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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, October 11th.
Later in the program, WFHB News speaks with Margaret Clements, Vice President of Monroe County Residents Against Annexation, about the remonstration process. More in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, we have an update on the 7 Oaks School and their compliance with the local mask mandate. More in the top half of tonight’s show.
Monroe County Board of Health Discusses 7 Oaks’ Compliance with Local Mask Mandate
On October 7th at the Monroe County Board of Health meeting Health Director Penny Caudill updated the board that Monroe County is now 60 percent vaccinated, and is back in the yellow advisory category.
Board member Ashley Cranor followed up on 7 Oaks School compliance with the mask mandate. Caudill said that they might not be compliant at this time. The school sent home a face covering exemption form that gives parents the option to decide if their child wears a mask when participating in an indoor activity that is inconsistent with wearing a mask.
County Attorney Margie Rice outlined that they are communicating with 7 Oaks to make sure they understand that the exemption for activities that are not conducive to mask wearing are intended to be cardiovascular activities, not educational ones.
The board also unanimously approved their contract with Indiana Recovery Alliance to extend the Indiana Syringe Service Program for another two years.
The next meeting will be held on October 21st.
Bloomington City Council Approves Ordinance to Limit Meetings to 5.5 Hours or After Midnight
At the October 6th meeting the Bloomington City Council approved an ordinance which would give council members the ability to limit the duration of city council sessions to five and a half hours or after midnight.
The ordinance was proposed by Council Member Steve Volan, who expressed concern over the council’s inability to adjourn at a reasonable hour.
According to Volan’s explanation of the ordinance, it would take one council member to make the motion to adjourn, and only one other council member to second the motion.
Council member Isabelle Piedmont-Smith said she supported the ordinance.
President Jim Sims did not support the ordinance, and commented that he believed the council was already equipped to adjourn without this new amendment.
The proposal to put limitations on the length of city council meetings passed 7-2-0. The next meeting will be on October 13th.
Ellettsville Plan Commission Talks Voluntary Annexation of 5010 North Lakeview Drive
On October 7th the Ellettsville Plan Commission discussed the voluntary annexation of 5010 North Lakeview Drive.
The petitioner Kevin Farris would like to expand his existing business, Farris Storage, Inc. He is hoping to have the land zoned as a C-3 commercial classification.
Director of Planning and Development Kevin Tolloty explained the voluntary annexation on behalf of the petitioner who was not in attendance at the meeting.
Commissioner Terry Baker asked if there was a condition in the zoning laws to ensure there is a buffer zone between residential and commercial zoned areas.
Tolloty explained that any structure would have to be at least 20 feet from the property line.
Baker also expressed concern about allowing outdoor storage, and remarked it could dissuade individuals from moving to Ellettsville.
The commission members unanimously decided to table the decision until the next meeting so that Farris could answer questions himself.
The next meeting will be held on November 4th.
Monroe County Election Board Discusses Redrawing Precinct Maps and More
The Monroe County Election Board met on October 7th to discuss redrawing precinct maps and voting space allocation.
Monroe County GIS Coordinator Jared Eichmiller updated the board on the re-precinting changes necessary based off of the 2020 census.
Allen County Circuit Court Clerk Chris Nancarrow was invited to speak to the board. He highlighted the importance of voting center locations being done in a non-partisan manner.
President of the Monroe County Commissioners Julie Thomas articulated her thoughts on how to move forward with making a decision by working together.
She said that the commissioners are alright with renting out the Monroe County Convention center for a long term voting location, but she made clear that the commissioners would like to have satellite sites since not everyone in the county lives in the city.
The next election board meeting will be held on November 4th.
Feature Report:
News Director Kade Young speaks with Margaret Clements, Vice President of Monroe County Residents Against Annexation, to update you on the remonstration process in the aftermath of the City Council’s approval of seven of the eight proposed annexation areas. Clements touches on her hopes and expectations for the rebuttal process for property owners who live in the annexed areas.
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.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
