June 29, 2026: Water rates rise, Seminary Pointe demolition, jail site talks, one-story jail design, MCCSC cell phones, Skate the Rainbow

Civic Solver

This week’s puzzle is a 15-question multiple choice news quiz. If you have read most of The B Square’s news reports and included the Sunday Funnies, you will have no trouble acing this quiz. Just try not to brag too much about it, or how fast you finished it!

Weather Talk

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

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory at least through Thursday (July 2). Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun. Check on relatives, neighbors, friends, and colleagues at work. If someone checks on you, don’t lie about feeling fine. Tell them what you need. For some of you, being helpful will come naturally. For others of us, we have to work at it, and this will be a chance to try out being nicer than we usually are.

Monday: Slow down. It’s not going to rain, but take an umbrella anyway, because an umbrella is the portable shade you might need to ward off the blazing sun, if you have to walk around in the heat. Or if you see someone struggling out in the heat, give them your umbrella. The forecasted high is 93F°.

Tuesday: Not kidding about the umbrella. Take one along to keep the sun off. There’s some jerks who will mock you, but that’s OK, because you will be cool as a cucumber, laughing on the inside, while they are sweating on the outside. The forecasted high is 94F° with humidity that will make it seem like a sauna.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• Photos: Skate the Rainbow roller derby returns to Bloomington.  Frank Southern Ice Arena, with Bloomington Roller Derby and Indianapolis Junior Roller Derby, hosted five bouts for junior and adult skaters from across the Midwest. The BOOMington Blockheads return July 18.
• Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish.  Who doesn't love a great pun about corn dogs?
• Monroe County property transfers through June 25, 2026.  This report includes new property transfers in Monroe County that haven’t previously been reported by The B Square, with dates ranging from May 22 to June 25, 2026. The data in this report comes from Beacon, the county’s online geographic information system for property and parcel data.
• Bloomington drinking water rates set to rise in August.  Bloomington water customers will see higher rates starting in August, after the IURC approved CBU’s settlement-backed rate case. A typical residential user will pay about $3.72 more a month; businesses face a 38% increase. The case funds capital work, including fluoride-line replacement.
• Bloomington historic commission clears Seminary Pointe buildings for demolition.  Bloomington’s historic preservation commission voted 4–2 Thursday to release demolition delays for two “contributing” Seminary Pointe buildings, removing a key hurdle to hotel development. CIB officials say demolition bids will cover the whole block, with work possible starting as early as Oct. 1.
• One-story jail design is ‘necessary,’ Monroe County commissioner tells Rotarians.  At a Thursday Rotary talk, Monroe County commissioner Julie Thomas said a one-story jail is necessary, not just preferred. The stance could narrow site options as a city-county group works toward a July 13 location recommendation after the county council twice rejected North Park.
• Revamped Monroe County jail-site group maps path to July 13 recommendation.  After a quorum fix, the Collaborative Justice Project Working Subcommittee met June 24, elected Bloomington city councilmember Sydney Zulich vice chair and set five meetings before a July 13 jail-site recommendation. The group is chaired by county councilor Liz Feitl.
• MCCSC policy banning cell phones OK’d despite board qualms.  MCCSC trustees approved a state-mandated student cell phone storage policy despite board misgivings. They also adopted new facilities-use rules and rental fees. Jennifer Hester and Kelsey Pearson were appointed as principals. A July discussion of redistricting is planned.

Other Important Notes

Bingo calling. On Sunday, I had the honor of serving as the celebrity bingo caller at Cardinal Spirits for their regular noon-to-2 p.m. brunch. Big thanks to Erica, Gwen, and Jenna for making it even more fun than I had figured it would be. And thanks, too, to all the brunch-goers at Cardinal Spirits who pitched in after one clumsy moment sent dozens of little wooden bingo balls skittering across the floor, instead of staying safely locked away inside their caged-ball contraption. Calling bingo is not as easy as you might think.

On the calendar

Where to build a new jail? The second meeting for the jail site working group, now known as the Collaborative Justice Project Working Subcommittee (CJPWS) is set for 6 p.m. on Monday (June 29). The agenda includes a discussion of metrics for evaluating potential sites. A draft set of metrics was circulated at last week’s meeting. Part of the backdrop of the meeting includes an email thread between county councilors and county commissioner Julie Thomas on the topic of the participation by the board of commissioners in the CJPWS. The sharpest exchange is between councilor David Henry and commissioner Julie Thomas.

Joint meeting on APRA funding. Even though Henry and Thomas won’t be at the table for the CJPWS, an hour beforehand at 5 p.m. on Monday (June 29) they could be sitting together for a joint meeting of commissioners and the council on the topic of APRA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding. The APRA funding has to be spent by the end of the year.

Grass too tall. One way to tell it’s summer without looking at a calendar is the number of abatement requests on a board of public works agenda. The 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (June 30) agenda for the board includes requests for four different properties. Bloomington city code says that grass in a yard can’t be longer than eight inches.

Monroe County Fair: June 27–July 4. The county fair starts this Saturday. If you are an old sleepy person who always wanted to see Hank Ruff perform, but cannot stay up late for the start of his shows when he plays the Bluebird, this is your chance! Among the many fantastic events on this year’s fair schedule is a free Hank Ruff Show starting at 8 p.m Wednesday (July 1).

Carwash fundraiser: July 18. Is your car filthy? Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana invites the community to support the 17th Annual Crew for Kids fundraiser on Saturday, July 18, 2026, with a rain date of Saturday, July 25. For one day only, visit a participating Crew Carwash location and purchase an Ultimate or Ultimate 360 wash. Fifty percent of the cost will be donated directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters, helping join Bigs and Littles together for effective mentorship and impacting lives for the better through meaningful one-to-one relationships. Bloomington participants can visit Crew Carwash at 235 South Pete Ellis Drive or 3430 West 3rd Street.

Meet Misty!

This very, very good girl is a hound mix. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Misty.

I am new to the shelter and we are all getting to know each other. If you are interested in adopting, stop by the shelter for a visit.

Let’s make Misty’s stay at the shelter super short!

Photo Finish: 10th Street & Union 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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