- Welcome to Cats Week. I'm Annalise Poorman. The Bloomington City Council met on October 22nd. Council
- members heard three ordinances to set salaries for city employees in 2026. Deputy City Clerk Susan Stowell
- spoke about the ordinance setting the salaries for the police and fire departments. Ordinance 2025-38
- An ordinance fixing the salaries of officers and employees of the police and fire departments for the
- city of Bloomington, Indiana for the year 2026. Synopsis, this ordinance sets the minimum and maximum
- salary rates for all sworn fire and police personnel for the year 2026 in accordance with council approved
- collective bargaining agreements.
- The council approved the salaries for police and fire by unanimous vote. Next, City Clerk Nicole Bolden
- presented the ordinance for employees of the clerk's office, stating there was a 2.7% cost of living
- adjustment. So I'm Nicole Bolden, I'm the Bloomington City Clerk, and I am here to talk to you about
- the 2026 salaries for the clerk staff.
- There are no major changes to the number of clerk staff that are in the office So you'll still see the
- chief deputy and three other deputies along with funding for our interns We have incorporated the two
- point seven percent cola increase that all civil city staff are going to be receiving in 2026 And I
- am open to any questions that you may have about the clerk staff clerk office Domestic violence awareness month
- which we're all wearing purple and I thank you all for doing that as well. Piedmont Smith said she'd
- like to revisit the living wage ordinance arguing that $16.66 per hour is not a livable wage in Bloomington.
- I just want to express my interest in revisiting our living wage ordinance for the City of Bloomington
- because we do have some part-time and temporary positions that can be paid $16.66 an hour as of January 1st which
- is below the actual livable wage in Bloomington. The MIT has a living wage calculator, and they say
- the living wage for a single adult without children is $20.96 for Monroe County, Indiana. So I would
- like to revisit our ordinance. I know that we're coming into some lean times as far as our budget, but
- I think it's
- a top priority of mine to take care of our employees. So this is something I'll try to look into and
- work with the administration on before next year. Thank you. The council approved the ordinance unanimously.
- The next Bloomington City Council meeting will take place on November 5th.
- The Monroe County Commissioners met on October 23rd. The meeting began with Commissioner Julie Thomas
- declaring November 2025 as Youth Hope Month in Monroe County. Whereas the future well-being of our nation
- is dependent on a value we place on our young people and the prevalence of runaway and homelessness
- among youth is staggering with studies suggesting that every year 4.2 million people ages 13 to 25
- endure some form of homelessness. Runaway youth are often expelled from their home, have experienced
- trauma, struggle to meet basic needs, and are at an increased danger of falling into high-risk situations,
- including human traffic, and may be ineligible or unable to access adequate medical or mental health
- resources. Whereas the Youth Service Bureau of Monroe County is working to raise awareness, support
- and resources for young people in the community. Effective programs supporting runaway youth and assisting
- youth and their families in providing safe and stable homes succeed because of partnerships created
- among families, youth-based advocacy organizations, community-based human service agencies, law enforcement
- schools, faith-based organizations and businesses. If all of us work together, we can prevent the situations
- that compel youth
- run away from home. During new business, Assistant Director John Robertson presented a change order
- to the Reed and Sons Construction Karst Athletic Contract. Essentially this is a modification to the
- electrical plans that will ultimately serve as field number 12, which is in the northwest corner of
- the park, also why it's on contract number two. And to make a long story short,
- So I don't get too far into the weeds here. Some of the electrical components that are located at the
- north side are not suitable for Duke Energy to connect their service. So we have to move those components
- from the north end of the facility to the south end, which ultimately Duke will install two transformers
- and connect their service on the south end. So simple enough, just quite a bit of material and labor
- involved there, which is what we see in the cost.
- The board unanimously approved the change order. The next item up for consideration was the American
- Structure Point Incorporated Agreement for the Fullerton Pike FEMA floodplain. Director Nestor Dillon
- from the Planning Department presented to the commissioners. Basically what this contract helps us to
- do is to get the necessary data associated with the completion of Fullerton Pike. We need some hydrology
- modeling, which is not just
- typical as-builts of the bridge. So it went over the FEMA floodplain and we need better maps now that
- the bridge is in. That will help us in the future if people want to put in new structures surrounding
- the bridge to know whether they need flood insurance or move it or whether it can proceed. So we're
- working with the commissioner's office. Angie's been very helpful. So we're looking to have $44,000
- potentially under cumulative capital and then we've moved $6,000 just
- from our general fund, from our unused budget from this year to hopefully encumber and have for next
- year under this contract if approved by you and the council. Lastly, the board passed the Petra PUD
- outline plan amendment. Infrastructure planner Sean Smith presented the details regarding the plan amendment.
- And this would allow for up to 30,000 square feet of developed area and for the existing driveway and
- parking areas to remain paved.
- This came to us in the form of a proposed 1,688 square foot addition that is to be added to the existing
- facility. I'm told it will be an extension of their library. So just some background on this request.
- So the board of commissioners ordinance number 2001-30 condition number two,
- had stated that the total developed area for this development shall be limited to 15,000 square feet.
- For this request, the petitioner is seeking to increase that from 15,000 to 30,000, and that would allow
- them enough room for the expansion of their existing facility, but also room to grow in the future should
- the current property owners or a future property owner decide to go through with that addition.
- However, just for right now, the petitioners don't have any current plans to expand beyond this proposed
- addition. And just some background on the zoning. What the petitioner is proposing is for 30,000 square
- feet developed area. Whereas if it were. It's underlying zoning district, the forest residential 5,
- they could be allowed to have up to 55,000 square feet. So what the petitioner is, you know.
- Hoping to request here is that because they're requesting a less square footage limitation that. That
- might be approved and then condition number 3, which states that the driveway and parking areas shall
- be gravel. That the petitioners are seeking to just strike that condition entirely and we'll talk more
- about that as the presentation goes on.
- The next Monroe County Commissioner's meeting will be held October 30th. The Bloomington Board of Park
- Commissioners met on October 21st. At the meeting, Operations Coordinator Amy Leyenbach recommended
- the approval of a service agreement with AA Quick Pump for a seminary park port-a-lette. I am recommending
- that you approve the contract with AA Quick Pump to service
- The seminary portal at until the end of the year this unit itself has become increasingly hazardous
- to deal with and so we were looking for a new contractor that could daily service it and just stay on
- top of it. So A&A has stepped up. They're doing a great job and we look forward to having them continue
- to work on this. OK Amy.
- Daily servicing sounds like a lot to me. Is that that sounds atypical for portalettes? Yes, it is the
- issue with this unit is the things that are being put inside of it on a regular basis which are not
- what it's meant for so that is part of having to in order to just properly service it it needs to continually
- be Emptied out and they're pulling out all kinds of things that don't belong there. So that was a
- why it was becoming unmanageable. Now that we have seen daily servicing, it's staying a lot cleaner
- because they're able to stay on top of it before it gets really backed up. Park Commissioner Jim Whitlach
- offered an alternative idea during the discussion. So the $11,000, that's from now to the end of the
- year? Yes. So if we were to do this for the full year, we'd be talking about $45,000 to do it for a
- full year.
- Yes, and there has been some partnership with the office of the mayor involved in this they were the
- the requesting Entity to put this in place and they are finding funding to support this going forward
- Those are conversations that I have not been part of so I just know you know the Enough to put the contract
- together and what we're doing, but I know there are conversations happening about the funding
- So this should not be coming out of our general fund is my understanding, right? But it's coming out.
- It's all coming from the city Not maybe not from the Parks Department working with the office of the
- mayor for And I'm not I'm not this may be more of a comment than something you can answer Although maybe
- you can answer part of it and I'm not sure where I fall on whether we should have a porta potty there
- or not But I do
- And maybe this is incorrect and maybe you can help me recall. I recall that when we put this in, it
- was more of an experiment that would see what would happen. And it seems to me what's happened is why
- it was an experiment. And I'm wondering if it's time to revisit having it there. I cannot see spending
- $45,000 a year to keep it clean every day. I'm not even sure I'm in support of spending $11,000 to keep
- Umbrellas and hypodermic needles and other things out of it. I can't I wonder how much it's being used
- for its intended purpose so And it's it's I think I misunderstood when I was put in I didn't know it
- was going to be right there in front of the corner I thought it was going to be more in the back away
- more towards the post office and not right out there on the front so I guess my comment is I get the
- idea of having
- Porta potties and as an aside, I'm glad to see For the first time consistently that the bathrooms in
- the parking garage have been unlocked Because for many months those are locked so I guess my Question
- is is I think we ought to revisit whether or not it should even be there or not and or if it should
- be moved or if it if it should be there so that's
- That's my I'm probably I'm going to vote yes to have this funding because I think it needs to be done.
- But I think we do need to revisit that issue. This is sort of ridiculous. Let's move to approve the
- service agreement with A.A. which was met with unanimous agreement. The Bloomington Board of
- Park Commissioners will meet again on November 25th.
- The Bloomington Board of Public Works met on October 21st. Board members heard an appeal concerning
- excessive growth at 1901 East Viva Drive. Assistant City Attorney Taylor Brown walked through the complaint
- saying it was initially discovered on the city's U-Report system. This was a notice of violation to
- 1901 East Viva Drive. We have the neighborhood compliance officers who issued the notices of violation
- present this evening if you have any questions.
- the first this came through your report as a initial complaint of overgrowth the Pictures provided in
- your packets on August 26th Were taken initially when if the first notice was issued No fine was issued
- at that time or no citation was issued at the time. Just a warning then again on September 18th the
- second notice of violation was issued because there the
- violation had not been corrected and at that time a citation of $50 was issued and then the appeal was
- timely filed in accordance with Bloomington Municipal Code 6.0 6.0 5.0 it is unlawful for the owner
- of any lot or tract of ground within the city to allow it to come overgrown with weeds grass or noxious
- plants beyond the height of 8 inches or to such extent that the growth is detrimental to public health
- and constitutes a nuisance.
- Grass reaches that same definition and in accordance with coming over through a you report complaint
- it also I would think rises to the level of nuisance but happy to answer any questions you have.
- Appellant Natalie Bainter, one of the owners of the property, made her case for the appeal. She said
- that she and her husband are farmers and sometimes in the summers they don't keep their lawn, quote,
- crispy clean, end quote. She said that the community member who filed the complaint is not a stranger
- to lodging complaints. I wrote in my appeal
- That my husband and I are farmers. Our farm is in Hamilton County and our only working mower Which is
- our two-wheel tractor for our farm is also in Hamilton County and the summer is the busiest time for
- farmers And we don't always get the lawn crispy clean We do have someone I don't know this person. I've
- never met them, but it's my understanding from
- The regular hand officer who I've spoken with several times that there's someone who's not my direct
- neighbor who made this complaint they walk around the city and Make complaints like this. I wish they
- would talk to me so I could tell them why the grass isn't cut but That's essentially the story I didn't
- mention that about the community member in my appeal, but it feels worthwhile to mention and I also
- emailed the regular officer about this and he suggested that I make an appeal. So that's why I'm here.
- The board denied the appeal by a three to zero vote. The board of public works will meet again on November
- 3rd. The Monroe County election board met on October 23rd. Monroe County fleet and building manager
- Richard Crider provided an update on the showers project, which will make renovations for early voting.
- I'm here today to give you an update on the early voting renovation at the Showers Building.
- We're approaching the 11th month on this project. I'll give you a little history of it. In January and
- February, I began meeting with the clerk, clerk's deputy, and voting supervisor to discuss voting operations,
- space needs, concerns, and project goals. In March, the commissioners approved a professional services
- contract with Springpoint Architects.
- April began the design and development phase, which ran through the end of March. To me, this was the
- funnest part so far because we took all of the information that we had gathered over the previous months,
- gave that to the architect. We started with an empty footprint and came to the final design.
- and I want to give some props to Ms. Farris and Mr. White for the information that they provided. It
- was extremely helpful. County Clerk Nicole Brown said she's concerned about not having a centralized
- location and asked Crider whether or not a tenant was supposed to move into what is now Election Central.
- Crider said that no one is expected to move into the building while the voter registration office is
- still there. Could you clarify because
- My understanding is that there is a tenant expected to move into what is now election central. And so
- I've never, I personally have never seen a construction and design project actually on time, unless
- there was a monetary incentive. Like if you get this done by the deadline, we'll pay you, we'll give
- you some bonus money.
- you know, deadlines come and go. And the concern for me, obviously, is being in two different places,
- because we don't have a home. We can't go to the new place, but we can't stay in the old place. So if
- you'll clarify for me, as far as the tenant that is expected to take? Nobody's moving into Johnson Hardware.
- My voter's registration is there. Okay. And in my mind,
- This isn't, and we talked about this on Monday, you can weigh in if you'd like, but I don't see this
- as being any different than early voting at the former Napa location, voter's registration at Johnson
- Hardware. I think we're in the same scenario.
- And we can move after the primary or we can move after the election. I prefer to do it after the primary.
- I think that makes the most sense. But the other piece to that isn't really a factor for me. So what
- you're saying, it is possible to leave Election Central right where it is through the primary without
- anybody wanting to kick them out and then move
- I assume shortly after the primary, June, July, whatever, into the new facility. Is that? That's correct.
- OK. I think we'd be moving in June. Republican board member Danny Shields asked for further clarification.
- I would like to actually amend my motion, given that the time frame that I move that we
- that the Monroe County election board hold two public hearings on vote centers based upon the plan created
- by Monroe County vote center study committee earlier this year and according to Indiana law with the
- second hearing to be held on or before November the twenty sixth. Twenty twenty five. Just just get
- it all out in front there is
- zero reason to have these hearings because my constituency, my chairman, are not the least bit interested
- in going to vote centers. We're not the only county that's turned them down. Hamilton County just did
- the same thing. There's not a huge demand for these in the county. You sent out three thousand dollars
- with postcards and less than one half of one percent of the people that got those thought it was important
- enough to even
- take a picture and fill out a form. So you can talk about this if you want, but we're not going to go
- to vote centers and the foreseeable future of Monroe County is just not going to happen. Giffins asked
- if there was anything that could persuade Shields to change his mind. Shields said his mind has been
- made up and that his constituents do not want vote centers. Giffins asserted that vote centers make
- voting more accessible and efficient.
- So you're saying that there is absolutely nothing that would persuade you to change your mind. My mind
- has been is I don't see any reason for him personally, but I'm I have a constituency and they have zero
- desire for these. So on the Secretary of State's Indiana Secretary of State's website and please keep
- in mind that there has been a Republican in that seat for over 30 years. One can find information on
- vote centers.
- One benefit of vote centers, according to the website, is that vote centers offer flexibility and convenience
- to voters by allowing them to cast a ballot at any county location of their choosing on election day.
- In 2010, 15 years ago, the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute issued a report on vote centers. The Secretary
- of State's website indicates the key findings of this study include, vote centers can produce significant savings
- for counties that implement them. Vote centers give local election officials more flexibility. Vote
- centers can produce immediate and long-term savings. The study finds savings could result every election
- day as well as when time comes to purchase new equipment. And vote centers will significantly reduce
- the machines needed. During public comment, a local resident gave testimony in favor of vote centers.
- All right.
- Hi, Danny Shields. I'm Ashley Keerberg. You might remember me. I wanted to let you... Yes, you've called
- me a liar and said I slept through these meetings. I've read that. Okay, that's fine. You know what
- you also read? That you lied to the B Square. You lied to him because you posted a whole data sheet
- about the data about the vote centers across the state, right? You did. And you mentioned a lot of the
- counties which had vote centers. They actually didn't. How about the years that you posted?
- They didn't do it either. That came from state data. I'm trying to talk right now. Please don't talk
- over me. What I'm trying to get at is that you are trying to use a data sheet. And it makes it seem
- like you did a lot of research, right? You didn't. Because lying to the B-squared journalist just shows
- the research you're doing is skewed. So I just wanted you to know a data sheet that's flawed is still
- flawed. So Brown County that you listed,
- They didn't have one. Their Republican is actually listening to all constituents, to all people. What
- if there's somebody who's like, you know what? I want to be a Republican. I don't know. But they're
- listening to them too. Did you talk to Brown County before you wrote their name down? No, you didn't.
- But you might want to tell the truth whenever a data sheet's flawed. So I think that that's important,
- as anybody here and anybody watching and anywhere else in this county, that you knew at the very beginning
- speed it up to spring that you were going to say no. So continuing to have me, I have five children.
- You know that. And I'm sitting there telling you that I saw something immediately. I'm a CanP manager,
- and I will look at all these data sheets, and immediately I knew within seconds
- I didn't have to do much research for that one. And I was like, Brown County doesn't have one. Lie.
- Tipton, all these years were not true. The percentages, you know why people don't vote often? The reason
- why these numbers are not listed? Because of uncontested races. Did you know that? I don't know about
- a lot of that. OK, so the answer would probably be no. So what I'm trying to say is uncontested races
- are not going to drive the voters there.
- So maybe we should get out contested races. You want to put more people in Monroe County? Get it contested.
- Let's high five it. Let's do it. But what I'm saying is all across the state, there is people that want
- those centers. I can't be in Morgan County. And how many times am I like, hey, go to Morgantown. Hey,
- go over here. And all of the people get excited because they don't have to wait an hour in line.
- Shields held firm that he would not support a hearing on vote centers. Since the motion did not receive
- a second, the election board could not proceed. The next county election board meeting will be held
- on November 6. And that is all for Cats Week. Thank you for joining us. For Cats and WFHB, I'm Annalise Poorman.