Hello and welcome to Cats Week. I'm Annalise Poorman. The Monroe County Council met on May 26 and rejected
a purchase agreement to buy the North Park property for a new jail. According to Commissioner Julie
Thomas, the North Park property was the only option for the county to meet deadlines for a 2008 ACLU
lawsuit. I just want to quickly remind everyone that we have two deadlines facing us. The first one
is Friday's ACLU deadline.
The other is the bond council's deadline to initiate a bond in July. Anything other than North Park
at this moment means we miss both deadlines. Commissioner Jody Madeira said failing to purchase the
property will result in the ACLU filing for summary judgment. Summary judgment isn't a request for further
negotiation or dialogue. It's a request for a court to decide the ultimate legal question without a
trial because the facts aren't meaningfully in dispute.
The question here will be, did Monroe County have an unconstitutional jail? I don't know that any elected
official in this room would say that it's not unconstitutional. In recent days, our population was as
high as 272. This jail has a functional capacity of 235. This is a structural problem. All the new services
in the world won't create new ADA cells, rec space, or alleviate overcrowding.
So if summary judgment is granted, the only remaining question is what remedy a federal court will impose
on Monroe County. Once we stop acting as one county and start acting as separate legal adversaries,
the commissioners, the sheriff and the council will each retain separate attorneys, file separate briefs
and present separate arguments. And from what I've seen of the record from the past 17 years, the ACLU
will prevail.
County Sheriff Ruben Marte urged the council to approve the purchase agreement saying that the current
facility is not safe for his staff or inmates. Not to move forward at the present time is literally
putting a tremendous amount of more stress on the staff that are already stressed to a point that concerns
me. It really does. So we all agree that we want to treat people
We agreed upon that. We also agreed that we want to have public safety to the utmost. This is a public
safety issue because we try to do is when they come in and provide specifically residents now I'm talking
about is provided with with all the help that we can. So when they leave the facility they don't go
back to the same pattern or habits that cause them to be in there. We're trying to be proactive but
here again it keeps coming back to
facility and the staff number. The council rejected a North Park proposal in October because the county
lacked funding following the passage of 2025 Senate Enrolled Act 1. The council again rejected a proposal
to buy the property at their May 12th meeting. Council President Jennifer Crossley said that
the commissioners need to propose a different location. She suggested the county try to use the Thompson
property since the county already owns it.
That's where we are. And I don't have any notes or anything like that that I have. I'm just kind of
going off the cliff of my head here. So let me go ahead and spell it out for people. If you didn't already
know, now you know, because you're hearing it from me. I think we need to look at what we already have.
The public has made comments about what we already have. Use what we already have. And years ago,
That was a Thompson site. And I looked at all things considered way back when, when studies were done,
that that was supposed to be a juvenile justice facility. And back then, in the term of the economic
crisis that we were facing then, my times have changed, that we needed to do something then because
costs will continue to skyrocket and will increase.
And here we are yet again those costs are skyrocketing increase with building and all of the above.
I think with this whole fight of SB 1.
where we are kind of taking a look back and some of us have continued to say that SB1 is the part where
we've kind of, you know, we can't do certain things and we're restricted with our funding and our lit
rates and all of those different things. I think that was the moment where we collaboratively, not just
talking it, but just actually doing it, could have said, let's take a step back here, let's see what
we are really doing and let us do with what we have.
During public comment, over 30 people spoke in opposition to purchasing the land. Many were concerned
about the distance between the North Park property and other services for people in the jail. Bloomington
City Councilmember Isabel Piedmont-Smith said that she thinks the county should spend money on alternative
services to prevent future incarcerations.
The jail proposal at the North Park site is a poor use of taxpayer money. We're not only burdening future
generations with debt, but we're also burdening them with a status quo criminal justice system that
is focused on punishment and where it should be focused on prevention. This is an opportunity to change
this system, which I've been saying for years, but due to the non-collaborative nature of the commissioners
on this, it was ignored. And many in the community have been saying the same thing.
Any facility, as the current proposal is, that has a significantly higher number of beds will be, could
very well be used by ICE, could be used by the federal government, which is repressing American citizens
and legal immigrants to this country across the board. Public safety is not arresting people and putting
them in jail. Public safety rests on the principle that true
Safety comes only from racial and economic justice, where residents have the resources and stability
they need to survive and hopefully to thrive. Other public commenters blamed the Monroe County commissioners
for the county facing such urgency on the jail project. Former City Council member Steve Volin called
for the commissioners to resign.
If you approve this, you'll show that if the commissioners drag their feet long enough, they'll get
their druthers in the face of all evidence that shows it's a bad idea. You'll reward their negligence,
their intransigence, even their contempt for you, for the city of Bloomington, the people of Monroe
County, and most of all, the incarcerated, whom the commissioners could have spared an unconstitutional
jail years ago if only they had applied an ounce of diplomacy.
Whatever your vote tonight, do not take responsibility for a failure that rests solely with
the commissioners. Send the message that the county must not be subjected to a reorganization of its
physical plant that will be permanent, catastrophic, and avoidable. If this was the best they had to
offer, let their next act be to send a message that might get the ACLU to back off. Let them do the
honorable thing and resign their seats.
Councilmember Pete Iverson was the only vote in favor of the purchase agreement. He said while the proposal
was unpopular, he believed delaying the decision would be unwise. And let me repeat, there are no ideal
choices here. This is a terrible decision to be making right now. A vote for the litigation option is
kicking the can down the road at least three years. A vote for the affirmative option
presents a solution that perpetuates a system that jails too many people. There are no ideal solutions
to us tonight, but there is a marginally optimal one. This evening, we have a viable path forward to
end 17 years of stalemate. Sit with that for a second.
On the other hand, several council members said that they could not support moving forward with the
proposal after considerable public opposition. Council member Jennifer Crossley said that the North
Park property had become too divisive for the county to move forward. But this is the part right now
where I feel like this is a moment where we can either do well or we can screw it over. And I was in
Novak in October.
I was a no back in a couple of weeks ago, and I'm still a no. But again, here's where I can say yes.
I can say yes to true active collaboration. I can say yes to really getting down in the trenches.
Like today, like after this is all, well, maybe not today, because I literally want to spend a little
bit of time with my son. Or the next day, where we can come back in a room and say, let's figure this out.
Mr. Richardson back there has continued to say, let's talk about this. Let's talk about this.
I can tell you, we are trying to talk about it. Whether or not other people really want to come to the
table and really want to talk to us about it, that's a whole other subject. But again, I think about,
as Council Member Henry has said before, Charlotte's last conversations were, you all can do hard things.
You just need to know how to do it and go do it. And since we are quoting,
songs. I really like to think of songs as well to get me through hard times. And a great lyricist by
the name of Tupac said, remember one thing, for every dark night, there's a bright day and after that,
so no matter how hard it gets, stick your chest out, keep your head up and handle it. Colleagues, that's
what we got to keep doing. County commissioners,
That's what we have to keep doing. City colleagues, sheriff here, that's what we have to keep doing.
Yes, I understand the repercussions. I come from people who understand consequences of many things that
have come up against them. But this right here, this is where we are. So with that being said, may we
please have a roll call vote?
The council rejected the purchase agreement six to one with Iverson being the only supporting vote.
He said the North Park proposal has been the only path forward presented in the 17 years since the lawsuit
was filed. Ahead of this vote, I have done what I feel is my due diligence. I have discussed this vote
with as many constituents as I can from as many diverse backgrounds as I can. This includes clergy,
first responders, mental health professionals, public safety
presuppressionals, county employees, former and current elected officials, attorneys and more. What
I'm hearing from folks out in the first district is they want us to end 17 years of indecision. What
I'm hearing is that they want action. The council followed with a motion to deny the purchase of the
North Park property. That motion passed six to zero.
Commissioner David Henry was unable to vote because he was attending online and his connection failed.
The Monroe County Council will meet again on June 9th. The Richland Township Board and Ellitsville Town
Council met on May 27th to continue discussions on a proposed government reorganization that
would consolidate the two into one unified governmental structure.
Richland Township Trustee Susan Brown opened the meeting by recapping months-long studies on the potential
impacts to finance, public safety, planning and zoning, parks and utilities if the proposal passes.
I know I said this at a previous meeting, but I'd like to reiterate that I thought the subcommittees
did an excellent job on the reports. I thought they were very thorough, and I liked everything about
them, the language, the graphics, the maps, everything.
And I like the history that was put in some of those reports. So in any event, the subcommittees present
their report to the reorganization committee. The reorganization committee approved a draft plan of
reorganization on April 9th, and that has been on the Ellsville Richlandinfo.org website since about
that time. And as you're aware, that's a recommendation to both boards as to how the reorganization
forward because ultimately the obligation to draft the reorganization plan rests with both the governmental
boards. A representative from Baker-Tilley then outlined what the proposed governing structure would
look like. The proposed governance structure includes a seven-member town council. This would include
five district seats and two at-large seats during the transition period. The township government would
be dissolved
but representation for both the urban and rural areas would continue through the district structure.
The goal is to maintain local representation while improving coordination across the consolidated area.
The presentation also explained the difference between the proposals, urban and rural service districts.
This framework is again intended to align taxes more closely with the services that are currently provided.
So why two districts? The two district structure serves several important purposes that I've reiterated
and I'm going to reiterate here. It matches the taxes with the service levels. It allows phased growth
and expansion.
It preserves the rural character and expectations, and it supports long-term infrastructure planning.
Both entities voted to preliminarily approve the fiscal impact analysis, allowing the proposal to move
forward. This will allow for additional public hearings and possible placement on the November 2026 ballot.
The Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission met on May 28th and discussed possible historic designation
for a property on North Prow Avenue. The home was built in 1945. However, Commissioner Jeremy Hackard
said that alone is not enough to qualify the building as a historic marker. Yeah, I'm sad to see a small
house, especially with a story like this one, just a unique story and tear down a small house to build
a small house feels ironic.
But I don't think there's much we can do, unfortunately, that are either or options. The commission
approved the demolition. A new house will be built on the soon to be vacant lot.
In February of 2024, the Historic Preservation Commission approved the expansion of a small 1920s garage
driveway, including modifications to connect the garage to the residence. The cost of appropriateness
had expired after two years. The property owner came to the commission to request a new COA. Hackard
said he supports the request.
Basically, the only thing that's changing is the timeframe. Asking for more time is already approved
once. I see no reason to re-litigate this, so I am in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Historic
Preservation Program Manager Noah Sandweiss updated the Commission on the Code of Conduct. Sandweiss
then acknowledged the accomplishments of Commissioner Melody Dusner. I'd like to give a shout out to
Melody Dusner in her class, which won an IU Center for Rural Engagement Award.
for very relevant to us research on a stone carver in Odon, Indiana named Ira Correll, which culminated
in the installation of an Indiana historic marker. The BHPC will meet again on June 4th.
The Monroe County Stormwater Management Board met on May 27th. The board reviewed funding requests from
projects under its Memorandum of Understanding with Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Stormwater Program Manager Erica Penna explained the first request, which sought water management solutions.
This first one, the issue, if I'm understanding correctly, there's a culvert that drains under the road.
from the hillside into their field. And so this project would help direct that drainage into a specific
channel and help their pasture and their cattle. They're not impacting the direct flow into bean blossom.
SWCD representative Erica Myers confirmed that this project falls under the guidelines of the joint
small grants program. However, Monroe County surveyor Tron Enright Randolph raised concerns
about transparency, pointing to redacted collaborators in the meeting agenda packet. Being a right payer
fund, I think it should be very transparent that people know where these dollars are coming from or
going to, sorry.
So I understand that these redactions of the name and where the project's going is not SWCD. I understand
that. But I think this information needs to be public and should not be redacted. Meyers responded that
a majority of the redactions were due to policies of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and
not the landowners.
Ben Myers referred to the Conservation District's discussions around mandating transparency in the small
grants program. And Wright Randolph also tied these transparency concerns to larger considerations about
budget allocation. And then furthermore, we need to establish a method to support more ratepayers while
remaining fair to all residents of Monroe County. And that's what I think the mini grant program is
all about. It creates these guidelines and it has these caps.
Monroe County Commissioner Julie Thomas moved to approve the additional funding under the condition
that the client and landowner make their names publicly known upon approval. Commissioner Jodi Madeira
supported the requirement. The Stormwater Management Board will meet again on June 24th. 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.