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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.

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.

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

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

Clash over role of future Monroe County jail transition director, possible post-holiday resolution

Clash over role of future Monroe County jail transition director, possible post-holiday resolution

At their regular Wednesday morning meeting, Monroe County commissioners approved two additional studies of the Thomson PUD property, which is currently being considered as a potential new jail site. A Phase 2 environmental study, as well as a wetlands delineation, are both to be done by VET Environmental Engineering, for

Judge reverses Bloomington BZA on variance for downtown condos, orders re-hearing at next meeting

Judge reverses Bloomington BZA on variance for downtown condos, orders re-hearing at next meeting

Monroe County circuit court judge Emily Salzmann has reversed last year’s decision by Bloomington’s board of zoning (BZA) to deny a variance for a proposed development on what is now a surface parking lot west of the CVS building on Kirkwood Avenue. Developer Randy Lloyd’s Cutters Kirkwood