Feb. 9, 2026: Elections, hotel deal, Kirkwood, pretty birds

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.

Monday: Plan where to put your warm coat when you take it off, so that you don’t lose it. The day will start out sub-freezing, but will warm up to 41F°. The mostly sunny skies will make it seem even warmer.

Tuesday: The overnight low from Monday night will be just barely under freezing, which means you might be able to start your day without your warmest coat and hat. The high will reach around 52F° under mostly sunny skies.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• Election 2026: Contested local primaries, some November matchups take shape across Monroe County.  With the filing deadline passed, Monroe County voters face a mix of crowded May primaries and a few November matchups. Democrats have contested races for assessor, clerk, commissioner and prosecutor, while several township boards and trustee seats are also contested.
• Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish.  Of course Hawk is gonna make the superb owl joke today, but what about Fish?
• Monroe County property transfers through Feb. 4, 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. 23 to Feb. 4, 2026. The data in this report comes from Beacon, the county’s online geographic information system for property and parcel data.
• Photos: Look! Hooded mergansers at Miller-Showers Park.  On the partly frozen detention pond at Miller-Showers Park, a male hooded merganser and two females paddled through the remaining open water. A warming trend means the ice will be short-lived. The weird-looking ducks were a nice surprise, even if serious birders might yawn.
• Bloomington may walk back plan to keep Kirkwood open to vehicle traffic, after city council backlash.  Bloomington councilmembers sharply criticized city staff's plan to keep Kirkwood Avenue open to cars in 2026, arguing it undercuts last year’s conversion ordinance. Staff cite costs and logistics. The administration is now reconsidering the proposal and could produce a revised plan later this month.
• Hours first, money later? Standoff between Monroe County council, election board delays decision on early voting schedule.  Monroe County’s election board will hold a special meeting next week to set early voting hours for the May primary, as clerk Nicole Browne warns a budget gap and overtime cuts could shrink the schedule to eight hours a day. A $242,781 funding request is pending in front of the county council.
• No land, no deal: CIB ends current hotel effort, when Bloomington says south parcels will cost.  The Monroe County CIB ended its work with Dora Hospitality to develop a convention center host hotel after learning it cannot secure the needed city-owned land south of the existing convention center. The CIB will now ask the county government about land, as it looks to reset an RFP.

Quick notes

Kirkwood conversion controversy. The B Square already reported on the current kerfuffle about closing Kirkwood Avenue with a standard news article. Here’s an alternate first few paragraphs for that report:

In 1980, with the release of “Tonight,” John Mellencamp immortalized in song the pedestrian experience on Kirkwood Avenue in Bloomington: “Gonna go walkin down Kirkwood, look at us go!”

The east-west spine connects the courthouse square and the heart of downtown, to the front door of Indiana University at Sample Gates.

Now, almost a half century later, Bloomington’s city council has made an annual ritual of debating the question of whether to convert Kirkwood during the summer months to exclude motor vehicles for an outdoor downtown dining program.

A the core of the debate: Why was the long-haired girl smilin when she saw Mellencamp walkin in? Was it maybe because he was walkin and not drivin?

Pepper spray, intimidation with gun? Towards the end of the protest against ICE and Flock cameras last Friday, there was a confrontation between an armed protester and a man who was looking for his daughter that ended with the protester pepper-spraying the man. The protester was arrested and booked into jail on a charge of assault and pointing a firearm at another person.

The hearing that was originally scheduled for last Friday was put off until this week on Wednesday (Feb. 11) at 1 p.m. as the prosecutor’s office gathers more information.

Fluoride back in Bloomington drinking water? Based on information from a reliable source, the Bloomington fluoridation system for its drinking water is again operational. But The B Square has still yet to get confirmation directly from city of Bloomington utilities that fluoride is back in the drinking water. It emerged last summer that no fluoride had been added to the city’s drinking water for a few years.

Stickers still remaining. Over the last couple of months, it has been a delight to bump into folks out in the wild who say: “Hey, Dave, gimme one a them stickers.” At a basketball game. At an anti-Flock camera protest. On the steps of city hall. In a local restaurant.

As described in a column published back in December, that’s exactly how it is supposed to work. There are still a few B Square Bulletin stickers left in my plastic bag. Please don’t let me die with stickers left.

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.

Running for office? Will you hold government attorneys accountable? It’s a bit late to be thinking about running for office in 2026. But it’s exactly the right time to be thinking about running for city offices—clerk, city council, and mayor. Now is a good time to be thinking of answers to questions that people might ask you if you knock on their door.

And if you’re not thinking about running for office, think about questions to ask those folks to interrupt your sock sorting by asking for your vote. Here’s a question every candidate should have to answer: What is your plan to hold government attorneys accountable? Here’s a model answer: I will require that government attorneys track their hours by task, the same way a lawyer in a private law firm would their bill time to a client.

On the calendar

Joint commissioners, council meeting on jail. Set for Monday (Feb. 9) at 6 p.m. is a joint meeting of the county commissioners and county council on the topic of jail planning. For B Square background, see: Monroe County jail impasse: After $4.2M North Park design spend, council-commissioner rift persists and Jail update: Monroe County elected officials working on ‘clear movement’ plan as April 15 ACLU deadline nears

The joint meeting will be preceded by a joint executive session to discuss the litigation about the jail which started in 2008. The county operates the jail under a settlement agreement that is now set to expire on April 15.

Early voting hours. On the 5 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 10) meeting agenda for the Monroe County council is a $242,781 extra appropriation to pay for poll workers and early voting staffing for the 2026 elections. For B Square background, see: Hours first, money later? Standoff between Monroe County council, election board delays decision on early voting schedule

Candy Stripe Classic Bicycle Race: March 8. This week, the Bloomington board of public works proves once again that no one could possibly ever be bored of public works. If you are thinking of running for city office in 2027, start attending board of public works meetings—because it’s a great way to find out what is happening in town. (Board positions are appointed by the mayor, not elected.)

On the 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 10) board of public works agenda is an item to approve the street closures for a criterium bicycle race that is hosted by the Cycling Club at Indiana University. It’s part of two-day event, but the part that needs the use of Bloomington public streets is set for March 8. 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 Sal!

This very, very good boy is a Shar-Pei mix. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Sal:

Salazar is being a very good boy in his foster home. His foster says he loves cuddles and belly rubs. He is a dude that is wise behind his age and isn't jumpy or mouthy at all. Salazar is super receptive to learning new things, especially when treats are involved. He's a fan of playing fetch with a tennis ball and he gets along really well with other dogs. Come meet Salazar and let him show you how proud he is to sit on command!

Photo Finish: Walnut Street & Cottage Grove Avenue

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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