July 27, 2026: Annexation fees, justice building plumbing issue, boarding up Seminary Pointe, Flock cameras, Hopewell jail site?

Civic Solver

This week’s puzzle is a 10-question news quiz for last week (starting July 20).

Weather Talk

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

Monday: Slow down. There could be fog before 10 a.m. Dress light and cool so that you will dry fast after you get wet. It’s not worth taking rain gear that you will absentmindedly leave somewhere and forget. There will be a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10 a.m. It will be partly sunny with a high near 90F°.

Tuesday: Wear something cool. The day will start mostly cloudy, then gradually turn sunny, with a high near 87F°.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Read The B Square from your inbox

Would you like to receive a copy of each B Square news article in your email inbox, as soon as it is published? The B Square has you covered—but only if that’s what you want.

If you’re already receiving this regular emailed bulletin in your inbox, you’re almost set. Visit the big red button in the upper right corner of the website, log in and manage your email preferences to include My Inbox Now. (There’s no charge for this service.)

Recent articles

• Monroe County property transfers through July 22, 2026.  This report includes new property transfers in Monroe County that haven’t previously been reported by The B Square, with dates ranging from June 16 to July 22, 2026. 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.  Why kind of drama goes with a movie about the Little 500 race? Fish has the answer!
• Judge caps Bloomington’s annexation legal-fee payment at $37,500.  A special judge ordered Bloomington to pay $37,500 in attorney fees to residents who defeated annexation of Areas 1A and 1B, rejecting their nearly $200,000 request. A separate constitutional annexation dispute remains pending while Indiana’s Supreme Court decides whether to take it.
• Monroe County justice building closed Monday, July 27 due to ‘plumbing issue’.  Monroe County’s justice building will be closed Monday (July 27) after an apparent sewage backup on Friday sent water through office ceilings. Court administration and at least one judge’s office were affected. The jail lost water service while cleanup crews worked at the building.
• Seminary Pointe units boarded up after removal of unauthorized occupants, reports of drug use.  On Thursday, Bloomington police removed unauthorized occupants from Seminary Pointe, where plywood was fastened over doors and windows after reports of break-ins and drug use. The mostly vacant, very low-rent apartments are slated for demolition to make way for a convention center host hotel.
• Monroe County commissioners vote to end Flock contract, remove six license plate cameras.  Monroe County commissioners voted 2–0 to end the county’s Flock Safety contract and remove six license plate readers, accepting a possible $3,000 removal fee. Commissioners cited concerns about misuse of data in Flock’s nationwide system. Sheriff Ruben Marté supports the move.
• Monroe County commissioners re-float Hopewell as possible new jail site, seek city’s quick support.  Monroe County commissioners have revived Hopewell as a possible jail and justice center site, asking Bloomington councilmembers to send the proposal to the RDC. But county officials want to avoid the full city planning review and approval process, because they say it would cause unacceptable delay.

On the calendar

IU Homecoming parade. On the 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (July 28) draft agenda for the board of public works several routine items, including permits for the Secretly event, the 4th Street Festival, the Bryan Park Block Party, the IU Homecoming Parade and Mother Hubbard’s Annual Garden Party, along with street and sidewalk contracts, change orders and right-of-way closures. This items on this week’s draft agenda do not include links with background documents

Annual GO bond projects: $2 million jail elevator. On the 5 p.m. Tuesday (July 28) agenda for the county council are this year’s proposed general obligation bond projects. One possible project is a repair of the elevator at the jail, which carries a price tag of $2 million. Another potential item is $150,000 to purchase drones with cameras to monitor the Thomson property off Rogers street for camping activity.

Salary ordinance adjustments for city of Bloomington employees. On the 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (July 29) agenda for the Bloomington city council are first readings of proposed amendments to 2026 salary schedules for police, fire, appointed, non-union and AFSCME employees. The council will also consider establishing a fire merit commission and approving an amended legal representation agreement for the city council.

Apparently missing from the information packet is the resolution that would actually amend the legal representation agreement. The council is still trying to hire a replacement for its administrator/attorney and deputy administrator/attorney, who both resigned effective March 9, 2026. Former city attorney Larry Allen has been filling in on a temporary basis.

Another missing element from the packet is the clerk’s memo on appointments. On top of that, the agenda and packet are not posted on the council’s meeting information page. The link above goes to BloomDocs.org, which is a document repository hosted by The B Square Bulletin. The packet was distributed to the email distro list as an attachment, instead of getting posted to the internet. (The B Square is on the distro list.) BloomDocs.org is a tool that be used to help limit the damage when the local government doesn’t do its job. The BloomDocs.org repository is just one of the ways The B Square is different from any other local news outlet in the country.

Family Night Out: Aug. 12. Downtown Bloomington is the place to be for an evening of food, music, art and family activities Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 5:30–8 p.m. in front of the Monroe County Public Library. You can buy dinner from Pili’s, Mikki’s Munchies and Planted, then eat together in the street while browsing artist and community booths. Kid Kazooey will perform from 5:30–6:30 p.m., followed by Yolanda D from 7–8 p.m. The Seedlings Flower Truck will create what organizers describe as a “stunning flower installation” in the library courtyard.

Secretly 30th Anniversary: Magnolia & Johnson Electric: Aug. 27. Magnolia & Johnson Electric Co., Early Day Miners and June Panic perform Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Bluebird, 216 N. Walnut St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; music starts at 7:30 p.m. Ages 21 and older: tickets.

Secretly 30th Anniversary: Sharon Van Etten and Kevin Morby: Aug. 28. Sharon Van Etten, Kevin Morby and Jordan Patterson perform Friday, Aug. 28, at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m.; music starts at 7 p.m. All ages: tickets.

Secretly 30th Anniversary: Durand Jones & The Indications: Aug. 29. Durand Jones & The Indications, Jensen McRae and Angela Autumn perform Saturday, Aug. 29, at Switchyard Park, 1601 S. Rogers St. Doors open at 5 p.m.; music starts at 6 p.m. All ages: tickets.

Meet Jax!

This very, very good boy is a mix of hound and mountain dog. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Jax:

Jax is a friendly young dog who is affectionate and curious!

Photo Finish: Walnut Street & Kirkwood 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

Sponsors stand with local civic journalism

The B Square Bulletin is made possible by financial supporters who believe in informed, engaged communities. Learn more about how you can help ensure The B Square survives to serve Bloomington residents now and for generations to come.