WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, February 22nd, 2021.
Later in the program, we have the latest edition of A Few Minutes with the Mayor. In today’s segment, we ask listener-posed questions to Deputy Mayor Mick Renneisen on community issues. More on that in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, a law aimed to protect homeless encampments got its first reading in City Council last week. More on that in today’s headlines.
But first, your local news brief:
In a letter addressed to IU president Michael McRobbie and the board of trustees, the Indiana University Geography Department went on the record in their support of the IU Graduate Workers Coalition’s campaign to end the fees; that is the mandatory graduate and international fees.
In the letter, which was delivered on Friday, the department wrote, “…our stipends are already lower than most of our peer institutions, and our fees are higher… we are losing our ability to compete for top students.”
The department noted that many students have to take second jobs, on top of their full time studies. The financial precarity, the department wrote, “is an unnecessary obstacle.” Especially for some graduate students who have families and caretaking responsibilities. At least one grad student has had to sell blood plasma to make ends meet.
The geography department’s letter came a week after more than 100 IU faculty signed a petition supporting the Graduate worker fee strike, which is a part of the campaign to end mandatory and international fees.
In education news, local teachers with the Monroe County Education Association will wear all black on Wednesday, to quote, “show the darkness facing Indiana public schools.”
The protest is a part of a campaign by the Indiana State Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers union, to raise awareness about underfunding and Covid-19 safety concerns in the state’s schools.
With the opening of a new biennial legislative session in the Indiana State House, lawmakers put forth a number of bills that, the organization says, will actually reduce funding for public schools.
COVID-19 Press Conference
Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill spoke about COVID-19 vaccination clinic closure procedures during the February 19th COVID-19 Press Conference. She mentioned patients can choose how to be notified of a closure.
Caudill mentioned due to weather fewer COVID-19 tests have been taken. She reported this may cause a lower reported rate of community spread. IU Health South Central Region President Brian Shockney stated the COVID-19 numbers saw a continued decrease.
Monroe County Commissioner Julie Thomas stated about ten percent of the Monroe County population has been vaccinated. Indiana University Assistant Vice President for Engagement Kirk White mentioned vaccinated frontline workers may have a chance at obtaining tickets to watch NCAA games.
Caudill stated vaccination rates could factor into decisions of lessening restrictions.
A Bill Aimed to Protect Homeless Encampments Gets First Reading in City Council
A new bill aimed to protect homeless encampments received a first reading during last Wednesday’s city council meeting.
According to Ordinance 21-06, the bill would amend the Bloomington Municipal Code to add protections for people experiencing homelessness. The ordinance would require the city to give at least a 15-day notice before removing encampments from public spaces.
The legislation comes in response to two evictions to people experiencing homelessness at Seminary Park, issued by the office of the mayor.
City Clerk Nicole Bolden read the title and synopsis of the bill during the council meeting.
Council members Matt Flaherty, Isabel Piedmont-Smith and Kate Rosenbarger sponsored the bill. The council’s committee-of-the-whole is set to discuss the bill at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Bloomington Human Rights Commission discussed a homelessness bill of rights in its January 27th meeting – which is similar in language to the city council ordinance.
Vauhxx Booker, Monroe County Human Rights Commissioner, presented an unhoused bill of rights to the Bloomington Human Rights Commission. Booker described the reason for the proposal in the commission meeting.
“My idea is really to create a groundwork that says, ‘we’re going to recognize the right of everyone to live in our community,'” said Booker.
The proposal is partly modeled after the Indianapolis “Homeless Bill of Rights” which was adopted in March 2015.
Commissioner Booker touched on some of the highlights of the proposal. He said some members of the commission were concerned with tackling the issue of homelessness in such a short time frame.
The unhoused bill of rights received a first reading on February 3rd, and it is scheduled to receive a second reading with public comment at a later date.
Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners
The Bloomington Park Commissioners heard an appeal of a proposed tree removal at Lower Cascades Park. Appellant Susan Glowitz argued younger trees could be removed from the opposing street side.
Glowitz mentioned the street width could be decreased if the street were to be turned into a pedestrian only street. She also mentioned the mature trees would be a great community and habitat loss. Urban Forester Erin Hatch Stated the trees must be removed before April 1st.
Hatch said the current 23 trees were chosen after drastic project modifications from the original number. Operations and Development Division Director Tim Street said the stormwater flow to Cascades has seen an increase.
Street stated the erosion created safety hazards in the park. Hatch stated mitigation trees would be planted at a five-to-one ratio, the trees being four-to-six feet in height. Commission members unanimously denied the appeal.
Tensions Flare in the Indiana Statehouse Over “Discriminatory Bill”
On Thursday, Republican lawmakers shouted down and booed Black legislators while debating on a bill, which Democrats call discriminatory.
Representative Greg Porter, a Democrat in Indianapolis, walked off the House floor after warning that House Bill 1367 contains discriminatory language. The bill would allow students in Greene Township in St. Joseph County to leave the racially diverse South Bend Community School Corporation to join the predominantly-white John Glenn School Corporation.
House Republicans deny that the bill is discriminatory. Representative Jake Teshka from South Bend, who authored the bill, maintains that it’s a transportation issue. He says that students in Greene Township are already attending John Glenn Schools, and that his legislation would help resolve transportation issues.
Indiana Democrats are calling on House Speaker Todd Huston to hold Representative Jim Lucas and the Indiana GOP accountable for, “1960s-style racism against Black Hoosiers.”
House Speaker Huston urged members to show “proper respect” and to address issues in an “appropriate dialogue” last Thursday.
Then, on Friday, Republican lawmaker Jim Lucas posted a racist meme on social media. The meme he posted shows a doctored image of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. pointing to a whiteboard. The whiteboard says, “calling someone privileged because they are white is judging someone by the color of their skin.”
John Zody, chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, said in a statement, “What Hoosiers saw last Thursday was a flashpoint of racism that we only once read about in a classroom. Voters’ trust in the state’s elected leadership will be demolished if Speaker Todd Huston fails to hold these bad actors accountable.”
After Greg Porter walked off the House floor, testimony was given by Representative Vernon Smith from Gary. He described his own experiences as a Black man being the target of discrimination, including his encounters with police.
Representative Jim Lucas then walked off the House floor during Smith’s testimony.
MCPL Board of Trustees
Monroe County Public Library Strategist for Staff Development and Projects, Bara Swinson, announced the 2020 Pioneer grant recipients during the February 17th MCPL Board of Trustees meeting. She mentioned multiple projects applied for the grant.
Swinson reported Bethany Turrentine and Kim Baker were awarded funds for a dyslexia project. Baker mentioned dyslexia has a high presence in the community.
Baker stated the grant funds would support staff training on dyslexia awareness. She mentioned 30 staff members already completed the training. She spoke of other project accomplishments.
Baker mentioned education kits would also be created for children. Swinson reported Edwin Fallwell and Jen Hoffman also received a grant for Adventure Backpacks. Fallwell spoke about what would be included in the backpacks.
Fallwell mentioned adventure backpacks were checked out a total of 17 times in 2020.
Water Main Breaks in Downtown Bloomington
On Saturday afternoon, a water main broke in downtown Bloomington at the corner of Fourth Street and Walnut Street.
Holly McLauchlin, communications manager for the City of Bloomington Utilities, talked to WFHB in a phone conversation earlier today. She said cold temperatures likely had to do with the water main break.
“We don’t know exactly the reason for this main break,” said McLauchlin. “Certainly cold temperatures are a factor in increasing main breaks and also temperature fluctuation.”
McLauchlin clarified that it was not a broken pipe but rather a broken valve, which caused the traffic disruption on Saturday. She described the difference between a water pipe and a water valve.
“When you turn the knob and water comes out, that’s the valve,” she said. “When we have our valves open in the water system, the water is flowing through the pipe. When we close the valve, that’s when the water stops.”
She said the pipe which contained the broken valve was a 12-inch, cast-iron pipe installed in 1973.
“For the emergency repair on Saturday, the initial report was at 1 p.m. Our on-call supervisor was there by 1:30 p.m. to assess and Police had set up traffic barriers. Line locates (811) were called in and a CBU crew. While the supervisor waits for the rest of the crew, he tries to narrow down where exactly the break is located using GIS, listening tools, and his own training and experience.” -Holly McLauchlin
Some addresses lost water service as a result of the water break. McLauchlin provided safety precautions to those who are affected by broken water mains.
“Anytime the water pressure in the pipe goes under 20 psi, we are required to issue a precautionary boil water advisory,” she said.
The incident marked the eighth water main break since the start of this year. McLauchlin described efforts by the CBU to replace dated water mains.
“Currently, we have a certain amount of money, and we’re able to do a certain amount of pipes per year, and we are looking to increase that in the future with the future water rate increase,” said McLauchlin.
The proposed water rate increase would expand funding to replace worn-out water mains, so that the CBU can replace 3 miles of water mains per year.
“The proposed water rate increase would expand funding to replace worn-out water mains, so that the CBU can replace 3 miles of water mains per year. We have replaced 6.1 miles of pipe for $3,816,346 in the last 3 years, and we are seeking a water rate increase in part to accelerate the water main replacement program. We would like to increase investment in water main replacement from $2 million per year in 2022 to $3 million in 2025, with a goal of establishing an ongoing, 100-year replacement cycle.” – Holly McLauchlin
Since Saturday, four additional water mains have busted, says McLauchlin. She mentioned the locations that were affected.
“We have a main break at Sixth and Grant, which is downtown,” she said. “We have a main break at Allen and Lincoln in the Bryan Park neighborhood, St. James and Forrester in the Hyde Park neighborhood and Old State Road 37 and Fairfax which is south of Bloomington.”
Feature Reports:
Now it’s time for A Few Minutes with the Mayor – a weekly segment where Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton answers listener-posed questions on community issues.
Due to a scheduling conflict, Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton was unavailable for this week’s A Few Minutes with the Mayor interview. This week Assistant News Director Sydney Foreman speaks with Bloomington Deputy Mayor Mick Renneisen in Hamilton’s place.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Aaron Comforty, Kade Young and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Sydney Foreman.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
