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This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, January 10th, 2022.
Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Kayan Tara reported on the latest Community Justice Reform Committee meeting where local officials have hit yet another roadblock in their plans for a new jail.
Tara also attended an event from the activist group, Care Not Cages, who opposes the construction of a new jail facility. More in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. But first, your local headlines:
Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals Hears Zoning Variance on Fairfax Rd. Property
At the Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on January 4th, Petitioner Renewing Properties L-L-C asked the board to approve a zoning variance for a property located at 8482 South Fairfax Road.
Representing the company, Land Development Services Consultant David Gilman, explained the request is unique in that they are attempting to turn a 10 bedroom home into a rental property which falls in between the zoning guidelines for both tourist homes and hotels.
Gilman shared his findings of fact on the property and the project. He said that the construction would not have any adverse impact on the surrounding neighbors since it would take place inside the house.
Board Member Pamela Davidson questioned if the findings of fact he stated were provided by the petitioners or the staff. He said he provided them.
Chair of the Board Margaret Clements asked the staff if they thought the petitioners had provided factual findings. Planning Department Planner II Anne Crecelius responded and shared the department’s standards for approval.
Vice-Chair Skip Daley asked county legal if they approved this variance if it would establish any precedent for future cases involving temporary rentals. County Attorney David Schilling responded that it would not.
Board Member Guy Loftman was in favor of approving the request.
Chair of the Board Margaret Clements summarized that the property is zoned residential, and explained that is why she does not want to approve the request for fear of changing the character or the area.
Loftman added the use would be similar to if a family was large enough to fill up a 10 bedroom house.
Davidson agreed with Loftman saying the fact that the property was never finished or occupied for 20 years was a good reason to approve the variance.
Crecelius asked the board to specify that the house can not be built any bigger than the existing 10 bedrooms. The board agreed.
The board voted 3-1-1 on passing the use variance, with Margaret Clemens voting no and Dee Owens abstaining. Clements informed the board that at their next meeting on February 1st, they will discuss establishing a consent agenda.
Monroe County Women’s Commission
At the Monroe County Women’s Commission meeting on January 5th Commission Member Susan Hingle gave an update on the ordinance to decrease the number of seats on the commission to seven. Hingle shared that the commissioners will amend the ordinance to increase the number of seats back to its original eleven positions.
Hingle explained that the commissioners changed the ordinance because they heard the commission was struggling to meet their quorum and wanted to help by reducing the number of people necessary to be in attendance down to 4.
However, Hingle says the women’s commission was not informed about the decision, and wanted to ensure that the appointed commissioners would be able to be re-appointed.
Commissioner Jennifer Crossley apologized for the miscommunication, and said she thought the commission had been aware of the ordinance and she would make sure as the liaison between the county council and the women’s commission that the communication would improve moving forward.
Hingle explained how the communication breakdown happened.
Commissioner Maria Douglas explained how the conversation went with Commissioner Julie Thomas during the commissioner’s office hours. She also shared why having a higher number of seats available on the commission is important.
Commissioner Nicki Williamson added that Thomas suggested members of the women’s commission attend the County Commissioners meetings as well to improve communication between the commissions.
Crossley clarified that since Douglas was appointed by the county council and her term ended she will need to be re-appointed.
Commissioner Tiana Iruoje asked about the quorum number they will need to meet once they return to 11 members. Hingle replied saying they will need 6 members to meet quorum.
The next Monroe County Women’s Commission meeting will be held on February 2nd.
More questions remain, tension mounts at first meeting of the year for a new Monroe County jail
The Monroe County Community Justice Response Committee (CJRC) had its first meeting of the year this Monday to address next steps in building a new Monroe County jail. Previous attempts to purchase and rezone land for the build on almost 90 acres of land beside I-69 and West Fullerton Pike failed in December of last year.
The meeting was tense with committee members disagreeing on land availability, level of community collaboration, and other key issues.
District Five Representative Isabel Piedmont-Smith who attended the meeting as a member of the public noted her frustration at the process.
“ I feel like the county commissioners have a roadmap of how they want this process to work, but they haven’t shared that roadmap with. The other committee members or with other people in the public who are very concerned about this,” said Piedmont-Smith.
Commissioners noted their first goal is to identity a new jail location and move forward with land purchase for a new jail.
Members of the committee and the public openly expressed disappointment and frustration at how representatives from the Board of County Commissioners have dealt with the whole process.
While the city’s Public Engagement Director Kaisa Goodman spoke through public commentary time allotted for the end of the meeting, she still feels the community’s voice in this issue remains unheard.
“Public comment doesn’t offer a dialogue and it doesn’t offer real collaboration. It’s hearing, but it’s not being able to follow up or ask questions, and it’s not like an ongoing conversation. So it doesn’t feel sufficient for the amount of work that we have to do. And even if, even if theoretically they responded at the next meeting to some of the comments that were made tonight, that just is a super inefficient process in terms of like finding actual solutions,” said Goodman.
Prior to the meeting, the group Care Not Cages held a “Block Party” outside the Courthouse to protest the Monroe County jail expansion. King Trill, who attended the event, came to represent IDOC Watch, an Indiana organization focused on criminal justice reform.
“They are trying to build a new monstrosity that can attain even more people and deny even more people of freedom, liberty, and an opportunity to pursue a successful life. You know? This is the only industry that I’ve ever seen that people throw so much money into it and continue to expand and continue to grow, but every time you talk to ’em, they say they’re losing,” said King Trill.
The next meeting of the CJRC is set for Jan. 23 at 4:30 p.m.
Lil Bub’s Lil Show
Up next, we have Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. We turn now to that segment.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Kayan Tara.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
