
career and achievements of Hamilton County Commissioner Steven 
Dillinger. A longtime dedicated public servant, Steve has had a 
significant impact on the City of Noblesville and entirety of Hamilton 
County, and Central Indiana. Having served as a Hamilton County 
Commissioner for over 30 years, he has amassed a record of service to 
his county that will have a positive impact for decades to come.
  A graduate of Noblesville High School, where he was a star athlete in 
football, basketball, baseball, and track for the Millers, Steve has 
continued to promote the lessons of teamwork, planning, and preparation 
that athletics helped instill in him at a young age. In his roles as 
the President of the Executive Board of the Noblesville Elementary 
Football League since 1990, and former longtime Coach of the 
Noblesville Grinders football team, Steve helped shape many generations 
of Hamilton County youth through participation in football.
  Steve has been tuned in to the needs of his fellow citizens for many 
decades. His first elected office was a seat on the Noblesville City 
Council from 1980 to 1984. He subsequently served on the Noblesville 
Plan Commission in 1981. Steve is also an exemplary leader in the 
Hamilton County Republican Party, serving as a Precinct Committeeman 
from 1986 to the present.
  In 1985, Steve was elected to the Hamilton County Council, serving as 
the governing body's President in 1988. After his time on the Hamilton 
County Council, Steve was elected to a seat as one of three Hamilton 
County Commissioners in 1989, representing the cities of Fishers and 
Noblesville as well as both Delaware and Noblesville Townships. Having 
found a true passion and adeptness for serving the constituents of 
Hamilton County, Steve has been continually victorious in both primary 
and general elections for one of the Hamilton County Commissioner seats 
for over thirty years. During nine of his thirty years, he has served 
as the President of the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners.
  Throughout his time as a Commissioner, Hamilton County has undergone 
vast changes. The population has exploded over 400 percent, from 82,000 
citizens in the 1980's to a population of over 300,000 citizens in 
2020. Steve has been an integral part of the planning of the county, 
having been involved in county-wide zoning updates that paved the way 
for massive growth within Hamilton County. Along with fellow Hamilton 
County leaders, Steve was a vital part of county initiatives that 
helped to foster increased development on 146th Street and 236th 
Street, transforming them into the major thoroughfares they are today. 
Steve was also deeply involved in the development and funding for the 
State Road 37 Thoroughfare Plan, and the effort to pave over 800 miles 
of roads in Hamilton County.
  During his time of service, the Hamilton County Board of 
Commissioners has overseen the construction of many new buildings for 
various county services including the Hamilton County Judicial & 
Government Center, the Hamilton County Highway Department, the Hamilton 
County Corrections Facility, the Hamilton County Health Department, and 
the new Humane Society facility. Steve was also involved in the major 
additions that have been made to the county-owned Riverview Health 
Hospital, including the new campus in Westfield.
  Throughout his tenure, Steve has also been involved in many of the 
county's quality of life initiatives including the effort to locate an 
Ivy Tech Community College Campus in Noblesville, as well as adding 
1,000 acres of land to the Hamilton County Parks. Steve's service to 
the county includes service on the Hamilton County Plan Commission, the 
Hamilton County Drainage Board, the Hamilton County Board of Finance, 
and the Hamilton County Solid Waste Board. Noting his many years of 
service to community, Steve was chosen in 2000 to be the Hamilton 
County appointee to the Indianapolis Airport Authority Board. During 
his time on the board, a new national award-winning Indianapolis 
International Airport was built, and has been voted the Best Airport in 
North America year after year.
  With a public service career that has stretched over four decades, 
during a time of great progress for Hamilton County, it's no surprise 
that Steve was honored by the Indiana Association of County 
Commissioners as the Outstanding County Commissioner of 2019. In 
addition to this honor Steve has on five occasions been honored by the 
Indiana Association of Counties with their Outstanding County 
Achievement Award. Three times he received the organization's 
Government Cooperation Achievement Award. As the longest current 
serving County Commissioner in the State of Indiana his track record of 
unparalleled service to the citizens of Hamilton County speaks for 
itself.
  During my time in Congress, I have had the pleasure of working with 
many capable and dedicated community leaders, however very few 
community leaders have given more of their time and talent to their 
communities than my friend Steve. His decades of leadership are a 
testament to his desire to create a better community for his fellow 
citizens. It is with great honor that I commend my friend on his 
amazing career and all the important work he has done and will continue 
to do on behalf of the citizens of Hamilton County.

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