Feb. 12, 2026: Annexation, elections, jail, Hopewell

Supporting The B Square: Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who already supports The B Square. If today is the day you have decided you are able to and willing to help make this enterprise sustainable, here’s the link, where you can start making a recurring monthly contribution.

The same link will allow someone to sign up for the Almost Daily Bulletin newsletter for free, just by choosing the “Free” tier. For folks who prefer to write paper checks, here’s the address: Dave Askins c/o The B Square Bulletin, PO Box 3355, Bloomington, IN 47402.

Civic Solver

Civic Solver turns Bloomington’s everyday civic life into a puzzle worth cracking—from familiar faces to local landmarks. This week’s jigsaw puzzle is a sneak peek of Bloom Magazine’s upcoming cover! If you want to get your hands on the glossy printed version, here’s a list of places where you can get a copy of Bloom Magazine.

Weather Talk

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

Thursday: You will still need a decent warm jacket to start off the day, maybe throw on a hat, but you can leave your warmest coat at home, because the day will start off near freezing and get up to 45F°.

Friday: Friday will be about the same as Thursday with a slightly warmer high of about 50F°.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• Monroe County council to clerk: Run ‘robust’ primaries, request more money to cover general.  After cutting most of the clerk’s $242,781 request, but adding $5,000 for overtime, the county council signaled it expects 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. early voting hours and 28 polling sites. It looks like something clerk Nicole Browne will support at Thursday’s election board meeting.
• Supreme Court refuses to hear case; Bloomington’s annexation defeat in two areas now final.  The Indiana Supreme Court declined review, which means the Indiana Court of Appeals ruling blocking Bloomington’s bid to annex two west-side areas will stand. Courts found the city failed statutory tests, and would impose steep tax hikes, handing remonstrators a win.
• Funding math shows Monroe County could pay for big jail and justice center, council not eager for the required tax hike.  At a joint meeting, Monroe County officials confronted hard choices on a new jail: raise local income taxes to fund a $225M co-located justice center or accept a cheaper, split setup with higher long-term costs.
• Bloomington plan commission OKs Hopewell South rezone for city council consideration, adds accessibility oversight.  Bloomington’s plan commission voted to recommend rezoning 6.3 acres for the Hopewell South PUD, clearing the way for nearly 100 smaller, lower-cost homes. Commissioners added a condition to strengthen accessibility oversight and disability-community input. It will next be heard by the city council.

Quick notes

Departures at city of Bloomington ESD department. At Wednesday’s (Feb. 11) meeting of the Bloomington arts commission, director of the city’s department of economic and sustainable development, Jane Kupersmith, announced that assistant director for the arts Holly Warren and special projects manager Chaz Mottinger had left the city. Kupersmith put it like this in her remarks at the meeting:

I sent an email message this afternoon that delivered a personnel update that is not welcome news for anyone, to let you know that Holly Warren and Chaz Mottinger are no longer with the city, and I notified you that I would be helping host your meeting this evening. Unfortunately, I cannot comment on personnel matters in any kind of detail. I know that's really frustrating, so I just wanted to acknowledge that, but that's just so that we're following HR policy.

From the public mic, several people weighed in, some by remote connection, to express their support and appreciation for Warren and Mottinger.

Warren was playing an important role in connection with the public art project for the convention center expansion. And Mottinger was serving as the point person for the Kirkwood Avenue summer dining conversion program.

Fluoride back in Bloomington drinking water? Confirmed by COB. The city of Bloomington again has an operational fluoridation system. That was finally confirmed in a news release issued on Monday (Feb. 9). It emerged last summer that no fluoride had been added to the city’s drinking water for a few years.

Ordinance to allow discussion by city council. The Bloomington city council has a quirk in its city code that prohibits any discussion by the council of an ordinance on the first occasion when it appears on an agenda. The council is now considering a proposal to eliminate that prohibition. It will be up for a vote on Feb. 18.

I have submitted a proposal to amend the pending ordinance, to do a little bit more than just give the council the freedom to discuss an item that is on its agenda. The file in the link includes a memo, a proposal for the revised text, and the text of the council’s proposed ordinance.

On the calendar

Blood pressure. On the 10 a.m. Thursday (Feb. 12) agenda for Monroe County commissioners is memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Bloomington fire department for blood pressure monitor distribution. The county health department has a stock of blood pressure monitors, funded by Health First Indiana, to address the core service: chronic disease. Eligible recipients will receive one of these blood pressure monitors.

Special election board meeting: Canceled, rescheduled. The special meeting for the Monroe County election board that was scheduled for Thursday (Feb. 12) has been canceled, but rescheduled for Tuesday (Feb. 17) at 1:30 p.m. At the special meeting, the board is supposed to set hours for early voting and locations for polling sites on Election Day. For B Square background, see: Monroe County council to clerk: Run ‘robust’ primaries, request more money to cover general

Candy Stripe Classic Bicycle Race: March 8. The board of public works has approved the necessary street closures for a criterium bicycle race on March 8 that is hosted by the Cycling Club at Indiana University. It’s part of two-day event. The race is several laps around The Mill, up and down Madison and Morton streets between 10th and 11th. There’s a “family ride,” which is chance for parents and kids to turn one lap of the course so they can get an idea of how tight those corners really are.

Zingtrain: April 1. Brought to you by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, this is a full day of training at the Bloomington Convention Center from the world’s leading experts in customer service—Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor, Michigan. That’s not just the chamber telling you that, it’s me—former Ann Arbor resident for two decades—telling you that. And check this out: This event is free to everybody, chamber members and non-members alike. The chamber’s event description has more details. Lunch will also be provided!

Ms. Lake Lemon: May 16. Start your training regimen now. This amazing contest of skill is to be held at Riddle Point Park this year. Monitor the Ms. Lake Lemon Facebook page for details, as they become available. The B Square covered last year’s inaugural event.

Meet Campona!

This very, very good girl is a bully breed mix. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Campona:

Campona is an energetic dog who is really enjoying the snow! She's been having a blast running and practically sailing over the snow piles. When not romping around Campona loves snuggles as close as possible to you and curling up in some cozy blankets with her toys.

Photo Finish: Kirkwood Avenue & Washington Street

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

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a great weekend!

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

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