WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, October 4th, 2021.
Later in the program, WFHB News speaks with the communications head of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education about the opening of the Free Application for Federal Student AID, better known as FAFSA. More coming up in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, City of Bloomington recycling services resumed to normal operations today. This comes after a recent spike in Covid-19 cases among city workers in the sanitation department.
Bloomington Recycling Services Return to Normal Starting Monday
City of Bloomington recycling services resumed as normal starting on Monday, October 1st.
The return to regular operations comes after a Covid-19 outbreak last week forced the Sanitation Division of the Department of Public Works to halt recycling services for one week.
During Friday’s local Covid-19 press conference, Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton said positive cases among city residents reached the highest point since December 2020. He also touched on the pause in recycling.
“We did have six new cases this week that brings our month of September positive case count for employees to 18. That’s the highest month in 2021. The only higher month was December of 2020 with 20 cases,” says Mayor Hamilton.
So far, city employees reported 113 positive tests since the start of the pandemic. That includes workers for Bloomington Utilities, Bloomington Transit and the Bloomington Housing Authority. Furthermore, Covid-19 was listed as a cause of death of one city worker.
According to the city’s uReport system, at least one Bloomington resident remained unaware of the halt in recycling last week. The Highland Village resident said, “Although my trash was taken my recycling was left Tuesday morning. There was no indication or notice sticker as to why.”
In a phone interview with WFHB, Public Works Director Adam Wason commented on best recycling practices now that the schedule heads back to normal.
“Good clean recycling is the best recycling in terms of making sure that those products can have another use,” says Wason.
For more information on trash and recycling services, you can contact sanitation at 812-349-3443.
City Council Discusses Police and Fire Department Salaries in 2022 Budget
At the Bloomington City Council Committee of the Whole meeting on September 29th Mayor John Hamilton shared that he supports the 2022 budget and hopes it will be approved by the council.
During public comment Bloomington Commission on Sustainability member, Nejla Routsong urged the council to reconsider increasing the police budget in favor of providing affordable housing instead.
Council Member Sue Sgambelluri shared her perspective on the ordinance, and replied to Routesong’s earlier public comment.
The council voted 4-0-5 passing on the ordinance to approve the 2022 Salaries of Officers of the Police and Fire Departments.
The votes at this meeting were for the approval of the ordinances, however, the final votes on the Bloomington 2022 Budget will be taken on October 13th.
Monroe County Commissioners Formally Approve Mask Mandate Extension Through October
At the September 29th meeting, the Monroe County Commissioners officially approved the mask mandate extension until the end of October.
Health Director Penny Caudill explained the Board of Health’s decision to extend the mask mandate.
The commissioners approved the extension unanimously.
The commissioners discussed the Robertson Farm rezoning ordinance. Commissioner Penny Githens questioned the developers on the affordability of the houses, which were initially planned to be 200,000 dollars but are now being presented as 300,000 dollar homes.
During public comment Housing and Community Development consultant Deborah Myerson shared that she wishes for the commissioners to approve the development, because the prices of houses in Monroe County are increasing due to a high demand and lack of available homes.
Resident Patty Bush expressed concerns about the watershed and potential flooding that could be exasperated with more development.
Commissioner Lee Jones made a comment that she appreciates the petitioners work, however, it is not agreeable to her yet.
The commissioners voted to deny the rezoning ordinance unanimously. The next commission meeting will be on October 6th.
Feature Report:
On October 1st, the Free Application for Federal Student AID, better known as FAFSA, opened up to potential college students. WFHB News Director Kade Young speaks with Allison Kuehr, Communications and Public Relations Manager for the Indiana Commission on Higher Education, about what you need to know before applying.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young and 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.
