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Dave Askins

Dave Askins

Bloomington, Indiana

Dave Askins is editor and publisher of The B Square Bulletin. A Hoosier native with a background in math and linguistics, he previously co-founded the Ann Arbor Chronicle with his wife, Mary Morgan.

It’s not just parks: Bloomington looking to add law against camping in public right-of-way

It’s not just parks: Bloomington looking to add law against camping in public right-of-way

Bloomington mayor John Hamilton’s administration wants to put a law on the books that prohibits camping or storing personal belongings in the public right-of-way. To that end, at its Tuesday meeting, Bloomington’s three-member board of public works will consider a resolution that asks the city council to consider

Tent policy for Bloomington public parks to be considered by board at Aug. 16 special meeting

Tent policy for Bloomington public parks to be considered by board at Aug. 16 special meeting

A special meeting has appeared on the calendar for Bloomington’s board of park commissioners. It is set for 4 p.m. this coming Wednesday (Aug. 16) in city council chambers. As of Sunday afternoon, no agenda for the special meeting had been posted. [Added Aug. 14, 2023: The agenda

Countywide authority for Bloomington Transit OK’d by city council, without Rural Transit in the room

Countywide authority for Bloomington Transit OK’d by city council, without Rural Transit in the room

At its regular Wednesday meeting, Bloomington’s city council changed local law to give Bloomington Transit authority to operate anywhere in Monroe County. That city council decision meant a rejection of the approach advocated by the board of the Area 10 Agency on Aging, which operates Rural Transit, also a

Bloomington starts abatement of Washington Street property owned by would-be mayoral candidate

Bloomington starts abatement of Washington Street property owned by would-be mayoral candidate

Around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, employees of an independent contractor hired by the city of Bloomington started removing “garbage” from the South Washington Street property owned by Joe Davis. They were accompanied by staff from the city of Bloomington’s Housing and Neighborhood Development department, an assistant city attorney,

Monthly trash cart fees to rise in Bloomington, about 35% in 2024, 3% each year after that

Monthly trash cart fees to rise in Bloomington, about 35% in 2024, 3% each year after that

Starting in 2024, Bloomington residents who get curbside trash and recycling collection service from the city will pay a bigger monthly fee. The cost for a 35-gallon trash cart, which is the smallest size, will go from $6.51 to $8.75 per month. That’s 34-percent more. A 64-gallon

Increase of hours from 35 to 40 a week OK’d for Monroe County health administrator

Increase of hours from 35 to 40 a week OK’d for Monroe County health administrator

Up until Tuesday night, the job of health administrator of Monroe County was paid $62,026 annually, based on a 35-hour work week. After the county council’s action at its Tuesday meeting, health administrator Lori Kelley will work a 40-hour week, and receive the corresponding increase in salary—an

Budget notebook: Monroe County mulls shift, not increase in local income tax

Budget notebook: Monroe County mulls shift, not increase in local income tax

If Monroe County councilors stay on the course they have now charted out, they could have around $100,000 more to spend on jail operations for the final quarter of this year. It would also mean in subsequent years about $424,000 more to spend each year to support the