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This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, November 15th, 2022.
Later in the program, the Bloomington Plan Commission gave a negative recommendation to rezone the proposed location of the new Monroe County jail during their latest meeting. More in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, the latest episode of Lil Bub’s Lil Show, a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. But first, your local headlines:
MCPL Board of Trustees
At the Monroe County Public Library Board of Trustees meeting on November 9th, Director Grier Carson informed the board that they are evaluating health insurance options for staff.
H-R Assistant Manager Becky Throckmorton informed the board on the work the managers did in collaboration with J-A Benefits, to assess the library’s health insurance options.
Throckmorton outlined the different options they were looking at, and how they reached the decision that Anthem would be a good choice.
Board Member and Treasurer David L. Ferguson said he appreciated the work they had done, but said he still would like to look at the total amount it would cost compared to last year’s benefit costs.
Board Member Chris Harrison added that they need to consider what the employees want to see, better insurance coverage or pay raises.
The board will continue the discussion on health insurance plans at their next meeting on November 16th.
Monroe County Commissioners
At the Monroe County Commissioners meeting on November 9th, the commissioners approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County for expenses related to the program they ran to help kids get ready for preschool .
County Attorney Jeff Cockerill explained what the M-O-U is for.
Commissioner Penny Githens said she was proud that the county was able to help.
Commissioner Lee Jones also commented that she was pleased to see that there are still people working on addressing the consequences of Covid-19 in the community.
Commissioner Julie Thomas agreed and said the program was beneficial to the community.
The commissioners approved the M-O-U unanimously.
The next Monroe County Commissioners meeting will be held on November 16th.
Bloomington Plan Commission Gives Negative Recommendation on New Jail Site
The Bloomington Plan Commission gave a negative recommendation on the proposed site for the Monroe County Jail during their November 14th meeting.
Plan commissioners heard a petition to rezone the property from “mixed-used employment” to “mix-used institutional” for the purpose of building a new jail.
The 87-acre property is located on the northeast corner of Fullerton Pike and South State Road 37. Development Services Manager Jackie Scanlan described the petition saying that staff has concerns about the rezoning of the property.
Scanlan said that while the planning department expresses an understanding for a new criminal justice facility, they have not received enough information from the county about why the zoning change would be necessary.
Monroe County Commissioner Julie Thomas emphasized the county’s desire to construct a new jail.
County Attorney Jeff Cockerill said that the Fullerton Pike location would be the only property that’s inside city limits. He pleaded with the plan commission to consider the rezone.
Plan Commissioner Ron Smith asked Cockerill about the concerns outlined by Scanlan regarding the size of the site. Cockerill said further plans on the site are still up in the air, so that’s why the county is uncertain on the exact acreage needed.
Local resident Sydney Foreman raised transportation, environmental and criminal justice concerns about the Fullerton Pike property during public comment.
The Bloomington Plan Commission voted 6-3 with a ‘no’ recommendation for the rezoning of the property. The rezone awaits a final say from the City Council in the near future. The next meeting of the city plan commission will happen on December 12th.
Lil Bub’s Lil Show:
Up next, the latest episode of Lil Bub’s Lil Show, a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund.
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 Kade Young.
Lil Bub’s Lil Show is produced by Christine Brackenhoff and Stacy Bridavsky.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
