and welcome to Cats Week. I'm Annalise Poorman.
The Monroe County Capital Improvement Board met on December 17th and discussed construction updates
on the Monroe County Convention Center. Weddle Brothers project manager Andrew Sherry said the construction
has been moving forward despite the weather. He said the construction will require closures on College
Avenue between January 26th and February 12th and again from February 13th to sometime in June. Sherry
explained the reason for the closures.
We're going to have lifts and everything like that, but it will also allow us to button up additional
demo curves, pavement, things like that, set storm structures that way that whenever summer rolls around,
we can complete our asphalt patches, our curb work, and everything else that ties into the project.
Next, Galen Cassidy and Holly Warren gave an update on the signature artwork for the Convention Center.
Cassidy said the recommendation committee had 180 applicants that they had narrowed down to 10. Warren
said the selections were based on past experience, craftsmanship in their art, and staying within budget.
This was a very hard job. Everybody was very talented and brought a lot of different skills to the table.
So now for those top contenders, we are reaching out to those that we would like to be our five finalists
to confirm that they're still interested in the putting forward a proposal in the spring and to discuss
next steps with them. Once we have those five finalists, we will come back to you just to share more
information about
who they are, what they've done in the past and our procedure for getting them just more familiar with
the project. So they're set up to give us the best proposals that they can. And again, we will be looking
for them to give us those proposals of actual potential art for the Convention Center expansion in spring
of 26. So we're really excited about that. The final artists will receive $5,000 for their work, which
Warren said is standard for the art industry.
Next, the board heard an update on the Convention Center Hotel from Bloomington's Director of Economic
and Sustainable Development, Jane Coopersmith, who said that the Redevelopment Commission has not been
able to reach an agreement with Dora Hospitality. She said that the Redevelopment Commission passed
a resolution supporting the site for a host hotel, but did not approve incentives, which left a major
funding gap.
She also explained that the City Council limited support for the convention center to money collected
from the food and beverage tax. Board member Adam Tease said Dora Hospitality wants to put the hotel
on the Bunger Robertson property, but that the funding gap makes it difficult. As we announced in October,
we had asked that at the end of this 60-day period of time,
we have some indication that a deal was imminent. And it sounds to me, and you can correct me if I'm
wrong, but at this point, there does not appear to be a path forward with this particular property.
To tighten the funding gap, the board has reduced the scope and amenities of the host hotel. Vince Dora,
with Dora Hospitality, expressed concerns that by reducing the hotel's features, it could lose marketability.
the RFP and the scope of work that we did on one of the two, tentated in an upscale hotel with the Host
Conduct Center. It would help the team over at the visited Bloomington to keep the cell in the Conduct
Center. I mean, they need that nice upscale host hotel to steal from the city of Louisville and all
the areas that bring business and tourism into the city of Bloomington.
And at that level, that's the reason for the gap. We've been working closely with the city to present
other options that reduce that scope of work and therefore reduce the cost and therefore reduce the
incentive package task. It's chicken and egg though because every time you present a reduction in scope,
we also lose the ability to market the hotel or the convention center.
Board member John Wyckart noted that the Host Hotel is a way to draw in convention center goers, not
merely a place for people to stay for a night. The Host Hotel is designed specifically to attract conventions.
So if in my career I wanted to go to a convention where I were being sold on a convention, you wanted
to know what the amenities were in the host hotel. And clearly that's what we need to attract conventions,
which is our goal. This hotel is not simply a place for people to stay overnight after an IU football
game and then drive home the next day.
It's designed to attract 600 people to come to a convention and want to stay here in our downtown in
walkable distance to a lot of other outside amenities in a nice place. Weichart said that the hotel
needs a bar, a restaurant and a fitness center. He supported the idea of Dora Hospitality looking at
other locations for the hotel before coming to a decision.
I don't know how we further reduce the scope and still have an attractive host hotel for conventions.
I think we've done what we can. I think if we can offer parcels to the South and West, that's something
else, obviously, that ought to be considered an incentive because it doesn't have price tags on it.
But the hard work will have to come between now and then with Mr. Dora looking at those other locations
and seeing if he can make it happen.
and reporting back to us in January that he thinks he can. Dora said that the company is still committed
to the host hotel project, whether it be on the Bunger Robertson property or at a different site. The
Bloomington Board of Public Works met on December 16th, where they heard a proposal to close portions
of South College Avenue to allow construction of a sky bridge for the Bloomington Convention Center
expansion.
Public Works Director Adam Wason outlined the request from Weddle Brothers Construction. As you recall
earlier this year, Weddle Brothers came to us with a phased approach to what they expected to be some
of the lane and road closure requests that they would be coming forward with. This is one of the big
ones they're coming forward with. This is basically a two-week closure of College south of 3rd Street.
To facilitate the installation of their skybridge And then so that would be from the January 26 through
February 12 dates for a two-week period with traffic being detoured over to Rogers
Then from there, from that February 12th through a end of July time frame, or end of June time frame,
there will be a request, this is a request to have college in a one lane southbound configuration from
February 13th through June 26th. Engineering field specialist Kyle Baw expanded on the effort to install
a sky bridge for the convention center.
Other public notifications that we're working on So sign boards are planned to be out no later than
November or November. Sorry January 5th of 2026 to let the traveling public know when and where to expect
those closures so as Adam mentioned the vehicular detour would be from Third Street to Rogers and then
back over on second the planned pedestrian detour is going to travel east and
down Walnut and then back over via Second as well. Yeah, as Adam also mentioned, we have included the
communication that's being sent out at this time to the affected property owners. So we're looking at
those folks in between College Walnut, between Third and Second from North to South, of course.
So that's all in process at the moment. We're still working on some of the particulars of the actual
temporary traffic control plan. We're working to get that shared with emergency services. So we really
feel like we're crossing as many boxes off as we can for something this large, but we still have some
time to get it all wrapped up.
Board Secretary James Roach asked about access to the traffic control plans for the project. Boss said
he will make sure board members have access to that information. I seem to recall during yesterday's
work session, the packet included the actual maintenance of traffic plan. And I don't see it in today's
final packet. It just had the two maps. What we included were the two maps showing
Where the closure the phasing of the closures? I don't know that we we've kind of gone back and forth
with you all on do we give you the full maintenance of traffic plan with all of the tiny little legend
items showing you where every single sign is based on MUT CD standards for temporary traffic control
plans Getting this down finally there's probably a happy median between nothing and
The full engineered plans. Yeah, so Did we that median was added today? I don't know if we added it
too late to get it included in the it should be you should have it On paper. I'm so sorry. Yeah, and
that's my Map I think yeah, so that so this will show the plan detours for these for each closure And
my apologies wasn't on there originally. No quite. All right permits meeting this morning I was like,
I think we want to put the
Reader's Digest version of this detour in there without everything, so that's why you got the printed
copy for this today. Board President Kyla Cox Deckard asked about coordination with properties affected
by the closure.
I know you had mentioned the coordination and communication with the other properties that are affected
in the closure area and we specifically talked about I believe the midtown loss midtown loss. It's the
larger apartment complex right off of Smith and South College.
Yeah and so it sounded like one Smith was gonna be a potential entry point for that property. I'm curious
about my sister's closet which sits in the same zone. What's the access point for them during this closure
and detour? So that's a part of the detail that we requested from Weddle Brothers. I don't know if Andrew
you've spoken to any of them on that level of detail just yet but we will be having
A requirement for all of those properties to have a access plan for this period of time And it may involve
having to come north on walnut to Smith To kind of circle. Yes Smith will be open and Smith will be
open and walnut will be open South of Smith like it isn't gonna have construction activity there So
it may require my sister's closet patrons to come either up
Walnut North, west on Smith and then back south on College because Smith and College will be open to
traffic. The board approved the closure request and noise permit unanimously.
At their meeting on December 15th, the Bloomington Redevelopment Commission heard a resolution regarding
the host hotel for the Bloomington Convention Center expansion. Director of Economic and Sustainable
Development, Jane Coopersmith, said this resolution concerns Dora hospitality. She explained that a
gap in funding is preventing the city from making any progress on the hotel.
From the beginning of those negotiations or discussions, the hotel developers described a significant
gap in order to deliver on the scope of the host hotel. When the city, on our side of the negotiations,
required full land value as was previously requested, that amount simply appeared as a required subsidy
in a different part of their pro forma.
So the city considered a range of partnership structures to determine how best to advance the project
at the site. And this body approved expenditures totaling $400,000 to advance investigation of the site
and design of the building while it continued negotiating with the developer. Initial site work, like
soil borings, has gone forward. No design work has advanced in the absence of a letter of intent with
the developer.
Corporation Council Margie Rice said the resolution does not establish an agreement with the hotel developer.
The resolution before the commission would simply indicate that the redevelopment commission supports
a hotel at the convention center. This resolution shall not be construed as approving the final development
terms, a land conveyance, or a specific financial structure, all of which shall require separate RDC
review and approval.
You are not negotiating in this resolution a deal with a hotel developer. So let's just get that off
the table. What you are doing in this resolution, if you pass it, is signaling to the world, to the
city council, to hoteliers, to the CIB, that the roughly 2.4 acre bit of land that you own that is in
need of redevelopment,
underdeveloped property in downtown Bloomington. You are signaling that you think this is a good location
for a hotel and you may make it available at a nominal cost. Nominal meaning, by dictionary definition,
very small or below the real value or cost. Not saying you are, just saying you might.
Deborah Meyerson added an amendment that removed language that could be interpreted as committing the
city to sell land at a reduced or nominal cost for the host hotel. The commission passed the resolution
as amended with member John West voting no. The next redevelopment commission meeting will happen on
January 5th.
The Monroe County Commissioners met on December 18th. The meeting began with County Health Administrator
Lori Kelly providing an update from the Health Department. According to the Indiana Department of Health
Dashboard, as of December 16th, there have been no increases in emergency department visits for COVID-like
illness, but wastewater concentrations are continuing to trend up.
According to data from wastewater scan, we are now seeing moderate levels of flu, but very low levels
of RSV. The health department still has free COVID tests available. Anyone can walk in Monday through
Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to pick up free tests. And the public health clinic located at 333 East
Miller Drive has vaccines available. You can call 812-353-3244 for an appointment.
Later in the meeting, Highway Director Lisa Ridge discussed a change order for the Morris Creek Road
stormwater project. So our milestone Morris Creek Road project, they paved it last November, so November
2024. They spent 2025 doing minor finishing up touches. So we're closing out the contract and getting
everything finished out. So the total of our under run
was $74,628.58. There was one change to the treatment of the subgrade that cost an additional $6,939.40.
So our total under run was $67,689.18 below the contract.
The commissioners approved the change order and then next resolution 2025-58 was introduced regarding
notice to homeless encampments. Jeff Cockerill explained. At that work session, the discussion, the
request was that the commissioners allow or require 30 days notice in the event that we are going to
remove a homelessness encampment.
Um, so this resolution recognizes that it also recognizes that we won't issue that 30 day notice until
March 2nd of this year or next year, 2026. Sorry. In the future, a little bit there. Um, and that, that
this will, this is enforced unless, uh, the commissioners get notice from, or, uh,
Unless you rescinded any notice meeting or if the emergency is determined, an emergency is determined
by law enforcement, the Monroe County Health Officer, or if the removal is requested by the city of
Bloomington. So I think we've we've covered our bases with, you know, I used the word if something became
unstable at that, which granted is a pretty generic term. Right. I agree with them. But but those are
the people who can help.
who will let you let you guys know if it's unstable. And of course, if you can determine on your own
if if it's unstable, that is. And then it also has a section that where the where you are going to request
other Monroe County and city of Bloomington elected leaders to meet and discuss steps to address the
homelessness in the community. So those are kind of the two components of this resolution.
County Council member Peter Iverson made a public comment regarding the new resolution. The resolution
is a little hard to find. So I just wanted to encourage folks that when you go to the Board of Commissioners
website, you have to go down to the all the way down to the agendas and packet section to get to the
resolution. I will say this the meeting on December 11th was really helpful.
And the county council stands in solidarity with you in wanting a working group to talk about these
issues. Clearly this resolution is is a first step toward that. And we see it as that. And I would just
encourage you in the now therefore section.
that when you direct people to give that notice, that 30 days notice, that it not only include Mineral
County staff, but also those street outreach folks, particularly through the contract that we have through
Health Net. So thank you for this. And I look forward to continuing this conversation. Another public
comment regarding the resolution came from a resident of the Thompson property, Ashley Chaunting. It is
Honestly, it has so many caveats as to make it almost meaningless as protection against winter evictions.
And it is very concerning to me the lack of transparency and the lack of community involvement that
are involved in the proposed next steps. So we also look forward to continuing this conversation with
you guys via the means available to us. The next Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting will take
place on January 8th.
The Monroe County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees met on December 16th. President of
Monroe County Education Association, Jennie Noble Kuchera, discussed a resolution on the agenda which
would eliminate the Title I teacher supplemental pay stipend of $2,000 per year. She asked what could
be done to help retain teachers. We have roughly 225 teachers.
who will no longer receive the supplemental pay, it will be a decrease for them. And so the question
that I'm asking here on their behalf is what are the alternative sources? It seems to us that the legislature
with this just has one more notch on their belt of public education dismantlement. So the teacher
appreciation grants from the state, they're only gonna go to potentially 13% of our teachers.
And that's only if the IDOE deems them eligible. So my question to our community, to the school board,
and to our administration is, what then can be done to help retain the teachers who work hard every
day directly with the population of our most school-dependent kids? Thank you.
Jeffrey Henderson then presented Resolution 2025-26 Supplemental Pay for Teachers and Priority Schools
under Title I Guidelines. Board members Erin Cooperman and April Hennessy commented on the discussion,
saying that it is a hard decision to make. And I suppose on the heels of that, just to say that it's
a hard decision because we so greatly appreciate the teachers that serve at our Title I schools. Yes.
As we appreciate all of our teachers.
We understand that that comes with special challenges. Indeed. And we implemented this because we understood
those particular challenges, especially in retention. But I do think that we know that at this point,
we are in this spot where we have to make these kinds of fiscal decisions in order to be able to make
other sorts of offerings.
So yeah, I agree. The board approved the resolution. Henderson then provided an overview of facilities
management in MCCSC and expressed the importance of supporting facilities management. Quality facilities
support quality instruction. The operations staff is the backbone of our school system. These hidden
heroes take care of daily tasks that keep our buildings safe, clean and maintained so that our teachers
can concentrate on providing our students
with excellent educational experiences. The director of building operations and the director of construction
facilities and safety, along with our skilled maintenance staff, monitor the uptime rates of our HVAC
systems, our pool filtration systems, our fire alarm systems, our plumbing systems, and our electrical
systems. They respond quickly when any problems arise.
They also monitor the quantity of work orders received and how long it takes us to resolve the issues
identified by staff. The directors and I frequently visit schools and when we're there, we take the
opportunity to speak to staff members and principals about any concerns or needs that they have with
regard to their buildings. In conclusion this evening, I'd like to again share why this work matters.
On this slide, you can see several recent examples of the investment that MCC SC makes in a variety
of spaces. Maintaining high quality facilities allows us to uphold our board's priority to sustain excellence
in our schools. As such, ensuring the state of the art academic, ensuring state of the art academic,
athletic and performing arts facilities continues to be one of dr Winston's top priorities. We see every day
that our facilities directly support our students by providing high quality educational spaces where
our children can learn and grow. Winston expressed gratitude for the hard work of MCCSE employees during
recent inclement weather. She responded to complaints about school delays by stating that there are
many students and employees who live outside the city limits where road conditions can be considerably
worse during severe weather.
Winston expressed that safety and security of employees is quote one of the hardest decisions that a
superintendent has to ever make end quote. I want to take a moment just to acknowledge our deep deep
appreciation and recognition of our facilities team. The last couple of weeks we've had inclement weather
unexpected in great levels with freezing and
thawing, refreezing, and very unsafe conditions for our buses, for our employees, and for our students.
And what many people don't know and what Dr. Henderson was really alluding to is the fact that while
many of you are sleeping, they are out getting business taken care of. And so I definitely want to just
begin with just that acknowledgement of appreciation. When he talked about the number of tons, how many tons
I smell did you say 250 tons or something like that yeah that's that's just unbelievable and and and
yet they do it quickly they do it without complaint and and and probably not as much appreciation as
our entire community should share with them I say that because I do recognize that
We've had three days of weather in December, when generally speaking, we don't get those days in December.
We usually get them after the holiday break. So there's been a lot of unexpected aspects. And there's
been a lot of frustration, quite frankly, in our community. There are family members who don't quite
understand the decisions that have been made, the factors that go into that decision making, and the
painstaking
hours and time that it takes to kind of get to that point in time. I can assure you that Dr. Henderson
and I and other members of our facilities team are up at 2.33 o'clock every one of these days that we've
had to have conversations and discussions around what are we hearing from our meteorologists? What are
the roads looking like? Are directors in our facilities and maintenance and construction departments
and transportation, they're out driving the roads while you all are sleeping. The MCCSC School Board
will meet again on January 27, 2026. And that is all for Cats Week. Thank you for joining us. For Cats
and WFHB, I'm Annalise Poorman.