Sept. 11, 2025: Mold, football, e-scooters, retired professors, drinking water rates

Weather

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

Thursday: Slow down. That way you will be ready to deal with the patchy fog you might encounter before 8 a.m. Throw on a very light jacket to ward off the 50F° chill to start off the day, but have a plan for stashing it, because things will warm up quickly to get to the forecasted high of 84F°. It will not rain.

Friday: You won’t need a jacket to start the day, because the overnight low will be around 58F°. It will not rain. The high is expected to reach 86F°.

Weather talk practice: “Feels like summer again, huh.” Possible response: “Yep.” Alternate response: “Those boys will be feelin’ it out on the football field tonight.”

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system.

Roundup of recent articles

• Mold treatment report on Monroe County justice building released, long-term monitoring planned.  According to a contractor’s report that has now been released, mold remediation work has been completed throughout Monroe County’s justice building, and follow-up testing shows indoor air quality at levels that are considered “acceptable.”
• Panthers 3-0, Cougars 1-2 heading into Bloomington’s crosstown football classic.  Bloomington High School North and South know each other well. The two schools sit on opposite sides of town. But that means the campuses are separated by just five miles, which is about 75 football fields laid end to end. The two teams face off at Bloomington South’s Huff Field this Friday (Sept. 12) at 7 p.m.
• Board signs off on 1-year license for Bird, Bloomington’s lone scooter operator.  Bird can operate its shared electric scooters and e-bicycles for another year in Bloomington. The board of public works approved a one-year license for the micro-mobility company at its regular meeting on Tuesday night. Bird is now the only vendor in Bloomington for shared-used e-scooters.
• Retired Indiana University professors sue trustees over governance ban.  Three retired Indiana University professors are suing the university’s Board of Trustees over a new policy that bars emeritus faculty from participating in any kind of university governance. Also a target of the lawsuit is new state law.
• Bloomington backs 21% drinking water rate increase; IURC role could see future debate.  At its regular meeting on Monday, Bloomington’s Utilities Service Board voted to approve a drinking water rate increase that means CBU residential customers will eventually pay about 21% more for drinking water than they do now. But the rate increase won’t be final until the IURC signs off on it

On the calendar

HVAC at the justice building. On the 10 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 11) meeting agenda for the Monroe County commissioners are four items approving proposals from Harrell-Fish, Inc. for specific work on the HVAC system of the justice building at 7th Street and College Avenue. The four items total a little over $100,000. It’s not explicitly stated in the meeting information packet, but it seems like these items might have the intended impact of helping to manage the relative humidity inside the building, which contributes to moldy conditions inside the building.

$6 million GO bond. On the 10 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 11) meeting agenda for the Monroe County commissioners is approval of a $6 million general obligation bond for the following projects: design plans for improvements at the Monroe County Airport, remodeling of the Showers Building (renovations for voter/election services), vehicles, improvements at the Youth Services Bureau, Monroe County Nature Preserve, historic courthouse, courthouse grounds, emergency management building, body cameras, non-lethal force equipment for the sheriff’s office, airport furniture, tools, and equipment, emergency management sirens and equipment.

Monroe County government typically approves such a bond every year. What’s different this time is the higher amount, which looks like it’s at the limit for such bonds, before certain options for remonstrance are triggered. The other difference is the term of the bond, which this time is five years. I hope that some discussion is given at the meeting about the impact that SEA 1 has had on this kind of bonding tactic.

County budget hearings. There’s another budget hearing for the county council on Thursday (Sept. 11) starting at 5 p.m. Up for review are: Waste Reduction District, Monroe Fire Protection District, Youth Services Bureau, Court Services, and Probation Department. This is the final night of budget hearings for the county council, so there’s a final discussion listed on the agenda at the end.

Lake Monroe Day: Sept. 14. The fundraiser will be held at the Fields Clubhouse (1333 S. Fenbrook Lane) from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. From the Friends of Lake Monroe: “Attendees can mingle with other lake supporters and be treated to appetizers from One World Enterprises, music by King Bee and the Stingers, a wine pull, and brief updates from the organization working to protect Lake Monroe. Tickets are $30 for members, $35 for non-members, and $220 for a table of eight.”

Taste of Tibet: Sept. 20. The buffet starts at 6 p.m. (RSVP is requested). A guided tour of the monastery will be available during the open house from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the same day. The buffet will include traditional Tibetan delicacies like momos, Pingsha, Alu khatsa, and Tibetan butter tea prepared by the monks.

Bloomington Paint Out: Oct. 4. Grab a paintbrush and a canvas and go paint a scene somewhere in Bloomington. From the organizers: “The event is open to professional and emerging artists of all ages and skill levels to create original artwork of any subject in any medium. Stamped/tagged works must be completed that day by 3 pm to be eligible for judging.” The idea is that you check in at Bryan Park in the morning and get an official stamp for your canvas, so that the judges know you created your painting that same day. If you see someone painting with an easel outdoors on Oct. 4, chances are they’re a Paint Out artist.

Pumpkin launch. The city of Bloomington hosts a competition every year involving the construction of a contraption to fling a pumpkin as far as possible. It’s Pumpkin Launch! The deadline for entry is Oct. 15. The competition itself takes place on Oct. 25. For past B Square coverage of Pumpkin Launch: Photos: Cold rain can’t squash Pumpkin Launch 2021

Little 500 fall racing series. Mark your calendar for Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 for cyclocross and street sprints.

Meet Fern!

This very, very good girl is not a Good Pyrenees. She is a Great Pyrenees! Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Fern:

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.

Photo Finish: 6th Street & Walnut Street

The Photo Finish items are drawn from the B There section of the B Square website.

The geographic coverage of the B There section is pretty limited. Please consider occasionally contributing to the B There section some brief factual observations about the world outside your own head, as you go about your normal business. (Photos are optional for B There.) The mechanics of making a contribution are pretty straightforward—just let me know if you’d like to learn the ins and outs. If you’re looking at this bulletin in your email inbox, you should be able to reach me by hitting Reply.

Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend!

Dave Askins
734-645-2633
dave@bsquarebulletin.com