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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.

Again denied: Bloomington BPW rejects resident’s appeal of citation, OKs cleanup order

Again denied: Bloomington BPW rejects resident’s appeal of citation, OKs cleanup order

On Tuesday night, Bloomington’s board of public works denied the appeal by Joe Davis for a citation by the city—for what the city staff considers to be violations of the health and sanitation parts of city code (Title 6) at his South Washington Street property. In a separate

Flood damaged Bloomington fire station gets $4.5M in construction contracts OK’d for major renovation

Flood damaged Bloomington fire station gets $4.5M in construction contracts OK’d for major renovation

For the last two and a half years, Bloomington’s main fire station on 4th Street has sat unused for fire operations. That’s because it was damaged in the flood of June 2021. But construction work on the existing 4th Street station, to put Station 1 back into service,

Mayoral transition: Bloomington boards have upcoming vacancies, to be filled by city executive

Mayoral transition: Bloomington boards have upcoming vacancies, to be filled by city executive

In an open letter dated Nov. 9, mayor-elect Kerry Thomson made a clarion call to Bloomington residents for them to participate in city government. Thomson wrote to residents that her administration would “make it easy for them to participate in their government.” She added: “That starts now—with you.” Cited

Interlocal agreement on convention center approved on Bloomington’s side, county’s OK expected soon

Interlocal agreement on convention center approved on Bloomington’s side, county’s OK expected soon

At its regular meeting last Wednesday, Bloomington’s city council approved its side of the interlocal agreement that will control the working relationship among local government entities as they collaborate on an expansion of the Monroe Convention Center. The vote was 8–0. Kate Rosenbarger was absent. Signing the agreement

5 of 15 provisional ballots accepted by Monroe County election board for Nov. 7 election

5 of 15 provisional ballots accepted by Monroe County election board for Nov. 7 election

The 15 provisional ballots reviewed by Monroe County’s election board on Friday at Election Central were not enough to affect the outcome of any of the races, not even the MCCSC referendum, which passed on a narrow 108-vote margin. But the work of the board on Friday still affected

Bloomington BZA denies resident’s appeal of citation for backyard parking, storage violations

Bloomington BZA denies resident’s appeal of citation for backyard parking, storage violations

Parked in Joe Davis’s backyard at 530 S. Washington Street are three vehicles and a trailer that have various materials stacked on them. Stacked outside in other places in the backyard, and on Davis’s front porch, are more materials. The city of Bloomington contends that the conditions at

Bloomington mayor-elect asks current mayor not to make strategic choices impacting beyond year’s end

Bloomington mayor-elect asks current mayor not to make strategic choices impacting beyond year’s end

With six weeks left before she is sworn into office, Bloomington mayor-elect Kerry Thomson has sent a letter to outgoing mayor John Hamilton asking him to “refrain from making any strategic or discretionary decisions which will impact beyond December 31, 2023.” The letter was dated Nov. 14, exactly a week