- and welcome to Cats Week. I'm Annaliese Poorman. The Monroe County Commissioners met on January 22nd
- and discussed the wastewater concentration of viruses in Monroe County. Health Department Director Lori
- Kelly said that they have seen a decrease in emergency room visits for COVID-19, but an increase in
- the presence of various viruses in the wastewater. We have not seen increases in emergency department
- visits for COVID-like illness.
- but wastewater concentrations do continue to trend upwards. According to data provided by wastewater
- scan, we are seeing high levels of flu, RSV and neurovirus circulating. Kelly went on to discuss where
- people are being sent for vaccinations at this time. The health department is still transitioning vaccination
- services from IU Health Community Health.
- Currently, we are referring individuals to the Morgan County Health Department for vaccinations. During
- the meeting, the board awarded community crossing matching grant paving projects to milestone. Commissioner
- Julie Thomas said that she was excited for these projects because of how much it could help the community.
- Thank you so much. We're really excited about these projects. You listed out the roadways at the last
- meeting last week.
- And I know that there are people across this community who are very anxious and eager. But again, this
- being awarded the full amount from INDOT is impressive. The motion passed three to zero. The Monroe
- County Board of Commissioners will meet again on January 29th.
- The Monroe County Capital Improvement Board met on January 21st to discuss construction updates on the
- Bloomington Convention Center expansion and to hear a new proposal to build the host hotel directly
- south of the Convention Center. Andrew Sherry, project manager for Weddle Brothers, gave an update on
- the progress of the Convention Center construction, stating that they have completed over 25% of the
- work. So project overview,
- We continue AI walk safety observations on a daily basis. I put a snippet here that shows how we utilize
- our drone deploy. That's how we get our aerial photos, we do time lapse photos, things like that. But
- our superintendents on site walk with a camera on a daily, actually it's three times a week, so nearly
- a daily basis, and it creates an AI generated report on top of our safety observations that we do.
- so that we can track, you know, slips, trips and falls, housekeeping, things like that. It's just a
- good way for us to double check and pull everything together. Currently, we have over 150 days working
- since we've broke ground. This does not include weekends, and we have worked some weekends, so it's
- over 150 days. We have had over 120 employees go through an orientation, which is what we require prior
- to coming on site, making sure that we're going over site-specific details,
- bringing up hazards as we progress through the project and things to think about before anybody can
- start work. To date, this is a great topic that we like to bring up. No recordables and no injuries
- on the project. That's a huge milestone. There's a lot of efforts that goes into that, especially on
- a project like this with the tight logistics and all that we have going. I mean, as we've talked about
- on a monthly basis and for those of you that have seen it,
- We've got steel going, we've got excavations open, we've got all these things going, all these people
- working around each other, truck access, excavators, all these things. So a lot of effort has paid off
- here and a good note. Currently, we're building right around 25%. So 25% complete, a lot of materials
- on site. Again, I'll get into the details as we progress through the presentation.
- Concerning the hotel, board president John Weickart asked whether Dora Hospitality would seek public
- subsidies. Company president Vince Dora told the board that they can build on the city-owned south parcels
- and that they will not need to seek public subsidies. Next, founder Russ Lauterbach touched on the timeline
- for the project, specifically how long it would take to evaluate the site and build a new hotel.
- We'll need about 60 days for the due diligence. We'll need about six months to seven months to complete
- and finalize the drawings. And then we'll need about two years to build it. And that's information we've
- had all along in terms of how much time the project would take. I know Mr. Baer has a question or wants
- to comment. It is a couple of things. Thanks for your work on this. I know it's not easy to pull it
- all together.
- all the efforts on the Dora team. I was a little confused on a couple of things. One, does this land,
- assuming that it's donated to the project, does that need to appraise at a certain level for this to
- make sense for you from a financing perspective? Yeah, make some basic assumptions based on information
- given to us by the CIB and those high-level assumptions and information I think we can
- Industry standard says that's going to appraise for 15 to $20,000 a key, and that's exactly where we
- need it to be, and that's where it will appraise, yes. Okay, as long as they don't need some sort of
- heroic measures on that front, that makes sense. Board member Jay Baer asked about brand clarity and
- convention center booking requirements. Ladderback responded that they should not get, quote,
- too hung up, end quote, on the branding and maintained it will be a high-end boutique hotel.
- I think in one of the documents you sent over with the LOI this morning, it stipulated a sixth floor.
- I just wanted to see if there was some clarification on that, because it does impact the UDO and other
- guidelines in Bloomington. If I said sixth, it was a typo. I apologize. But with this product on the
- south site, it would be a five-story building, which will help us cut down on overall construction costs.
- And the site's wide enough that we're able to get it. Yeah, it goes along this way, yeah. Great. Thanks.
- The third one is, there was some discussion of an AC, and I know you're doing an AC, I think it's in
- Fishers, but then also some discussion of a Tribute. I wasn't sure what direction you were headed, because
- they are in a different class, at least in terms of Bonvoy's system. They are and they are. If you ask
- someone from Marriott or Hilton, they're going to tell you all the reasons why there's a different segment.
- From an end user standpoint, they're very much similar in the final presentation. So don't get hung
- up on the final brand yet.
- because we're going to go talk to Hilton too and see what help they can give us as well. But the promise
- to you guys, it's going to be a high-end, upscale, full-service boutique hotel product. So we will let
- you know once that final brand is chosen. Senior Vice President at J.S. Held, Deb Koontz, reminded the
- board of the minimum requirements needed for a host hotel to support the convention center.
- And so we really looked at what would be the minimum requirements, and that includes many of the things
- that Vince talked about. He talked about 200 keys, parking spaces. It either needs to meet the ODO standard
- or a variance, needs to have a full service hotel, a fitness center, a bar lounge.
- room block agreements dedicated marketing staff to driving bookings right those are the things that
- are that are sort of the minimum that we would need to have for that host hotel and then we also talked
- about the sites that have been made available either through the county or the city
- through those commitment letters. And those are all the ones that are in the Crimson here on the map.
- And so just for a reference, those would be parcels to the south and parcels to the west. So we wanted
- to share this with the group because it had been prepared for this meeting before the LOI was received.
- And so we just wanted to make sure that everybody knew what the hotel committee's recommendation would
- be for the minimum requirements for a hotel.
- The CIB will meet again on February 5th for a special session to further review the new proposal by
- Dora Hospitality.
- The Richland Township and Town of Ellitsville Reorganization Committee met on January 21st and discussed
- subcommittee report deadlines. The committee decided report drafts should be completed by February 27th
- and finalized by March 6th. Committee member Scott Reynolds says the timeline should allow adequate
- time for the Reorganization Committee to finalize the broader plan by its April 1st deadline. I think
- that makes sense because
- We have to think, I mean, when we say drafts, we're not, I think we have to think that this is final
- drafts. This is not rough notes. It's really, this is what we are prepared to submit. That gives us
- a chance to reflect questions back and ask for revisions and then get essentially a revised version
- with their next submission. Because then we have to then do our work
- taking these subcommittee reports and compiling them. And as we established last week, or last two weeks
- ago, or last week, we're not bound by every word that is contained in the subcommittee report. So then
- we really have to have time to do our work. And then ultimately, from what I understand, that'll be
- the legal team that ends up preparing the formal report.
- The committee members asked that subcommittees present their updates at the reorganization committee
- meetings planned for February 4th and the 18th. Committee member Andrew Henry summarized the discussion
- on the timelines. So we have time to both hear public comment, talk to the subcommittee members, discuss
- revisions in a public meeting, and then if they need to make any changes, they have several more days
- to make those changes.
- The committee also decided that they would meet every other Wednesday unless a special meeting is needed
- for subcommittees to ask questions and present updates. Parks, Recreation and Cemetery subcommittee
- member Jim Perry said that his subcommittee had decided on two meetings set for February 5th and the
- 12th. He asked for clearer instructions on the responsibilities and the processes for subcommittees.
- I think it'd be useful for the subcommittees to have some template
- of what the report is. You're all talking about reports, but I don't have a clue and I can imagine having
- seen six people report previously that we would get a disparity of the types of reports unless there's
- some template. Although we do have the five questions that were posed in the committee's designation
- related to the parks, but the question is what detail do you want
- Obviously, we don't want to probably provide too much detail, but we want to have detail where citizens
- can make decisions about information provided to them. Town attorney Darla Brown said that the best
- template is the Sheridan Adams Township reorganization plan. Town manager Mike Farmer said that subcommittees
- could call him with questions. He extended the offer to the public as well.
- I'm glad to meet anybody or any group of people to try to explain the process, why we're where we're
- at, what's currently going on in the town to help people understand why we might want to reorganize.
- So I just think that outreach and communications is the most important thing we do here. No matter what
- the vote is at the end, I think
- information is valuable, we're not going to be able to make a good decision unless we get, as a community,
- unless we get the information out there. We're going to ramp up what we do through our public relations
- and through the website will be helpful. And I think the, whatever you want to call them, the cards
- or the informational cards should be out.
- pretty short order. I think there's just white committee member William Ellis said the reorganization
- website is live at Ellisville Richland info dot org. The committee also noted that it is working to
- include a zoom option for the public at their next meeting. The Richland Township and Town of Ellisville
- Reorganization Committee will meet again on February 4th. The Richland Bean Blossom School Board met
- on January 20th and discussed
- construction progress on school corporation properties. Skillman Corporation construction manager Martin
- Shrewsdale stated that the team is now working on what they consider punch list items. Over Christmas
- we had to come in and resurface a red part of the track. My understanding is we may have gotten some
- footprints in there but that was completed
- The main net that divides the basketball courts had to be moved, we did that, and we're working on punch
- list items at this point. The next Richland Beanblossom School Board meeting is on February 17th. On
- January 21st, the Monroe County Public Library Board of Trustees met and voted on the Hoosier Start
- Pension Plan. The board voted unanimously to approve adopting the plan for library staff.
- Human Resources Director Becky Throckmorton explained some of the details. And then we're able to offer
- it for all staff. So part-time staff and full-time staff would be eligible to participate if they did
- want to contribute to their own retirement. And then there's a $15 minimum contribution per paycheck.
- So it makes it very affordable for staff and attainable for people to participate wherever they're at
- in life and be able to save for retirement.
- And then there is a $54 annual fee that staff pay if they want to participate. That's just the fee to
- manage the accounts. Most other plans have percentages. That's how they set up their fees. And so this
- is just a flat $54 admin fee that's part of staff participating in this. So there's no cost to the library.
- It's not replacing our current perf plan. It just kind of sets us next to that.
- Next, the board discussed the logistics of Adobe Creative Cloud licensing reservations. Library Director
- Greer Carson stated that these will allow library card holders to reserve and use digital workspaces
- without having to purchase a license themselves. We interject with an update on the question, Jamie,
- that you asked about the Adobe Creative Suite.
- two licenses up to six hours per day and 18 hours per week reserved through level up location in Communico
- and up to seven days in advance for reservation. Thank you, Josh. Director Carson then gave an update
- on library membership.
- Total library card holders increased in 2025 from month to month, every consecutive month. That's really
- exciting to see. And usually by increments of 100 to 200 patrons a month. Our total number of library
- card holders at the start of 26 is 58,931. That's about 42% of our county's total population. That's
- fantastic statistics for us. So we'll keep working on that and keep pushing for 50% of the county.
- As expected, we ended the year with the best overall circulation we've seen since before the pandemic.
- Most of this is due to incredibly strong and increasing digital circulation. Thanks once again to our
- outstanding collection development department for the selection, cataloging and discovery solutions
- they oversee and enhance on a regular basis. And of course, to all of our staff for consistently promoting
- and supporting the use of our collections at all service points.
- The board meeting concluded with a discussion of the impact that Indiana Senate Bill 1 will have on
- the library's financial planning for the next several years. Assuming things may change funding-wise
- for libraries in the future, will it make a difference? I mean, will we just update it on a? Yeah, I
- expect we'll sort of see this long-term plan get adjusted every year.
- And so, yeah, just depending on what happens, we may just be struggling to keep our head above water
- for several years. But on the other hand, something may change. We could be in a position where revenue
- does go up as fast as it did in the years leading up to when we built the Southwest branch.
- The MCPL Board of Trustees will meet again on February 18th. And that is all for Cats Week. Thank you
- for joining us. For Cats and WFHB, I'm Annalise Poorman.
- for hurting families in Monroe County. A contribution to children who are vulnerable and in need of
- an advocate. A staff that goes above and beyond to support and advocate for children in need of services.
- The web of remarkable people who are dealing with difficult situations. So many young people that are
- in need of help and trying to find a stable family
- stable place to live. Without the CASAs, to make that happen, many of them would be unable to find a
- good home. I love being that voice for the child who can't speak for themselves in court. It takes me
- out of my comfort zone and it also helps others. CASA means supporting our community. Being a CASA is
- making sure that your village is healthy and whole and that the children in your village will someday
- be able to help the village as well.
- A child who doesn't have a voice maybe in their family situation or school situation now has a voice
- that can advocate for them. I really enjoy working with children that are going through difficult times
- and letting them know that I care about their future. We are privileged with our charge of representing
- the best interest of children. And so therefore we can advocate for exactly what they need
- without restriction, focusing on their best interest.
- I want to repair the world one child at a time.
- What I know about this thing is what it looks like and where I found it. In the spring or early summer
- of 83, my brother and me started to take on...