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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.

Monroe Fire Protection District presents “massive” budget to county council

Monroe Fire Protection District presents “massive” budget to county council

On Tuesday night, Monroe Fire Protection District (MFPD) chief Dustin Dillard presented a 2021 budget to the county council that weighed in at just shy of $12 million. That’s better than three times the 2020 adopted budget, which totals around $3.7 million. But as Dillard put it, “It’

Bloomington’s proposed shuffling of engineering, parking would reverse, re-work similar move made in 2014

Bloomington’s proposed shuffling of engineering, parking would reverse, re-work similar move made in 2014

Part of last week’s 2021 budget proposal from Bloomington mayor John Hamilton might make some residents feel like it’s 2014 again. In early July of 2014, then-mayor Mark Kruzan got the city council’s approval for a re-organization of city departments that moved two divisions out

Fire protection in Monroe County to be a fully involved topic in coming weeks

Fire protection in Monroe County to be a fully involved topic in coming weeks

The Monroe Fire Protection District (MFPD) will be in the spotlight in the next few weeks and months. Two townships in Monroe County, Benton and Washington, are looking to join the district starting in 2022, in a process that’s now underway and could be in front of county commissioners

Bloomington’s planned case for water rate increase delayed until early 2021

Bloomington’s planned case for water rate increase delayed until early 2021

One dollar is enough to make around 300 gallons of pour out of any residential faucet that’s hooked up to City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) water. The residential price of $3.69 per 1,000 gallons, like the rest of the city’s water rates, will stay in place

Farmers market gets brief mention at Bloomington 2021 budget hearings, still “elephant in room”

Farmers market gets brief mention at Bloomington 2021 budget hearings, still “elephant in room”

Last Wednesday was the Bloomington city council’s third night in a series of four hearings on the proposed 2021 budget. Appearing on Wednesday’s agenda was the 2021 budget for the parks and recreation department, which again includes the city’s community farmers market. The origin story for the

COVID-19: Bloomington mayor cuts crowd size limit to 15 after university students flout 50-person max

COVID-19: Bloomington mayor cuts crowd size limit to 15 after university students flout 50-person max

In a joint press release from Bloomington mayor John Hamilton and Indiana University provost Lauren Robel, it was announced mid-day Friday that the mayor is imposing a 15-person limit on the size of gatherings. That’s smaller than the previous 50-person limit specified in the current health

Bloomington’s public transit looks to COVID-19 recovery in 2021

Bloomington’s public transit looks to COVID-19 recovery in 2021

On Wednesday night, Bloomington Transit general manager Lew May presented his 22nd annual budget to Bloomington’s city council. It was a part of the four-day series of 2021 budget presentations heard by the council this week. The council won’t see a final version of the budget until