WFHB Local News – February 24th, 2025

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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, February 24th, 2025.

Later in the program, WFHB News Correspondent Mackenzie Lionberger speaks with Judi Epp, one of the founders of Spencer Pride, about how the organization remains committed to fostering inclusivity in rural Indiana. More in today’s feature report.

That’s Carrie Albright from the City of Bloomington Environmental Commission, asking you to help protect our most precious resources. Find out how you can help later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

But first, your daily headlines:

On February 19th at the Bloomington City Council meeting, the council introduced an ordinance to appropriate additional funds from the Opioid Settlement Fund to the Downtown Outreach Grant Program. City Clerk Nicole Bolden explained that Appropriation Ordinance 2025-02 will specifically help the city derive from the opioid settlement unrestricted funds a total of $50,000 and the restricted funds an additional $200,000. Bolden said that this amount would be allocated to the Community and Family Resources Department of Bloomington so that they can continue to uplift important city services and nonprofits, such as Beacon inc, Amethyst House, Community Kitchen of Monroe County, and many more. The public hearing for the appropriation will take place on March 5th.

In other news, Council Member Isabel Piedmont-Smith sponsored an ordinance titled Ordinance 2025-05 that would clarify the titles and responsibilities of thirteen boards and commissions within the Bloomington Municipal Code. Among the clarifications included qualifications for sitting on the boards, time and frequency of meetings, and the specific duties of each board. Important commissions such as the Bloomington Arts Commission, Environmental Commission, and the Community Advisory on Public Safety will now be expected to provide written reports to the common council and the mayor on an annual basis.

Of particular note was the question of extending qualifications for commission members from those who live in the city of Bloomington to those living in the broader Monroe County area. This topic was one of disagreement within the council.

Deputy Clerk of Communications and Outreach Jennifer Crossley expressed her support for council president Hopi Stosberg’s amendments to the ordinance that would expand qualifications for specifically the Commission on the Status of Children and Youth and Commission on the Status of Women to residents of Monroe County.

Council Member Isak Asare suggested an amendment that would extend qualifications to all Monroe county residents for every commission.

This was met with opposition from Council Member Dave Rollo and Council President Hopi Stosberg.

Council Members Sydney Zulich and Courtney Daily, however, voiced her agreement with Asare’s amendment, hoping that it might encourage a stronger relationship between the county and city.
Zulich expressed her support to expand the commissions’ reach.

Daily also spoke in support of the expansion saying that there are qualified candidates in the county.

Council Member Piedmont-Smith, said that the commissions’ responsibility is to advise the city of Bloomington’s government, and that county residents are not a part of the city, noting county residents’ opposition to being annexed into the city.

President Stosberg, shifting to a different aspect of the amendment, expressed her deep concern for the possibility of opening qualifications for anyone whose primary employment resides within city boundaries.

Clerk Nicole Bolden highlighted that verifying someone is working within city limits would add an additional workload onto city staff, and that it should be considered how the rules would be implemented.

The council voted on Asare’s amendment, 3-5, with Council Members Daily, Zulich, and Asara voting yes, and Council Members Stosberg, Piedmont-Smith, Rollo, Ruff, and Rosenbarger voting no on the amendment to expand the qualifications for commission members.

The ordinance, with the amendment proposed by Stosberg, passed unanimously.

The Bloomington City Council will meet again on February 26th.

On February 20th, the Monroe County Commissioners meeting started with an update from Health Administrator Lori Kelley. She said that while COVID-like symptoms are on a downward trend, locally, wastewater concentrations of COVID are trending upwards and flu activity remains high.

Next, Fleet and Building Manager Richard Crider, took the podium to give a brief update on the remodel of suite 109 at the Showers building which will be converted into a health clinic. He said that Building Associates came in as the lowest bidder and recommended by the architect. They have submitted a contract and are moving through the process smoothly and on schedule.

Next, the Monroe County Surveyor, Trohn Enright-Randolph, was excited to share his insights on the Higher Education and Longevity Program, or H.E.L.P.

The program was considered due to the Monroe County Surveyor’s office encountering struggles with attraction and retention of their workforce, a majority of their applicants having no surveying experience, and well-educated and experienced surveyors being hard to find.

The program will offer employees the opportunity to attend a hybrid online program at Vincennes University to earn credits for licensing exams, with an agreement to stay with the Surveying office for two years. The program will be funded by the Surveyor’s Perpetuation Fund or a designated Council-approved fund.

After the claims docket was approved, the Commissioners read a resolution authored by Commissioner Commissioner Jody Madeira, stating their opposition to Senate Bill 1.

Commissioner Lee Jones continued to read that it is the commissioner’s duty to uphold their responsibility to taxpayers, ensuring public safety, improving county assets, and identifying new growth opportunities. Jones goes on to explain that the loss of revenue would undermine these responsibilities and threaten essential services such as public safety, infrastructure maintenance, and other vital programs that support Monroe County residents.

Commissioner Julie Thomas stated that the commissioners encourage members of the Indiana General Assembly to alleviate the harsh consequences of the property tax amendments by developing a state-level revenue replacement mechanism as they have in the past.

Commissioner Thomas urged concerned citizens and local officials to speak out about their opposition to provisions in Senate Bill 1 that threaten the fiscal health of Monroe County and other local governments state-wide.

A copy of the adopted resolution will be forwarded to the Indiana governor, the General Assembly, and any other relevant state leaders. Commissioner Madeira explained the importance of opposing the bill.

Later in the meeting, Monroe County Maintenance Staff Member, Alex Griffith, took to the podium to ask for permission to accept a proposal by Harrell-Fish Incorporated in the
amount of $4,375 to provide excavation services for a section of sewer line at the Monroe County Youth Services Bureau.

Griffith said there was an incident in January at the Bureau where they experienced sewage backup. Commissioner Jones said she is sorry to hear that but is glad to know it will be repaired.
Lastly, the Resiliency Practice contract renewal was introduced, which is a therapy service for those working in corrections and in the Sheriff’s Department. The proprietor of the business is
the daughter of a fireman. She does ride-along with staff to build camaraderie so that once someone needs her therapy services, they are already comfortable with her. Commissioner
Thomas highlights how traumatic their line of work can be and to have a program such as this is great.

The Monroe County Commissioners will meet again on February 27th.

Feature Report:

Spencer, Indiana, may be a small town, but at its heart lies a center making a big impact. Spencer Pride, a community cente in r dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and allies, has become a vital resource for connection, advocacy, and belonging. Founded in part by Judi Epp, the center offers support groups, events, and a safe space for those seeking community. But maintaining that space hasn’t come without challenges. Despite pushback, Spencer Pride remains committed to fostering inclusivity in rural Indiana. Correspondent Mackenzie Lionberger has more.

The Bloomington Environmental Commission is a group of local citizens advising city officials on eco-friendly public policy. Commission projects might focus on safeguarding water quality or reducing light pollution. The commission also does public engagement campaigns. For example the Bloomington Habitat Connectivity Map allows private landowners to pledge their help in producing greenspace corridors between Griffy Lake, Clear Creek, and Jackson Creek. Commission members Carrie Albright and Matt Caldie are asking you to help protect our most precious resources on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Tom Mucherheide, Jasmine Wright and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Mackenzie Lionberger.
Chad Carrothers and Michelle Moss produced Activate!
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.