- Good morning. I'm going to call to order this meeting of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. It
- is Thursday, December 11th. If you're having conversations, if you could move that outside, we'd appreciate
- it. Thank you so much. Just outside the doors there. Thank you. We will begin. I will note for the record
- that all three commissioners are here and present in the Nattie Hill room, and we'll begin with the
- public statement read by Commissioner Madera.
- We, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, renew our commitment to welcome and protect the rights
- of all people, regardless of age, race, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender,
- gender identity, marital status, economic status, and national origin. And we affirm the right of every
- person to live peacefully and without fear. And we will fight and resist at every step discrimination
- and harmful policies, whatever their source. We believe in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
- We also stand in support of our county public school systems
- both RBD and MCC SC. All right, thank you so much. Next, we will move on to our department updates.
- Do we have the health department here? Good morning. Yes. Good morning, commissioners. So just a few updates.
- According to the Indiana Department of Health dashboard, as of December 9th, emergency department visits
- for COVID-like illness remain stable, so not seeing changes there, but wastewater concentrations are
- continuing to trend up. According to data from WastewaterScan, flu levels are low and RSV levels have
- dropped to very low.
- Just as a reminder, vaccinations help to reduce your chances of getting infected and can prevent serious
- illness and death. Vaccines are available through the public health clinic. You can call 812-353-3244
- for an appointment. Thank you so much. Comments or questions? Commissioner Jones? No, I don't. Commissioner
- Madeira? No, thank you. I don't have any either. Thank you so much. Next, we have an update from
- Parks and Veterans Affairs, Ms. Whitmer and Mr. Miller. Good morning. Good morning. All right.
- Good morning, commissioners. I wanted to just talk to you a little bit about the new 988 suicide prevention
- benches that were recently purchased by the Monroe County Parks Department. They ordered 40 new benches
- that will be distributed around the county. Right now, what I would like to mention about that is that
- they're a powerful message
- to let folks know that help is always available. Each bench serves as a quiet reminder that someone
- in crisis can reach out by dialing 988, then pressing 1. Excuse me, that will get veterans connected
- to a qualified veteran crisis caseworker. And I wanted to also just give a heartfelt thank you to the
- entire Parks Department and Kelly for putting this together. I think it's an incredible project.
- They'll be located at Cars Farm Park, Cars Farm Greenway, Flatwoods Park, Limestone Greenway, Will Dettmer
- Park, Jackson Creek Park, and Monroe County Nature Preserve. They're very well built. We had to go up
- to Pendleton facility to go get them.
- and high security and that we look like the Beverly Hillbillies with the 40 benches, but we got them
- all strapped down. My grandma didn't come with us, but it's really exciting to have these benches because
- people go on walks and hikes in our parks and sometimes they need help and hopefully this might be of
- assistance, not just to veterans, but to anyone who needs any assistance. Awesome.
- And that is important to note that anyone can call 988 and get assistance. All right. Thank you. Thank
- you both. That's really good news and a really nice way to enforce the message. I was just going to
- say, I hope you stop for vittles on the way home. But anyway, no, this is very cool. Thank you so much.
- You're very welcome. I had one more thing I would like to mention. Oh, please. That's OK. On Saturday,
- there will be wreaths across America. Right now, weather dependent, but right now we're pressing forward.
- And we're going to have the, excuse me, the main ceremony is going to be at the Elks Club at 1030 on
- Saturday morning with wreath laying following at Rose Hill at about noon.
- Excuse me, there will be about 10 locations this year in Monroe County and around the area. Of course,
- Rose Hill, White Oak Cemetery, Gossport Cemetery, Unionville Cemetery, Shiloh Cemetery, the Valhalla
- Elks Rest, Burgund Cemetery, South Union, Prairie Chapel in Lyons, and Dog Island in Lyons.
- So those all are going to have their ceremonies. Hopefully it'll all turn out the way we hope to, but
- the weather is going to depend on things. So we're really excited about that. Thank you again.
- Thank you. Do you have comments or questions on the benches? Just that it's a great idea and pretty
- exciting. I'm glad it's being done. Great message. Thank you very much. All right.
- Any other departments have an update for us? I see a hand raised, but I can't. Ah, Dr. Baten from GIS.
- Good morning. Hey, everybody. Can you hear me? Yes. OK, I was going to come down, but I figured I'd
- show on my computer instead.
- TSC, am I able to share my screen? Are you guys able to see my screen? Yes. Oh, you are. Okay, perfect.
- Hey, yeah, so I just wanted to showcase we've been collaborating with our emergency management team,
- and we've developed a new
- map that's showing the locations of the warming stations that will be open this weekend when we're facing
- these bitterly cold temperatures. So I'll just navigate to how to get to this. It is mobile friendly
- and everything like that. So if you go to departments, to emergency management, and we'll be sharing
- this on our social links and stuff like that as well. And then important news and information. Here's
- the map of the warming station locations. You get like a little disclaimer here. If you hit OK,
- And you have the locations of all the warming stations. You can essentially zoom into the map,
- drop a pointer, and it's going to give you a list of the locations within a specific radius from where
- you are. You can click on this, and you can say Bloomington Fire Station 1, and it will
- showcase where that is, you can click on the link here, too, and it'll give you an image of what the
- location looks like in case folks are curious as to where they're going. A lot of feedback happening.
- There we go. This is mobile-friendly, as I said, and so if you click on this link on a mobile device,
- it will be functioning appropriately on your screen and things like that. So, yeah, just wanted to get
- an update and show the kind of collaboration with
- Emergency Management, Surveyor's Office, GIS Division, and NTSD. And yeah, this will be up on the county
- site and all of our socials and things like that. So that's it. Great. Thank you so much. Comments or
- questions? Commissioner Jones? Yeah, thank you so much for thinking of this and making it happen. With
- the weather that's coming up, it could make a big difference for a lot of people. Commissioner Maduro?
- I echo Commissioner Jones's comments. Thank you so much. Thank you, Dr. Baten. Appreciate you.
- Thank you. Anyone else for a department update? Did you? Oh, you were looking over here. So the commissioners
- have an update for the public.
- regarding the situation at Thompson, and I'm just going to read the statement and then follow up with
- a little additional information. We fervently believe people are safer and healthier when they live
- indoors, especially during the winter months. We have worked with Health Net, the City of Bloomington,
- and local not-for-profits and community groups to identify reasonable accommodations for people who
- currently reside on the Thompson property. Let's be clear, there are people trespassing on county property
- and there are no appropriate public health sanitary facilities present. The sheriff has indicated that
- he will not remove people from the Thompson property at this juncture. Our hands are tied.
- We fear the worst, but we hope for the best. There is a broader community issue that this is a symptom
- of. We will be part of the solution, but it will require that we, along with the county council and
- the city of Bloomington, the mayor's office and the city council need to work together. This is a,
- community problem and we recognize that. So at one o'clock today we will have a community conversation
- with folks who are interested and we hope to learn more and engage in a productive conversation
- about long-term solutions, what those look like and how we can get there. We are really interested in
- hearing from the community and we know that there are people all across this community who are interested
- and concerned and care deeply for people in our community who have less than we do. And
- So that will be at one o'clock. And as we move into public comment today, it is for items that are not
- on our agenda. And so with this being on our agenda, public comment is reserved for items not on our
- agenda. And it is limited to three minutes per speaker. And we do ask
- for folks to give their name and their county of residence. You can join us via Teams or you can step
- up to the podium here in the NatU Hill Room. But if you're here to discuss the issue of the unhoused
- and Thompson, that will wait till one o'clock at which point we will have
- comment and or conversation, whichever folks prefer. So I see a couple of hands raised online. I don't
- see a name, but it is coming up under the letter A. I oppose the evictions that are happening in Bloomington.
- Thank you. But that is going to be discussed at one o'clock. So please join us then. Under the letter
- L. Looks like Lorraine.
- Okay, we can come back to the NETU Hill Room, but again, these are folks who have spoken already last
- week on this issue, and we are not going to hear this issue during public comment, but we will hear
- it at one o'clock. So do you have an item that is not on our agenda that you'd like to discuss? I do.
- Thank you. Hi, my name is Gabriel. I'll wait till that clock starts.
- I wore this outfit so that you would recognize me specifically, Ms. Thomas. I would like to talk about
- Bloomington's White Flag Policy, which is technically not on your agenda. Now, this policy outlines
- the total amount of beds that Bloomington has for the unhoused. Once again, not on the agenda. When
- you add them up, it is 259 beds, according to the January 2025 Census of Humvees.
- unhoused individuals within Bloomington. There are 305. We understand that number two have ballooned.
- We also understand that the census does not pull from faith providers for its counts. Knowing that,
- your white flag agenda is short beds. I figure that may be pertinent to items that may be on the agenda,
- but it's hard to say. Secondarily, I would like to not apologize for calling you a murderer last week.
- Once again, I wore this outfit so that you would recognize me. You continue to obfuscate the public will
- You continue to push meetings past vote times and commissioner dates. You continue to silence voices
- by sneaking things onto the agenda like this. You continue to make public statements without listening
- to the facts, without listening to service providers. I know Health Net's on the agenda, and I'll be
- there talking about its absolute inability to provide services as you have described. I do hope people
- stand up and speak on this topic in spite
- of your actions to silence us. We are your constituency. We will be speaking at this meeting, and you
- will cost lives if you do not change course of action. Hi, my name is Sid Das. I live in Monroe County,
- and I'd like to talk about the public presence here, which I do not believe is on the agenda either.
- So you are saying that if we want to talk about some of the issues on the agenda, such as Health Net
- or the camp evictions, that we have to wait till 1 PM when there is a work session. You have the public
- here filling out this entire room at 10 AM on a Thursday when most people are usually at work. We've
- had to take off time for this. And instead, you're trying to postpone when we can discuss this till
- after the county meeting. I just don't get the logic there unless if
- Your goal is just to slide this under the rug and follow through with your evictions. Yeah. And sorry.
- It's going to take a sec. Yeah. I mean, we're here to show that we are going to be keeping an eye on
- everything that you do and that all of us strongly oppose evictions in general. You have the Sheriff's
- Office and the County Council all in opposition
- of any evictions in the winter yet you can't even commit to putting this off till the spring. We have
- all made it clear that we oppose evictions in general as a whole and all we're asking right now is a
- pause on these till the spring and you can't even provide that commitment. You mentioned being
- in collaboration with different branches of the city, different organizations around town.
- Health Net is going to be on the agenda, but I'd just like to point out that when they supposedly showed
- up to help people move during an eviction that happened on Monday still, in the peak of freezing weather,
- they showed up, took people's belongings in their truck, and never showed up again despite their promises
- to be back there. So these are the organizations that you're saying that you partner with to help people
- make it through the winter and find better conditions to stay in. I just wanted to bring that up. Lastly,
- I want to talk about the cumulative capital. To be clear, if you're going to use that for evictions,
- you have to declare an emergency, which you have not done so. Nor do I know that there are any plans
- to do so moving forward when you're planning to pay corporations to carry out these evictions.
- So if you do plan to carry this out in the winter anytime soon, we'll be aware of that and know that's
- in violation of your own policy. So just want to make that clear as well. So last thing, will you choose
- to stay the evictions until April 1st at the earliest? We will be here until you choose to stay the
- eviction until April 1st.
- Is that what you'll do today? All right, your time is up today. Thank you. That's why we're having a
- conversation at 1 o'clock. We take public comment. You all asked for a conversation. We're very happy
- to do that at 1 o'clock, dedicated time to
- exchange information and ideas. So we're looking forward to that. Public comment is a time for us to
- receive comment, not to have a conversation. So next up, please. Hi, my name is Jeremy Nottingham. I
- wanted to talk a little bit about the fragility of life
- in this city. I live in Bloomington, which is a beautiful city. I live in a great neighborhood.
- My neighborhood across the street has about 20 of those inflatable Christmas decorations. I love it.
- Every morning I get up and it warms my heart. Today I woke up in a nice warm bed. And the first thing
- I did was get my adorable little dog and took her outside into the freezing cold. It was cold today.
- Then I went to the freezer and, well,
- I got some food out for her. She looks forward to breakfast every morning. I got some food out of the
- freezer for myself and made breakfast. It was great. And we sat in front of the TV on the couch. And
- she and I, we just kind of cuddled for a little while. She snoozed. She's an expert at snoozing. She's
- really good at naps. I was thinking about how easy it would be for me to lose all of this. It wouldn't
- be hard at all for this to happen. It's not unrealistic. In fact, I lie awake.
- without sleep every night thinking about what would it take. I miss two rent payments because I can't
- afford to own a house. I miss two rent payments and the next thing that happens is there's an eviction
- notice on my door. And what that means is if I don't leave on time, if I don't go somewhere, people
- with guns will show up and tell me to leave. And they'll say you can take whatever you can carry and
- whatever you leave in the house, it's not yours anymore.
- I can't carry my bed. I can't carry my furnace. I can't carry my freezer. I'll take a bag of dog food,
- I guess. Maybe a loaf of bread. Maybe some worn clothes. And my little dog, Pie. Her name is Pie. Not
- like the food, but like the Greek letter. And I would have to go somewhere. Where would I go? Well,
- I'm lucky because my son and his partner and their little baby, their little six-month-old daughter,
- Her name is Robin. And apologies. Anybody have a grandchild or a child? And no offense, but Robin is
- the most beautiful girl in the world. So I'm sure yours is very nice. And that's great. She's the apple
- of my eye. They would probably take me in. I could probably sleep on their couch. And they're lucky,
- because Asher's
- My son, his partner Ayanna, her grandmother, their grandmother has let them live in the house that she
- owns. And I could stay with them. But what would it take for them to lose their house? It could burn
- down tomorrow. And where would they go? They and their dog and their three cats and ran through Little
- Robin. And me and my little dog, where would we go? There are shelters in town.
- There are a couple of them. But where would they go? Where would little Robin live? Maybe Robin and
- her mother could live in a shelter for a few days, maybe a few months. I can live on the street.
- I am tough. Your time's up. So if you could complete your thought, thank you. Absolutely. Life is short.
- Life is fragile. And we need to think about the people for whom life is even more fragile than ours.
- Thank you. Thank you.
- Next up, please. Hi. My name is Mo. I wanted to speak to the fact that, Julie Thomas, I see you wearing
- a mask, and I'm so grateful to see that. I'm somebody who wears a mask everywhere. I care about the
- health and safety of the people around me, and I care about my own health. I am curious about the hypocrisy
- of speaking about the health crisis of living outside and saying that people need to live inside.
- with literally no solution to get people inside. As many people have said before me, there are not enough
- beds. Also something that we just spoke about a little bit with this last person is even where there
- are beds, the situation is not always worth it for people. If you have an animal or a pet that you're
- not willing to leave behind, you kind of just have to. And you are requiring people to give up family members.
- And also, I have been homeless myself. I ran away from home at 18 because I am a survivor of domestic violence.
- I was homeless for two months. I am incredibly privileged because I was able to couch surf. I had enough
- people and friends who I was able to stay with. I was incredibly privileged because my family, who was
- still behind, took care of our pets. They were stuck with our abuser for nine months after me. I was
- able to leave, and I wasn't always sure where I was gonna get food, but I was always, I was able to
- survive, and I never had to actually set up and stay somewhere and get harassed continuously.
- You are asking people to lay down and accept death. That is completely unacceptable. And I do not know
- how you live with yourself, considering you are somebody here who is wearing a mask. I love that. Where
- is this hypocrisy coming from? Thank you. Next up, please.
- My name is Liam Pizzano, and I would like to take this opportunity to comment on the proper usage of
- public comment and public comment forums. I actually do think it's good to have a period where our board
- of commissioners does just listen. I hope that they take the opportunity for this time to look internally.
- and not focus on responding to an individual person, but onto their own experiences and their own beliefs,
- and wonder how their policies reflect that. Firstly, I would like to speak to Commissioner Madeira.
- Ms. Madeira, I want to believe that you care about treating substance abuse, about gun violence, about
- the transgender youth and their access to health care. This was some of the foundational stuff of what
- brought you here to the board of commissioners. I want to believe this. But all of these things, what
- they have in common,
- is that our unhoused neighbors are some of the most vulnerable people within them. Many of our unhoused
- are transgender who can't get access to gender-reaffirming health care. Many of our unhoused are victims
- of gun violence, and not only victims of substance abuse, but at more risk of developing it as they
- are houseless. I know you have lost family due to substance abuse, and I sympathize. I really do. But
- during the winter, less than five years ago, a man in recovery from alcoholism died.
- froze to death in Seminary Park because of previous alcoholism, what alters temperature regulation in
- the body. They are physically more at risk of death because of this. I want to trust you, but how can
- I when there are decisions such as these that are leading to the deaths of our most vulnerable neighbors?
- You've criticized the board of commissioners in the past for failing to address the problems in Monroe
- County. Now is the time to prove that you will not fall for the same apathy to human life that it seems
- as though your colleagues have. And on the subject, Commissioner Thomas, I speak to you. I know you
- have volunteered extensively for the Middle Way House and similar domestic abuse shelters by personal
- experience.
- I volunteer at the community kitchen just by South Roger Street, just by the Thompson property, and
- I understand how it feels to form these personal connections with people when you were volunteering,
- to understand these people and see something of yourself in them. I wonder, did you make any personal
- connections with someone there? Maybe she was older than you expected people would be coming into there.
- God forbid, maybe she was younger.
- I want you to remember that person, keep them in your mind's eye, and see them frozen to death, the
- frost clinging to their skin and their eyes frozen open like a broken porcelain doll. I don't say this
- to disturb you or to anyone in this room, but to warn you. The lovely previous speaker before me is
- direct evidence that previous victims of domestic violence are more likely to be houseless, have less
- places to go. Your time is up.
- So if you could wrap up, please, in a sentence, I would appreciate it. Commissioners, for today and
- for until you stay this eviction, you are on trial, not just as commissioners of this board, not just
- as civil servants, but as people, people who care about the lives of other people and will save them
- when they can. And you can. And I hope you will, because right now the evidence against you in this
- trial is damning. I yield my time.
- I'm going to be really quick. I want to let everyone in this room know that if you came to speak on
- the evictions today, they can't tell you you can't. It's your First Amendment right, as well as Indiana
- code. They can't restrict you from speaking on any subject matter. You can check Indiana code 4-22-2-44.
- The other thing I want to say is that there's someone online who's had their hand raised for a little
- while. I think they're hoping to speak after me.
- And yeah, I oppose these evictions. And we're having that discussion at one o'clock, so I hope you can
- be here. Right. Right. Yeah. If you're planning to speak on this matter, come up and speak on this matter.
- Thank you.
- Mr. Commissioners, my name is Peter Iverson. I am a resident of Monroe County and I want to talk to
- you today about volunteering. As you know, the weather is very cold and so our community has stepped
- up with the Bloomington Severe Winter Emergency Shelter. Their mission is to provide a warm safe place
- to sleep to people who may not have shelter during severe
- winter weather. They began in early 2024 when folks in our communities, faith communities came together
- to provide more shelter during severe winter weather, and they recognize the need for more beds for
- people in Bloomington, especially women.
- The lead team was originally compromised people from First United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian
- Church, the First Christian Church, and those organizations, those faith, those worship, houses of worship,
- agreed to be host sites and Wheeler Mission volunteered to do laundry. 196 different volunteers from
- several other faith communities and the Bloomington area rallied and they were opened 43 times in the
- winter of 24 to 25.
- Churches held supply drives, volunteers brought snacks, and shelter was able to be provided for about
- 100 different people throughout the season. Now, they're currently providing shelter for over 30 guests
- any night when the weather conditions become dangerous. Unfortunately, the reason I'm stepping up today
- is last night they were unable to be open because there weren't enough volunteers.
- So my plea today is to anybody listening, to anybody watching, please go to BSW.
- ers.wordpress.com. The weather tonight is not going to be good, and we need people to step up and volunteer.
- Again, that's bswares.wordpress.com. If you cannot volunteer with your time, there's also areas where
- you can obtain training so that you can volunteer in a future time. And if you can't volunteer with
- your time, you can volunteer with your treasure. There are opportunities to support the organization there.
- So I would just really encourage folks to volunteer because last night the individuals who were sleeping
- in the Thompson woods were not able to use this resource because there simply were not enough volunteers.
- Thank you.
- morning my name is Moby Jean Glazer I'm a working parent and therapist here in Bloomington so I'm going
- to speak now because I am here for public comment and I will be speaking on the Thompson property first
- I would like to address commissioners Thomas attitude today at this meeting it is it feels very divisive
- and aggressive we are your constituents you represent us we are here to collaborate with you and stand
- for people who are
- the most vulnerable or some of the most vulnerable in our community. Please look at me when I'm speaking
- to you Commissioner Thomas. I'm taking notes. I want to see your eyes and I want to feel you because
- it feels like you're ignoring me and I hear that you're writing notes. I'm a resident in the Broadview
- neighborhood. I would first like to
- Thank and express gratitude to Commissioner Madeira for coming out and meeting the neighbors, our unhoused
- neighbors. There are a very small amount of neighbors who have complained, complained, who have put
- their discomfort above the well-being, the livelihood, the safety of our unhoused neighbors. And you
- have decided to center your policy and decision on the discomfort
- and the inability to tolerate difference over the lives of our unhoused neighbors. Why weren't you at
- the meeting on Tuesday? You could have come and you could have presented and you could have collaborated
- with the Common Council. Where were you? All of these people are here to address this and work on this.
- And instead, you've chosen to make sneaky decisions that everyone in our community, or sorry, I'll pull
- that back. I'm overgeneralizing. Many people
- have said, we do not want this. The sheriff is refusing to comply with your eviction. The entire common
- council said, we don't want this. We want to work on this. Where are the commissioners? Please listen
- to your constituents. People will die. And you will be responsible for their deaths. This is a time
- to be in community and to care for each other. And evicting people at any point, but especially in freezing
- weather is violence. The letter that you wrote, the statement that you read at the beginning is incredibly
- vague. It gives no information about what you're planning to do. And in it, I hear you name hope. Hope
- is not going to get us through this. We need your work, your informed work, and you listening to your
- community, not hope. Thank you.
- My name is Mallory Owen. I'm a local Monroe County resident. I'm a homeowner here in town and also a
- business owner, a small business owner. I'm the only person who works there. So my business had to shut
- down to come here today. So it's kind of hard and tricky for me to find time. So I just kind of wanted
- to first off say thank you to the community for helping me figure out how to be here and how to participate.
- It's my first time coming to a county commissioners meeting and so without people helping me figure
- out how to navigate this, I don't think I could be here to voice my opinion. So I'd like to talk about
- my concerns with transparency of funds and kind of rules of order issues. I kind of have just been hearing
- from people in my community that there is some questions about how
- funds that are going to be used for evictions, where those are coming from and where they ought to be
- going towards, aren't they for building infrastructure? So I'm concerned about that. I don't really
- know very much about it, but I just think that that's something that I'm concerned about. I'm also confused
- about this timing issue and how agenda items aren't allowed to be talked about in public comment.
- I guess I'd like to say that I think it's kind of strange that we can't talk about items on the agenda.
- I think that kind of seems like it would be, that's kind of counterintuitive to me. And then I'd also
- just like to say I live right across from Building Trades Park, and I've been able to in the last five
- years I've lived there notice some of the kind of patterns
- of my homeless neighbors as things shift around. So I'm not talking about this eviction specifically
- necessarily, but I just wanted to point out that I have noticed as evictions happen, and they do happen
- all the time, we see definitely a huge uptick in the number of people that come and live in our park
- and struggle to be supported by the infrastructure there. So I just kind of want to point out that just
- because they get moved
- people don't stop having these issues, right? Like the things that I know people, I guess, have been
- concerned about, like litter, or I don't know, being outside at night, I guess, or fighting, or things
- like that. That happens still regardless, if that's actually a concern. Now it's just happening somewhere
- else, and I think also the displacement that people face is going to be something that
- kind of just upticks all these things that people are concerned about, right? So the concerns that we're
- facing aren't going to necessarily be fixed just by moving it, right? So, yeah, so, la, la, la.
- Yeah, it just kind of increases the struggle for everyone involved when we do things without planning.
- So again, I just want to thank the community for bringing this to light, helping me get together, especially
- when it's so tricky to find times to talk to you guys and what we're allowed to talk about. So thank you.
- Good morning. My name is Jesse Kage and I'm a Monroe County resident in the first district. I was here
- last week and I want to take a moment to talk about my overall experience and working with your team
- on what I thought would be a no brainer decision. What seven days ago when I spoke last week I came
- to this podium with a little hope in the democratic process. I wasn't necessarily holding my breath
- but I had a sliver of optimism that there was some truth in that public statement that you read at the
- beginning of every meeting.
- After hearing Commissioner Thomas tell us last week that the supposed comfort of homeowners is more
- important than preventing a cold weather death, which this eviction will absolutely lead to based on
- data that we have collected, this hope completely left my body. Instead of spending the last week working
- on final projects and studying for exams, I have been losing sleep knowing that my friends are going
- to lose their homes, and even worse, that they have nowhere to go. We have conducted near, yeah,
- go for it, go for it.
- Thank you. Thank you. We have conducted near daily meetings with public officials who actually do want
- to listen to their constituents, all while continuing to conduct camp outreach. Two days ago, I went
- out at 6 AM with a friend over here to work with some people before a 9 AM class to make sure that they
- didn't lose all their possessions as a result of the clearing at Brown Woods, which I know isn't you
- guys, but I feel that it is relevant. I see the game that is being played now.
- And after all of this deliberation, the question I want to ask is why now? Why can you not wait till
- April 1st? Why does seemingly everyone in the county except Julie Thomas, Angela Purdy, and Richard
- Kreider vehemently oppose conducting this clearing in the winter? I want to know because this is cruel
- and unacceptable. Thank you.
- My name is Denise Travers. I'm a 37-year resident of Bloomington. I have volunteered weekly at the Monroe
- County Community Kitchen, and I'm a member of the Bloomington Friends Committee, or Bloomington Friends
- meaning the Quakers. I am privileged. I am able to show up at this meeting
- which I found out about less than 48 hours ago from a signal chat. Now we hear that this topic is being
- postponed with little to no notice to 1 p.m. I'll be there. I'm privileged. I'm not sure how many of
- the rest of us will be able to be there. I am privileged. I hope that
- At this meeting, you will choose not just to listen to your community advocates, but you will choose
- to work with us. This is an untenable situation. The lack of transparency about this process to hear
- today is evidence of a lack of commitment of the leadership in this community, and that is unacceptable.
- I'll be there. I'll be listening. We'll be there.
- I'm Jack Municky. I'm currently residing here in Bloomington and I just kind of wanted to talk about
- how there's sort of a tendency to dehumanize homeless people. Like a lot of the times people's interactions
- with homeless people are them struggling like maybe they're having a mental breakdown or some other
- challenge that they're having. And I just want to say like that tendency to just like see them as just
- not people is just completely like
- I mean, it's just evil. I'll just say it. And I think when we want to address homelessness as an issue,
- you can't just keep pushing them around. They don't stop being homeless when you evict them. They don't
- stop struggling. You need to give them houses, give them a place to live. And I think focusing on just
- evictions, especially during the winter when they're fighting for their lives right now, I think it's
- just ridiculous and evil.
- Good morning. My name is Ivan. I am a Monroe County resident. I'm originally brought here to the city
- of Bloomington through the university. I'm finishing out my studies here this semester and I had the
- wonderful opportunity to go to Washington DC to do an internship program and I
- someone who considers myself civically engaged, both politically and in state and local matters. And
- something that I was really left with after that experience is a real understanding of why institutions,
- specifically government institutions, have really had a cratering in faith in the public. And so I kind
- of came back a little disillusioned being somebody who wanted to feel like I could
- be there in the halls of change, right next to where everything's happening. And I left with a total
- lack of confidence that I would actually be able to affect the kind of change that makes me interested
- in public affairs in the first place. So coming back to Bloomington, I was in the PACE program.
- And I actually had the privilege of having County Commissioner Julie Thomas as my professor for that
- course. And a lot of times, I think, local matters, local politics, and local government can seem really
- opaque by its structure. We're flooded in our news feeds, in the newspaper, whatever medium you choose
- to consume information about public affairs.
- These local issues can take the wayside by amount of interest, but it can often seem, like I said, very
- opaque and very difficult to kind of get the story on things and to familiarize yourself with the goings
- on of your community. But you brought in guests like the wonderful Dave Askins of the B Square Beacon.
- And I learned the forums to, the forum, wow, to consume this kind of information,
- familiarize myself and I think pursuant to that, pursuant to the idea of transparency and trying to
- bring more people into the fold, get the community to engage with institutions like this, like the Monroe
- County Board of Commissioners, I would just implore the council to
- Again, consider the fact that I cannot be here at 1 p.m. and I do not work a full-time job. I'm a student
- and that's an incredible place of privilege, but when we limit the comment to a period in the middle
- of the workday when obviously I think it seems a little silly to have that kind of constraint when obviously
- that's not what the community here interested in speaking and participating is interested in talking
- about. And so what I'd like to end, a last thing I learned from,
- your course is that there's going to be an inherent bias of anybody to listen to the voices that vote
- and that listen to those who show up. And I've had the privilege of gaining some bit of my own platform
- on the internet locally and in spaces beyond that and we're listening and we'd like to have that bias
- go towards us. So thank you very much. Thank you.
- Can you guys hear me through this mask? Hi, my name is Katie Norris. I am the executive director of
- Hotels for Homeless. I apologize for showing up in my pajamas. But I rushed in when I realized Teams
- wasn't working. So if there's a way to fix that, that would be great. I know we have somebody on Teams
- also that would like to get in. So my family didn't understand why I would rush.
- and jump up first thing to come into this meeting in person. But I'm very sick. My children are very
- sick. And I hope that this is one last chance to not have to spend my weekend in negative degree weather
- moving people from camp to hotels and storage units. So I come to you today to desperately plead for
- an extension on this eviction, not on behalf of the dozens of people who are currently living at this camp.
- You have already heard and understand the devastating and potentially deadly consequences this eviction
- will have on them. You know that their chances of survival significantly decrease instantly upon their
- eviction. How them losing the safest and most stable place they have found and worked hard to call home
- will put them at greater risk for being robbed, raped, and even murdered right here at night on the
- streets of Bloomington. That's not up for question. That's just reality.
- Not to mention that if the eviction takes place on Monday the 15th, that the two days before when they
- will have to prepare, pack and leave the temperature and leave, the temperatures are going to be negative
- one and negative three respectively. Today, I am begging for an extension on the eviction on behalf
- of the rest of our community. There is not nearly enough time today to explain the exponential negative
- effects our community will suffer by displacing just over two dozen more people.
- The strain this will put on our already inadequate social services is beyond even my comprehension at
- this point. I have only recently been able to wrap my mind around the serious and undeniable negative
- impact this will have on a handful of service providers and those who use our services that I am personally
- in contact with. I am just one person, and I only run one organization. And I am mind blown at how this
- eviction is going to affect
- just the small group of people that I work with. This eviction will put added strain on our shelters,
- outreach providers, mental health services, soup kitchens, material support providers, and of course,
- our local emergency services. This will leave all of those who already rely on these services to survive
- with less resources than they already have. And let me promise you, they do not have enough. The negative
- impact this eviction
- at this time will have on our community is so much greater than the negative impact of allowing them
- to stay for now and giving us all more time to find solutions. Thank you.
- My name is Matt Frost and I come to you as one of the occupants of the Thompson property and I just,
- I'm sorry, I'm not, like, I look at others like when the eviction is just, I'm here to, sorry. You're
- doing good. Just take a deep breath. Take a deep breath.
- This whole thing has been very nerve wracking and overwhelming for me because I go back to my tent every
- day and not knowing what the future is going to hold. And seeing that this, you guys are going to see
- this eviction through not only during the winter, but so close to the Christmas season. When we were
- old, when we're always taught about goodwill towards our fellow man,
- and all this stuff in the season where we're supposed to be, where we're supposed to be positive and
- uplifting towards the people that we have that are less fortunate than us. But the way I, it just,
- it's just, oh. So, yeah. I don't,
- I'm really not good with words. I'm sorry. You're doing fine. You're doing great. I just want a chance
- to just be able to know that I can at least stay at my tent and at least have the chance to be, if we
- get this eviction extended, to help me get some time to get my life together.
- That would help me get the stuff that I need. Because I'm in a position where I know I don't want to
- be in this spot all the time. But all I know is it's been overwhelming, as you can see. I'm stumbling
- my words here.
- If we can just get this extension, it will be a lot of pressure off me, and I know it will be a lot
- of pressure off the rest of the occupants out there. I know I just want an opportunity, this opportunity
- to just...
- let you guys realize how hard it's been on me, and I'm sure it's just as hard on the people or the rest
- of the property. I figure I might not be able to speak for all of them personally, but I wanted you
- guys to at least hear a little bit from one person's experience. Thank you.
- If you could unmute, we've got somebody online. We don't do that here. We have TSD up in the booth doing
- that. So we're good. Thank you. Good morning everyone. My name is, can you hear me? Yes, we can.
- Good morning, commissioners. My name is Deonna Tross. I'm here this morning outside of my classroom.
- Actually, I have class literally in 10 minutes. And despite that, I am here talking to you all this
- morning because I have finals week and I am so nervous and anxious about my finals. But above all else,
- I am terrified and anxious and nervous about how you are deciding
- to handle the issue with the evictions of the encampments. I know that you're saying there's a time at 1 p.m.
- today, but despite that, I myself, as many other people here in person and online are here at this time
- right now to speak to you all about this very important and pressing issue. I know that despite that,
- you still want to have this meeting at 1 p.m.
- but I'm still going to say my piece because it is so important for us and for so many of these people
- to share with you our concern. It's so concerning. I myself have lived here in Bloomington, Indiana.
- I have been here in Monroe County for many years. I went to elementary school here. I went to middle
- school here. I went to high school here. I go to IU. I am an IU student. And all my life, all this time,
- I, you know, we are all taught that, you know, the golden standard, we have to be kind and treat people
- the same way that we wanna see other people treated, how we wanna see ourselves being treated. And I
- am so privileged to be able to live here, have a home here, have a home to look back to, have friends
- and family who have homes. But unfortunately, I also have friends who don't have homes, who are part
- of the Thompson property. And I,
- You know, on top of all these finals that I'm thinking about, it is so heartbreaking and nerve wracking
- that I also have to think how scary it is for these people who they don't know if they are gonna be
- able to stay in their tents and their shelters. They don't know where their next support resources are
- going to come from. And you just want to, you know, ping pong this situation
- until you don't have to hear about it anymore, and that's really concerning. So I just wanna say my
- piece now, and I hope that many people online, in person, if you're not gonna say something, be encouraged
- to say something now. This is very important, this is very pressing. These people deserve to be able
- to stay there at their encampments until spring so that they have a safe and secure opportunity to stay alive.
- This is a life and death situation that we're talking about. Thank you. Thank you. Please come up to
- the podium. Please come up to the podium. Thank you.
- My name is Syd Holub. I'm a resident here of Monroe. And I just want to really quickly say I was told
- there's people waiting in the team's lobby to come in. So if we are able to let them in, that would
- be awesome. I also want to thank Matt for coming to speak just now. That is a very hard and scary thing
- to do. You are facing a very hard time in your life. And so I just want to thank you for coming here.
- We are all here to amplify your voice, and we are all here for you.
- I grew up in Indiana in a small rural red area. And I was so excited to come here to Bloomington because
- I was told this is a big blue dot. I'm going to be safe as a queer person. I'm going to be safe as femme
- presenting. I'm going to be safe in all these different ways. And I found hope coming to Bloomington
- with the belief that we could be an example and that we can do something better for people.
- I've seen that. I had the privilege of working on research on our problem-solving courts here. I've
- had the privilege of working with Maurer School of Law, creating new accesses to justice. My passion
- is access to justice, and that's what this is right now. God, this is access to justice. This is basic
- necessities that people need to live. And you guys are going, and you are going to evict them and put
- them in danger. And that is terrifying to me.
- so much hope in coming here and believing that I can come to a community that would make a difference.
- And I just implore you guys, please, to just prove me correct that we are better than this, that we
- are humane and compassionate, and that we care for everyone in our community from the top 1% to all
- the way down to the people who do not have homes, the people who don't have medical care access to everyone
- in our communities, because I can see what happens
- when we care and when we show up for our community members. So I just implore you guys, please, to just
- stop this madness and just wait. Just give them the chance to April 1st to just wait and give them a
- chance to find a new place or just to not put them out in the cold where there's a chance that they're
- gonna freeze to death. That is just so inhumane. So thank you. Thank you.
- Good morning. My name is John Coggy. I live here in Bloomington, Monroe County. And I'm just sitting
- back there listening. And I'm thinking about our society as a whole and how one of the important measures
- of a society is how they treat their elderly, their poorest, their mentally ill, their most downtrodden
- and poorest
- citizens. And as far as I can see, our present administration in Washington is failing miserably at
- this. Our state, as far as I can see, our Republican Indiana state, Hoosier State, is failing miserably.
- And as far as I can see so far, you guys are failing miserably in this. You and you. Excuse me. Can
- you look at me? Thank you.
- You and you are failing miserably at this. And that's an important. That's a measure of our society,
- how we treat our poorest. And you guys can make a difference. And you're not so far. Thank you.
- My name is Maureen Langley. I'm a resident of Monroe County. I grew up here. I went to Monroe County
- schools. I choose to come back here and live in as an adult after college. I have been listening very
- carefully today. And from what I hear from the commissioners is a lot of biased personal fear. Fear
- for yourselves, fear for people in our community who already have homes, but not enough fear for the
- people who will be outside tonight. The individuals living in encampments are not a threat.
- I met them personally. I have never once been afraid of them. Evicting them does not create safety.
- It simply pushes suffering out of sight. And I fear that is what some of you want. Safety does not come
- from displacing the most vulnerable. It comes from ensuring that everyone in Murrow County has a safe
- and stable place to live. For now, for some, that means the Thompson property. Displacement is not a
- solution. It is harm. It is an act of violence. And I oppose the evictions, and I hope you will too.
- Thank you.
- commenters. We have her online. AM Moss. Is the last name, I believe. Hello. Yes, please go ahead. Please
- introduce yourself. Yeah. Hi, I'm Eva Moss, resident of Monroe County.
- I just want to reiterate some real quick math that current census of homeless population in Monroe County
- is 305, which we know to be short of the total. Total number of beds at the best. If every shelter is
- open at maximum capacity, full staff of volunteers. We're sitting around 250 beds in all of Monroe County.
- Interestingly enough,
- That is a lower number than the total population. Your actions are going to add 40 people to that total
- who need to access these resources. As of right now, they do not need to access these resources because
- they have found a safe shelter for the winter. You wish to remove them from that and force them into
- the population needing to leverage the shelters that are understaffed, underfunded, and already not
- meeting the capacity
- or the people who already need it. I got two today. Yes, sir. I didn't know we had a fundraiser. Is
- it close to just that, or? OK. Someone just cut in on my end. I don't know what that was about. But
- that's my piece. Just sit with that for a minute, that quick math that you are directly adding to pop
- that needs to use these resources that already are not meeting the current population. Thank you. We
- have someone on line TR.
- Okay, sorry. Yes, please. Hello. My name is Toby Robb. I would like to bring up the original inhabitants
- of the land currently called Bloomington, Indiana.
- which I haven't seen the agenda and I'm willing to bet that it's not there. I would like to call it
- to attention the power to be charitable. I would say irony, but I'm not feeling charitable today. So
- I would say disgusting to bring up the concepts of property and trespassing by a government that's historically
- violently displaced many nations, including the Peoria Nation, the Kickapoo Nation, and the Miami Nation,
- among others, from this land, and intends to also violently displace people again.
- I would also remark that we all know that Marie Antoinette never said, let the people who have no bread
- eat cake. We know that never historically happened. But to say that it's more safe to live indoors to
- homeless people is probably the closest thing that I've heard in real life. I would also like to concur with
- the other speaker earlier today in naming Julie Thomas, Angie Purdy, and Richard Kreider, and anyone
- who has witnessed them in this eviction as martyrs unapologetically. And if that causes you any discomfort,
- then for one thing I would say that is much less discomfort than freezing to death. And also to remind
- you that you have the power to not be murderers. And I would implore you to do that.
- I recognize that this is a public comment session and is not a conversation. So that is all I have to
- say. I yield my time. Hello. How are we doing this morning?
- Feeling OK? This can be tense, right? It's hard. Not so bad for you, right? Yeah. No, I'm listening.
- OK. We're listening. We appreciate everybody being here. I don't think you do. I think you're waiting
- for us to get tired and go home. Because this is hard for us, and you know that. You sicken me, personally.
- How does that make you feel?
- that you're despised by your community. Anything? Yeah, so this isn't a discussion, but you get to make
- the rules on when it's a discussion. You answer when you like. Yeah, it could be a conversation, but
- it isn't because you don't want it to be. That's fine. I have a couple of things to say. Did everyone
- see that social media video where a couple of these jokers came out to the camps? Yeah, hands?
- Yeah. Wasn't it kind of crazy how they had to ask, like, where the campers shit, even though supposedly
- the shit is everywhere and it's like a huge problem? Right? Like, isn't that actually kind of crazy?
- Because it's almost like you don't think of these people as real humans. I know you don't. At the last
- session, you talked about how, well, you see, we have to get them out of the camps because what if they
- made me feel icky and I shot them in the fucking head through my door without checking?
- Are you nuts? That's really weird to say. Do you not feel weird for saying that? No, we got a head shake.
- No. Incredible. Incredible. So you're cool if you shot my friend Matt in the head through his door.
- That's not a problem to you. That doesn't make you feel weird. You disgust me. The reality is you don't
- see these people as human.
- Which is why you actually had to go and see for yourself that they, like other human beings you might
- have met, keep their places as nice as they can, because that's what humans are like. But they're not.
- They're subhuman to you, right? Why the fuck would you need to be educated on how other humans live
- their lives and that they don't wallow in their own shit? You're fucking weird. You think that we're naive.
- You're confusing the public by saying things like, oh, well, it just happens to be that the session
- where we can have a conversation about this is after the one where we might make a decision about it.
- You want to get this over with, right? You want the 15th to come and go, and you want us to all go,
- well, we tried our best, and go home. That's not what's going to happen. You're just going to make people
- desperate.
- people are safer indoors you motherfucker yeah of course they're safer indoors evicting people will
- not make them go indoors because they don't have houses I want to speak to the students because there's
- so many students here I love y'all thank you for coming out here thank you for giving your time right
- A lot of you speak about the privilege you have, and you do. Time is up, sir. And you should use it.
- It's ma'am, actually. You want to try again? Can I get a ma'am? Or ma'am. Your time is up. Can I get
- a ma'am, please? Your time is up, ma'am. Or do you not give a fuck about trans people in the city? I
- know a lot of them. They're my friends. Your time is up. Am I? OK. So can I get a ma'am? Ma'am, your
- time is up. Hey, let's go. Fuck yourself.
- Do you think we should go to Lorraine online? We could try again. Let's see, the hand keeps coming up
- and going down. So let's try Lorraine one more time. That is Lorraine. Also, can we confirm that the
- Teams meeting is working?
- It is. It's just our screen. Our screen's frozen up here. Yeah. Okay. We can't get her. So next up,
- please. We cannot unmute. It's TSD. TSD is doing that, and they have. And so hopefully she will raise
- her hand again and come online. Please come up. We have so much. My name is Itzel. I live and work here
- in Monroe County. I just want to remind you
- that the people living on the street are also residents of Monroe County. You have the power to make
- decisions that will not put members of our community in direct danger of freezing to death. I don't
- know if that's something that you ever thought of happening to you, but I'd like you to experiment with
- empathy for a moment. I fear that in the making of this plan to evict our unhoused neighbors in the
- dead of winter, empathy and community have been completely forgotten.
- Your community is here today pleading with you for the lives of others, and it is time to listen. We
- implore you to remember that community is only as strong, healthy, and safe as the least privileged
- of us. That's all I have to say to you. Thank you. Next up, please. I have Lorraine on the phone. I'm
- not speaking, but the team isn't working, so she asked if she could call. And is that OK?
- Sure, hopefully we can hear. If you don't mind holding it up to the microphone. I don't mind.
- Thank you. Go ahead. Can you hear me now? Try again. Can you hear me? Yes. Great. I'm glad that I'm
- finally able to speak. Given the fact that I would like to address that I anticipate there's an active
- decision to not unmute my mic because my name is Shelby Porteroff and Julie Thomas knows who I am. I'm
- here to say specifically to those who are sitting in the audience, that 1 PM meeting that's happening
- scheduled after Julie Thomas and her administrators worked with our group to have a meeting set for
- last night at 7 p.m. after business hours so that the constituents who they represent could attend and
- discuss note that that meeting was also originally set in advance of their agenda this morning where
- they will be making decisions on the topic and by they I want to be clear Julie Thomas is leading this
- charge and Julie I want you to know that this is your last
- If you think that we're going away, if you think we're going to disappear while you campaign for your
- next term, you are so vehemently wrong. We will not go away. And you've chosen the wrong constituents
- to make your enemies. I also want to address that Julie Thomas has informed her staff that she's physically
- afraid of us, that she thinks that we who are showing up here to make our voices heard through the diplomatic
- and democratic process are going to physically harm her. But I would like to counter that with what is
- physical harm that she's causing to the unhoused community members that she's planning to evict
- by strategically manipulating how people can have their voices heard, despite the fact that, again,
- we are your constituents. We are the people who put you in office. You are our employee. And don't forget
- that. So for those of you who want to know about why that meeting is at 1 p.m., it's because Julie Thomas
- changed it.
- And she said it was because of open door law violations. She cited Dave Askins calling her out for that.
- But I would like you to know that in her office hours on Thursday of last week when we spoke with her,
- she made very clear that she was aware of those open door laws. She told us that we would have the meeting
- at the public library in person with multiple commissioners. And we do have her recorded saying that.
- So to make it a choice to put online was on
- She knew it would get her in trouble and that she would have to cancel it. And she knew that she could
- show good faith of trying to schedule the meeting beforehand. When I asked her about why she did not
- check with any of us to get the meeting rescheduled to a time that worked for us all, she said it was
- the only time that worked with the commissioner schedule. The commissioners of whom there are three
- people. Look at everybody in the room today, Julie. There's a hell of a lot more of us than there are
- three of you.
- We'll see you at one. Good morning. Good morning. I am Austin Clark and I am a Bloomington resident.
- Like many of us, I'm a student here. So I'm happy to be here at this time when
- I guess it started at 10 o'clock, but it seems like time has come up a lot, and I just have a few questions
- on what time means. I understand that your goal is to have productive conversation, but you're abusing
- the people within your community's time by rescheduling to
- By rescheduling something that we have met here to talk about today at 10 to 1, a lot of people can't
- actually rearrange their schedules in the same way that this meeting has been rescheduled. Yes, this
- is a time for comments and not a discussion. So these questions are rhetorical, of course. But why did
- we meet here at this time with the intention to speak about an eviction notice that is now pushed to
- when people cannot show up? That is something that I'm having a hard time understanding right now.
- What does it mean for you to be able to push this back to a time that is most convenient for you as
- the committee instead of a time that works for the amount of people that are here in the room to discuss
- this? That is another question that I have that I'm slightly confused on. And then lastly, as many here
- asked, what is making it so difficult to postpone this eviction notice
- to a time that is not good for the community, but for the community. As we all know that there are going
- to be freezing temperatures this weekend, and it's looking to be kind of a brutal winter. So I think
- that many of us believe that the eviction notice is, I think that many of us oppose this eviction notice.
- But the real question here is why now? And those are my questions on time. Thank you. Thank you.
- Hi there. I'm Massimo Pisano. Around this time last year, I worked at Bloomington Hardware. And it was
- interesting because it got so cold last year that we were getting calls multiple times a day for road
- salt. And every time we restocked it, we would run out that morning. And this is multiple pallets of
- road salt that people were getting.
- to battle the frost. And not long after that, I was let go from my job there. And I haven't been able
- to find full-time work that would support any sort of shelter since then. And if it weren't for my mom
- and my brother, I might be in that encampment right now. And this meeting might be about me among all
- the other people
- whose fates are going to be decided by whether you postpone it to springtime or not. That's all I have
- to say. Thank you. Good morning. Today I want to talk about Hoosier hospitality.
- And specifically, who's your hospitality for who? And I also want to talk about dehumanization, which
- is what has come up many times over and over again today. And I want us to think for a second about
- what it takes to directly put someone in harm's way, knowingly and intentionally. And what that requires
- is dehumanization, to see people as not on the same level as us in some way, as separate
- from us and you know we see a lot of that nowadays it seems online in the news but also right here and
- I'm really concerned about that because I'm you know an Indiana resident grew up in Indianapolis my
- whole life and yeah my family really instilled in me that who's your hospitality I've heard it over
- and over again that if you can help someone you should and it seems that
- delaying by several months just to even just help people stay alive for a little bit longer. That just
- seems in line with what our state always prides itself in. So I just I feel a bit confused by what it
- takes and just I think psychologically inside someone's head to do that to another human being.
- And I find it really concerning that we have to have people come in here and plead to stay living in
- their tent. I think that you're incredibly brave for coming in today and doing that, but no human being
- should have to stand before you and do that. So there's just the gravity of that. I don't know about
- you, but I was very, I was super impacted.
- by hearing that today. And that that's happening right here in our community. And all that anyone is
- asking for is a few more months, which I don't really see how that would harm you individually. So yeah,
- I just wanted to say that and to kind of end with that reflection. Thank you. Thank you.
- Hi, good morning. My name is Basil. I think a lot of people here today have covered in detail why it
- is so fucked up to evict people in the middle of winter from where they're camping. I personally have
- experienced
- a different aspect of the fucked up housing situation in Bloomington because it's top to bottom. It's
- not just this one issue this one day. If you're lucky enough to have a stable income and have access
- to technology, you can spend your days getting yanked around by slumlords while you sleep on your friend's
- couch because your last lease ended and you can get a new place. And that's if you're lucky. If you
- have people who will let you live for free with them and, you know,
- open their homes to you if you're not lucky you have to just figure it out completely on your own with
- no support because the services in the city are completely inadequate and it's there's not.
- I've been to so many meetings like this for so many other instances of different evictions, different
- winters, and I just feel like I'm talking to a brick wall every time. We hear the same excuses, the
- same problems, you know, the same there's this code, there's that code, and always hearing that, like,
- well, there's some vague plan for a future date where we will figure these things out, and it never
- happens. I've lived in Bloomington for six years. I've lived in Indiana my whole life.
- So Bloomington has been part of my kind of extended Indiana community for my whole life. And it's always
- the same shit every year. What is it going to take to not just keep putting it off and putting it off
- and saying, we'll evict people in the dead of winter, and we won't give an extension for that, but we'll
- keep giving an extension to ourselves for finding any kind of solution?
- It's just ridiculous. And there's just so much unnecessary suffering in all of this that doesn't have
- to happen. It doesn't have to be this way if literally the three people I'm looking at right now would
- just make a different choice. That's all. Thank you.
- My name is Ashley. I am a resident of Monroe County, but I also work in Indianapolis as a healthcare
- worker. I work night shift. I can't tell you how much sleep I've lost caring about people that you don't
- care about and how fucking just miserable it is because it doesn't have to be this way. I don't think
- you care about how brave it is
- that people care about their survival so much that they're willing to show up here, look you in the
- face, and just tell you how disappointed they are in you. It's also incredibly strange to me that you
- hold the power to make a decision that doesn't affect you. Very strange the way the world works, I guess.
- But it doesn't have to be that way either.
- it strange that the thing that we're asking you for is to actually do nothing. It would cost you way
- less time and energy to just take this seriously as a serious request because people do die and people
- have died and people will die if you don't take human life seriously. You exist here today because somebody
- cares about you.
- I'm glad it's more than one person. And I hope everybody in camps or in any encampment today knows that
- people care about them too. And that people will show up and show out for you. Even if it's, as you
- like to say, uncomfortable. I watched somebody really struggle to get through their speech today, who
- is living with the consequences that you decide.
- have to be here. This is a waste of your time to not make this decision as easy as it should be. My
- grandma looks just like you, and now I probably don't like her as much either. The same haircut. It's
- not brave or honorable to make people come in here and ask to live.
- It's just not. It's really, really not. I work at the county hospital in Indianapolis. We watch homeless
- people die all the time. And that's with getting some small amount of medical care that they might need
- and that has been put off for way too long because nobody cared to help. When you have the resources,
- all you have to say is OK. You don't have to ask for money.
- You don't have to get in somebody's pocket. You could just say yes. It could be very easy. Thank you.
- Next up, please. Good morning, commissioners. My name is Josh Tapp. I'm a 36-year resident in Monroe
- County and sixth generation business owner.
- I've served with the Bloomington Fire Department 10 plus years. Obviously homeless is a main issue today.
- I want to maybe give a solution to help some of these people. I'm not sure some of the topics or solutions
- that have been presented. One thing I'd like to present that as a possible solution, I don't know if
- any of you ever thought about storm shelters or
- almost safe rooms, but they are basically a waterproof, waterproof, weatherproof building.
- They can be heated, they can be air conditioned, very, very low cost. I know some numbers that have
- been thrown around about Beacon and all this are nine to $10 million. These can be set within about
- an hour. I think to buy them is about $5,000 a piece, but over a 10 year cost.
- You're looking at $500 a year, $1.30 a day. Two to three people can easily live in some of these shelters.
- They're roughly 10 feet by six feet. They have lockable doors, so all their stuff would be safe. They
- could make these a small home if they wanted to. I just wanted to present that idea. I don't know if
- anyone's ever
- talked about it or not, or a place to put that many shelter houses. That's about all I've got to say
- about the homeless. My next topic is for single-family homes in Bloomington. I'm 36 years old. I graduated
- from Bloomington South in 2007.
- more and more people my age and younger are struggling to find single-family homes in Bloomington that
- they can afford, number one, and plant their roots and stay here as families. They're also, sorry, I
- collect my thoughts here a minute, but basically more and more people my age and younger are leaving
- Monroe County just because they cannot afford to live here. I think the county,
- and the city have got to work together on trying to figure out how to get more single-family homes into
- Bloomington that can be affordable. It seems like the city of Bloomington keeps growing up and up and
- up, and there's nothing happening in the actual county. I think there's a responsible way to find places
- to have these single-family homes that are affordable, but it seems like any of the projects in the
- county are not approved.
- or shut down very quickly. I definitely think there's a responsible way to make these things happen
- in a responsible fashion and still protect all the things that, you know, topics that are important
- to people. That's all I've got to say today. Thank you. We have online L
- Hello, I am a lifelong resident of Bloomington and Monroe County and I oppose the evictions. We should
- not risk the lives of some of our neighbors for the supposed comfort of others or for any other excuse.
- That is all I have to say. Thank you.
- Hi, my name's Thomas Pigott. I wasn't really planning on speaking today. If I'm being honest, I didn't
- really know who any of you were yesterday. But what I will say is what I know about you now is exclusively
- negative. And there's a whole room full of people behind me who think of you as murderers or even just
- putting people in harm's way. And I guess I don't have some grand thought behind this, except I don't know.
- would find that existence miserable. I can't imagine going and walking my dog in like Brian Park or
- whatever you guys do and running the risk that someone is going to walk up to me and yell murderer and
- deep down, I know they might be right. That's all. Thank you. Online, it appears we have David Henry online.
- Madam Council President, can you hear me okay? Yes, we can hear you. Great, thank you.
- Thank you, Commissioner Thomas and members of the board. My name is David Henry. I'm a resident of Van
- Buren Township. I'm one of the Monroe County Councilors. I want to thank you for going ahead and setting
- a time this public comment period, even though I know you were hopeful to move this conversation to
- earlier in the day or later in the day. I'd like to read into the record the letter from the Monroe
- County Council to the commissioners on December 10th.
- The letter was signed individually by six of the seven members, but the unanimous Democratic caucus
- of the council. Dear commissioners, know that our ethic of care as county officials and public servants
- is aligned in support of all members of our community and none of us wish to do harm in our work. We
- as a concerned individuals respectfully request the board of commissioners officially stop all action
- regarding the removal of people and property from Thompson property. We appreciate the one week stay
- on the planned eviction and note that
- The winter weather played a role in the decision. Given that the weather conditions are and will remain
- unpredictable for the foreseeable future and that our conversations with constituents, service providers,
- and members of the public have underscored a lack of immediate threat to public safety and health, there
- is at least considerable ambiguity and differing positions on the conditions on the property that would
- warrant action by the county. Please postpone all eviction action until there is a protocol or plan
- for addressing concerns about the encampment.
- Such a plan will be informed by a number of entities, internal and external, including members of the
- unhoused community and worked on collaboratively to address our concerns. Collectively, our immediate
- questions and concerns include, what was the process for notifying the residents of their eviction both
- for the 12-8 and 12-15 planned events? What funds are being used? What are the contracted services?
- What internal county resources are being committed? How many people are residing at the property?
- who is providing street services at this property? What housing entities are involved? And where are
- the impacted individuals going? In the absence of adequate response to this request, the council may
- consider. Okay. Not sure what happened with our screens down here.
- We're still online so please come on up. Hello my name is Joffrey Livingston and I am just here to reiterate
- along with what many others have said that the decision these eviction notices come without a lot of
- public oversight.
- Many of the key architects of the decision are non-elected officials. And I and many others would agree
- that at the very least, this decision needs to be postponed because not even a vote from the board came
- into play with these decisions. And in between now and a date like, say, April 1st, it should be something
- that the public
- the board members and even non-elected officials should come together and try to make a better decision.
- Thank you. All right. So we do have a number of agenda items we need to address today. So we're going
- to move forward with that part of our meeting so that we can be back at 1.30.
- 1 o'clock for our meeting until 2.30. So can we go ahead and have the next agenda item, please? Move
- approval of the minutes for December 4th, 2025. Second. All right. We have a motion. We have a second.
- Any comments, corrections, or edits? Okay. All right. Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the
- minutes for December 4th, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0.
- Next item, please. Move approval of the claims docket, accounts payable December 11th, 2025 and payroll
- December 12th, 2025. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Ms. Moser. Good morning. The accounts
- payable claims docket for December 11th, 2025 totals 11 million.
- 244,065 dollars and 19 cents. This includes all emergency claims and adjustments, the payroll docket
- for December 12th, 2025,
- includes $1,592,529.16 in direct costs and the remaining $681,150.99 were for indirect costs for a grand
- total of $2,287,515.25. Thank you so much. Comments or questions? Commissioner Jones? No,
- I don't. Commissioner Redire? Thank you.
- Any public comment on this item? Can you raise your hand on teams or come to the podium? All right,
- seeing none, all those in favor of approving the claim stock at accounts payable December 11th, 2025
- and payroll December 12th, 2025 signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries three zero. Note for the
- record that we have
- that we have received reports from weights and measures. And that report covers November, 2025. And
- we'll now move on to new business, please. Move approval of the board. Yeah, just so you know, it's
- not going out. I've been in communication with Mr. Cron and it's not, we're not broadcasting. Okay.
- So we'll go ahead and do what? 10 minute recess.
- Is that what we need? We understand we're talking to technical services. Thank you. Do we need 10 minutes?
- What do we need? Okay, great. We're gonna take a 10 minute recess and we'll be back here in 10 minutes.
- Thank you all. Thank you very much. Quiet please. Next, we're calling this meeting back to order. Next
- item please.
- Moved to approve awarding Nexus Group the 26-20-30 cyclical reassessment and annual adjustment contract.
- Fund name, reassessment, fund number 1224 in the amount of $1,650,000. No, 600. Yes, $650,000. Sorry. I second.
- We have a motion, and we have a second. Yes, and the assessor was here and had a different engagement.
- This is an item that we opened bids for on the 20th of November. We looked at the bids. We went through
- them. The contract actually being approved is a required state-formed contract. So this is for the cyclical
- assessment and annual adjustments for until 2030.
- Thank you so much. Any comments or questions? Commissioner Madeira? No, thank you. Commissioner Jones?
- No, I don't. Any public comment on this item? You raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
- see none all those in favor of awarding nexus group the twenty twenty six to twenty thirty cyclical
- reassessment annual adjustment contract signify by saying aye aye motion carries three zero next item
- please move approval of health net hip services agreement fund name local public health services fund
- number eleven sixty one in the amount of a hundred thirty five thousand second
- We have a motion and we have a second, Ms. Kelly. Good morning. So this is actually a renewal. We have
- been doing this program for almost a year now. Before the onset of this program, we were actually contacted
- by an individual through IU Health. They were noticing an increase in emergency department visits coming
- from the Wheeler shelter.
- and on certain days of the week. So we started this program to be able to provide clinical care, so
- health care services within the local shelter. And this does align with our Health First Indiana core
- services, so addressing access and linkage to clinical care. So just looking for approval to continue
- this program. Thank you so much.
- Comments or questions? Commissioner Jones? No, I don't. Commissioner Madera? Just a quick question.
- What kind of briefly, what services do you provide? Sure. So it's really kind of widespread. And I do
- provide updates to the Board of Health. So I'm happy to send those along your way too. But a lot of
- times it can be referral services, medications. They're also doing health screenings, kind of de-escalation.
- But it's really very widespread, some wound care services as well.
- Thank you so much. Any public comment on this item? You raise your hand in teams or come to the podium.
- All right. Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Health Net HIP services agreement signify
- by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries three zero. Next item please. Move approval of Centerstone MOU for
- blood pressure monitors. Second. We have a motion and we have a second.
- So the Board of Health has established one of the initiatives is that we're working to try to reduce
- chronic disease, so hypertension, high blood pressure. The health department currently has a large stock
- of blood pressure monitors. So this is essentially just a way for us to be able to help distribute those
- to individuals who are identified at Centerstone in need of having a device. So perhaps they were newly
- diagnosed, they don't have access to a monitor, they need a monitor at home, and also to be able to
- evaluate are their medications working effectively. So this is essentially just to
- be able to provide those monitors. All right, thank you so much. Comments or questions? Commissioner
- Madeira? Nope, this is great. Thank you. Commissioner Jones? Thank you for doing this. Any public comment
- on this item? You can raise your hand in teams or come to the podium here in the NatU Hill Room.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Centerstone MOU for blood pressure monitor signify
- by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Next item, please. Move approval of ordinance 2025-48, amending
- Monroe County Code chapter 310-4. Second. We have a motion and we have a second.
- So we're just looking through trying to make some updates to our code here. So we have the price of
- our birth and death certificates have not actually been changed since 2015. We have ongoing increase
- in costs, supplies, postage, shipping, employee salaries have increased. So just looking to change the
- fee for those from 16 to $20.
- We are looking to also add both small sizes and small sleeves and offer the small size birth certificate
- to the public as an option. And then lastly we just needed to include public health clinic fees. So
- these are fees that have been used through the I.U. health contract but they're just not actually in our
- in the Chapter 310. I'm not sure if they should have been all along, to be honest. So just making sure
- that that information is in there. Happy to answer any questions then. Thank you so much. Comments or
- questions? Commissioner Madeira? None, thank you. Commissioner Jones? No, I don't. Yeah, this all makes
- sense. I was watching that meeting where you all discussed this. So thank you, bringing this forward.
- Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving ordinance 2025-48 signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries
- three zero. Next item please. Thank you. Move approval of US imaging digital scanning service agreement
- fund name, recorders perpetuation, fund number 1189 in the amount of $112,471.76. Second. We have a
- motion and we have a second. Recorder swing. Good morning. Good morning. This is part of a three prong
- project to
- scan and digitize the remaining books in the recorder's office that are there currently. There's
- approximately 300 books. Many of them have been scanned, but not all of them. The bulk of our records
- are stored in archives with a dry fire suppression system. The fire suppression system in the recorder's
- office is water.
- And so should anything happen, these books would be damaged. So the purpose of the perpetuation fund,
- which the money for this contract would come out of, is expressly to preserve and protect our historical
- documents and also to increase the
- access for the public, the record-keeping system. So this project in the three parts would address all
- of those. And so we are asking to work with U.S. Imaging again. They have scanned our books previously
- with good results, and so they are a trusted business partner. Thank you so much. Comments or questions?
- Commissioner Jones?
- I certainly think that preserving our records is one of the most important things. I agree, and it's
- a lot of counties that don't have this service, which makes things very difficult when something happens.
- Thank you. Yeah, I appreciate your work on this. Let's see if there's any public comment on this item.
- You can raise your hand, and teams who have come to the podium here and then at you.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the agreement with U.S. Imaging Digital Scanning Service
- signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next item, please. Move
- approval of Axon Enterprise Inc. agreement renewal for body worn cameras, fund name 2025 GEO bond, fund
- number to be determined in the amount of $1 million
- $998,775.02. Second. We have a motion, and we have a second. Mr. Crum. Good morning, everyone. So we're
- approaching the end of our current five-year agreement with Axon. It expires in the second quarter of
- 26. But currently, the tasers that's deployed to the Winter County Shares Department are failing.
- They're out of service life, getting to the end of it, and we're due for certification. So Officer Ruiz
- and Randy Jacobs had reached out to Axon and got them to agree they will go ahead and deploy us new
- tasers now instead of waiting until that agreement expires by amending that original agreement, prorating,
- and then extending that contract another five years. So this also adds
- Part of the problem with the cost before that we found was we'd bought the base package. And with that,
- it doesn't apply to taser cartridges or the certification process for the tasers. So that was an additional
- cost that we kept reoccurring that the Sheriff's Department was having to pay. So that all gets folded
- into this new agreement. They won't have any surprise charges. The certifications, the cartridges, everything
- are included in that cost.
- This also replaces, upgrades the evidence room storage. And for the interview room, the cameras and
- the backend hardware to that, all that gets upgraded. So it's a complete refresh of that Axon system.
- Thank you so much. Comments or questions, Commissioner Jones? This is a little confusing because it
- says body-borne cameras. Yes. That's the bug.
- Yes, that's part of the contract too. That's all brand new body worn cameras. Sorry, I failed to mention
- that. So that is part of that package as well. Yes. Okay. Thank you. I have none. Thank you. Yeah, I
- don't either something that we talked about briefly last time. So any public comment on this item? You
- raise your hand in teams or come to the podium.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Axon Enterprise Agreement, signify by saying aye. Aye.
- Motion carries 3-0. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next item, please. Move approval of ordinance 2025-47,
- interlocal agreement regarding animal management and animal shelter services.
- Fund name county general fund number 1000 in the amount of $480,480 second motion and we have a second.
- Yes, this is the agreement that we've had had annually with the city of Bloomington and the town of
- Alexville to provide the city balloons and provide shelter space for our the animals that are brought
- in either through
- county users or the county animal management control. This also allows us to conduct those animal management
- calls with our, with our sheriff's department, uh, animal management officers in within the town of
- Ellisville. Uh, it's based on the same formula as we've had for the last decade or so. Thank you. Um,
- questions or comments? Uh, commissioner. Commissioner Jones. No, I don't.
- I don't have any either except to note that this cost has escalated appreciably over the last several
- years. I remember when this first started, it was in the 225,000 range. That was several years ago.
- However, yeah, the cost has increased quite a bit. See if there's any public comment on this item. You
- raise your hand on Teams or come to the podium.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving ordinance 2025-47 signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries
- 3-0. Next item, please. Move approval of the collective bargaining agreement with the highway collective
- bargaining unit, fund name, various, fund number, multiple in an amount as budgeted. Second. We have
- a motion and we have a second.
- Yes, and the reason the fund name is various is because Stormwater is also included in the contracts.
- We have more than one fund that we're doing. This is very similar to our last agreement. I think the
- items that we really worked with our highway management and the union on were dealing with callout time
- and how to get people to respond to callouts in a more appropriate manner. And we also included some
- when you can use benefit time for
- and still go one of the call outs. We don't want people out there who are actually sick in other words.
- In order to do some of that we did give them five days of personal time that they could convert and
- they could do that at the beginning of the year to kind of help cover for times where they need to be
- out of the office but they want to be available for calling. So that's kind of the big areas I think
- where the changes are. Would you agree.
- Yeah, they were already getting 32 hours of the personal time out of their sick bank. So we just increased
- it to 40 and put less restrictions on that. So yeah, I think that was the main, and we changed it to,
- I think we extended it to three years versus the two years. So it'll be a three year contract. We did
- not want it to end at the end of 2027. I wonder why, okay.
- All right, yeah, I was gonna note that extended time on this contract. It's a good idea. Comments or
- questions, Commissioner Jones? No, I don't. Commissioner Maduro? No, thank you. I don't have any either.
- Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. Raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the collective bargaining agreement with highway collective
- bargaining unit signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. And again, thank you for working on
- this. Mr. Cockrell and Ms. Ridge appreciate it. Next item please.
- Move approval of Wiley's Floor Covering Inc. for floor covering replacement at Convention Center. Fund
- name ARPA, fund number 8950 in the amount of $3,661. Second. We have a motion and we have a second.
- Mr. Crider. Good afternoon, commissioners. Richard Crider, Monroe County Building and Fleet Department.
- This is a Convention Center ARPA project.
- main floor north hall at the convention center. This request is to accept the proposal submitted by
- Wiley's Floor Covering Inc. in the amount of $3,661 to remove existing floor tile, apply a leveling
- compound, then install clean and seal new tile. Thank you so much. Comments or questions? Commissioner
- Maduro? No, thank you. Commissioner Jones? No, I don't.
- I don't either. It's good to keep these projects getting done. So thank you for working on that. Any
- public comments on this item? You raise your hand in teams or come to the podium. Seeing none, all those
- in favor of approving the agreement with Wiley's floor covering ink for the convention center signify
- by saying aye.
- I motion carries three zero thank you next item please move approval of blood so rigor Cooper and James
- amendment number three for the limestone Greenway second we have a motion and we have a second is Whitmer
- sorry just organizing this yeah you've got a few
- This is the third addendum and also is doing is extending the expiration date to 6 1 26. No, no money.
- No, no difference in the money. Thank you. Come answer questions. Commissioner Jones. I don't. Commissioner
- Madera. Nope. All right. I don't either. Um, any public comment on this item?
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the bullets or your Cooper and James amendment number three
- for limestone greenway signify by saying aye. Motion carries three zero. Next item please. Move approval
- of Cassidy electrical service agreement fund names, county general and parks non-reverting fund numbers,
- 1,000, 1178, 1179 and 4113.
- in an amount not to exceed $30,000. Second. We have a motion, and we have a second. Ms. Whitmer. This
- is an accumulated amount. It expires 12-31-27. And if we don't need them, we won't spend a dime. But
- they also take care of athletic complex lights. So if something would major happen, they're ready to
- go. Yeah. All right. Comments or questions? Commissioner Jones? I don't. Commissioner Redu? No, thanks.
- Any public comment on this item? You can raise your hand and teams should come to the podium.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Cassidy Electrical Service Agreement signify by saying
- aye. Motion carries three zero. Next item please. Move approval of Heflin Industries Inc. Service Agreement.
- Fund names, county general and parks non-reverting. Fund numbers, 1,000, 1178 and 1179 in an amount
- not to exceed $4,000. Second? We have a motion and we have a second. It's an accumulated amount of 4,000,
- expires 12-31-27. They are required by
- I don't know if it's ordinance or state law to check all of our backflow preventers at all of our parks
- and then to make corrections if needed. And then they give a report to the city of Bloomington.
- Got it. Okay. Thank you so much. Um, comments or questions, commissioner Madeira. None.
- Thank you. Commissioner Jones. I don't, I don't either. Um, any public comment on this item? You raise
- your hand in teams or come to the podium.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Heflin Industries Inc Service Agreement signify by
- saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Next item, please. Move approval of J&S Locksmiths Service Agreement,
- fund names, county general, and parks non-reverting, fund number 1000, 1178, and 1179 in an amount not
- to exceed $500. Second.
- We have a motion and we have a second. Ms. Wimmer. Each project is not to exceed $500, expires 11-127.
- It's for locksmithing and small engine repair. Thank you. It's really nice to have these contracts set
- up so you don't have to bring in individual items or wait for us to have a meeting in order for you
- to get the work done. So that's what all of these are. Comments or questions from my colleagues?
- Any public comment on this item? Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the J and S locksmith
- service agreement signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Next item please.
- Move approval of landmark aquatic service agreement, fund names, county general and parks non-reverting,
- fund numbers, 1,000, 1178, and 1179 in an amount not to exceed $5,000. Second? We have a motion and
- we have a second. Talks about this one. Landmark aquatic is our vendor that comes and helps us repair
- the car splash pad.
- It's one project does not exceed 5,000. That would be a major repair. But our staff usually repairs
- almost everything that we can, but sometimes under warranty issues that we need to bring them in. And
- I believe they might be the only one in the state of Indiana who does this. So. Comments or questions
- for my colleagues? Any public comment on the site? Raise your hand in teams or come to the podium.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the landmark aquatic service agreement signify by saying
- aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Next item please. Move approval of Monroe-Tuff-John service agreement,
- fund names, county general and parks non-reverting, fund numbers, 1,000, 1178, 1179, and 4113 in an
- amount not to exceed $16,000. Second.
- We have a motion and we have a second as well. This is an accumulated amount. Term dates 12-31-27 is
- $25 per toilet per trip with our own ADA Porter toilets. And we will not be spending $16,000, but just
- in case we acquire more toilets or we think we need to clean them more often, I don't want to be limited.
- by the amount because cleaning porter toilets is one of our number one priorities and make sure they're
- nice to use. Yeah. And this is a two-year contract essentially. So comments or questions for my colleagues?
- It's essential. Yeah, it is. Any public comment on this item?
- All right, all those in favor of approving the Monroe-Tuff-John service agreement signify by saying
- aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Next item, please. Move approval of Richard Small Engine Inc.
- service agreement, fund names, county general and parks non-reverting, fund numbers 1,178 and 1,179
- in an amount not to exceed $3,000. Second.
- We have a motion and we have a second. This is not to exceed 3000 for one repair project. Hopefully
- we'll never get to that. Most of all our equipment, our mowers are under warranty, so everything works
- it out, but we do have small engines that we also take there. Great. Thank you so much. Comments or
- questions from my colleagues? Any public comment on this item? You can raise your hand on teams or come
- to the podium.
- see none all those in favor of proving the Richard small engine Inc. service agreement signify by saying
- aye aye motion carries 3, 0, thank you. Thank you. Thanks so much. Next item, please. Move approval
- of lock Mueller group amendment number one for Fairfax Road safety grant project. Fund name local road
- and street fund number 1169 in an amount not to exceed 9,500 dollars.
- Second? We have a motion and we have a second. Ms. Ridge, thank you for your patience. Good morning.
- Good afternoon. So this amendment is for us to conduct some core samples in different locations with
- our project on Fairfax Road. There's locations that we're going to do a high friction pavement. So if
- we do some core samples in the beginning, then it might save us some cost up in the long run when we
- do the project of not having to do as many locations with full depth patching. So we want to move forward
- with getting these additional core samples in the roadway. Thank you so much. Comments or questions?
- Commissioner Jones? Commissioner Redira? Any public comment on this item? You can raise your hand in
- teams, you can come to the podium.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Locke Mueller group amendment number one for Fairfax
- Road Safety Grant Project signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. And we have one more item.
- Move approval of ordinance 2025-44, amendments to the county development ordinance, fixing Scrivener's
- errors and align with state
- code provisions. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Director Jelen is joining us. Good afternoon,
- Commissioner. So in your packet today, you'll see the list of revisions here on page 237.
- I just want to reiterate that these changes are largely a result of House Bill 1037, which has now been
- codified. It states basically that we cannot regulate grading, excavating, filling or removing vegetative
- cover in a way more stringent than the state. So that has had ripple effects on our ordinance as well
- as Stormwater who already amended their ordinance.
- Other amendments throughout are just correcting Scrivener's errors, aligning our language with state
- code requirements, and a few staff edits. I'll move through these fairly quickly, but just note there's
- a good summary here on page 237 of everything that we are changing.
- I also want to note that there were some linking errors. So this document is a linked document and it
- looks like we're changing things that are not being changed. So for instance, if they're changing a
- chapter from its normal number to zero, that's not something that we're actually going to be changing.
- It's just an error of the linking that we could not fix.
- More substantive changes, we are recommending a change to remove a trigger or prompt for when sidewalks
- are required. So right now we have it tied to our alternative transportation plan, which is not going
- to change, but one of the transportation plan map
- lines that was requiring sidewalks was actually following a waterway and a duke easement where there
- was no actual planned trail, and this was triggering sidewalks in a very rural area. So we're recommending
- that that be stricken with this text amendment.
- A few other changes just throughout, we are clarifying some changes to our type G, which is a conservation
- subdivision, allows people to administratively create a lot for agricultural conservation purposes.
- And we're just clarifying after we've used the CDO for some time that they can only create two lots.
- So otherwise, all changes included in the document are redlined, and I'd be happy to take any questions
- about any specific changes. All right, thank you so much, Director Dillon. Comments or questions,
- Commissioner Jones? No, I don't. Commissioner Redira? Is there any public comment on this item, whether
- there's support or opposition
- to this ordinance. All right, well, I do want to thank Director Jelena's staff for working on this so
- diligently and carefully, because there's always Scrivener's errors no matter what you do. And then
- the state changes also have to be accommodated. So thank you for your work on this.
- All right. So I don't see anyone here for public comment. So all those in favor of approving ordinance
- 2025-44 signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries three zero. We have a few appointments to make today.
- If you would read it all as one motion. Thank you.
- Move to approve the appointment of M. Davis-Oguin to the Alcoholic Beverage Board. It's a one
- year appointment that expires 12-31-26. E. Sensenstein is appointed to the ADA internal group. One year
- appointment expiring 12-31-26.
- Patrick Murphy is reappointed to the Board of Aviation for a four-year appointment, expiring 12-31-2029.
- Guy Lofman is appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals. It's a four-year appointment, expiring January
- 1st, 2030. Margaret Clements is appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Plan Commission for
- four years.
- expiring January 1st, 2023, 2030. Chief Deputy Jeffrey Combs is, or Combs is appointed to Central Dispatch
- Policy Board. It's a three-year appointment expiring 1-1-2029. Angie Purdy is appointed to the Child
- Protection Team. It's a one-year appointment expiring 1-1-2029.
- Michael Campbell is appointed to the Convention and Visitors Commission, a two-year appointment expiring
- 12-31-2027. Robert Audio is appointed to the Drainage Board. It's a four-year appointment expiring 12-31-29.
- Greg Travis is appointed to Economic Development.
- a two-year appointment expiring 2-1-27. Stephen Coover is appointed to the Human Rights Commission.
- Two-year appointment expiring 1-31-29. Kelly Whitmer is appointed to Parks Access to Recreational Endowment.
- A four-year appointment expiring 1-1-2030.
- and Maggie Sullivan is appointed to the Resiliency Commission. It's a two-year appointment expiring
- 12-31-2027. Thank you so much. We have a motion. Can I get a second? Second. All right. We have a motion
- and a second. I want to thank everyone in advance for offering to serve. All those in favor of approving
- these folks to these boards and commissions signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Thank you
- for reading all those.
- I have been notified that there was an error in the claims. So I'm going to make a motion to reopen.
- The claims for counts payable for December 11th 2025. And this is from County General and it's $1800.
- That was a contract that we did not approve with Seven Oaks.
- So unfortunately, that was in the claims and I missed it. Yes, that's correct. That was included. Yep.
- Sorry. I missed it. I read them. I don't always read them, I guess. There's a lot to read. So I'm sorry
- I missed that. So I'm going to move that we remove that claim from the docket for this week. Could I
- get a second? Second.
- I'm gonna get a motion and a second. Any public comment on this item? All right, all those in favor
- of adjusting the claims docket for December 11th, 2025 signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries. What
- are the consequences of removing it from the docket? Does that mean it's just not paid? It's not paid
- because it wasn't approved. We don't have a contract.
- because we voted two one to not approve their contract. So we can't pay them. So it's, yeah. I think
- the other question is what would happen if we'd left it? That's the real. I think just as a point of
- information, I do believe that on Tuesday, the council did approve a resolution making that a donation
- to Seven Oaks. So while you didn't approve the contract and there is no contract,
- per se, and you can disallow the claim, I don't think you would be in any harm if it was approved.
- All right. Well, I haven't received any communication from the council about a donation. So I'm I'm
- if they want to bring it, they can bring it. I'm OK with did you all want to revote? Are you all good?
- OK, all right. Motion carries.
- All right. We do have work session items, so we're going to start the work session in like two minutes
- after this meeting ends because we're going to have to get through a lot. And then at one o'clock, we
- have a meeting here for conversation and
- I'm going to ask folks to consider. Applying for boards and commissions. I know we have some. Openings
- on things like animal management board and others that that really needs some. Applicants so.
- Anything that. Folks can do to help out would be greatly
- 10 o'clock here in the NatU Hill Room. Anything else for the good of the order? All right, we are adjourned
- for two minutes and then we'll come back for the work session.