Dec. 8, 2025: Homeless camp displacement, single-parcel annexation, nixed septic hauling hike, new city controller

Civic Solver

Do you hate jigsaw puzzles? Even if you can play them on your computer machine? Don’t fret, because this week’s puzzle is a word search. Find the link to it at the end of this bulletin. As always, if you decide to wager with your friends based on your puzzle solving time, please try to keep things friendly.

Weather Talk

Based on the National Weather Service forecast in text and charts here’s some advice.

Monday: Bundle up when you head out today, because we’ll start from an overnight low of 22F°. Think about taking your sunglasses, because it will be mostly sunny all day and the temperature will reach a high of around 31F°. It’s not going to snow.

Tuesday: Bundle up again when you head out on Tuesday, because we’ll start from an overnight low of 24F°. Sunglasses will again be in order, because it will be mostly sunny. Hang on to your hat, because wind gusts will go up to 22 mph. It will be warmer than the day before with a high of 42F°. This is all headed towards rain on Tuesday night and snow later in the week.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system.

Roundup of recent articles

• Monroe County property transfers through Dec. 3, 2025.  This report includes new property transfers in Monroe County that haven’t previously been reported by The B Square, with dates ranging from Nov. 14 to Dec. 3, 2025. The data in this report comes from Beacon, the county’s online geographic information system for property and parcel data.
• Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish.  Hawk says: Parsley, sage, and rosemary were trying to book a room in the host hotel for the Bloomington Convention Center. Guess why they couldn't do it. What does Fish say?
• Sheriff asks public for footage after bicyclist critically hurt in northern Monroe County crash.  A Friday afternoon collision between a Honda Accord and a bicyclist near North Bottom and West Maple roads left a 19-year-old IU student in critical condition. The Monroe County sheriff’s office is seeking witnesses and video as its Major Crash Investigation Team reviews the crash.
• Homeless camp removal: Monroe County grants 1-week pause after activists disrupt meeting seeking 4-month delay.  Monroe County commissioners delayed the planned Dec. 8 removal of the Thomson encampment by 1 week, after activists urged more time for relocation amid frigid weather. The move followed a tense meeting featuring sharp criticism and a brief recess. Notices were issued Dec. 1 to 40–50 residents.
• Monroe County election board weighs cuts to early voting hours, polling sites for 2026, as vote center debate simmers.  Monroe County’s election board is preparing for 2026 under a tight budget. Thursday's meeting featured debate about whether to cut early voting hours and reduce Election Day polling sites. The debate over vote centers also resurfaced.
• Bloomington council turns down quadrupled septic hauling rate jump; wants different path to a needed increase.  On Wednesday, Bloomington’s council unanimously rejected a four-fold septic hauling rate hike but agreed some increase is needed. Councilmembers are hoping for rates that distinguish between holding tanks and drain-field systems. CBU is expected to return in 2026 with a different proposal.
• Jessica McClellan to step down as Bloomington city controller; Geoff McKim to take role in 2026.  Bloomington controller Jessica McClellan will leave her post later this month, and former county councilor Geoff McKim is set to take over in January. Mayor Kerry Thomson praised both officials in announcing the transition. McKim will resign from the CIB to assume the role of controller
• Bloomington council OKs fiscal plan for single-parcel voluntary annexation, but bigger votes loom.  The Bloomington council unanimously approved a fiscal plan for annexing a single Cory Drive parcel but stressed it doesn’t necessarily support annexation or rezoning. Neighbors questioned missing cost estimates, and raised karst and “service island” concerns ahead of Dec. 17 votes.

On the calendar

Bloomington plan commission? Bloomington’s plan commission has a meeting on its calendar for Monday (Dec. 8) at 5:30 p.m. But I don’t see an agenda posted anywhere. Typically city plan commission agendas are posted by the Friday before the meeting. That could mean that the meeting has been canceled for lack of any business to conduct, but I would not assume that.

Innkeeper’s tax update. The agenda for the noon Tuesday (Dec. 9) meeting of the convention and visitors commission looks uneventful. But there’s an update on the innkeeper’s tax revenues, which is always worth hearing.

Donations from Monroe County council: BEDC and Seven Oaks. On the 5 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 9) meeting agenda for the Monroe County council are two resolutions on donations. One of them is to make a $1,800 donation to Seven Oaks Classical School. The other is to make a $30,000 donation to the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC).

The backdrop to the Seven Oaks donation is the 2–1 decision last month by the county commissioners to remove the school’s $1,800 Sophia Travis social services grant award, which had been recommended by the county council, from a list of contracts for such awards. It’s the contracts for the awards that provide assurance that the money will be spent by nonprofit awardees in the way they said they would in their grant applications. It’s the county commissioners who have to approve contracts, even though the county council is the fiscal body.

Normally, by declining to approve the contract with Seven Oaks, the commissioners would have ensured that the money did not go to the school. But the possible action by the county council, to make a donation to the school, does not have a contract connected with it. The “resolved” clause says the money is to fund the school’s “AP testing fees and food security initiatives,” but that does not have the same status as a legally binding contract. So the commissioners could not prevent the money from going to the school just by declining to approve a contract.

But this is still not a guaranteed way for the county council to circumvent the authority of the county commissioners—because the donation will show up on the list of claims. The commissioners will still have to approve all the claims, before they are paid. If the commissioners want to prevent the donation from being made, they could do it, at the point when they are asked to approve the claims. They could just pull the donation to Seven Oaks off the docket for separate consideration and deny the claim.

A similar scenario unfolded last year (2024) in connection with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the county government and the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation for $30,000 worth of services. When they were asked to approve the MOU (a contract), the commissioners balked. At the end of 2024, however, the county council made a $30,000 donation to the BEDC. When it came time for the commissioners to approve the claims docket, they approved the $30,000 claim along with the rest of the docket.

This year, the possible $30,000 donation to the BEDC was not preceded by a refusal of the commissioners to approve an MOU. One added wrinkle for this year could be the recent departure of BEDC president Jen Pearl from that role. A message to BEDC members last Thursday (Dec. 4) indicated “a new direction for leadership” thanking Pearl for her service: “We are grateful for Jen’s contributions and the impact she has had during her tenure, and we wish her continued success in all her future endeavors.”

Donations: Land for hotel. The Bloomington redevelopment commission is holding a work session at 5 p.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 10) to talk about the former Bunger & Robertson property at 4th Street and College Avenue in connection with the development of a host hotel for the expanded convention center. At least some Bloomington city councilmembers are expected to attend. For B Square background see: Bloomington RDC puts off resolution on donating land for host hotel

2027 budget priorities. Bloomington’s city council is holding a work session at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 10) to talk about 2027 budget priorities.

Dec. 6–9: YMCA Holiday Bazaar. From the organizers: “Browse the Holiday Bazaar at our Southeast Y on December 6, 8, and 9 to find the perfect hand-crafted gifts for your loved ones this holiday season! Hand-knitted and crocheted items, such as scarves, hats, stuffed animals, blankets, and more, will be available for purchase during the bazaar.”

Hours on individual days break down like this: Saturday, Dec. 6: 8 a.m.–noon; Monday, Dec. 8: 8:30 a.m.–noon; Tuesday, Dec. 9: 8:30 a.m.–noon. All items are handmade by the YMCA’s Y Service in Friendship group, which is made up of volunteers. All proceeds benefit the Y for All Scholarship Fund.

Dec. 12: Latin Jazz Big Band. Vick Luna and his big band are playing the Blockhouse Bar at 8 p.m. on Friday (Dec. 12). From Vick: “Latin Jazz Dance Party with a 20-piece live big band! Featuring the music of Tito Puente, Pérez Prado, and more. Bring them dancing shoes and be ready to dance!” Here’s an introduction to Vick from the B Square’s coverage two years ago: Sliding into the holidays: Expectations for Christmas Eve blown away.

Meet Hunter!

This very, very good boy is a German shepherd mix. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Hunter:

Hunter is a sweet and friendly young guy! He loves to run and play in the yard, and is very food motivated, which makes training a breeze! He is housetrained and absolutely loves to learn. So far, he's mastered sit, down, and climbing up on our agility items in the yard!

Photo Finish: Kirkwood Avenue & Dunn Street

The Photo Finish items are drawn from the B There section of the B Square website.

Thanks for reading. I hope your week is off to a great start!

Dave Askins
734-645-2633
dave@bsquarebulletin.com

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Civic Solver

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