Aug. 28, 2025: Cyberattack, mold, jail design, water rates

Weather

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

Thursday: Be on your toes for unexpected weather. Despite the generally very mild forecast, the NWS has issued a hazardous weather alert that warns of the possibility for an isolated thunderstorm. Otherwise the outlook is as pleasant as it ever gets around these parts—partly sunny with a high of around 78F°.

If you’re looking to practice your weather talk based on the forecast, try this as an opener: “How ‘bout this weather, huh?” If someone beats you to that, and you are faced with coming up with a suitable reply, this is a reliable standby: “It’ll change soon enough.” Or if you’re looking to be politically provocative, you could say, “Aye, but I fear the gales of governance shall soon be turnin’ against us.” Exercise caution, though, because if you say that, people might think you sound like a pirate.

Friday: It will again be great football weather. Through the day, skies will be mostly sunny and the temperature will reach a high of around 78F°. By game time, at high school football fields across the area, it will be down to around 70F°. The B Square will be focusing its primary football coverage this week on Bloomington North’s home game against Bedford North Lawrence. The Cougars are looking to come growling back from a season opening loss last week.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system.

Roundup of recent articles

• One year later: Report offers some details about cyberattack on Monroe County govt; 913 people had info exposed.  On July 1 last year, Monroe County government was shut down due to a cyberattack and it stayed down for a week. But a report released on Tuesday, more than a year after the attack, revealed that the ransomware exploit started a week and a half earlier than the government shutdown.
• Closed Wednesday for mold treatment at jail: Monroe County justice building, probation, public defender.  Monroe County’s justice building at 7th Street and College Avenue, including clerk’s offices, and the probation and public defender buildings, are closed Wednesday (Aug. 27). The notification of the closure was delivered at 8 a.m. sharp through the county’s emergency alert system.
• Simtra gets initial OK for dual ‘augmented’ tax breaks at Bloomington manufacturing locations, contingent on creation of jobs.  Simtra BioPharma has been given initial approval of tax abatements for two manufacturing locations where it is making investments totaling close to a half billion dollars. At its regular meeting on Tuesday, Monroe County’s council gave its approval. The county commissioners will vote on Thursday.
• Bloomington residential drinking water charges could rise 21% under CBU proposal.  Most City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) drinking water customers will be looking at a 21% increase in their drinking water bills several months from now, if a proposed rate increase unveiled on Monday is ultimately approved. A typical residential customer will pay at least $50 more a year.

Quick Notes

Garbage cart rates: 3% increase not implemented? In mid- to late 2023, Bloomington’s city council fought a bitter battle over garbage cart rates. In the end, about a 40% increase in cart fees was enacted to start 2024, with a 3% increase every year after that. Long story short, I noticed that the 3% increase has not been implemented to start 2025. There should be an announcement shortly from the Thomson administration about how it is planning to deal with the failure to implement the increase that is required under city code.

In the meantime, here’s a math puzzle you might give to your school-age kids. If the city has so far in 2025 collected $1,438,522.12 in trash cart fees, what is the amount of the shortfall compared to the amount the city should have collected? If you have advanced kids, ask them to give a proof that you don’t need to know the mix of cart sizes used by residents, in order to give an answer.

On the calendar

Final OK of Simtra tax abatement. On the 10 a.m. Thursday (Aug. 28) meeting agenda for Monroe County commissioners is the tax abatement for Simtra BioPharma, which was approved by the county council earlier this week.

Jail schematics. On Friday (Aug. 29) at 11:30 a.m. the Monroe County council will meet in order to review the latest jail schematics (that file is over 100MG), which have an estimated total cost of around $225 million. That amount reflects a reduction from previous schematics, to the working budget that the county government has been using. For B Square background, see: Monroe County jail plans faced monthslong delay, sharp cutbacks after projected costs rose above $260M

Drinking water rate increase. On Friday (Aug. 29) at 5 p.m. CBU will host a public information session at the utilities service center on Miller Drive, to discuss the proposal to increase drinking water rates, answer questions, and hear more community feedback. On Sept. 8 at 5 p.m., the Utilities Services Board will vote on the proposed rate changes. For B Square background, see: Bloomington residential drinking water charges could rise 21% under CBU proposal.

But the Sept. 8 vote is not the final say. The city council will still have to approve it. And after that, the rate increase will have to be approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

Native Plant Sale. A native plant sale will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Switchyard Park’s Maintenance Building (1601 S. Rogers St. entrance). The sale is hosted by MC-IRIS, City of Bloomington Parks & Recreation, and Monroe County Parks and Recreation.

Tire amnesty day. The Monroe County waste reduction district is holding a tire amnesty day so that Monroe County residents can dispose of tires in an environmentally responsible manner, for free. Restrictions apply to certain types of tires. Tire collection will be held Saturday, Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Monroe County Fairgrounds, 5700 W. Airport Rd, in Bloomington. A maximum of eight tires will be allowed per vehicle per trip. Monroe County residents only. No commercial haulers, businesses, churches, schools, landlords, etc.

Lake Monroe Day: Sept. 14. The fundraiser will be held at the Fields Clubhouse (1333 S. Fenbrook Lane) from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. From the Friends of Lake Monroe: “Attendees can mingle with other lake supporters and be treated to appetizers from One World Enterprises, music by King Bee and the Stingers, a wine pull, and brief updates from the organization working to protect Lake Monroe. Tickets are $30 for members, $35 for non-members, and $220 for a table of eight.”

Taste of Tibet: Sept. 20. Note that this date is corrected from a previous listing! The buffet starts at 6 p.m. (RSVP is requested). A guided tour of the monastery will be available during the open house from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on same day. The buffet will include traditional Tibetan delicacies like momos, Pingsha, Alu khatsa, and Tibetan butter tea prepared by the monks.

Meet Artemis!

This very, very good girl is an Australian shepherd mix. Here’s what the shelter staff have written for Artemis:

I am new to the shelter and we are all getting to know each other. If you are interested in adopting stop by the shelter for a visit.

Let’s try and make this Greek goddess’s stay at the shelter as short as possible.

Photo Finish: College Avenue & Kirkwood Avenue

The Photo Finish items are drawn from the B There section of the B Square website.

The geographic coverage of the B There section is pretty limited. Please consider occasionally contributing to the B There section some brief factual observations about the world outside your own head, as you go about your normal business. (Photos are optional for B There.) The mechanics of making a contribution are pretty straightforward—just let me know if you’d like to learn the ins and outs. If you’re looking at this bulletin in your email inbox, you should be able to reach me by hitting Reply.

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

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