This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, October 28th, 2024.

In today’s feature report, we will hear from Hank Duncan about the City’s ongoing efforts to improve bikeability and alternative transit options. More in today’s feature report.

That’s Michael Carter from the Monroe County History Club, on racially restrictive covenants used to prevent people who were not White from buying land in Bloomington. A recent History Club program explored this shadowy chapter in local history. Learn more later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

But first, your daily headlines:

Monroe County Board of Commissioners

During the October 23rd Monroe County Commissioners meeting GIS Coordinator John Baeten, informed the commissioners that early election voting data shows we have a great turnout for 2024. The GIS division tried to make data transparent and garner excitement among constituents and colleagues.

The GIS division created a map that highlights precincts and voting locations, as well as how many people voted there in 2016 and 2020. They hope that the map and data sets will be used for the 2024 election as well.

Baeten has also created a Monroe County Voter information Map that tells voters how and where to vote, as well as who will be on the ballot.

Next, Monroe County Resident, representing the taxpayer objection petitioners, Joe Davis suggested another option for the location of the jail and justice center, which would be at 302 S. Walnut Street. He says it is an excellent location that is close to downtown, environmental impacts would not be a problem since it is already a graveled site, and there are no homeowners to be offended by a downtown justice center.

Davis repeatedly stepped up the the podium to speak on the importance of the downtown location many times throughout the meeting, up until the North Park purchase agreement for the jail was proposed by County Attorney, Jeff Cockerill.

The property is 57 acres of space that would allow for a collocation. Cockerill emphasized how poor the condition of the current jail and justice center is.

Commissioner Lee Jones makes it a point to let the public know that while she wishes everything could come out perfect, the project has been delayed for that reason alone and she appreciates all of the great support and the people who have helped in moving the project forward.

Joe Davis rebutted by explaining his petition which does not “support the waste of taxpayer funds.” He says that while this project has been delayed, the commissioners are blatantly disregarding the people’s wishes.

Chief Deputy Phil Parker then went up to the podium. He said he is happy that there is finally a decision being made about the location and is ready to move further into the design of the facility. He appreciates how thorough the decisions were made and how many people’s input was taken into consideration.

The Monroe County Commissioners will meet again on October 30th.

Feature Report:

In today’s feature report, we will hear from Hank Duncan about the City’s ongoing efforts to improve bikeability and alternative transit options. We turn now to WFHB Environmental Correspondent Zero Roze for that interview on the WFHB Local News.

Not so long ago, it was totally legal to put a restriction on your property deed preventing Black people from buying your house. This shadowy chapter in local history was the subject of a recent presentation hosted by the Monroe County History Club. The next Monroe County History Club program is tomorrow at 12:30 at the American Legion Post on West Third Street. Local historian Glenda Murray will cover 200 years of Bloomington history in one hour. On a new episode of Activate!, History Club founder Michael Carter recounts how the club grew from a few people in the basement of the library into an online video archive on YouTube. That story is coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

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