This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, August 23rd, 2021.

Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Nathaniel Weinzapfel covers a bill that strips protections for Indiana wetlands. He speaks with an expert on rural land policy and an executive director of a local nature preserve to learn more about the effects this bill will have on Indiana and its wildlife. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have some recent prison related news and announcements from our public affairs program, Kite Line.

Monroe County Redevelopment Commission 

Monroe County Highway Director Lisa Ridge talked about an agreement to enforce condemnations at the August 18th Monroe County Redevelopment Commission meeting. Ridge presented an agreement with Yasmin Stump Law Group to help enforce potential condemnations while acquiring land for the Vernal Pike right-of-way project. She clarified that these situations rarely go to condemnation, but that the county wanted to be able to use Yasmin Stump’s services if one did.

Commissioner Iris Kiesling asked about a maximum amount for spending. Commissioner Christy Langley pointed out the contract read "not to exceed 50 thousand dollars." Ridge said that amount could work but that the nature of condemnations makes it hard to guess how much the process would cost.

Commissioners approved the agreement 3 to 0.

Bloomington Environmental Commission 

The Bloomington Environmental Commission discussed the viability of hosting a panel later this year. At the August 19th meeting, City Planner Ben Saraf talked about the difficulty in finding participants for the environmental panel. He said only 2 of the people the city has reached out to have agreed to speak at the panel.

Commissioner Andrew Guenther cautioned that the event may need to be canceled. He cited the delta variant of COVID-19 as a huge reason for hesitancy. Senior Environmental Planner Linda Thompson suggested commissioners iron out other information, like panel length, and continue to plan for the event as though it’s going to happen.

Commissioner Dedaimia Whitney recommended the commission vote on whether to make the panel fully virtual as soon as possible. Commissioners voted to move the event fully virtual 10 to 0. Commissioner Guenther encouraged staff to reach back out to speakers with the new format information.

Fourth Street Parking Garage Opened on Monday

Photo by Noelle Herhusky-Schneider.

The new Fourth Street parking garage opened for parking on Monday.

The replacement garage provides parking for more than 500 vehicles with designated spots for electric vehicles.

This will replace the old garage, which was built in 1985. The previous building was closed in 2018 after the City of Bloomington determined it was “structurally unsound and unsafe.”

In March 2020, the Bloomington Plan Commission approved the design for the Fourth Street garage. Construction then began in July of last year.

According to a city press release, funding for the project came from Tax Increment Finance, or TIF, funds. Approval for funding came from the Bloomington Redevelopment Commission, who oversees TIF funds.

The press release says that the source of these funds comes from the increase in property taxes generated on new development in that district.