Feb. 2, 2026: Redacted docs, Flock cameras, Perry Twp trustee, old H-T building, early voting

Supporting The B Square: Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who already supports The B Square. If today is the day you have decided 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.

Weather Talk

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

Monday: Slow down. Then slow down even more. Even though the biggest piles of snow might be cleared by now, there could be a patchy freezing drizzle that causes a thin layer of ice on roads this morning. You’ll still need to bundle up, even though the start to the day from an overnight low of 18F° puts us on course for a high near 32F°, which will seem relatively balmy.

Tuesday: Stay slowed down and bundled up, but be ready to shed some of your warmest clothes. Snow will likely fall, mainly between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. putting maybe another inch on the ground. The high will be near 32F°.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• Flock trailer contract finally unredacted by Bloomington; ‘umbrella’ accord still missing.  After months of requests, the city of Bloomington Indiana released an unredacted $50,000 mobile camera trailer contract with Flock Safety, after severely redacting earlier copies, even for routine wording and pricing. A related “umbrella” agreement between the city and Flock remains undisclosed.
• Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish.  Did you know that it tickles when the snowplow blade hits the roadway. Ever wonder what it sounds like when the roadway laughs? Hawk and Fish know something about this.
• Monroe County property transfers through Jan. 28, 2026.  This report includes new property transfers in Monroe County that haven’t previously been reported by The B Square, with dates ranging from Jan. 12 to Jan. 28, 2026. The data in this report comes from Beacon, the county’s online geographic information system for property and parcel data.
• Archived Live Report: Perry Township trustee vacancy—Leon Gordon picked to serve through end of 2026.  This is a live report from the Monroe County Democratic Party’s caucus to fill the vacancy in the office of Perry Township trustee after the death of Dan Combs in the first week of January. The caucus was set for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Bloomington city hall.
• Protestors call for the end of Flock camera contract with city, Bloomington mayor says ‘that is one of the options’.  Hundreds gathered at Bloomington city hall on Friday to protest the city’s contract with Flock Safety, a license-plate reader company. Demonstrators tied the cameras to federal immigration enforcement and urged officials to cancel the agreement. Local officials signaled reconsideration is possible.
• MCCSC hears community feedback about former Herald-Times property.  On Thursday, MCCSC hosted a community forum on the former Herald-Times building it bought for nearly $3 million, outlining three options—sell, postpone or renovate. The 77,000-square-foot site is now used for storage and bus parking. An online survey has drawn 350-plus responses.
• Early voting hours in Monroe County uncertain as council delays funding decision.  Early in-person voting starts April 7, but Monroe County’s weekday early-voting hours remain unsettled after county council postponed action on a $242,781 election staffing request. Without added funding, the familiar 8 a.m.–6 p.m. schedule could be cut to 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

On the calendar

Convention center hotel lots, Hopewell South. On the 5 p.m. Monday (Feb. 2) agenda for Bloomington’s redevelopment commission (RDC) is a $424,000 contract with CrossRoad Engineering, for preliminary engineering design for Hopewell South. Bloomington’s board of public works already approved the contract. There’s a timeline given in the materials that I have learned is erroneous. Groundbreaking for house construction in Hopewell South could come as early as spring 2026, and is not envisioned to start as late as fall of 2027.

Also on the RDC’s agenda is an item to approve the transfer of property south of the existing convention center from Bloomington Municipal Facilities Corporation to the redevelopment commission, with an eye towards eventually transferring it Dora Hospitality to construct a host hotel for the convention center. For B Square background, see: Feb. 5 meeting to review Dora ‘south option’ convention center hotel; mayor’s news release leaves CIB head ‘baffled’

Affordable housing incentives. On the 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 4) agenda for Bloomington’s city council is the consideration of a UDO (Unified Development Ordinance) amendment affecting regulations involving payment-in-lieu of onsite construction of affordable housing, in order to satisfy incentives. For B Square background, see: Hopewell South PUD prompts mayor’s last-minute affordability financing proposal—could now see action by Bloomington council What could be controversial for some city councilmembers is the part of the proposal that allows higher amounts of impervious surface.

Meet Buddy!

This very, very good boy is a rottweiler-hound mix. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Buddy:

Buddy is a fun and energetic young dog, whose previous owner described as incredibly loyal. He loves to zoom and romp around the yard, and would likely make a great running "Buddy"! Buddy has done well with other dogs here at the shelter, and was known to snuggle with his previous owner's grandchildren. If you're looking for a sweet and loyal pup, who already knows the training basics, Buddy is your guy!

Photo Finish: Stull 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

Civic Solver turns Bloomington’s everyday civic life into a puzzle worth cracking—from familiar faces to local landmarks. This week’s puzzle is a basketball jigsaw: the Duncan dunk in 24 pieces.