- Hello, and welcome to Cats Week. I'm Annalise Poorman. The Monroe County Realtors Stormwater Seminar was held on July 10th. Program coordinator for the City of Bloomington, Liz Carter, started the seminar by explaining the purpose of the event. She described how they would be discussing stormwater and how it affects residents and neighborhoods. Carter then outlined how the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, and the town of Ellitsville are responding to recent legislation in the State House regarding stormwater.
- So the purpose of this event is to empower realtors to better inform potential homeowners, enabling them to make sound decisions regarding property purchases and subsequent stormwater management responsibilities. Overall, we're talking about stormwater and how it affects our residents and our neighborhoods and the role that you all as realtors can have connecting those folks with either government or other resources to manage stormwater as best they can.
- One other item we did want to address, we are aware that there has been legislation in the state house that affects stormwater and we do have a statement on that. So the city of Bloomington, Monroe County government and the town of Ellesville are aware that there's been recent legislation coming out of the state house regarding stormwater regulation.
- at the direction of IDEM, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Each municipality is working with their respective legal teams to ensure local ordinances are revised to be in compliance with this legislation. And while we're making every effort to be in compliance with state law, changing local law does take time. When our ordinance
- Ordinances have been revised. We will reach out to local stakeholders to hold outreach events so that these changes can be discussed. So the State House did make some changes to stormwater regulation. It was signed into law in May, so only a couple of months ago. And since then, each municipality has had to work with their legal teams on their own to figure out what that means for their ordinances and how to revise them. During the meeting, Bloomington utilities engineer Kayden Swanson gave a presentation on what stormwater is and why it's
- important to address. He explained how storms are becoming more severe and frequent and emphasized the damage that can occur if stormwater is not properly managed. Liz Carter followed Swanson by discussing the public and private responsibilities of stormwater infrastructure and how to determine where responsibility lies.
- Let's say you found a ditch and you're trying to figure out whose ditch is this? So there's quite a few places that you could look. You could, I'll just walk you through my process. When I get a call that says this isn't working, can you come look? First, we will probably go to Beacon, which used to be Elevate, or our own internal GIS to look at properties. Is this on private property? Is it on public property?
- Apparently also the Monroe County government is ahead of the city of Bloomington. They have a public facing map that covers all the storm infrastructure in their jurisdiction and will tell you if you click on a ditch upon an inlet, is this a governmental owned piece of infrastructure or is it private? We have an internal one that has not yet been made public, maybe one day for the city. You can also look at recorded documents.
- at the courthouse, deeds, plat, surveys, kind of everything Brian has talked about. And then there's also operation and maintenance manuals that could be recorded with your deed or plat. I will talk about those in a moment. And then finally, if you have done all this research on your own and you can't figure out whose ditch this is, you can call either county government, city government, or town of Ellitsville government, who is represented today as well, and you can just ask us. And hopefully we can find out.
- Following the presentations, the seminar moved on to a panel discussion. One citizen asked about stormwater rates and how those rates are assessed. Carter explained the city's rates and how they are calculated. The city of Bloomington's stormwater rate
- For residential properties is a set fee, regardless of size of residential properties. When we get into commercial properties, multifamily properties, etc. It is calculated based on the impervious surface. So the surfaces that are that do not absorb water.
- buildings, asphalt, all that kind of stuff. It's calculated based on those impervious surfaces. And that's set when anytime something new is built, we calculate that out based off the plans and that's what their rate is. So for commercial, multifamily, industrial, any use that isn't single family, it is based on impervious surface. I will also say the city's stormwater rates have not changed in a very long time. Kelsey, when did you come in, 2019?
- So the last time our rates changed were 2019, there's a strong possibility we'll have a new rate case in the next couple of years to change how we assess those rates because obviously it's not perfect. Carter then addressed a question about regional detention plans.
- Yes, that is something that we're working on. We have a couple smaller projects that should be coming forward here soon. We have a little bit of regional detention being built in the Waterman neighborhood. It's not going to be very large because what we're constrained with within the city, like within city limits, is property. Like we don't have a whole lot of opportunities to build regional detention because obviously if we're
- trying to capture water on a regional level, we're talking a large volume. Kaiden is working with the Parks Department right now to build something in the Winslow Sports Complex, because those neighborhoods over there have some drainage issues. We are looking, yeah, we're always looking at opportunities for regional detention. The big barriers for us is cost of land is extremely expensive, which is why where we can, we try to partner with the Parks Department and say, hey, you've already got all this land. In a lot of cases, it's in flood plain, switch yard park,
- Goat Farm, now Rogers Family Park. So they tend to get park properties because they're in areas with drainage issues because no one can build there, right? So we are trying to partner with parks where we can. We are looking at opportunities throughout the city as we can, but it really just comes down to availability of land, expensive land. But it is something that is an ongoing mission for our
- for our stormwater program. Other experts at the seminar explained that anyone can contact MS4 staff members and ask them directly about an area's history of drainage issues or other stormwater related concerns.
- The Monroe County commissioners met on July 10th. During the meeting, the Department of Health reported that they are currently monitoring a new variant of COVID-19 that has started to surface. The variant known as XFG or Stratus is known to generate symptoms that tend to be mild to moderate. Lori Kelly reminded everyone of the availability of free COVID tests as well as vaccines through the county's health department. Good morning commissioners.
- As of June 28th, COVID wastewater concentrations are very low, according to the CDC. We are monitoring a new COVID variant known as XFG. This could also be referred to as Stratus. So one of the most common symptoms includes scratchy or raspy voice. It does not appear to cause more severe illness and symptoms tend to be mild to moderate.
- We do still have free COVID tests available. Individuals can walk in Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to receive those tests. And our public health clinic has vaccines available for all ages. You can call 812-353-3244 for an appointment.
- during a proposal for a contract with B&L IT Services for the maintenance and testing of election services and hardware, Commissioner Lee Jones had a concern over the use of subcontractors. Jones noted that subcontractors hired by B&L IT Services to not undergo background checks and have shown an unwillingness to have their records looked up.
- She stated that she had concerns that they were left alone with election equipment with no oversight. BNL IT co-owner Bob White stepped in over a call to reassure the commissioners. First, the understanding is none of the subcontractors have access to the equipment alone at the same time. The only people that have access to the equipment are myself and Kylie and the clerk's office.
- None of the, some contractors come in to work unless I am present. And typically it is in a group. We typically work after hours or when there's more room for us to do that because our equipment room's a little crowded. So nobody is there by themselves. The other thing is part of the service that we get from HART is they do the programming on the equipment.
- We're just installing the program that they write. It's all encrypted, protected. We do not have the code. We're not able to see that information. So that's not. It really doesn't come into play. It would be nearly impossible. And I don't have the ability to alter the election, the ballots, and that kind of thing. So that's impossible to do also.
- As far as background check, my thinking on that was that we don't do a background check on our poll workers who have a lot more opportunity to influence a vote in some way as they work directly with the voters. I had submitted to Molly that I'd be more than happy to do a background check as the owner of the company. That doesn't bother me one bit. And I'm sure that if
- They were absolutely a deal breaker that we could probably do background checks on our people and they wouldn't have a problem with it. Despite reassurances, it took an amendment to the agreement requiring background checks for subcontractors to satisfy the commissioners. Commissioner Julie Thomas outlined why they want to take precautions. Yeah, I think it's it's just because this is about the election and election security.
- and doing everything we can to assure the public that their vote will count when the time comes and that there can be no question, right? We don't want this coming back in May of next year, June of next year, fall of 2026. And somebody goes, oh, I don't think that election, because now it's been raised, right? This issue has been raised.
- that somebody will come back and say, I think these machines were tampered with, or I think this happened. So at this point, it's now in the public domain that you don't want to have your subcontractors. They're not your employees. If they were your employees, I think I would feel differently about it. But subcontractors are subcontractors. And they come and go. And that's the beauty of a subcontractor as a business owner.
- As county government, I worry that the public will perceive this as a potential gap in election security. And I implore you to please reconsider this because we can get this added to the contract and do an approval today if you're willing.
- you know, with that modification, but I, I just don't see how I can support this. Um, cause I would feel terrible if something happened and I said, well, we got assurances that it's okay, or I don't want to go to the expense. The amended proposal for the contract passed unanimously. The Monroe County commissioners will meet again on July 17th.
- The Richland Bean Blossom School Board met on July 8th and discussed a preliminary determination meeting surrounding a proposed school project. Superintendent Dr. Jerry Sanders explained the intention of the project. The project will serve to provide a better educational opportunity for Edgewood students across the campus by providing elements of effective and positive educational environment which includes
- Students and staff must feel safe. Students and staff must feel positive about their learning environment.
- Students and staff must or students must be actively engaged. The proposed project includes various additions, repairs and renovations to Edgewood High School, including a remodeled roof, construction of additional classrooms and repairs to the parking lot and tennis courts. Edgewood Junior High Primary and Intermediate School would receive similar upgrades during the project.
- An underwriter from Stiefel Investment Banking Company presented a potential payment plan for the project, sharing the expected burden that it would have on local taxpayers.
- You know, more than likely with a project this big, you're probably going to do it in multiple issues. You know, and that does help some of this picture as we move forward. And the plan is, as of right now, to keep your tax rate or your tax levy flat throughout the project. So then that would not be an increase to the tax. The Richland Bean Blossom School Board will meet again in August.
- At the Monroe County Council meeting on July 8th, council members heard a request from the Monroe County commissioners to sign a letter intended for the state legislature. The council discussed the proposal, but ultimately did not put it to a vote. Commissioner Julie Thomas explained that the draft letter asked state lawmakers to grant Monroe County an exemption from new tax laws in Senate Enrolled Act 1 that restrict funding for the new jail.
- we're looking toward. The point where we should be bonding for the justice center. We have run into Senate enrolled act one. And there are two limitations specifically in SEA one that impact our ability to bond. For the justice center project the first one
- 25% of our total lit to a bond and the second being the requirement that lit is reappropriated annually by the council which is something that the bond market is not going to feel great about and it puts a lot of question marks over the ability to bond if
- we're relying on a council year after year to create that. So what we've created here is a brief letter outlining the situation for Indiana state legislators and asking them to either allow us to exceed the 25% limit on lit pledge to a bond
- or the less popular, but also effective solution of a special purpose tax, which would get us to the same place we are now. County council members raised concerns about the hastiness of the process since the public had yet to have the chance to read the letter and give feedback. Additionally, it was noted that the next state legislative session does not start until January.
- Councilmember Marty Hawk explained that the possibility of a new tax made her wary of sending the letter at this time. I don't see the need for the rush to send to the state something that we really don't even know what we're talking about right now because we haven't presented this to the public. We're talking one of the options was we're going to
- stick a whole brand new tax on you because remember if it's a special purpose tax, it's going to be in addition to the tax that is being already approved at 1.2 for operations. You see what I'm saying?
- that and I think that was supposed to raise like 50 some million dollars. Boy, I'm just going from there. But the special purpose would be a whole brand new tax on top of that and that was never discussed with the public. What had been discussed with the public so far was that there was enough revenue coming in between the economic development tax and the jail tax that we could very closely
- be able to make the dollars amount and it would not be a new tax. Now a lot's happened since then. State legislation changed since then. And I had mentioned that I would like to see a financial accounting as to whether or not it is possible for us to not just pay for our obligations that we're paying for right now with the income tax, with the 1.2, but also cover this tax for the
- jail i haven't seen that maybe you all have discussed that but i i don't i want to know what we're doing before we ask the state to ask ask help us and then we have to say oh well we changed our mind we really can't even make it work that way uh and nor would i ever vote to say let's go ahead and send information out to the state
- considering a special purpose tax which is a huge brand new tax on locals and we haven't even told the locals we were considering it. So I think this is a bridge too far for me to cross right now. I mean I wanna see some financials and not just a half hour meeting with our long range planning people
- And I appreciate all that we're asked to do, but that is too much. We were given a lot of information at that last meeting, and it was just sort of try to come up with the right questions. Not sure we had the right questions. But we're a long way away from asking the state to help us one direction or the other, because I don't think that we know ourselves. We haven't told the public yet.
- what their options are for them to come and say do it or don't do it. So in addition to which I haven't heard any reduction in the square foot of the proposed building because we're not going to have as many courts. So one would think we'd save some money there. But there's just, we've got a long way to go. And I'm not prepared to say that I would put a brand new tax on taxpayers.
- Commissioner Thomas defended the speed of the process, saying that it's better for lawmakers to see the letter as early as possible so that they can review options. Doing this does not preclude us from coordinating with them. And if in the future we are signing a joint letter or something like that, that's fine too. Doesn't hurt. And it doesn't mean you can't do it. But the problem is if you
- postpone waiting for the ideal moment, the ideal moment will have passed. And this is about information and communication. And I don't think many legislators understand what we're up against, unless they represent a county that is similarly situated.
- The council then heard a request from the health department to appropriate more than $422,000 to move 15 positions to a separate fund in order to maintain services for tobacco prevention in the community. Health department director Lori Kelly gave background information on the request. So the request is to move these positions to 1159, our local county funding, due to legislative changes that have recently occurred that
- we can no longer use Health First Indiana funds for tobacco prevention and cessation, and that funds may only be used for Indiana residents who are citizens of the United States. Council Member Hawke expressed her concerns about the financial implications of locally funding the program when surrounding counties may choose not to. But what I'm seeing is that if the other counties follow the direction from the state, it says,
- this is how the money can be used and if the other counties say we're not going to put our grant dollars in jeopardy by not following what they're saying to the letter then will not some of as we've seen in other instances perhaps some of that population moving here to receive assistance and some fun I don't know those are just some questions I've had that
- because clearly from our packet, it makes it clear we want to work around, do a work around what the state has said. As I said to someone earlier today, it's like if I tell you here's X number of dollars and I want you to go buy a Chevy and they go buy a Ford instead, I might think that somebody didn't honor what I gave them the dollar for.
- I'm not saying they're right in what they have done. I'm just saying, I hope we're not putting dollars also in jeopardy. I don't know what the answer is. I'm sorry that you folks have to vote for it. I expect you will. I don't have the answers and so I won't. Despite concerns, the motion passed six to one.
- Finally, during council member reports, Jennifer Crossley commented on the lack of local press coverage, stating that coverage can be improved if news organizations focus less on government meetings and more on local tragedies, noting the recent loss of a 14-year-old in the community. There is a life that was lost, a young soul that was lost, and I don't really want to speak too much of it, but I just saw from some of the social media posts that it
- doesn't seem that it might be due to neglect. Again, I don't know and I don't really want to speculate because I don't have all the information. But it also goes to show that sometimes the coverage that we have is not good.
- I know that we have you know Mr Askins here that does a lot with what he can with the small team that he has and we definitely appreciate his footage. But to those that are on teams that you know are
- of other news organizations here in town instead of sometimes maybe griping on some of the things that we kind of bicker about in the county and city, you know, maybe a few weeks later after that happened. I really hope that we can shine a light on this particular incident that happened because this is a child and it would be really nice to figure out
- what else has happened. So again, I really hope that we can have better coverage. And I look to those that are on those that can do that. The next meeting of the Monroe County Council is scheduled for July 22nd. And that is all for Cats Week. Thank you for joining us. For Cats and WFHB, I'm Annalise Poorman.