WFHB Local News – July 8th, 2021

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This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, July 8th, 2021.

Later in the program, we have the latest edition of Prescription for Healthcare – a podcast collaboration between WFHB and Medicare for All Indiana. More coming up in today’s feature report. Also coming up, we have coverage on Envision Ellettsville – a local initiative that aims to hear from the town of Ellettsville to make long-term improvements to the community. More in today’s headlines.

But first, your local news brief:

Coronavirus cases for Indiana have jumped in the last week, rising 39% higher than the previous week. A total of 2,025 cases were reported according to USA Today. Indiana is one of 28 states that has seen more cases this past week than the week before.. In the latest week cases in the United States have overall increased by 10.4%. Many cases and deaths were not reported during Fourth of July which could shift the week-to-week comparisons. Indiana counties Lake, Marion and Vanderburgh have seen the worst increases so far.

After the storms affected Indiana businesses and residents in June, federal officials have decided to open two Disaster Loan Outreach Centers this week. Both centers are scheduled to open Friday at 8 a.m. and will be located at the Monroe County Convention Center in Bloomington and the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce in Jefferson County. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, July 10th from noon to 5 p.m. The sites will close on Friday, July 16th at 5 p.m. According to the U.S. Small business Administration administrator Casillas Guzman certain low-interest disaster loans were a cause of Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb requesting a disaster declaration. WFIU News stated that there will be a borrowing limit of $2 million for businesses and nonprofits and loans of up to $200,000 available to homeowners. Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. The deadline for filing for property damage is September 7th.

Bloomington Digest released their daily weather forecast for the week. Today’s high is 84 degrees with a low of 63. There are chances of showers and thunderstorms throughout the day with 7 mph winds. Tomorrow’s high will be 81 degrees and low of 65 degrees. Chances of showers and thunderstorms overnight but partly sunny throughout the day with 3 mph winds.

Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals

At its July 7th meeting, the Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals discussed variances to an area in Perry Township. County Planner Drew Myers presented two slope variances and a front yard variance for property in the 3300 block of South Spring Branch Road. He said the city recommended approval of the front yard setback but denial of the slope variances. Myers stated the petitioners could avoid the slope variances by redesigning the home.

Resident Peter Chadwick showed concern that the lot for the home was only 1.4 acres. He said the other neighborhood homes were built on at least 2 acres of land.

Board member Margaret Clements questioned why the petitioner did not have to obtain a lot size variance. Myers clarified that it did not have to abide by certain zoning restrictions because the lot was recorded before the zoning ordinance. Board member Skip Daley asked Myers if the resident objections were relevant to the Board’s decision.

Clements moved to deny the front yard setback variance due to remonstrances by residents of the neighborhood. Board members voted to deny the variance 3 to 1, with board member Skip Daley voting no.

Bloomington Board of Public Works

The Bloomington Board of Public Works discussed multiple lane closures. At the July 7th meeting, Planning Technician Mike Stewart presented a request for lane closures on 4 Bloomington roads to let the petitioner lay fiber lines for A-T and T. He said the work on South Sare Road would be the most impactful. Stewart listed two closures that would be minor, and a fourth closure on North Kinser Pike for aerial work.

Board member Beth Hollingsworth asked about exclusivity around the fiber lanes. She asked petitioner Brian Busick if other companies would be able to lay fiber once the lanes are built.

Board members approved the closures 2 to 0.

Monroe County Commissioners

HealthNet Bloomington Project Director Nancy Richman gave an update on the HealthNet Bloomington Health Center at the July 7th Monroe County Commissioners meeting. She said the Health Center has seen nearly as many patients in the first 6 months of 2021 as it did in its first year of operation.

Richman said the biggest difference between HealthNet and Volunteers in Medicine of Monroe County, the nonprofit she used to run, is that HealthNet is not a free clinic. She said this lets them continue to treat low-income residents as well as residents experiencing homelessness.

Richman added that HealthNet Bloomington has a grant to help with travel. She said residents who need help traveling to the clinic can receive it. The next County Commissioner meeting is July 14th.

Envision Ellettsville Wants to Hear from the Community

The town of Ellettsville is the second largest community in Monroe County – its history being rooted in the limestone and manufacturing industries.

Members of the community have come together to see how they can improve the town moving forward – from business development, affordable housing and infrastructure improvements.

That’s the goal of Envision Ellettsville – a local initiative that formed from a partnership between the Greater Ellettsville Chamber of Commerce and Ellettsville Main Street Inc.

Christa Curtis, co-chair of the Envision Ellettsville committee and member of the board of directors at the Greater Ellettsville Area Chamber of Commerce, described the objectives of the project.

“Envision Ellettsville is a community project with the goal of creating a shared vision for the future of Ellettsville,” she said, “and we want to develop that vision with community input.”

Curtis says they’re still working on gathering feedback from members of the community. She says Envision Ellettsville has contracted with an Indianapolis-based development firm in order to receive relevant input from members of the community. She discussed what limited feedback they’ve already received from town residents.

“We heard about affordable housing – that we need to make sure there are different types of housing for the different types of people and families who want to live in Ellettsville,” she said.

Kyle Hannon, project manager for Envision Ellettsville, said of the project, “this is Ellettsville taking the reins of its future.” Curtis explained what he meant by that.

“There aren’t a lot of areas for growth opportunities in Monroe County, so I think a lot of people look at Ellettsville and see an opportunity,” she said.

Curtis says she remains hopeful that the community-wide group made up of mostly volunteers, will move forward with residents’ input at the forefront.

“The next step is bringing the residents into the project and getting their input,” said Curtis. “We’re all focused on creating a very positive future for our town.”

As for the future, Curtis says for the next six to eight months, the group plans to talk to as many people in the community as possible.

If you’re an Ellettsville resident and would like to submit feedback to Envision Ellettsville, you can send an email to [email protected].

Feature Reports:

Now it’s time for Prescription for Healthcare – a once-a-month podcast collaboration between WFHB and Medicare for All Indiana.

In today’s segment, hosts Karen Green Stone and Dr. Rob Stone continue their conversation with Dr. Mark Bauman – a physician at Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital and professor at IU School of Medicine who specializes in pathology.

Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Katrine Bruner, Kade Young and Jake Jacobson, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Rob and Karen Green Stone
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young