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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, May 26th, 2021.
Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Robert Robinson filed a report on Indiana’s decision to end federal pandemic unemployment benefits. To provide perspective on this, Robinson talked to Dr. Joshua Bernstein, Assistant Professor of Economics at Indiana University. More coming up in today’s feature reports.
Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB hosted and produced by Richard Fish. More following today’s feature report.
But first, your local news brief:
Monroe County has had a 26% decrease in COVID-19 cases within the last 14 days, with 7 new cases yesterday. Although the amount of cases are decreasing, Monroe County is still seen as a high risk location for the 61% of the population that hasn’t been vaccinated.
For the first time since 2019, Bloomington public pools Bryan Park Pool and Mills Pool will be open. According to a press conference, the pools will remain open all summer, with Bryan Park Pool open until September 6th and Mills Pool open until August 3rd, when they will close for the winter. Both pools will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $5 at each pool with children 3 years of age and under admitted for free.
The weekday version of the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market opens on June 1 from 4 to 7 pm at the Pavilion at Switchyard Park. A Fair of the Arts, an art and fine craft fair will also be coinciding with the Tuesday Market every other Tuesday until September 21st. Admission to both events is free to the public with free parking as well.
Bloomington Board of Public Works
The Bloomington Board of Public Works discussed two appeals for excessive growth at a home on East Round Hill Lane. At the May 25th meeting, Neighborhood Compliance Officer Jo Stong talked about issuing the notices. She said the yard had prohibited plants that were taller than the allowed height of 8 inches, and that the homeowner did not respond to the initial violation.
Petitioner Alex Gul said the original notice did not specify what prohibited plants are on his yard. He argued the municipal code lists only specific plants that aren’t allowed to be over 8 inches.
Board members rejected the appeal unanimously. Board members then discussed abatement of the property. Assistant City Attorney Daniel Dixon questioned Stong over additional violations that would make abatement necessary.
Stong recommended continuous abatement, which would allow City officials to clean up the property at the owner’s expense for any future violations. Board members approved this unanimously.
Monroe County Redevelopment Commission
The Monroe County Redevelopment Commission also discussed annexation at its May 19th meeting. Commissioner Lisa Abbot asked about how annexation would affect Monroe County TIFs. She worried some of the TIFs would be broken up into pieces once city limits are redrawn.
County Attorney Jeff Cockerill recommended Commissioners have a more detailed conversation once the city is further in the annexation process. Commissioner Jim Shelton pointed out the difficulty in making decision on projects before the City votes on annexation.
Commissioner Iris Kiesling asked if any of the City Councilmembers were tuned in to annexation talks. Monroe County Councilmember Geoff McKim answered that all city councilmembers were.
The next Redevelopment Commission meeting will be in-person, on June 16th.
Monroe County Solid Waste Management Citizens Advisory Committee
The Monroe County Solid Waste Management District Citizens Advisory Committee made plans to finalize its budget. Committee member Joseph Wynia recommended the committee meet for two work sessions to be prepared to present and vote on a budget at its next full meeting. Executive Director Tom McGlasson cautioned that multiple sessions without quorum could violate local law.
Committee member Randi Cox suggested forming a subcommittee to avoid those violations. McGlasson reassured committee members that an ad-hoc subcommittee meeting would be fine. The next regular meeting of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee will be June 20th.
Bloomington Board of Zoning Appeals
At its May 21st meeting, the Bloomington Board of Zoning Appeals discussed its decision to deny a sign permit. Zoning and Long Range Planner Keegan Gulick presented an appeal of a previous decision to deny permissions to build a fourth sign post on West 3rd Street.
He said the PUD was limited to four pole signs, and the petitioner Whitehall Associates requested a fifth sign. Whitehall Associates Representative Michael Carmin stated another group applied for the fourth sign without permission from the petitioner. He argued the original outline plan for the PUD strictly states that only Whitehall Associates can apply for these permits.
Board member Barre Klapper asked how permits are rewarded to PUDs with multiple owners. Development Services Manager Jackie Scanlan explained that any organization in the PUD meets the requirement to request a sign.
Board members denied the appeal unanimously.
Monroe County Commissioners
The Monroe County Commissioners discussed adopting hybrid meeting protocols. At the May 19th meeting, Attorney Margie Rice presented a resolution to allow for some people to attend future Monroe County board and commission meetings virtually. Commissioner Julie Thomas talked about the importance of allowing people to attend from home. She said if COVID-19 is still a problem, this is the safest option.
Rice clarified that this acts as a blanket resolution to other Monroe County boards and commissions. She said passing this resolution allows groups that could not meet before June 1st to still have a hybrid meeting and allows them to pass a resolution that better fits each group.
Commissioners approved the resolution unanimously.
Feature Reports:
Up first, WFHB Correspondent Robert Robinson reported on Indiana’s decision to end federal pandemic unemployment benefits. To provide perspective on this, Robinson talked to Dr. Joshua Bernstein, Assistant Professor of Economics at Indiana University. Robert Robinson has more.
Now it’s time for Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. We turn to host Richard Fish for more.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Katherine Patterson and Jake Jacobson, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Robert Robinson.
Better Beware is produced by Richard Fish.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
Anchors: Jake Jacobson, Katrine Bruner
