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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.

Zoning law revisions considered by Bloomington plan commission: 3 down, 7 to go

Zoning law revisions considered by Bloomington plan commission: 3 down, 7 to go

Proposed amendments to the text of Bloomington’s unified development ordinance (UDO), and proposed changes to the citywide zoning map, were scrutinized by the public in late 2020. Revised versions of the proposed text and map changes have now landed in front of the city’s nine-member plan commission.

More than doubling of stormwater fee OK’d by Monroe County commissioners, to appear on May property tax bills

More than doubling of stormwater fee OK’d by Monroe County commissioners, to appear on May property tax bills

Last Wednesday, at their regular meeting, Monroe County commissioners approved an increase for the base rate of the county’s annual stormwater fee, from $35.16 to $75.77. The decision to raise the fee came after a hearing held by the county’s stormwater management board in December, and

Change to Bloomington tax abatement policy swaps in capital investment for job creation, making it easier to justify affordable housing projects

Change to Bloomington tax abatement policy swaps in capital investment for job creation, making it easier to justify affordable housing projects

A change to the city of Bloomington’s tax abatement policy, approved by the city council on Wednesday last week, will make it easier for affordable housing projects to satisfy abatement criteria The change replaces the basic criterion for tax abatement. In the previous policy, the basic requirement was that

COVID-19 Update | IU’s Assembly Hall could offer 2K shots a day, but officials urge continued caution: “There are still a lot of people suffering.”

COVID-19 Update | IU’s Assembly Hall could offer 2K shots a day, but officials urge continued caution: “There are still a lot of people suffering.”

Good news tempered with caution about the persistent presence of the pandemic virus was again the theme of this Friday’s weekly press conference on COVID-19 response, held by Bloomington area leaders. Probably the most significant news out of Friday’s news conference was the fact that Monroe County’

$1 million in federal community development grants brings Bloomington’s 30-year total to $28.9 million

$1 million in federal community development grants brings Bloomington’s 30-year total to $28.9 million

At its regular Wednesday meeting this week, Bloomington’s city council approved annual allocations for a bit more than $1 million worth of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The exact amount was $1,017,968 That makes $28,921,325 of total CDBG funding that has been allocated

9-hour city council meeting likely a record for Bloomington

9-hour city council meeting likely a record for Bloomington

On Wednesday, the Bloomington city council’s regular meeting started at 6:30 p.m. as it usually does. Council vice president Sue Sgambelluri, who chaired the proceedings, wrapped up just before adjournment: “OK. Heartfelt thanks, particularly to the public who stayed with us this long.” How long was it?

Bloomington city council votes down proposed law on protections for houseless on 4–4 tie at 3:21 a.m.

Bloomington city council votes down proposed law on protections for houseless on 4–4 tie at 3:21 a.m.

On Thursday morning, a proposed local law that would have provided certain protections to people experiencing homelessness failed to get the five votes it needed on the nine-member Bloomington city council. The vote was a 4–4 tie. City council president Jim Sims was not able to attend the