WEBVTT 00:00:07.426 --> 00:00:14.752 - Hello and welcome to Cats Week. I'm Annalise Poorman. On March 10th, the Monroe County Council met and 00:00:14.752 --> 00:00:22.008 - addressed continuing service on Bloomington Transit Route 13. The route was set to be discontinued on 00:00:22.008 --> 00:00:29.120 - March 15th. Commissioner's Administrator, Angela Purdy, explained why the motion is being presented 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:33.246 - at this time. My understanding is why it's coming here is 00:00:34.594 --> 00:00:41.602 - Despite numerous conversations, I know that the commissioners tried to bring it up during the budget 00:00:41.602 --> 00:00:48.610 - session that council needed to consider the appropriation of funds for this particular route. I know 00:00:48.610 --> 00:00:55.757 - there was something in December on the council's agenda got removed after rural transit received their 00:00:55.757 --> 00:01:02.695 - funding that they needed from the state. And I think also given the fact that there was no point in 00:01:02.695 --> 00:01:04.222 - getting appropriation 00:01:04.738 --> 00:01:12.879 - for the Bloomington Transit in December of 2025 because we just have to come back in in 2026. And so 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:21.020 - I believe that my understanding is Mr. Thomas and Council Member Trent Deckard have been involved in 00:01:21.020 --> 00:01:29.886 - these communications with Bloomington Transit. And this is a continuation of last year's program for line 13. 00:01:30.562 --> 00:01:36.459 - Council President Jennifer Crossley emphasized that the extension would only last for one year. Crossley 00:01:36.459 --> 00:01:42.074 - says she's glad her daughter, who attends Ivy Tech Bloomington, will continue to have the option to 00:01:42.074 --> 00:01:43.422 - take the bus to school. 00:01:44.034 --> 00:01:50.805 - that it is, and again, thankful as a mom of a child who goes to Ivy Tech, this is another thing, if 00:01:50.805 --> 00:01:57.712 - she doesn't have her parents' car, that she could go to one of these stops and go on over to the west 00:01:57.712 --> 00:02:05.093 - side. Councilmember Trent Deckard outlined the continued route and the expectations of transit notifications 00:02:05.093 --> 00:02:12.542 - if this path is modified. Deckard also shared the bus riders' concerns about potential changes. So this route 00:02:12.738 --> 00:02:20.135 - departs from the Transit Center, and it goes to Walnut Street and 14th Street here in Bloomington. It 00:02:20.135 --> 00:02:27.750 - then goes to its next stop at Will Detmer Park before heading on past that to Ivy Tech, which is located 00:02:27.750 --> 00:02:35.148 - on the west side, of course. It goes then to Cimtra at Curry Pike, an employer that we've worked with 00:02:35.148 --> 00:02:41.022 - here a couple of times, I think at least, then on to Garden Hill at Vernal Pike. 00:02:41.314 --> 00:02:47.617 - Then goes to 17th Street and Lismore Drive before heading to College Avenue and 11th Street and then 00:02:47.617 --> 00:02:53.919 - back at the Transit Center. Now, if there's any change to that, Transit would need to speak to that. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:03:00.222 - I'd heard some rumblings about some tightening on it, but that is literally the route. I saw the Ivy 00:03:00.222 --> 00:03:03.966 - Tech Chancellor today. He wanted to encourage this council. 00:03:04.258 --> 00:03:11.329 - to support this. My understanding is that some of the life sciences employers also are greatly concerned 00:03:11.329 --> 00:03:18.334 - about it and have spent the better part of two to three weeks trying to calm fears on that. And I would 00:03:18.334 --> 00:03:25.068 - really urge all counselors in their dialogue and in their discussions about this issue and a lot of 00:03:25.068 --> 00:03:32.005 - others, let's try to return maybe, maybe, I don't know, maybe it's not time, but to calming the public 00:03:32.005 --> 00:03:33.150 - around resources 00:03:33.282 --> 00:03:39.577 - and trying to direct them to them with information. And so this one is, this area is well known. There's 00:03:39.577 --> 00:03:45.692 - more TIFs out there than you could shake a stick at. And the focus of this county has been off and on 00:03:45.692 --> 00:03:52.047 - for 20 years there. Some of us think we need to get back to that area. Council member David Henry further 00:03:52.047 --> 00:03:58.102 - questioned the possible financial implications and equity for the county's rural transit line. Purdy 00:03:58.102 --> 00:04:02.718 - responded. Thank you. I guess the question I have then moving forward is so, 00:04:02.882 --> 00:04:10.930 - The cost model for Bloomington 13 moving forward is going to be 100% funding I guess for this fiscal. 00:04:10.930 --> 00:04:19.057 - If this council were asked to consider reviving, like if I were in the town of Ellsville right now and 00:04:19.057 --> 00:04:25.054 - I wasn't calm but concerned that we didn't have that offer of 100% funding. 00:04:25.186 --> 00:04:32.190 - is that are we pursuing other cost models for other modes of transit, urban to urban or urban to rural 00:04:32.190 --> 00:04:39.262 - outside of the city limit? Now, I'm asking it to the ether, but if Ms. Purdy is still on, what prevents 00:04:39.262 --> 00:04:46.538 - us from reconsidering funding rural transit at the same 100% that's being asked to do here out of economic 00:04:46.538 --> 00:04:53.406 - development? Do you see any obstacle to that? Well, the fact that they don't need it because they're 00:04:53.406 --> 00:04:55.038 - being funded from INDOT 00:04:56.162 --> 00:05:03.819 - And negate that need. So after rural transit Eltsville couldn't afford the match. They went to attempted 00:05:03.819 --> 00:05:11.331 - legislation and then got a grant from the state so they couldn't rely on their home county in the same 00:05:11.331 --> 00:05:15.998 - generous way. So my concern is equity across the county for for 00:05:16.098 --> 00:05:21.920 - transit outside of limits. And this is why, again, I think it's a competence question and I get calm 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:27.743 - when I know things are working well. And so I think our community deserves that conversation that we 00:05:27.743 --> 00:05:33.565 - can handle the big boy conversations of this table, frankly. The amendment was unanimously approved. 00:05:33.565 --> 00:05:39.503 - An interlocal agreement with Bloomington Transit was sent to the Monroe County Commissioners. The next 00:05:39.503 --> 00:05:42.270 - Monroe County Council meeting is on March 24th. 00:05:43.330 --> 00:05:49.844 - The Ellitsville Parks and Recreation Board met on March 9th and discussed revisions to the Heritage 00:05:49.844 --> 00:05:57.010 - Trail trailer rental policy. Board member Jimmy Durnall said that the Ellitsville Town Council is considering 00:05:57.010 --> 00:06:03.524 - removing the current requirement in the rental form. The form asks renters to provide a certificate 00:06:03.524 --> 00:06:10.169 - of liability insurance with a minimum coverage amount of $100,000 with the Town of Ellitsville listed 00:06:10.169 --> 00:06:13.296 - as additionally insured. Board members said the 00:06:13.296 --> 00:06:21.484 - requirement is too complicated and discourages people from renting. I think it will detour a lot of 00:06:21.484 --> 00:06:29.755 - people because that deposit is hefty. So far no one has even inquired about it really. No, it's it's 00:06:29.755 --> 00:06:38.353 - just too much. Too much to. I guess to deal with the hassle. So as far as I mean, what would be eligible 00:06:38.353 --> 00:06:43.102 - for claim if there's a deductible? There's just too many. 00:06:43.362 --> 00:06:49.955 - different steps. So they've, I think, have decided to take that. According to the board, Heritage Trail 00:06:49.955 --> 00:06:56.484 - rentals have increased, including one recent reservation for a wedding. The board voted to support the 00:06:56.484 --> 00:07:00.478 - council's consideration of removing the insurance requirement. 00:07:00.674 --> 00:07:08.087 - It moved on to hear a presentation from the Town of Ellitsville and Richland Township Reorganization 00:07:08.087 --> 00:07:16.014 - Subcommittee on Parks, Recreation and Cemeteries. Subcommittee member Paula Anderson reviewed the available 00:07:16.014 --> 00:07:23.720 - resources in the town and in Richland Township. We did a little bit of a dive into what's in Ellitsville 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:26.142 - and what's in Richland Township. 00:07:26.754 --> 00:07:33.401 - According to National Park and Recreation Standards, we're sitting pretty good. Just going to be a little 00:07:33.401 --> 00:07:40.236 - short on the amount of trails if the reorganization goes through. Anderson said the subcommittee recommended 00:07:40.236 --> 00:07:46.569 - that the reorganization committee stick with a five-member board with two from Ellitsville, two from 00:07:46.569 --> 00:07:50.206 - Richland Township, and one appointed by the school board. 00:07:50.402 --> 00:07:56.817 - Anderson said it also recommended creating a parks master plan that could help the community qualify 00:07:56.817 --> 00:08:03.424 - for grants and guide future development in the area. The Bloomington Board of Public Works met on March 00:08:03.424 --> 00:08:09.903 - 10th and discussed an on-call service agreement with REA for Engineering Services. Bloomington Senior 00:08:09.903 --> 00:08:16.318 - Project Engineer Neil Copper explained how this amendment would benefit the Public Works Department. 00:08:16.930 --> 00:08:24.188 - This amendment increases the total contract amount to allow continued use, supporting various projects, 00:08:24.188 --> 00:08:31.306 - particularly working on design for resurfacing contracts, supporting the Public Works Department. The 00:08:31.306 --> 00:08:38.704 - amendment increases the total amount by $100,000 for a new total not to exceed of $404,143.60. The motion 00:08:38.704 --> 00:08:45.753 - passed unanimously. Next, Copper brought forward another contract for improvements to curb ramps and 00:08:45.753 --> 00:08:46.590 - crosswalks. 00:08:46.914 --> 00:08:53.264 - This is a new contract for a project that is expected to include curb ramps and crosswalk improvements 00:08:53.264 --> 00:08:59.552 - along both East 3rd Street and Atwater Avenue adjacent to IU campus. The project is programmed in the 00:08:59.552 --> 00:09:05.779 - Metropolitan Planning Organization for federal funding support for both design and construction. REA 00:09:05.779 --> 00:09:12.005 - was selected to perform the design services for the project based on their response to a request for 00:09:12.005 --> 00:09:14.718 - proposals. The motion passed three to zero. 00:09:15.234 --> 00:09:22.329 - Construction for this project will start in 2029. Next, Kyle Baugh, also from the engineering department, 00:09:22.329 --> 00:09:29.424 - requested a sidewalk closure on North Grant Street on behalf of F.A. Wilhelm Construction at the Poplar's 00:09:29.424 --> 00:09:36.184 - graduate apartment site. F.A. Wilhelm is requesting a sidewalk closure on North Grant Street as part 00:09:36.184 --> 00:09:43.145 - of the Beverly Project located at 400 East 7th Street. This request is for facade work as well as final 00:09:43.145 --> 00:09:44.350 - landscaping work, 00:09:44.834 --> 00:09:52.328 - This requested closure would take place March 18th through April 10th of this year. Local resident Greg 00:09:52.328 --> 00:09:59.390 - Alexander expressed concern about this lane closure, saying it is not safe for community members. 00:09:59.490 --> 00:10:04.004 - proposal was affecting the summer, which was people like me and my kids walking in the street rather 00:10:04.004 --> 00:10:08.607 - than undergraduates walking in the street. But this is happening in the middle of the semester, a very 00:10:08.607 --> 00:10:13.255 - busy travel time, very busy visit time, family weekends. I'm telling you, every single time I was there 00:10:13.255 --> 00:10:17.054 - and the Grant Street sidewalk was closed, which I go through there almost every day, 00:10:17.186 --> 00:10:23.387 - I saw pedestrians in the street. It is very well used. There are going to be groups of drunk undergraduates. 00:10:23.387 --> 00:10:29.076 - There are going to be groups of parents walking in the street on grant if you approve this closure. 00:10:29.076 --> 00:10:34.764 - That's antithetical to our stated goals and the law in this instance. You're not allowed to close a 00:10:34.764 --> 00:10:40.908 - sidewalk unless they have a walk around that fully reproduces the desirable characteristics of the original 00:10:40.908 --> 00:10:43.070 - path. This motion passed unanimously. 00:10:43.650 --> 00:10:49.923 - Lastly, engineering field specialist Zach Bell requested lane and sidewalk closures on South Sare Road 00:10:49.923 --> 00:10:56.378 - on behalf of Duke Energy. This request is to accommodate boring of underground utilities. Traffic control 00:10:56.378 --> 00:11:02.712 - would be in place for three weeks with the dates dependent upon approval. Duke has supplied maintenance 00:11:02.712 --> 00:11:09.411 - of traffic plans for all work. They have also notified MCCSE and will modify their work schedule accordingly. 00:11:09.411 --> 00:11:12.030 - The board approved the motion unanimously. 00:11:13.122 --> 00:11:21.115 - The Monroe County Convention and Visitors Commission met on March 10th to provide updates on the innkeeper's 00:11:21.115 --> 00:11:28.595 - tax revenue. CVC President Mike Campbell says while the innkeeper's tax collections appear higher for 00:11:28.595 --> 00:11:36.221 - January 2026 compared to January 2025, it may look misleading. He says the current distribution numbers 00:11:36.221 --> 00:11:42.014 - are one month behind due to a new system. It's the first two months this year. 00:11:42.178 --> 00:11:50.627 - We are running a little ahead of where we were in the first two months, but that does have to do a little 00:11:50.627 --> 00:11:59.076 - bit with the timing of when the business was reported. As you remember, back in April, the county adopted 00:11:59.076 --> 00:12:07.445 - a new disbursement calendar, and so there were no disbursements in the month of April, and so everything 00:12:07.445 --> 00:12:09.278 - now is one month back. 00:12:16.418 --> 00:12:25.291 - at what you're seeing in January would typically match up with the December receipts and then February 00:12:25.291 --> 00:12:34.079 - would match up last year with January receipts. So if you're looking at the $111,958 that's collected 00:12:34.079 --> 00:12:43.124 - in February, that should really go against the January numbers from last year. Just to look at an apples 00:12:43.124 --> 00:12:46.398 - to apples comparison, one reason that 00:12:46.530 --> 00:12:56.065 - looking at that while we're behind in that month is there were a couple of properties that didn't report. 00:12:56.065 --> 00:13:05.330 - I think the short-term rentals didn't report for the month, is that right? Did not come in during that 00:13:05.330 --> 00:13:09.918 - month. Those are both weighing in the next months. 00:13:14.146 --> 00:13:21.868 - Executive Director of Visit Bloomington, Mike McAfee, said the month of January saw a decrease in revenue 00:13:21.868 --> 00:13:29.299 - from short-term rentals. He attributed partly to weather, but he added that there also appeared to be 00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:36.657 - fewer short-term rentals available compared to last year. January 2026, short-term rental revenue is 00:13:36.657 --> 00:13:42.558 - down 18% versus January 2025. Available listings were down 2% in February of 26. 00:13:42.690 --> 00:13:49.122 - I do have the February report that was down 31% in revenue and their listings were down 6%. I do think 00:13:49.122 --> 00:13:55.429 - that when I say listings are down a few percentage points, that's in January and February are always 00:13:55.429 --> 00:14:01.673 - the lower one, the smaller ones. There's about somewhere between five and 600 listings available in 00:14:01.673 --> 00:14:08.042 - the market. So when I say they're down, they're down 10 units or something like that. And it probably 00:14:08.042 --> 00:14:11.102 - does have to do with the weather of those owners 00:14:11.426 --> 00:14:18.972 - taking them on and off the market. But I do feel that the last few months, we've seen a little bit of 00:14:18.972 --> 00:14:26.592 - decline versus 24 and 25 numbers in some of the units available. Even with the football season, I feel 00:14:26.592 --> 00:14:34.212 - like it is going to continue to start to level out. So hopefully, because we've had this conversation, 00:14:34.212 --> 00:14:40.574 - I feel there's too many in the market. And sometimes it's just not healthy sometimes. 00:14:40.834 --> 00:14:47.658 - you know, instead of having 1,000 units available, we would certainly be better off with 500 and things 00:14:47.658 --> 00:14:54.417 - like that. I do know that the mayor's office, it is still on their agenda to take a closer look at the 00:14:54.417 --> 00:15:01.110 - regulation of short term rentals sometime this year. I don't know what that means. We do know that no 00:15:01.110 --> 00:15:07.671 - matter what, all of the existing ones would be grandfathered in. So we'll keep an eye on that. I'll 00:15:07.671 --> 00:15:09.246 - keep updating you with, 00:15:09.538 --> 00:15:16.152 - things I think I might know. At the end of the meeting, Campbell said due to legislation coming out 00:15:16.152 --> 00:15:22.767 - of the Indiana State House, the CVC will add a sixth member to the five person commission appointed 00:15:22.767 --> 00:15:29.381 - by Bloomington Mayor, Kerry Thompson. The Ellisville Town Council met on March 9th. Council members 00:15:29.381 --> 00:15:36.194 - addressed a resolution for the surplus of equipment in the Department of Public Works. This is a slide 00:15:36.194 --> 00:15:37.054 - in type unit 00:15:37.570 --> 00:15:46.032 - that slides into the back of a bed of a pickup truck and makes a regular pickup truck into a normal 00:15:46.032 --> 00:15:54.748 - dump truck per se. And we don't use it anymore. And we're getting smaller, the smaller type built dump 00:15:54.748 --> 00:16:02.110 - trucks. So I'm asking to surplus this by gov deals. The resolution passed unanimously. 00:16:02.658 --> 00:16:09.307 - Town Manager Mike Farmer discussed potential challenges of putting on the annual Monroe County Fall 00:16:09.307 --> 00:16:16.090 - Festival in the wake of recent flooding. I actually was down during some flooding issues. I talked to 00:16:16.090 --> 00:16:22.872 - their superintendent and they do realize that they have the date and they're going to try to make it, 00:16:22.872 --> 00:16:24.734 - but it's going to be close. 00:16:24.930 --> 00:16:31.124 - Right now, you know, they had to take a couple steps back because they had to take their check dam out. 00:16:31.124 --> 00:16:37.080 - So they're putting it back in today and it may rain again tomorrow night. But they are going to try 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:43.096 - to be out of there before the parade. And I think they tried the last time when it was eastbound and 00:16:43.096 --> 00:16:49.231 - they made it happen. Councilmember William Ellis voiced his frustration at the lack of acknowledgement 00:16:49.231 --> 00:16:52.030 - of a historic milestone for the United States. 00:16:52.482 --> 00:16:59.052 - the 750th anniversary of the country. Well, that is true. At some time, not just us, but I don't think 00:16:59.052 --> 00:17:05.495 - this year I don't see a lot of people talking about that. That should be a big friggin deal. I don't 00:17:05.495 --> 00:17:11.937 - even know if you were around during 1976, which most of the people here. That was major and I don't. 00:17:11.937 --> 00:17:18.379 - I mean, it just seems to be lost in the noise. Well, the town council says they should have a better 00:17:18.379 --> 00:17:22.398 - outlook on this year's Fall Festival by the end of the summer. 00:17:23.010 --> 00:17:30.632 - The next Ellitsville Town Council meeting will take place on March 23rd. The Monroe County Commissioners 00:17:30.632 --> 00:17:37.891 - met on March 12th and discussed the expansion of the Bloomington Convention Center. County Attorney 00:17:37.891 --> 00:17:45.223 - Jeff Cockerill provided background on the Convention Center expansion. In 2010, the county purchased 00:17:45.223 --> 00:17:52.990 - those properties and they cost in the neighborhood of $3 million and they were purchased for the expansion 00:17:53.378 --> 00:18:00.494 - of the convention center, including the location of a potential hotel. And that was, you know, 00:18:00.494 --> 00:18:08.284 - five years, 10 years, 20 years down the line, it was paid through innkeeper's tax. And since that time, 00:18:08.284 --> 00:18:16.073 - innkeeper's tax has been used to maintain the property and keep it in relatively working order in order 00:18:16.073 --> 00:18:22.590 - for it to be able to still be used for that purpose. In February of this year, we have 00:18:22.850 --> 00:18:31.559 - gotten a request from the CIB, which is the Capital Improvement Board, which is the board that is put 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:40.269 - in place to oversee the expansion and the Convention Center properties and things like that for those 00:18:40.269 --> 00:18:49.405 - properties. And again, those were purchased with innkeepers tax dollars. And so right now we are exploring 00:18:49.405 --> 00:18:50.686 - that transfer. 00:18:50.978 --> 00:18:58.478 - We are aware that there are 17 tenants, residential tenants in those properties through three different 00:18:58.478 --> 00:19:05.978 - buildings. We are working, we have had discussions with, and I don't know how, what's been communicated 00:19:05.978 --> 00:19:13.551 - to the tenants yet or not, that we are working with the executive director of the apartment association, 00:19:13.551 --> 00:19:17.950 - as well as tangently, Mary Morgan with Heading Home has been 00:19:19.202 --> 00:19:25.712 - has been communicated with and they are prepared to help. He explained that over the course of development, 00:19:25.712 --> 00:19:31.860 - the site of the proposed host hotel and parking lot has expanded to include Seminary Point apartments 00:19:31.860 --> 00:19:37.888 - and surrounding properties. Due to this decision, the county notified tenants that their lease ends 00:19:37.888 --> 00:19:44.157 - on July 7th. Cockrell says future goals include helping them to find a new place to live. During public 00:19:44.157 --> 00:19:48.798 - comment, several Monroe County residents spoke out against this development. 00:19:49.090 --> 00:19:55.180 - Community member Barry Herbers criticized what he sees as a lack of transparency and limited options 00:19:55.180 --> 00:20:01.813 - for those currently living in Seminary Point apartments. Every single person in the Seminary Point apartments 00:20:01.813 --> 00:20:07.843 - was just told, and I mean within the last few weeks, that they will be forced out of their homes in 00:20:07.843 --> 00:20:13.933 - July, homes they had been asking for renewals for for six months, and you told them nothing. This is 00:20:13.933 --> 00:20:17.310 - a college town, so that would be bad enough on its own. 00:20:17.954 --> 00:20:23.748 - But the Seminary Point apartments are also the most affordable housing in Bloomington's core. I understand 00:20:23.748 --> 00:20:29.272 - the county, that's you, claim that they have rehomed these people like they're animals. Now it sounds 00:20:29.272 --> 00:20:34.795 - like you're not claiming that anymore. I guess that was a rumor you found out you were being lied to. 00:20:34.795 --> 00:20:40.372 - Or if you were lying to us and we found that out first, unclear. But it was a lie. I know that because 00:20:40.372 --> 00:20:45.950 - I did something that will shock you. I actually asked the people living there if they had been helped. 00:20:46.722 --> 00:20:53.253 - The man I spoke to the longest is a recovering addict. He's also a father and a husband. He and his 00:20:53.253 --> 00:20:59.848 - wife have one young child and a second one on the way. I asked him what his plans are when you three 00:20:59.848 --> 00:21:06.706 - force him out of his home. He said, I have no idea. He told me he was laid off and that he's just trying 00:21:06.706 --> 00:21:13.367 - to stay off the street. He said this apartment was a lifeline for his family. And you are cutting his 00:21:13.367 --> 00:21:15.326 - lifeline. His pregnant wife's 00:21:15.490 --> 00:21:20.388 - Lifeline. Now, it's tempting when you're accused of something like that to deflect and point anywhere 00:21:20.388 --> 00:21:25.238 - but yourself, which you've already done. But I'm not going to let you do that because this isn't our 00:21:25.238 --> 00:21:30.137 - first stop. We asked the Bloomington City Council months ago, why are you forcing these people out of 00:21:30.137 --> 00:21:34.939 - their homes? They pointed at the county. I thought, fair enough, the county owns the building. So I 00:21:34.939 --> 00:21:39.789 - spoke to the Monroe County Councilors multiple times. I asked them, why are you forcing these people 00:21:39.789 --> 00:21:41.950 - out of their homes? They pointed at lawyers. 00:21:43.138 --> 00:21:48.803 - So at that point, I started to get a little annoyed. I get emotional. I understand that. But we heard 00:21:48.803 --> 00:21:54.356 - from a lawyer, and they pointed at you, three of you, the only three people. This is the end of the 00:21:54.356 --> 00:22:00.021 - road. I don't really care who you decide, the council, the commissioners, or the lawyers. I just need 00:22:00.021 --> 00:22:06.018 - you to answer the question honestly and without deflection. Why are you forcing the tenants of the Seminary 00:22:06.018 --> 00:22:09.406 - Point apartments out of their homes? That is not rhetorical. 00:22:09.890 --> 00:22:15.596 - What are you planning to do with this block once you've gotten rid of the people who live there and 00:22:15.596 --> 00:22:21.303 - businesses who pay your innkeepers tax that you're so worried about? In lieu of an answer, I'm left 00:22:21.303 --> 00:22:27.124 - to assume it's going to be a parking lot for the convention center that you want us to subsidize with 00:22:27.124 --> 00:22:32.944 - more of our money that again is not yours. Others such as Chris Branham discuss the development as it 00:22:32.944 --> 00:22:36.254 - relates to the lack of affordable housing in Bloomington. 00:22:36.514 --> 00:22:45.173 - Branham emphasized the importance of prioritizing residents over tourists and providing more affordable 00:22:45.173 --> 00:22:54.082 - housing in the area. And so I think there's a time to say, what are we going to prioritize in this moment? 00:22:54.082 --> 00:23:02.658 - The comfort and pleasures of people from out of town coming in for a convention or our own people that 00:23:02.658 --> 00:23:06.238 - were here to serve and help our neighbors. 00:23:06.338 --> 00:23:15.915 - I can speak to my own mother. She is a bus driver in Bloomington, and she does not live in Bloomington. 00:23:15.915 --> 00:23:25.401 - She couldn't live in Bloomington city limits on the salary she gets. Many of her colleagues are in the 00:23:25.401 --> 00:23:35.070 - same place. When we count things in terms of we'll help these residents find something relatively close, 00:23:35.522 --> 00:23:44.031 - and relatively in the same price point, that relative might be doing a lot of work. Local resident Aaron 00:23:44.031 --> 00:23:52.297 - Comforti also pushed for the possibility of alternative legal interpretations for the restrictions on 00:23:52.297 --> 00:24:00.482 - the innkeeper's tax. Given the housing affordability crisis, it seems well within reason to research 00:24:00.482 --> 00:24:05.182 - alternative legal interpretations and analyses that would 00:24:05.570 --> 00:24:14.655 - allow the county to fulfill its obligations under the state code as it relates to assets purchased through 00:24:14.655 --> 00:24:23.570 - funds raised through the innkeeper's tax, while also protecting the Seminary Point Department's building 00:24:23.570 --> 00:24:32.061 - and maintaining it as affordable housing. I really think that there are ways to do so and that it's 00:24:32.061 --> 00:24:34.014 - very much worth doing. 00:24:35.938 --> 00:24:43.617 - It's a really reasonable exercise for the county to investigate. The transfer of the properties will 00:24:43.617 --> 00:24:51.297 - need to be approved by both the county council and the county commissioners. The next meeting of the 00:24:51.297 --> 00:24:58.976 - Monroe County commissioners will be held on March 19th. And that is all for Cats Week. Thank you for 00:24:58.976 --> 00:25:03.006 - joining us. For Cats and WFHB, I'm Annalise Poorman.