This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, June 7th, 2021.

Later in the program, we have a Few Minutes with the Mayor - a weekly segment where we pose questions to Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton on community-related issues. More coming up in today’s feature reports.

Also coming up in the next half hour, last week, the Monroe County Commissioners approved a contract with consulting firm Baker Tilly to “review and analyze” the City of Bloomington’s fiscal plan for annexation. More in today’s headlines.

But first, your local news brief:

Photo courtesy of University of Michigan.

Monroe County continues to be at high risk for the 59% of the population that isn’t vaccinated. A majority of the new people being vaccinated are in the preteen and teenager age group. However, the CDC is trying to push for young adults to get the vaccine. Uber and Lyft are giving rides free of charge to vaccine sites until the 4th of July.

The Cedars Preserve has been closed to the public due to the harmful impact that human traffic has caused on the wildlife and plants. The decision made by Sycamore Land Trust was made because of the increase in human activity due to COVID-19. Human traffic has caused the erosion of trails, loss of vegetation and the formation of unauthorized paths.

With Indiana University not requiring documentation for students and faculty being vaccinated, IU is incentivizing documentation to be reported. From June 7th to June 28th, students that show documentation for their vaccine will be put in a raffle to receive $500, IU Dining Benefits, parking passes, gift cards, vouchers and more. Faculty and staff could win an Apple Watch, AirPods Pro, a JBL Speaker and a Yeti cooler. In total, over $70,000 in prizes will be distributed to students, faculty and staff for their cooperation.

COVID-19 Press Conference

At the June 4th Coronavirus press conference, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Indiana University Kirk White discussed changes to the University’s vaccination requirement. He clarified that students, faculty and staff will still be required to have the vaccine to attend I-U, but the need for documentation has changed.

Indiana University Health President Brian Shockney said I-U Health employees need to be fully vaccinated by September 1st. He added the company would honor employees who are not immunized but still receive their final shot before the deadline.

Indiana University Spokesperson Chuck Carney stated that a Coronavirus press conference is planned for June 11th, but hinted that a non-weekly schedule may be in the works.

Monroe County Commissioners Approve Contract with Consulting Firm to “Review and Analyze” Bloomington Annexation

During last Wednesday’s meeting, the Monroe County Commissioners approved a contract with consultant Baker Tilly US to review and analyze the City of Bloomington’s effort to annex roughly 10,000 acres of Monroe County land.

Baker Tilly is a public accounting and consulting firm based in Chicago. According to county commissioners, the amount paid to Baker Tilly should not exceed 50,000 dollars.

During the meeting, County Attorney Jeff Cockerill presented the agreement to review and analyze the City of Bloomington’s fiscal plan for annexation.

Local journalist Dave Askins of the B-Square Beacon, asked about the impact on existing property owners that live within current city limits. Cockerill said that the Baker Tilly report could cover the impact on residents who pay city taxes, but that the analysis would not be finished prior to the August 4th annexation meeting.

Jim Shelton, member of the Monroe County Redevelopment Commission, expressed concern on how annexation will impact the county’s tax increment financing, or TIF.

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, June 3rd, 2021.

Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Robert Robinson spoke with Thomas Alcamo, the EPA’s Remedial Project Manager, about the EPA’s latest announcement that it will remove three Bloomington-area Superfund sites from its National Priorities List. More coming up in today’s feature reports.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have coverage from last night’s meeting of the Bloomington City Council. More coming up in today’s headlines.

But first, your local news brief:

Photo courtesy of University of Michigan.

According to the Indiana State Department of Health COVID-19 dashboard, the state has had 418 new positive cases and 20 new deaths in the last 30 days. Monroe County has had 1 death from COVID-19 over the last two weeks. Test positivity rate is at 3% currently and 40% of the county is fully vaccinated. The New York Times summarized that Monroe County cases have decreased in recent weeks but are still high. There is an average of about 6 cases per day which is 42% less than the average two weeks ago.

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Indiana University released a health and safety guide on Tuesday explaining how the campus will be running from August 1st to December 31st. COVID-19 restrictions will be gone for the most part during the fall 2021 semester, including masks and physical distancing on campus. Classes and regular settings like dining halls and fitness centers will be open to students and return to the regular capacity limits according to IU’s Restart Committee. Public spaces and common surfaces will continue to be cleaned and disinfected regularly. As for now, events with more than 250 people will have to go through a review process and large indoor events with non-IU attendees will require masks on.

Students and staff who are not fully vaccinated will have to wear a mask on campus and participate in testing. If anyone tests positive for the virus, they will need to isolate themselves for ten days or until symptoms improve and stay improved for at least 24 hours.

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The Bloomington Garden Club is hosting a summer garden walk this weekend. The walk will be available on Saturday and Sunday, both from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and free for kids ages 12 and younger. They can be purchased at both Bloomingfoods locations, Bloomington Hardware, Bloomington Valley Nursery, Ellettsville True Value Hardware, Goods for Cooks, Hall’s Greenhouse or May’s Greenhouse.

Bloomington City Council 

At the June 2nd Bloomington City Council meeting, Councilmembers discussed creating a form that confirms how many non-related adults live in small rental properties. Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development John Zody presented a resolution that would require landlords to present an affidavit for their tenants to sign. He said the form would help replace previous forms that the City can no longer require.

Zody clarified the affidavit would only need to be filed each year if a property had new residents. Councilmember Isabel Piedmont-Smith presented an amendment that would require the affidavit be signed annually, even if the residents haven’t changed. She said this would help educate residents on occupancy limits.

Resident Greg Alexander opposed the amendment. He said the extra step would just punish multi-year tenants.

The amendment passed 5 to 4, with Councilmembers Dave Rollo, Kate Rosenbarger, Matt Flaherty, and Susan Sandberg dissenting. Councilmember Ron Smith suggested the resolution be moved to a future council meeting for further discussion. Councilmembers voted to postpone the resolution to the June 16th regular session unanimously.

Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals

The Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals discussed variances at a property on East Hardin Ridge Road. At the June 2nd meeting,

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021.

Later in the program, we have an excerpt from Partisan Gardens - a locally-grown, monthly public affairs program on WFHB focusing on food systems. More coming up in today’s feature reports.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Better Beware - your weekly consumer-watchdog segment hosted by our very own Richard Fish. More in the bottom half of tonight’s program.

But first, your local news brief:

Photo courtesy of University of Michigan.

The amount of COVID-19 cases in Monroe County have gone down 32% in a 14-day period, with no deaths related to the coronavirus in the past two weeks. 40% of the Monroe County population is fully vaccinated - only a 1% change from last week. Monroe County is still considered a high risk area for those who have not been vaccinated.

On May 17th eight graduate workers filed a discrimination complaint against IU through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This was announced in a press release from the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition. The complaint explains that IU discriminated against international students when the Office of International Services sent international students an email the first week of March 2021 that detailed consequences of not paying fees on time. This email was not sent to U.S. citizens. Consequences include unenrollment which has a significant impact on international students - leading to visa status violations and deportation. IU Spokesperson Chuck Carney says the discrimination complaint is without merit.

From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday at Switchyard Park will mark the seasonal opening of Food Truck Friday which will include live music in the evening, cocktails and of course, food trucks. This family-friendly event will be open to the public.

RBBCSC School Board Special Meeting

The Richland Bean Blossom Community School Corporation Board of Trustees held a special June 1st meeting to discuss paying RBBCSC staff and teachers a stipend for their work during the 2020 to 2021 school year. Superintendent Doctor Jerry Sanders said that he started work on getting stipends as soon as he found out he could. He talked about how hard faculty members worked to make online and hybrid learning work during a global pandemic.

Board members passed the resolution unanimously.

Monroe County Commissioners

At today’s Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting, County Attorney Jeff Cockerill presented an agreement to review and analyze the City of Bloomington’s Annexation Fiscal Plan. He explained the report would need to be thorough on a short timeline.

Reporter Dave Askins asked if the report would cover the annexation’s impact on property taxes for residents who already live within city limits. Cockerill responded that it could, but the analysis would not be finished before the August 4th public annexation meeting.

Commissioners voted to approve the partnership 2 to 0.

Monroe County Personnel Administration Committee 

The Monroe County Personnel Administration Committee discussed the proposed Public Information Coordinator position. At the June 1st meeting, Committee member Marty Hawk showed concern over establishing a position to represent the whole of county government. She said that this position makes sense for City government, but not for County government.

Commissioners’ Administrator Angie Purdie said this was not what the role would do. She clarified the Public Information Coordinator was an informational role, not a representative one.

The Personnel Administration Committee voted 2-1 to approve the recommendations, with Councilor Hawk voting against. The position will now return to the County Council for final discussion and approval.

Mask Mandate Lifted for Those Fully Vaccinated

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, June 1st, 2021.

Later in the program, BloomingOUT hosts Melanie Davis and Justin Robertson talk to Heather Carpenter-Smith and Jo Bean about organizing the Greenwood PRIDE Block Party, the city’s first ever PRIDE event. More coming up in today’s feature reports.

Also coming up in the next half-hour, News Director Kade Young talks to Indiana University Spokesperson Chuck Carney about changes to the University’s 2021 Fall Semester vaccine requirements.

But first, your local news brief:

Photo courtesy of University of Michigan.

The Indiana State Department of Health recorded 370 new cases of COVID-19 and 8 deaths in Indiana since yesterday. The weekly rate for positive COVID tests is currently at 4.7%. Monroe County is now under the advisory level blue. To be under blue, which is the lowest level possible, counties must have the following: a 7-Day positivity rate under 5% and less than 10 new cases per 100,000. Monroe county is at 41 weekly cases per 100,000 residents and has a 3.64% 7-day test positivity rate. Updated today by the New York Times, 35% of Indiana is fully vaccinated. 41% has had at least one dose of the vaccine.

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Indiana University has made the decision to go forward with their COVID-19 vaccination policy for students and staff members. The school said the decision will avoid expenses of $10 million if they were to test students regularly instead. IU has been receiving public and online criticism for the vaccination policy by students, legislators and others. IU assistant vice president for strategic partnerships Kirk White, explained that the policy will require everyone on campus and enrolled in IU to be fully vaccinated before the fall semester. Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton stated on Friday that IU’s policy was the right decision, calling it a “very significant step to make our community safer.”

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Bloomington’s Paynetown State Recreation Area has officially opened their swimming beach and Activity Center. The activity center had been closed for a year because of the pandemic. During that time, Interpretive Naturalist at Lake Monroe Jill Vance worked to keep virtual programs going through the Monroe Lake Facebook page, which she says will continue. Summer hours for the activity center will be 1-5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The center includes daily crafts, a kids play area, live snakes, displays, games, library, information and a recycling center for aluminum cans and plastic bottles.

Bloomington Historical Preservation Commission

The Bloomington Historical Preservation Commission discussed renovating a shed at a property on West Allen Street. At the May 27th meeting, Assistant Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development Brent Pierce presented a request to restore a historic garden shed in the McDoel local historic district. He explained the shed meets the criteria presented by local guidelines.

Petitioner Elizabeth Cox-Ash explained the doors had begun to rot due to winter weather. She said this changed her original plan to do a simpler replacement.

Commissioners approved the renovation 5 to 0.

Local Covid-19 Press Conference 

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton reported zero new positive COVID-19 cases among city workers for the second consecutive week at last Friday’s Coronavirus Press Conference. Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill shared local vaccine updates. She said the number of fully vaccinated residents range from just under to just over 50 percent.

Reporter Boris Ladwig asked if Indiana University would consider changing their decision to make the COVID-19 vaccine a requirement to attend or work at IU in the fall. Assistant Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at IU Kirk White said the University will be staying t...

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, May 27th, 2021.

Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Sophie Hall filed a report titled “A Bright Future for Energy in Indiana” which features experts weighing in on the transition to solar energy in light of Duke Energy’s 180 million dollar solar investment. That’s coming up in today’s feature reports.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Artbeat - a monthly segment that features interviews with artists, activists and educators about their work - hosted by Dr. Filiz Cicek. More following today’s feature reports.

But first, your local news brief:

Photo courtesy of University of Michigan.

Monroe County has had a 26% decrease in COVID-19 cases within the last 14 days, with 7 new cases yesterday. Although the amount of cases are decreasing, Monroe County is still seen as a high risk location for the 61% of the population that hasn’t been vaccinated.

For the first time since 2019, Bloomington public pools Bryan Park Pool and Mills Pool will be open. According to a press conference, the pools will remain open all summer, with Bryan Park Pool open until September 6th and Mills Pool open until August 3rd, when they will close for the winter. Both pools will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $5 at each pool with children 3 years of age and under admitted for free.

The weekday version of the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market opens on June 1 from 4 to 7 pm at the Pavilion at Switchyard Park. A Fair of the Arts, an art and fine craft fair will also be coinciding with the Tuesday Market every other Tuesday until September 21st. Admission to both events is free to the public with free parking as well.

Bloomington City Council

The Bloomington City Council discussed hybrid virtual and in-person meetings at it’s May 26th Special Session. Council Administrator Attorney Stephen Lucas presented a resolution that would allow members of the public and some council members to attend future meetings digitally. He stated that the City supports this resolution and recognized that some boards and commissions have already passed some form of the resolution.

Reporter Dave Askins asked why this was a resolution and not an ordinance. Council member Isabel Piedmont-Smith echoed this concern. Lucas clarified that a resolution can be enforced in the same way as an ordinance in this case.

Council members approved the resolution 7 to 0.

Bloomington City Council - Housing Committee

The Bloomington City Council Housing Committee discussed changes to rental unit inspections in the municipal code. At the May 26th meeting, Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development Department John Zody said the city has trouble enforcing occupancy limits in smaller rental units. He presented an ordinance that would require tenants and property owners to sign a document to prove a rental unit is meeting City occupancy limits.

Councilmember Kate Rosenbarger asked about the size of rental units targeted by the ordinance. She wondered why HAND chose properties with 4 units or less rather than larger units.

Council member Matt Flaherty showed concern over how the ordinance is worded. He said it needs to be clear that the ordinance exists to enforce the U-D-O, and not for safety purposes.

Council members voted to recommend the ordinance to the City Council 4 to 0.

Monroe County Commissioners 

County Planner Anne Crecelius presented an amendment to the Fieldstone P-U-D at the May 26th Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting. She outlined proposed changes to the P-U-D, including updated design standards and additional proposed uses.

A resident of Fieldstone expressed concern that the center would be close ...

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, May 26th, 2021.

Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Robert Robinson filed a report on Indiana’s decision to end federal pandemic unemployment benefits. To provide perspective on this, Robinson talked to Dr. Joshua Bernstein, Assistant Professor of Economics at Indiana University. More coming up in today’s feature reports.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Better Beware - your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB hosted and produced by Richard Fish. More following today’s feature report.

But first, your local news brief:

Photo courtesy of University of Michigan.

Monroe County has had a 26% decrease in COVID-19 cases within the last 14 days, with 7 new cases yesterday. Although the amount of cases are decreasing, Monroe County is still seen as a high risk location for the 61% of the population that hasn’t been vaccinated.

For the first time since 2019, Bloomington public pools Bryan Park Pool and Mills Pool will be open. According to a press conference, the pools will remain open all summer, with Bryan Park Pool open until September 6th and Mills Pool open until August 3rd, when they will close for the winter. Both pools will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $5 at each pool with children 3 years of age and under admitted for free.

The weekday version of the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market opens on June 1 from 4 to 7 pm at the Pavilion at Switchyard Park. A Fair of the Arts, an art and fine craft fair will also be coinciding with the Tuesday Market every other Tuesday until September 21st. Admission to both events is free to the public with free parking as well.

Bloomington Board of Public Works 

The Bloomington Board of Public Works discussed two appeals for excessive growth at a home on East Round Hill Lane. At the May 25th meeting, Neighborhood Compliance Officer Jo Stong talked about issuing the notices. She said the yard had prohibited plants that were taller than the allowed height of 8 inches, and that the homeowner did not respond to the initial violation.

Petitioner Alex Gul said the original notice did not specify what prohibited plants are on his yard. He argued the municipal code lists only specific plants that aren’t allowed to be over 8 inches.

Board members rejected the appeal unanimously. Board members then discussed abatement of the property. Assistant City Attorney Daniel Dixon questioned Stong over additional violations that would make abatement necessary.

Stong recommended continuous abatement, which would allow City officials to clean up the property at the owner’s expense for any future violations. Board members approved this unanimously.

Monroe County Redevelopment Commission

The Monroe County Redevelopment Commission also discussed annexation at its May 19th meeting. Commissioner Lisa Abbot asked about how annexation would affect Monroe County TIFs. She worried some of the TIFs would be broken up into pieces once city limits are redrawn.

County Attorney Jeff Cockerill recommended Commissioners have a more detailed conversation once the city is further in the annexation process. Commissioner Jim Shelton pointed out the difficulty in making decision on projects before the City votes on annexation.

Commissioner Iris Kiesling asked if any of the City Councilmembers were tuned in to annexation talks. Monroe County Councilmember Geoff McKim answered that all city councilmembers were.

The next Redevelopment Commission meeting will be in-person, on June 16th.

Monroe County Solid Waste Management Citizens Advisory Committee 

The Monroe County Solid Waste Management District Citizens Advisory Committee made plans to finalize its budget. Committee member Joseph Wynia recommended the committee meet for two work...

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, May 25th, 2021.

Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Benedict Jones spoke with Pat East, Executive Director for the Dimension Mill, a coworking space and business incubator here in Bloomington. Part I aired last week, and today you will hear Part II in the bottom half of our program.

Also coming up in the next half hour, WFHB Correspondent Max Campbell reported on the “Free Palestine” rally at the Monroe County Courthouse on Saturday. More coming up in today’s feature reports.

But first, your local news brief

Photo courtesy of University of Michigan.

14,646 tests were administered in the last 30 days bringing the total to 10,347,677 COVID tests administered in Indiana. Indiana has had 525 new COVID-19 cases and 12 new deaths since yesterday.

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Nearly 4,000 people have already signed a petition against the campus vaccination mandate put in place by Indiana University. Announced this past Friday, the mandate requires all returning and new students, faculty, and staff to have the COVID-19 vaccine by August 15th. Those unvaccinated will lose access to Canvas CrimsonCards and on-campus activities and will have their class registration revoked. One staff member explained that there was no notice of this requirement beforehand for returning students and employees. A spokesperson from IU stated that more details will be released in the next coming days.

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Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb will be in Israel this week to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other high level officials. Holcomb explained that many Hoosiers and Hoosier businesses have led him to desire a stronger “Israel-Indiana bond” and there was no hesitation when he was invited to go. Holcomb and Netanyahu met once before in 2018, when the Governor led Hoosier public officials and business executives to Israel for an economic development trip. The trip is fully funded by Image Indiana Inc. Gov. Holcomb is expected to return to Indiana on Thursday. 

Bloomington Utilities Service Board 

The Bloomington Utilities Service Board honored the life of a former City of Bloomington Utilities employee at its May 24th meeting. Transmission and Distribution Director Brandon Prince presented a resolution to gift a fire hydrant to the family of CBU employee Mark Raper, who passed away May 15th. He talked about how CBU employees wanted to do something special in Raper’s memory.

Assistant City Attorney Chris Wheeler recognized that the fire hydrant could be declared surplus and gifted to the family if it has no market value. Prince confirmed that to be true. Board members approved the resolution unanimously.

Ellettsville Town Council 

At its May 24th meeting, the Ellettsville Town Council discussed using a water tank as a business sign. Town Manager Mike Farmer presented a request to add a 220 square foot banner to the KeHE water tank to help advertise their business. He said this would put KeHE over its allowed signage limit but would like to make an exception because KeHE is the largest building in town.

Councilmember Scott Oldham challenged the signage ordinance. He questioned Planning Director Kevin Tolloty whether this conversation would be happening if KeHE just painted on the water tank instead.

Farmer suggested they waive the fee to take the signage request to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Councilmembers did not motion to do so.

Feature Reports:

Photo taken outside of Monroe County Courthouse 5/22/21

On Saturday, more than 200 protesters gathered at the Monroe County Courthouse for the “Free Palestine Rally.

The WFHB Local News recently interviewed Pat East, the Executive Director of Dimension Mill. He spoke about the recognition Bloomington received as a Rising Tech City from Techpoint, and the resources available for entrepreneurs and all community members through The Mill.

More than 200 members of the Bloomington community gathered at the Monroe County Courthouse this past Saturday evening in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine.

Organized by “Jews Against Israeli Apartheid,” the “Free Palestine” rally featured passionate statements from local community members, live music and a diverse audience. Members of the crowd brought with them Palestinian flags, as well as signs displaying their support in phrases like “Free Palestine” and “Stop the Killing.”

Throughout the event, multiple speakers touched on the importance of recognizing and opposing the oppressive military and police action taken by Israel against Palestinian civilians.

“It was through an Israeli human rights organization that calls Israel an ‘apartheid regime,’ it was through them that I started using that term ‘apartheid’ and feeling comfortable with it…Shortly after B’Tselem, the leading human rights group in Israel, put out this report earlier this year, Human Rights Watch, the leading human rights organization in the world, put out an exhaustive report detailing Israeli apartheid and that’s the word we need to use. The more we say ‘Israeli apartheid’, the more it becomes normal to say the truth."

Another speaker would go on to share the definition of the term ‘apartheid’ as “a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.”

The B’Tselem and Human Rights Watch reports referenced by the speaker describe in greater depth the oppression and discrimination Palestinian civilians face every day.

Many of the speakers would go on to echo these points as they described the inhumane treatment of Palestinians at the hand of Israeli police and military action.

"There is indisputable, unequivocal evidence that Israel is committing crimes of apartheid and persecution, and no-one can look you in the face and deny that. No-one can look you in the face and say that Palestinians aren't second-class citizens, and that's when its the best position; most Palestinians aren't even citizens... we can't deny this fundamental truth."

"Don't forget that it's in reaction to the blockade and the intense misery that Israel imposed on Gaza through this blockade, beginning right in the middle of the 2000s, that allowed Hamas to come into power. So if there are folks who are trying to criticize Hamas, you have to remind that what the source of Hamas's power has been; the misery inflicted on Palestine by Israel."

"Colonialism, enslavement, and all the other horrors that we are familiar with and know, had in fact been part of this hypocritical claim of taking civilization and light to the world... those hypocrites are the ones who are responsible for what is going on in places like Palestine."

"Palestine, right now, is said to have about 6-7million people under care of the United Nations as refugees. How many billions, perhaps trillions, have been spent on keeping these people in prison? These refugee camps are no camps; they are in fact, prisons."

With more than 3 billion dollars of taxpayer money pledged “in annual U.S. security assistance to Israel through FY 2028,” it is safe to say that the United States government is a significant source of Israel’s funding. This “security assistance,” is almost entirely used on behalf of the Israeli military, as was seen in 2019 when Israel spent over 99% of the $3.8billion they received in aid from the US on their military.

In today’s episode, art patron Ken Buzzard from Arts Forward Bloomington talks with Dr. Cicek about the future of John Waldron Arts Center and the art venues and culture in downtown Bloomington.

https://wfhb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ArtBeatKenBuzzerdWeb.mp3