Nov. 12, 2026: Rejected county commissioner pay increase, condo-to-rental zoning change

Weather Talk

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

Thursday: Find your warmer clothes. We’re coming off an overnight low in the mid-40s, and there’ll be scattered showers starting after 1 p.m. It will be mostly cloudy with a high of just 50F°.

Friday: Keep your warm clothes on and something to ward off the wet. The overnight low from Thursday will be just 34F°. The high for the day will be just around 45F°. The day will feature isolated showers.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• Monroe County council again rejects raise for commissioners, citing 2% for employees.  Monroe County councilors rejected an 18% pay raise for commissioners, citing modest raises for county employees and higher health insurance premiums. The council also voted to restart its personnel committee to explore a countywide salary study that could examine staffing and workloads.
• After failed vote, recess, plan commission backs Hilltop Court switch from condos to rentals.  Bloomington’s plan commission voted 7–0 to back replacing 10 planned Hilltop Court condos with 24 rental apartments, after a 4–3 vote to require a second hearing failed. A recess allowed staff to rewrite findings. The proposal retains affordability commitments and now heads to city council.
• Editor’s Notebook: A musical welcome to Bloomington, in the key of 20 mph.  The proposal is to put Bloomington’s $125,000 Miller-Showers gateway art budget into a musical roadway. Tire grooves would play a tune that sounds right only at 20 mph, welcoming drivers while encouraging them to slow down.

Other notes

Six-word memoir. If you are a regular reader of the Almost Daily Bulletin, you are plenty old enough to write a memoir. But you might think: Nobody wants to read a long book about my life! You’re probably right, but frankly, you could stop after “long book.” So the Monroe County Public Library has you covered. They’re holding a contest: Write your memoir in six words. The contest is open through Nov. 22.

Artists sought for Miller-Showers Park gateway. The city of Bloomington is looking for artists to create a permanent public artwork near the limestone sign installed in 2024 at Miller-Showers Park. The project has a $125,000 budget. Professional artists or teams from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois are eligible to apply by Dec. 4. Residents can also offer input through an online survey.

Convention center seeking local artwork. The Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) is accepting submissions from artists interested in selling existing works for permanent display in the expanded Bloomington Convention Center. A total of $88,320 is available. But the CIB is expecting to pay between $1,500 and $12,000 for each piece of art. To be eligible, an artist has to be at least 18 years old and live in Monroe County or one of five adjoining counties. Artists can submit up to three works. The deadline is 5 p.m. on Nov. 27.

Griffy Lake to close for deer hunts. Bloomington parks and recreation has scheduled the annual controlled deer hunts at Griffy Lake Nature Preserve for the weekends of Nov. 14–15 and Nov. 21–22. The whole preserve, including trails, shoreline and lake, will close from 11 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday on both weekends. The city says the hunts are part of a continuing effort that started in 2017, to reduce damage to native vegetation from deer browsing. Only selected, authorized hunters are allowed to participate.

On the calendar

Disaster, bridge. On the 10 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 12) agenda for Monroe County commissioners is a policy for tracking and managing federal and state disaster relief funding, involving $442,473. Approved by the county’s emergency management advisory council in September, the policy would standardize documentation of eligible expenses and reimbursement requests. Also on the agenda is a $21,229 change order for additional paving at the approach to Bridge #75, intended to provide a smoother transition onto the bridge.

Beth Shalom Holiday Bazaar. Next Sunday (Nov. 15) from noon to 5 p.m. Congregation Beth Shalom will host its 19th annual Holiday Bazaar, Fair and Bake Sale at 3750 E. Third St. in Bloomington. The event will feature locally made pottery, paintings, woodworking, glass, jewelry, candles, knitwear, quilts, photography and other gifts. Shoppers will also find home-baked sweets, challah, a bagel café, Hanukkah treats and Judaica. Free parking is available.

Hope for the Holidays Tree Festival. For three days, from Nov. 17 to 19, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Switchyard Park Pavilion, there will be dozens of unique and festive holiday trees decorated by local businesses, organizations, groups, and families on display and available for purchase! Hope for the Holidays is free to attend and open to the public. From the organizers: “At New Hope for Families, we believe that every child deserves a safe place to sleep and every family deserves a home—and hope—for the holidays! Our annual Hope for the Holidays tree festival helps us keep our promise that no child will sleep outside.”

Gateway North. Next Thursday (Nov. 19) 5–7 p.m. the city of Bloomington will host a community meeting at city hall, about the future of the Gateway North area. That’s the area roughly bounded by Rogers Street, Dunn Street, 14th Street and the SR 45/46 Bypass. The discussion will help shape an amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan. Pizza will be provided. Residents can also complete an online survey.

Bloomington Handmade Market. On Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21–22, more than 100 artists and makers from around the Midwest are expected at the Bloomington Convention Center for Bloomington’s annual Handmade Market. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Admission is free. Sunday’s activities will include youth artists and photos with Santa.

Meet Roxanne!

This very very very good girl is a German shepherd. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Roxanne:

Roxanne is such a great dog. She loves people and is a big fan of snuggling. She likes other dogs, shares well with others, loves people, takes medicine like a champ and is the most patient. She'd love a chance to meet you!

Photo Finish: Walnut Street & Hillside Drive

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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