Hello and welcome to Cats Week. I'm Annalise Poorman. At their meeting on November 18th, the Richland
Bean Blossom School Board heard a consideration from Superintendent Dr. Jerry Sanders to approve stipends
for teachers, administrators, and support staff across the district. Looking at where we are as a school
corporation financially and what can we do to
reward people for their hard work, but at the same time put ourselves in a good position financially
to give increases down the road in terms of for the teachers step on the salary schedule or increase
to base hourly increases.
We want to get ourselves into a position where we can do that. Sanders said teachers and administrators
will receive a $2,000 one-time stipend and support staff will receive a stipend based on their current
pay, duties assigned and number of days worked. The purpose of going the stipend route this year is
to put ourselves in a really good strong position financially to move forward in giving increases like
we traditionally have in the past.
These stipends were approved unanimously. The board then heard a request from Sanders to shorten the
school calendar from 185 teacher days to 183. With the course of state coming in and causing us some
financial issues, we're looking for ways to cut back on our expenses. And so that'll save going from
185 days to 183 will save us $130,000 a year.
So they get two more days off, but they lose those days. He recognized how often teachers work into
the evenings on weekends and part of the summer. It was kind of my goal to try to address that. I'm
disappointed that we're to this point, but it just seemed like a way that we could reduce some expenses
without hurting people too much. The shortened school year was approved.
The Monroe County Public Library Board of Trustees met on November 20th, where they reviewed the benefits
offered to library employees. Human Resources Director Becky Throckmorton explained the benefits that
the library provides, such as health, dental, life, and disability insurance. This year, insurance rate
increases will cost the library an additional $79,000 for health insurance and $3,500 for dental.
All of the rates go up just a little bit. And for our staff, it means a $10 to $15 per paycheck increase
on one of our most expensive plans for their out-of-pocket costs. So trying to keep things affordable
for folks. The board approved the new benefits plan.
Next, outreach services manager Chris Jackson gave an update on the bookmobile saying the current vehicle
is 15 years old, so it's nearing the end of its life. We have a 15-year-old bookmobile that is slowly
and actually not so slowly anymore dying. The bookmobile has been in the shop for almost two weeks now.
This is its second extended shop visit this year. It is
almost on its last legs. So that's the sad news at 15 years, 15 to 20 years is the life expectancy.
So we're in that range. It was not unexpected, but it's difficult where the crew is out there now using
our van to try to do bookmobile service. So there's no browsing. It's just holds pick up and and and
returns and once it starts getting colder, it's going to get even less comfortable. Jackson said that
there is currently a new bookmobile being built and that it should be ready for use by
in 2026. Starting in the new year, they will be building it out by adding the shelves and the electrical
and the HVAC and the cabinetry and workstations and everything that turns what's basically a big UPS
truck into what is a cozy, friendly library that happens to sit on four wheels. Jackson said that the
bookmobile makes 30 stops every week. The next meeting of the Monroe County Public Library Board of
Trustees will be on December 10th.
The Bloomington Transportation Commission met on November 17th. City engineer Andrew Seabor reported
on the intersection of East 17th Street and North Eagleson Avenue, where two serious crashes occurred
within the last 12 months. In both incidents, pedestrians were struck and seriously injured. Seabor
updated the commission on the progress that they've made and their plans to make the intersection safer.
Since the crash happened, I guess just wanted to to give some updates really on what's happened What
I think will happen in the in both the near and the long term So since the crashes the most recent crash
happened our Public Works Street Department did put in some in-street pedestrian crossing signs to help
raise awareness and visibility of those crossings we've asked some city crews to do some additional
tree trimming just to improve some line of sight for pedestrians that are waiting at the crosswalks and
We've also reached out to Duke to do a photometric analysis just to see what the lighting conditions
are there at night There is street lighting but just to evaluate what is that lighting level should
should something more or different to be evaluated there And and we have engaged with IU we were already
planning on meeting with them independent of the crashes But those are just some some immediate things
that have actually already happened Looking maybe still near term. I'm still hopeful that
Maybe before the end of this year, I need to follow up with our public work staff, but essentially wanting
to lay out we have An idea to further improve safety in a near-term way with city crews
essentially trying to do what we would have done with a federally funded capital project, but more near-term,
more quick build. Later in the meeting, Laura Gao, a resident of Bloomington, recommended improvements
to the intersection at College Mall Road and Covenanter Drive.
This intersection has no stationary sign signage with left turn yield to oncoming traffic left turn
yield to pedestrians instructions as many other intersections do have such as at Third Street and Pete
Ellis Drive as a nearby homeowner who has had family members use this intersection up to three times
a day often with Kroger's as the destination. I am aware that drivers cut off and flip off pedestrians
crossing in the crosswalk when the pedestrians have the white light to do so.
pedestrians have to halt or wave proactively to drivers to indicate their presence. Some elderly neighbors
told me they prefer to jaywalk further to the south rather than use the crosswalk. Gow described her
own experience of being struck by a driver while trying to cross the intersection. She asked that the
commission make improvements at the intersection, including repainting and signage. My city contacts
have told me that this is a known dangerous intersection.
So I am begging the Transportation Commission to move forward with speedy signage and pavement painting
improvements. Besides this one, please consider flashing yellow arrows and stationary yield to pedestrian
signage at other known dangerous intersections in this growing city, as well as easily visible white
pavement demarcations. That is what you can do. Seaborg responded to the suggestions, explaining that
the city's study to update traffic signal timing in Bloomington has been delayed.
For context maybe some reminders or things that might be forthcoming that maybe I haven't shared before
Is the city does have an ongoing? Study to update the traffic signal timing of all of our signalized
intersections and that projects been in development for a long time Partially due to our lack of having
a filled traffic engineer position But expecting to make real progress on that early next year because
we have filled that position so
So yes signal timing certainly will be evaluated just as a part of that at this intersection in all
intersections throughout the city And then the comment about flashing yellow arrow. I think just generally
speaking Wanting to state that as we're modernizing our signals intersections and there are left turn
lanes That is I think becoming our common go-to and expectation That the trick is in a location like
this. It's not actually just an easy thing to swap out a signal there's a lot of rewiring and actually
Would need to add another signal because that would be just for the left-turn movement So it's just
I guess my point is that it's not a quick and easy thing just to put in a different signal head Commissioner
Stephen Voland said that this accident highlights why the Commission exists and that more research is
needed I think that the chief I regret that he's not in the room that he was sensitive to criticism here and
It's understandable. I think that this is one aspect of the policy that we need to change I don't expect
a police officer to I don't I kind of don't blame them yet for using the term accident or for treating
You know for not really thinking Harder about writing a citation for someone who caused injury But we're
busy measuring fatalities and serious injuries throughout the city
And here is an example of a serious injury that we have direct testimony from someone who said that
my life was changed for this and We hear from mr. Drumme that you know it all but doesn't go Recorded
so that it can be cited in court later. It's a thorny problem We can't expect the chief alone to solve
it and we shouldn't It's literally why we're here. And so I think that's why this is an excellent inquiry
that really needs to be
at least researched more. I just don't know what I'd recommend in that second case, um, except more
research at the moment. Although I'm certainly open to entertaining any, um, any motion for a resolution
to that end. Commissioner Hopi Stasberg moved to approve a petition that would examine the intersection
and change it to align with other greenways in town, including added signage.
I heard a number of calls for infrastructure improvements at the intersection. I think we should take
those collectively and then leave it to our staff to come up with final recommendations there. One way
to bundle them together is to think about it as part of our greenway network, which is a higher comfort,
higher safety part of our street system that is designed for vulnerable road users. I think we don't want
to always respond to every case with like, oh, there was a crash. We should do better at that intersection
because we have a lot of crashes. But this is a case where we are trying to have a system that is safer
for our vulnerable real users. And this intersection, I think, has failed us. So the petition I would
propose is to have the staff revisit the College and Covenanter intersection as part of our Greenways
network and bring it up.
review the standards and bring it up to our safety standards for our greenway system. The commission
approved the motion unanimously. The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission met on November 17th. During
the meeting, the commissioners denied all public offering bids for three blocks of the Hopewell East
development. Commissioner Dana Kerr said that the submitted proposals were not adequate for the project.
Bids that did come in were
not ones that would be able to be completed based on limitations of funding and such. And so there also
it became apparent that public offering wasn't necessarily realistic to that project.
there's going to be a change in direction on how to go with that. But one thing that we need to do is
just to reject those bids that we see with the public offerings that are in the resolution. And then
we can move forward and start evaluating other alternatives for that area. Commissioner Anna Killian
Hansen asked if there was a timeline to share with the public.
I don't know that we have a specific timeline. Of course, we're trying to get all areas of Hopewell
going as quickly as possible. And so it's quite the undertaking right now on the South, but we're getting
there. I would anticipate having a new offering sometime in 26. Next treasurer, Jessica McClellan spoke
to the commissioners about resolution 25-135 regarding the redevelopment commission's annual spending
plan. We are presenting to you for the second time
RDC spending plan that has to be approved by the RDC and submitted to the DLGF. And this outlines very
broad categories what the RDC is going to spend money on in the upcoming year. Most of the expenses
are in, what's that category called?
most of the expenses are in capital expenditures, and that includes I believe over nine million dollars
in bond debt service payments. Oh no, debt payments is up above an A. In capital expenditures, that
comes from kind of an estimate of what was spent over the last two years in things such as Hopewell,
sort of very traditional RDC infrastructure expenses. So
That is where the bulk of your spending will come from next year. That's what we're planning on. Commission
member Randy Cassidy asked about the flexibility of the plan. Based on this funding, the spending plan,
that gives us adequate flexibility to maneuver in any of these Hopewell or other areas that we have
so we don't have any to come back and realign this spending plan. We have adequate flexibility within
this. You are correct.
If we wanted to amend the spending plan, if something came up, we would bring the spending plan back
to you in the year in which you want to do that spending and then it's completely fine if you ever in
the future want to amend a spending plan. Is that something that we would then have to present to DLGF
in regards to? And we would just send it up to DLGF, yep. As soon as you sign it, then we would send
it up and we would just continue on our way. The resolution passed unanimously.
The Monroe County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees met on November 18th. Chief Financial
Officer Matthew Irwin gave the quarterly financial report detailing current progress and future projections.
This is the slide that shows what it is that the school corporation was facing as of December of 2024.
And so as I try to orient you to what you're looking at on the slide,
is the numbers inside of the bar, inside of the colors, that's the fund balance of the respective fund.
The number at the top or the bottom is the cumulative total of those fund balances. So the ones that
are at the top that are showing there above the zero, those are places where there was a cumulative
total that was a positive fund total. The ones at the bottom shows a negative. And if you follow the
trend all the way out to 2028, you see the high-paced decreasing cash balances
across the funds, and as it gets all the way out to 2028, as much as over $30 million in deficit. So
therein lies, it just kind of shows that quick reference point of what the school corporation was facing,
why the two-year strategy was enacted. Later, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Operations,
Jeffrey Henderson, discussed potential uses for the former Harold Times building. MCCSE purchased the
building three years ago.
Those include operational efficiencies that would include large group training and meeting space, warehouse
for materials, equipment storage, additional bus parking, office space that might involve the relocation
of MCCSC departments to a more central location, more easily accessible by parents. Services that were
discussed were a dedicated boardroom, a welcome center,
for families that might also include a centralized enrollment point and some support services that most
directly support students and families potentially being centrally located. So there was kind of a one-stop
shop for a family who was moving to Bloomington, enrolling in MCCSC schools. They could go to that welcome
center and have access to multiple departments all in one location that are currently spread throughout
the corporation. Currently,
We are utilizing the property for material and equipment storage. Board President April Hennessy said
that the building is primarily being used for storage space and bus parking at the moment. She said
that if there are any new ideas for the building's use, the school corporation would need to find alternative
spaces for the overflow storage. Those things would have to move somewhere. Now, whether they can be
moved into existing buildings or we'd have to find storage space of some sort,
we don't know that stuff needs to be examined and then yes there is the cost of that right because the
cost of maintaining the building as it is in this very moment is not extraordinarily high though we
know that there are probably some things that need to happen like the roof needs to be done and HVAC
system needs to be updated so there will be costs affiliated with if we decided to keep the building
and not do any massive repair or renovation to it there would still be costs to
maintain and upkeep the building. The next MCCSC meeting will take place on December 16th. The Bloomington
City Council met on November 19th where they heard an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance
that would allow owner-occupied homes to rent out up to three individual bedrooms. Deputy Clerk Susan
Stoll explained the legislation. Ordinance 2025-41 to amend Title 20, the Unified Development Ordinance
of the Bloomington Municipal Code
regarding use table amendment, single room occupancy. The synopsis is this amendment modifies table
03-1, allowed use table, use standard specifics, use specific standards, as well as several definitions
within the unified development ordinance to allow for the use single room occupancy as directed through
council resolution 2024-25. This ordinance is in accordance with Indiana code 36-7-4
Development Services Manager Eric Grulick said that this amendment would remove owner occupancy restrictions
in the city code. So as kind of prefaced here, this is a response to a council resolution directing us to
Investigate changes to the unified development ordinance regarding the use of residential rooming house
to incorporate potential new use single room occupancy Paying attention to various items that were outlined
in that resolution Some of those were making this a allowed use in some capacity in multiple zoning
districts removing the owner occupancy restriction and looking at ways that we can promote this use
within the community and and allow this
in lots of different locations and zoning districts Councilmember Dave Rolo said that he has concerns
about the proposal He said in his view the city should err on the side of caution What I'm concerned
about is the potential for families to occupy say five individuals Two parents and three children or
something to occupy a single room. That's possible Because we can we're not going to regulate children
So I think to err on the side of caution we should we should limit it to one the the other potential
is that I mean, I think we already have a problem with Owner occupancy in our community the availability
of single-family homes Airbnb's are taking them off the market private equity firms are purchasing them
We're adding another incentive here
the purchase of a home that's very lucrative that then could essentially double the occupancy charge
rent cover the mortgage payment and I think that that is completely conceivable if This was not a university
town. It probably wouldn't matter but that is the context we're living in right now and
Rollo introduced an amendment to limit rentals to one adult per bedroom, which he said would prevent
overcrowding. Grulick outlined some challenges to this amendment. The challenge with that is it really
just kind of puts us back to literally exactly the situation where we're at now, where you can have
one unit, three bedrooms, one person in a bed. And so we haven't really done anything. So that I'm just
pointing out that that would be the implication, obviously, of that amendment.
That would be for the council, obviously, to decide if that's something they want to pursue. Rollo's
amendment failed. Ultimately, the council voted 7-2 in favor of the ordinance, with council members
Andy Ruff and Dave Rollo voting no. And that is all for Cats Week. Thank you for joining us. For Cats
and WFHB, I'm Annaliese Poorman.