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This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, June 17th, 2021
Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Max Campbell speaks with two organizers of the Bloomington Renters’ Association – Andrew Guenther and Vauhxx Booker. The Bloomington Renter’s Association is an organization intended to be an alternative to the current homeowner-dominated neighborhood associations that can be found around the city. More coming up in today’s feature reports.
Also coming up in the next half hour, on Saturday, Bloomington will host a Juneteenth celebration from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at Switchyard Park. Juneteenth commemorates the date the last group of those who had been enslaved in the United States were informed of their freedom. More in today’s headlines.
But first, your local news brief:
The City of Bloomington will be hosting a Juneteenth event at Switchyard Park this Saturday from 3 to 6:30PM. The event will feature food, treats, games, and scannable QR codes with information on the history of Juneteenth. Attendees may also bring gently used shoes to donate to a Delta Sigma Theta Alumnae chapter shoe drive. The Monroe County Health Department will also be providing free COVID-19 vaccines.
The Indiana Department of National Resources has announced that the CRISP charity motorcycle ride will take place on June 26th this year. Riders can choose one of several routes running through six of Indiana’s state parks. The event will feature an all-you-can eat buffet breakfast at Hardy Lake State Park, a poker run at Versailles State Park, and lunch discounts at Clifty Falls and Spring Mill state parks. Proceeds will go to Friends of Hardy Lake, which provides funding and volunteer service to Indiana’s state parks. Those interested can register at indianastateparksride.org.
The Monroe County Public Library and its Ellettsville branch will rescind some of their COVID-related restrictions this Monday. Both libraries will be resuming their usual hours of operation, will cease to enforce library capacity and time limits, and are scheduling a wide range of educational and children’s events. Hours and programs can be found on the library website.
According to the latest Indiana Department of Health numbers, 750,432 total Hoosiers have had COVID-19. 13,344 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from the virus. The Federal Public Health Emergency remains in effect, and the COVID-19 vaccine is available for free to all Indiana residents aged 12 and up.
Bloomington City Council
At its June 16th meeting, the Bloomington City Council resumed discussion on occupancy affidavits. Director of Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood Development John Zody presented changes made to a resolution that would require tenants and their landlords to sign an affidavit confirming that the number of residents meets occupation limits. He said the ordinance would no longer require landlords to file the affidavit with HAND to avoid privacy issues.
Resident Jordan Evans spoke in opposition to the resolution. As the President of the Monroe County Apartment Association, he said he believes the resolution addresses a problem that does not exist in Bloomington.
Councilmember Susan Sandberg supported the resolution. She argued that the low number of overoccupancy cases is because of the efforts of Bloomington’s HAND department.
Councilmembers voted to approve the resolution 5 to 3, with Councilmembers Isabel Piedmont-Smith, Kate Rosenbarger, and Matt Flaherty dissenting.
Bloomington Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday at Switchyard Park
On Saturday, Bloomington will host a Juneteenth celebration from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at Switchyard Park.
Juneteenth – also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day or Liberation Day – commemorates the date the last group of those who had been enslaved in the United States were informed of their freedom.
Originating in Galveston, Texas, Juneteenth is now celebrated each year on the anniversary of the June 19th announcement by Union Army General Gordon Granger, declaring freedom from slavery in Texas. The news broke in Texas two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
The local celebration of the holiday will feature free food, music and scannable QR codes containing information on the history of Juneteenth. Event organizer Shatoiya Moss, City of Bloomington Safe and Civil Cities Director, shared more about Saturday’s upcoming program.
Those attending the event will be asked to adhere to Covid-19 safety measures. Fully vaccinated community members are not required to wear masks.
Monroe County Board of Health
Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill presented the county’s health recommendations for communal living at the June 15th Monroe County Board of Health meeting. She said the recommended occupancy for houses where all non-exempt occupants are fully vaccinated is 90 percent. Caudill highlighted one major change over the need to quarantine entire houses.
Board member Doctor Robert Wrenn asked what the Board of Health would do if Indiana University is not able to require students and staff members to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Monroe County Commissioner of Health Doctor Thomas Sharp suggested they should have to pay for testing out-of-pocket.
Board members voted to support the regulations unanimously.
Bloomington Board of Public Safety
Bloomington Police Chief Mike Diekhoff presented two officer promotions to the Bloomington Board of Public Safety on June 15th. He asked that Officers Thomas Kruezman and Sean Kincaid be promoted to Senior Police Officer. Board member Luis Fuentes-Rohwer asked for clarification on the promotions. He questioned Diekhoff on whether these promotions were merit or time-based.
Board members voted to approve both promotions unanimously.
Monroe County Plan Commission
The Monroe County Plan Commission discussed rezoning The Trails at Robertson Farm at its June 15th meeting. Petitioner Kevin Schmidt presented a plan to rezone the property from Estate Residential 1 to High Density Residential. He said the developers requested high density so they could build more diverse housing, not so they could build more houses.
Commissioner Dee Owens asked about the term “attainable housing.” She commented that even homes in the lower cost range will cost more once the houses are built and after H-O-A fees.
Commissioner Julie Thomas spoke about rural versus urban zones. She mentioned this development crosses into the grey area between the two.
Commissioner Jim Stainbrook motioned to send a negative recommendation to county commissioners and waive a final hearing of the rezone. The motion failed 4 to 4, with commissioners Jim Stainbrook, Julie Thomas, Margaret Clemons, and Dee Owens voting for. The final hearing for the rezone will be at the July 20th meeting.
Monroe County Redevelopment Commission
The Monroe County Redevelopment Commission spoke with employees of the City of Bloomington about annexation at its June 16th meeting. Reedy Financial Group Partner Gary Smith gave an update of annexation’s effect on county TIFs. He said the projected financial impact on Monroe County has gone down considerably as more research has been done on annexation.
Commissioner Jim Shelton asked if the Commission would still control the money collected from TIFs after 2024 if annexation takes place. City Legal Counsel Steve Unger said that excess money collected from TIFs would work the same way.
The next Redevelopment Commission meeting is scheduled for July 21st.
Feature Reports:
WFHB Correspondent Max Campbell speaks with two organizers of the Bloomington Renters’ Association – Andrew Guenther and Vauhxx Booker.
The Bloomington Renter’s Association just hosted a public event last weekend to announce the creation of the renters’ advocacy group.
For more on what the organization hopes to accomplish, we turn to WFHB Correspondent Max Campbell.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Robert Robinson, Kade Young and Jake Jacobson, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Max Campbell.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
Anchors are Benedict Jones and Lucinda Larnach.
