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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, May 24th, 2021.
Later in the program, we have the latest edition of A Few Minutes with the Mayor – a weekly segment where we ask Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton questions on community issues. More coming up in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, we provide coverage of an arts rally over the weekend to celebrate the city’s five-year commitment to keep the John Waldron Arts Center a space for the local arts community. More in today’s headlines.
But first, your local news brief:
Monroe County is seeing a 28% decrease in reported COVID-19 cases within the last 14 days with 39% of the population being fully vaccinated – 10% less than the national statistic. With the CDC announcing that vaccinated people are able to be in public settings without a mask, certain restaurants in Bloomington are no longer requiring masks from staff or guests.
On Friday, Indiana University announced that students, faculty and staff are required to have the COVID-19 vaccine in order to return to campus in the fall. This requirement will allow the mask requirement on campus to be lifted as well as executing the promise of things returning “back to normal”. Those who refuse to get the vaccine will have their class registration revoked, lose access to Canvas and their CrimsonCard and on-campus activities. Students and faculty must be fully vaccinated no later than August 15th.
On Saturday more than 200 demonstrators protested outside of the Monroe County Courthouse over the bombing of Palestinians in Gaza City, killing 2,100 people. The rally was organized by IU graduate student Aaron Comforty who wrote in the Facebook page for the event, “We demand an end to unconditional military funding. We demand an end to Israeli apartheid.”
COVID-19 Press Conference
Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill talked about being cautious despite lifting local COVID-19 restrictions. At the May 21st Coronavirus Press Conference, she said residents should be weary of businesses who are reopening too quickly.
Assistant Vice President for Strategic Partnerships at Indiana University Kirk White also announced that students, faculty and staff would be required to have their COVID-19 vaccination in order to return to I-U for the Fall Semester. He said there would be an exemption process, but it would be tight.
White said that students who cannot provide proof of vaccination will have their registration cancelled. He added that it will also become a condition of employment.
Bloomington City Council
The Bloomington City Council discussed annexation at its May 19th meeting. Corporation Counsel Phillipa Guthrie explained this process is a continuation of the same process started in 2017. She said the city has already done some of the required actions.
Councilmember Sue Sgambelluri showed concern over the annexation date. She pointed out that residents annexed in 2024 would not be represented in the 2023 City Council elections. Guthrie replied that an earlier date had been considered, but there were concerns that it may not be enough time.
Councilmember Steve Volan brought up redistricting. He questioned counsel Steve Unger on whether City Council would have to redistrict multiple times in 2023.
The public hearing for annexation is set for August 4th.
Bloomington Environmental Commission
The Bloomington Environmental Commission discussed the city’s Climate Action Plan. Assistant Director of Sustainability Lauren Travis presented the climate action plan as presented to the City Council. She specified solar energy as a major goal of the plan.
Travis also talked about efforts to encourage composting. She said Bloomington is looking for opportunities to set up private and community composting drop-off sites.
The next Environment Commission meeting is scheduled for June 17th.
Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners
At the May 20th meeting of the Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners, Parks and Recreation Administrator Paula McDevitt presented a report on the Lower Cascades Road Pilot Project. She said a popular point of feedback was the pilot coincided with the pandemic, resulting in an unrealistic amount of traffic around the closed road.
McDevitt stated this feedback led to an extension of the pilot. This let residents give feedback on how the road’s closure impacts people who live in the area.
The Lower Cascades Road Pilot Program will continue for a few weeks. Feedback forms can be found on the Parks and Recreation section of the city’s website.
Monroe County Board of Health
Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill shared non-coronavirus-related updates with the Health Department at the May 19th Monroe County Board of Health meeting. She said the county has received money for a program to help HIV positive residents receive continuous care.
Board member Mark Norrell suggested that the Board meet fully in-person for their next meeting. He said doing so would signify that fully vaccinated people are safe to do so.
Board members agreed. The next Board of Health meeting is scheduled June 15th.
Arts Forward Bloomington Organizes Rally at the Courthouse to Show Support for Local Arts Venues
Arts Forward Bloomington hosted a rally on Saturday to demonstrate support for the city’s funding of local arts venues.
According to a press release from Arts Forward, the rally was a celebration of an announcement made by Mayor John Hamilton last Thursday that the John Waldron Arts Center would remain an arts venue for at least the next five years and that the city should make a 515 thousand dollar investment into the building for maintenance and code compliance issues.
“I am today announcing agreement with the recommendation to dedicate this great, old building to serve the arts for the next five years,” said Hamilton. “Managed either by the city or a selected management organization.”
Eric Shelley, Managing Director for the Bloomington Academy of Film and Theater, attended the rally on Saturday. Shelley touched on the importance of the arts community in Bloomington.
“It’s become paramount that we sort of come together and move the arts scene forward in the community,” said Shelley.
Shelley talked about the purpose of the rally – focusing on the Waldron. He shared his personal connection to the arts venue.
“I performed at the Waldron many, many times,” said Shelley. “It’s so important for artists of all kinds… to come together and share their art with the community.”
He discussed why he believes the Waldron should remain a space for the arts.
“To not move in the direction of an arts hub – what would then happen, is that those organizations would not be able to thrive, and ultimately, potentially fail.”
The John Waldron Arts Center, or simply the Waldron, was built in 1915. It formerly served as Bloomington City Hall and housed the city’s police and fire departments through 1985. In 1990, the city deeded the property to the Bloomington Area Arts Council. The building has since remained an arts venue, and since 1994, has been home to WFHB Community Radio.
In 2010, the city sold the building to Ivy Tech who operated it as an arts space for the next ten years. Then, in December 2020, Ivy Tech announced it would sell the building back to the city, reverting ownership in January 2021. There was uncertainty regarding the future of the building. As a result, Mayor Hamilton then organized a task force to make recommendations on the city’s future use of the facility.
The mayor’s announcement on Thursday of the five-year commitment came out of the conclusions of the task force. However, after the five-year period ends, there’s no telling what will happen to the current tenants. According to the Waldron Task Force report, “this extension can also be applied to the current tenant within the building allowing future location options to be explored by the tenant.”
According to the Waldron Task Force report, four potential scenarios were listed regarding the future of the Waldron. Among these scenarios included the possibility of selling the building at market rate for any non-arts purpose. In this instance, proceeds would be committed to construct a separate building dedicated solely to performing and visual arts.
Another scenario would be to sell the building at a below-market rate to a buyer who would commit to keeping the Waldron an arts space.
A third scenario includes transferring ownership of the Waldron and the Buskirk Chumley Theater into a new Cultural Improvement Corporation issuing a Request for Information, or RFI, from interested organizations for venue management for both facilities.
However, the mayor’s promises for funding still await approval from the Bloomington City Council. All in all, by January 2022, Mayor Hamilton says the Waldron will reopen to the public. The Waldron has largely remained closed off to the public since March 2020.
Feature Reports:
Now it’s time for A Few Minutes with the Mayor – a weekly segment where we pose questions to Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton on community issues.
In today’s feature report, WFHB Assistant News Director Jake Jacobson asks Mayor Hamilton about the city’s vision for the future of the John Waldron Arts Center and the greater arts community in Bloomington.
All that and more in today’s edition of A Few Minutes with the Mayor.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Katherine Patterson, Kade Young and Jake Jacobson, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
Our feature was produced by Jake Jacobson.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
