April 23, 2026: North Park, College Square, candidate forum, public art

Civic Solver

We don’t have a new puzzle this week. We hope to have a new one for you next week!

About this newsletter

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Weather Talk

Based on the National Weather Service forecast in text and charts here’s some advice.

Thursday: Roll out of bed, grab your sunglasses, and go straight out into the world, because you won’t need anything else today. The high temperature under sunny skies will reach 81F°.

Friday: Take rain gear, if you’re planning to watch the women’s edition of the Little 500, because there will be scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. The high will be near 76F°.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• County council stand against North Park jail location backed by Bloomington counterparts.  Bloomington’s city council voted unanimously on Wednesday to oppose a new jail at North Park, backing an in-city alternative as legal deadlines approach for the county government. County officials warn that delays risk renewed litigation and higher costs.
• Bloomington police: Man arrested on charge of attempted murder with aid of Flock cameras.  A 37-year-old man was arrested on attempted murder, battery and arson charges after a Tuesday night fire on S. Rogers Street left a woman critically injured. Police say ALPR data helped locate him at a Mitchell motel. A council briefing on the ALPR system is set for Wednesday
• Deckard, Henry outline competing approaches to Monroe County leadership.  Democrat county councilmembers Trent Deckard and David Henry faced off at two forums Tuesday as they compete for the District 1 county commissioner nomination. Housing affordability, local taxes, homelessness and plans for a new jail were among the issues discussed.
• Bloomington RDC signs off on public offering for College Square, declines 30‑day pause for land‑swap talks.  Bloomington’s redevelopment commission voted April 20 to proceed with a public offering for the 2-acre College Square site, declining a CIB request for a 30-day pause to explore a land swap tied to a convention center host hotel. Responses to the $7.59M minimum offering are due July 20.
• Four finalist proposals revealed for Bloomington Convention Center art, public input sought.  The Monroe County capital improvement board has released four finalist proposals for public art at the Bloomington Convention Center expansion and is inviting community feedback. People can review the proposals and submit comments online through May 1.
• Student cards again barred as ID at Indiana polls as federal appeals court halts prelim injunction.  A federal appeals court on April 20 stayed a district court order that had allowed student IDs for voting in Indiana’s May 5 primary. The ruling restores application of a 2025 state law barring IDs issued by educational institutions while the state’s appeal of the injunction proceeds.
• 16 teams converge for bike polo in Bloomington at Hoosier Tenderloin Classic tournament.  Bloomington’s Frank Southern Ice Arena traded ice for bicycles as the Hoosier Tenderloin Classic bike polo tournament returned for its second year. Hosted by Bloomington’s Bike Polo Club, the event drew 16 teams and riders from across the Midwest and South for two days of fast-paced competition.

Quick Notes

Hopewell South rezone: Postponed again. At its regular meeting on Wednesday (April 22) Bloomington’s city council again postponed a vote on the Hopewell South PUD. A “reasonable condition” on affordable housing requirements was not yet completely sorted out, which led to the postponement. Hopewell South PUD pushed to April 22 as Bloomington council, mayor spar over conditions.

Ballard resigns from plan commission, BZA. Tim Ballard will step down from the Bloomington plan commission and the board of zoning appeals effective May 1, in part due to a family move tied to the purchase of an 1865 farmhouse near Ithaca, New York. Plans include developing a therapy and healing center there.

Ballard will continue his real estate work locally, but will no longer serve on the BZA or plan commission. In his note to other BZA members he alludes to some interactions with members of the public, writing that he had “faced self righteousness and antagonism in the public realm,” and said recent meetings “crossed a line” in a way that changed his willingness to volunteer. His note concluded:

Thank you to each and every one of you for impacting my life for the better. It’s been an absolute honor and privilege to work with such amazing, dedicated individuals committed to positive change for this community. I will always be grateful.

The appointment to Ballard’s seat on the partisan-balanced plan commission is made by the mayor.

On the calendar

Cancelation of county commissioners meeting. Thursday’s regular meeting of the Monroe County commissioners has been canceled. That leaves April 30 as the last remaining regular meeting date in April when commissioners could approve a new North Park purchase agreement, as described in the jail settlement agreement extension.

Friday: Special CIB meeting. In the wake of a decision by the Bloomington RDC to make a public offering of the College Square property, the Monroe County capital improvement board has set a special meeting for Friday (April 24) at 10:30 a.m. at the Bloomington Convention Center.

The agenda includes an item for: “Board Discussion re: Real Estate.” Options for the CIB include no action, a move to respond to the RDC’s public offering with a land-swap proposal, or a move to make its own public offering of the Seminary Pointe block. For B Square background, see: Bloomington RDC signs off on public offering for College Square, declines 30‑day pause for land‑swap talks

Arbor Day. Friday (April 24) at 9 a.m. The Bloomington parks and recreation department is holding a ceremony at Rogers Family Park for a ceremony celebrating Arbor Day and Bloomington's 42nd consecutive year of being named a Tree City USA. Following the ceremony, parks and recreation urban forestry crews and tree-loving volunteers will plant 23 new trees in the park! Festivities begin at the red barn at Rogers Family Park. There is bench and picnic table seating available at the barn, but no restrooms or water. Please bring a water bottle and dress for the weather!

Wise Panic Residency and Events. (April 26–30) Hosted by The Hundredth Hill. A spring residency exploring how communities respond to crisis through conversation, art, and scholarship. Participants include Ira Allen, Shannon Gayk, Mana Rezaei, and Minka Wiltz. Free public events include a community hike (April 26, 2–5 p.m.), a workshop at Redbud Books (April 28, 7 p.m.), and a reading at Morgenstern Books (April 30, 6 p.m.).

The residency also supports new creative work, including music and a developing screenplay. Organizers aim to spark discussion on navigating political, cultural, and environmental crises while strengthening community connections.

Hoosier Hills Plant Sale. Thursday to Saturday (April 30 to May 2) at the Hoosier Hills Career Center. Student-run greenhouse sale with vegetables, herbs, annuals, perennials, and houseplants. Hours: Thu–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sat 9–11 a.m. First come, first served. Plants are grown and maintained by students in the agriculture program and FFA chapter. Hanging baskets and planters available for Mother’s Day. Pre-orders due Apr. 24. Information at the website.

Air Sealing and Insulation Workshop. Thursday (April 30) from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Bloomington city hall. This is a free workshop on cutting energy loss and utility costs. Covers air leaks, insulation basics, and available rebates. Includes expert guidance, refreshments, and kids’ activities. Please register: at https://bit.ly/showtell-energy. This is hosted by Electrify Indiana, a local volunteer-driven nonprofit, in partnership with the city of Bloomington.

Little 500: April 24–25, 2026. On Friday and Saturday, the Little 500 bicycle race is on the calendar. Remember that even in a limestone town, a team called the Cutters can’t take winning for granite. After the races, we will retire that joke. That is also a great joke, when you think about it.

Ms. Lake Lemon: May 16. Start your training regimen now. This amazing contest of skill is to be held at Riddle Point Park this year. Monitor the Ms. Lake Lemon Facebook page for details, as they become available. The B Square covered last year’s inaugural event.

Meet Odin!

This very, very good boy is an Akita. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Odin:

Odin is a big ole handsome gentleman who loves people and has been very polite meeting other dogs!

Photo Finish

The Photo Finish items are drawn from the B There section of the B Square website. But there are no new B There items since Monday.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a great weekend!

Dave Askins
734-645-2633
dave@bsquarebulletin.com

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