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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, November 25th, 2024.
Later in the program, Alex Valdez from The Goat Conspiracy, a local dairy farm that was shut down and converted into an animal sanctuary. Find out how you can help the animals on this farm live their best lives later in the show on a new episode of Activate! More in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, local journalist Dave Askins of the B Square Bulletin provides an editorial answering the question: “Is Bloomington Shrinking?”
But first, your daily headlines:
Bloomington City Council Approves Bond Ordinance
The Bloomington City Council convened on Wednesday, November 20th. The council heard an ordinance that would authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds in the amount not to exceed 4.3 million dollars. City Clerk Nicole Bolden said the bonds would be designated to finance capital projects through the city.
City Controller Jessica McClellan said the objective would be to preserve the financial stability of the city and fund various city projects.
McClellan argued that the initiative would help the city maintain its tax rate while accounting for the economic growth that Bloomington has experienced in recent years.
Public Tax and Finance Lawyer Thomas Cameron with the law firm Quarles & Brady wrote the document included in the council packet. Cameron offered an overview of the bond ordinance.
During his final comments, Council Member Dave Rollo expressed concern about the lack of specifics regarding which projects could be funded through the bond ordinance.
Council Vice President Andy Ruff shared Rollo’s point-of-view saying that the lack of specificity gives him hesitation to support the ordinance.
The council voted 7-2 in favor of the ordinance with Rollo and Ruff dissenting. The Bloomington City Council will meet again on December 4th.
MCCSC School Board Delays Childs-Templeton Merger
The Monroe County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees met on November 19th. Starting off the meeting the Executive Director of the MCCSC Foundation Cyrilla Helm gave a Quarterly Update on the work they have been doing.
Helm shared upcoming projects they are working on including a new fundraiser that will be held in May.
Later in the meeting the board heard from Interim Superintendent Dr. Markay Winston who gave an update on redistricting efforts.
The consultant they hired from Business Information Services, Preston Smith, presented their findings that the enrollment in Elementary Schools is going to decrease over the next decade. Smith suggested that the board consider closing 1-3 elementary schools to increase efficiency.
Dr. Winston gave an update on the Childs-Templeton Merger, and some of the complexities of the project.
They also heard information on transportation logistics, food services, and staffing considerations for the merger.
Following the new information from the consultant Preston Smith and Dr. Winston, board members said they would need more time to consider the Childs-Templeton Elementary School Merger.
The Monroe County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees will meet again on December 17th.
Feature Report:
Up next, local journalist Dave Askins of the B Square Bulletin provides an editorial answering the question: “Is Bloomington Shrinking?” Looking into population trends within the city, Askins walks through the implications that wields on the MCCSC school district. For more, we turn to Dave Askins.
Shoveling goat poop doesn’t sound like much fun, but Alex Valdez is happy to do it. Alex works at The Goat Conspiracy, a local farm that was shut down and converted into an animal sanctuary. Alex is a vegetarian for ethical reasons, but he’s not preachy about it. Instead Alex promotes “reducitarianism” – making small changes at the individual level to lower your impact on the natural world. He believes those personal choices add up to real change in the big picture. Alex is here to ask you to be that change 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 Kade Young and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Dave Askins.
This episode of Activate! was produced by Alex Hynes, Max Schneider and Erica Angilletta through WFHB’s partnership with The Media School at Indiana University
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
