Jan. 8, 2026: Dan Combs dies, candidate filings, new city council president, new school board president, residential TIFs

Civic Solver

This week the link to the Civic Solver returns to its usual place at the bottom of the Almost Daily Bulletin. (It’s a jigsaw puzzle!)

Weather Talk

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

Thursday: Take a rain jacket as a precaution against isolated showers after 1 p.m. today. But you won’t need more than a light wrap to stay warm, because the high will reach 63F°. It could get windy with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Friday: If you’re out and about overnight between Thursday night and Friday morning take an umbrella, because it will definitely rain—up to a half inch. Keep your umbrella through Friday morning, because a 40% chance of showers will persist mainly before 11 a.m. Take a light wrap because through the day the temperature will fall from around 60F° to around 52F° by 5 p.m. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• Archived Live Report: Bloomington city council organizational meeting (Jan. 7, 2025) | Asare now president.  This is a live report from Bloomington’s Wednesday (Dec. 7) city council meeting.
• Archived Live Report: Election Central candidate filings (Jan. 7, 2026).  This is where live reports were logged from Election Central, starting 8 a.m. on Jan. 7, 2026 to document the filing of declarations by candidates for elected office this year.
• Bloomington to consider establishing future residential areas as TIF districts.  Bloomington’s redevelopment commission is considering carving two future residential areas—Summit District and Hopewell—out of the city’s consolidated TIF area to form separate “residential TIF” districts. No decisions are final yet. A multi-step public approval process begins Feb. 5.
• Stalwart Perry Township trustee Dan “Carp” Combs dies at 73.  Dan “Carp” Combs, who served as Perry Township trustee since 1986 and was among Monroe County’s longest-serving officials, has died at 73. A Democrat, Combs was in the final year of his 10th term. A party caucus will fill the vacancy.
• Archived Live Report: MCCSC board annual reorganization (Jan. 6, 2026) | Cooperman now board president.  This was a live, text-based report from the MCCSC school board meeting on Tuesday (Jan 6) beginning at 6 p.m.
• Public art: Bloomington grants site access for Trades District soil tests, Lilly Endowment grant used.  Bloomington’s RDC approved site access for geotechnical soil borings at up to 10 locations in the Trades District, clearing the way for early planning tied to a $16M Lilly Endowment CCC grant. The work will inform future public art and other district improvements, with no cost to the RDC.

On the calendar

Claims only for commissioners. Monroe County commissioners have moved their regular Thursday morning meeting time this week to the afternoon. They will meet at 3:30 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 8) and the sole purpose of the meeting will be to approve the claims register.

Elections! Set for 1:30 p.m. on Thursday (Jan. 8) is the first election board meeting of the year. The big news out of that meeting will likely be the fact that voter registration will be moving out of the old Johnson’s Hardware building earlier than originally planned. But the move will be to a temporary location in Showers North, before the final move to the remodeled space in Showers North.

Change order for convention center expansion project. The Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) will hold a special meeting at 4 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 9) to approve a change order for its construction contractor. A “change order” is almost always an increase to the cost. The CIB has authorized the president to approve any cost increases up to $25,000 in anticipation of the many unpredictable circumstances that might lead to greater cost than in the contract.

But the change order to be handled on Friday is more than $25,000, so a special meeting of the board is required to approve it. There’s a contingency amount in the construction budget to cover these sorts of changes. On Friday, the board will likely get an update on how much contingency money is left. The board will also likely get a briefing from Weddle Bros. about the cause of the change order.

Naked trees only. The Monroe County waste reduction district has announced that Christmas trees can be dropped off at any of the usual locations for the next few weeks. No ornaments can still be attached. From the MCWRD: “The District partners with Rumpke Trash & Recycling Services and Blue Stone Tree, to provide holiday tree recycling from Dec. 26, 2025 through Jan. 17, 2026.

Natural trees, wreaths, and garlands will be accepted at all five district recycling centers. Before dropping off trees for recycling, all decorations, including, but not limited to, ornaments, lights, artificial snow, garland and tinsel must be removed.”

No artificial trees! Here’s the complete news release.

Chilly Cookoff! Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard will host its annual “Chilly” Cook-Off on Friday, Jan. 23, from 5–7 p.m. at the Switchyard Pavilion (1601 S. Rogers St.) to kick off Freezefest. The event will feature chili samples from 24 community chefs and a People’s Choice vote.

Tickets are $25 for ages 11 and up (children 10 and under free) and include all chili samples, a voting ticket, the option to enter the “Some Like It Hot” spicy chili challenge, and palate-cooling treats. Tickets are available online and at the door, with a bar hosted by Upland. Proceeds support Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard. Tickets and chef registration are available at mhcfoodpantry.org/chilly-cookoff.

Puzzlefest! Mark your calendar for Jan. 25 from noon to 4 p.m., because the Monroe County History Center is sponsoring a jigsaw puzzle competition, which will take place from 1-3 p.m. at the Switchyard Park Pavillion.

For the competition, teams of four race to complete the same 500-ish piece puzzle. The competition signup is currently open online. The registration fee for a team of four is $60 and proceeds go to support educational programming at the Monroe County History Center. But guess what: Completing puzzles can be a spectator sport. It’s free to watch the competition and participate in the puzzle sale/swap.

Starting in 2026, from Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. you can donate puzzles to the puzzle swap at the History Center.

Anyone who drops puzzles off at the History Center through Jan. 24 will avoid a wait on Jan. 25 and will get extra tickets to use in the swap.

Meet Hank!

This very, very good boy is a mix of golden retriever and chow chow.. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Hank:

Hank is a shy dude but once he's comfortable with you he likes to jump up and get some head rubs and look longingly into your eyes! He's been good with dogs he's met at the shelter and his previous owner said he was fine with kitties. Even though it might take him a bit to trust you, once he does he will be your best friend! Come meet him today and give him a chance to have a loving and stable home!

Photo Finish: 4th Street & College Avenue

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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Civic Solver

Civic Solver turns Bloomington’s everyday civic life into a puzzle worth cracking—from familiar faces to local landmarks. A weekly reason to stay curious: Complete this week’s puzzle.