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.