Tag: Don Griffin

$29.5 million in bonds OK’d by Bloomington city council, decision on building purchase to come later

Bloomington city council. (Dec. 7, 2022)
Bloomington city council president Susan Sandberg. (Dec. 7, 2022)
Bloomington city councilmember Jim Sims. (Dec. 7, 2022)
From left: Bloomington city councilmember Dave Rollo and city council attorney Stephen Lucas. (Dec. 7, 2022)
Bloomington city councilmember Ron Smith. (Dec. 7, 2022)
From left: Bloomington city council attorney Stephen Lucas and assistant city attorney Larry Allen. (Dec. 7, 2022)
Bloomington fire chief Jason Moore. (Dec. 7, 2022)
Bloomington deputy chief of police Scott Oldham. (Dec. 7, 2022)
Bloomington police union president Paul Post. (Dec. 7, 2022)
Bloomington mayor John Hamilton. (Dec. 7, 2022)

Bloomington’s city council voted 8–1 on Wednesday night to approve the issuance of $29.5 million in general revenue bonds, to pay for public safety projects—including the purchase and renovation of the western part of the former Showers Brothers Furniture building that houses city hall.

But the purchase of the western part of the historic Showers building was not included in the city council’s Wednesday approval. That vote is expected on Dec. 21.

The western part of the Showers building is where Bloomington mayor John Hamilton’s administration is proposing to construct a replacement for the 3rd Street police station, and a new fire department administrative headquarters.

Also included in the bond proposal is the reconstruction of Fire Station #1 and the remodel of Fire Station #3, among other projects, for around $10.5 million.

The appropriation for the expenditure of $8.75 million for the building purchase, plus about $15 million in renovations, will get a first reading at next Wednesday’s (Dec. 14) meeting of the council, with a final vote expected the following week, on Dec. 21.

Together with the appropriation ordinance, the council will be asked to approve the Bloomington redevelopment commission’s purchase agreement for the Showers building.

Dissenting on the bond issuance vote was city council president Susan Sandberg.

Based on remarks from councilmembers on Wednesday, the Showers building purchase might not get the same level of support as the bond issuance, but seems likely to have the five votes it would need to win approval from the nine-member council. Continue reading “$29.5 million in bonds OK’d by Bloomington city council, decision on building purchase to come later” →

Police union speaks against specific plan for location of new police facilities in city hall building

Bloomington city council president Susan Sandberg. (Nov. 30, 2022)
Bloomington city councilmember Steve Volan. (Nov. 30, 2022)
Bloomington city councilmember Kate Rosenbarger. (Nov. 30, 2022)
Bloomington city councilmember Jim Sims. (Nov. 30, 2022)
Bloomington city councilmember Dave Rollo. (Nov. 30, 2022)
Deputy mayor Don Griffin. In the foreground is Bloomington mayor John Hamilton. (Nov. 30, 2022)
Deputy mayor Don Griffin. (Nov. 30, 2022)
Bloomington police chief Mike Diekhoff. (Nov. 30, 2022)
Bloomington mayor John Hamilton. (Nov. 30, 2022)
Police union president Paul Post. (Nov. 30, 2022)
Schematic for rebuild of Fire Station #1.

Last Wednesday, president of Bloomington’s police union, Paul Post, led off his public commentary at Bloomington’s city council meeting with a general statement of support for the administration’s plan to upgrade and modernize the city’s police station.

“We fully support mayor [John] Hamilton’s initiative to make the much needed improvements to working conditions at police and fire facilities,” Post said.

Post added, “I’ve worked at the 3rd Street police station now for over 20 years, and I can tell you that everyone would welcome a new and upgraded modern facility.”

However, about the administration’s exact proposal, Post had reached a different conclusion: “We can’t support this specific plan and its associated financial costs.” Continue reading “Police union speaks against specific plan for location of new police facilities in city hall building” →

Deputy mayor Don Griffin files paperwork to run for mayor of Bloomington in 2023

At 11:11 a.m. on Friday morning, Bloomington deputy mayor Don Griffin, Jr. filed paperwork with the Monroe County election division to become a candidate for mayor in the 2023 election.

Bloomington deputy mayor Don Griffin, Jr. (B Square file photos from 2021 and 2022)

Griffin joins Susan Sandberg  and Kerry Thomson  as previously declared candidates for the mayoral nomination of the Democratic party.

Clearing the way for Griffin to run for mayor was Bloomington mayor John Hamilton’s announcement two weeks ago  that he would not be seeking a third term.

Griffin and Hamilton both appeared on Wednesday in front of the Bloomington city council to present the administration’s proposal for a $29.5 million bond issuance to rehabilitate fire stations and to integrate a new police station into the western part of the Showers building—the same structure where city hall is located.

Reached by The B Square on Friday afternoon, Griffin said a more formal announcement would be forthcoming, probably early next week. For now, he’s just telling people that he is, if fact, running, and they’re welcome to tell others, too.

Griffin has served as deputy mayor of Bloomington since late April of 2021, when Mick Renneisen retired from the position. Continue reading “Deputy mayor Don Griffin files paperwork to run for mayor of Bloomington in 2023” →

Bloomington MLK Day celebration: “Universities and colleges must see the community as an equal partner in the education enterprise, not just a partner.”

Gloria Howell and Treon McClendon, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration commissioners.
Bloomington deputy mayor Don Griffin and Beverly Calender-Anderson, director of Bloomington’s community and family resources department.
Yusuf Nur delivered the closing remarks.
Jeanetta Nelms, Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award winner.
Performers from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Ballet Department.
Keynote speaker Eddie Cole, associate professor of higher education and history at UCLA.
Bloomington’s deputy mayor, Don Griffin.

Bloomington’s annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday took place as scheduled on Monday night at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

Delivering the keynote address was Eddie Cole, who is associate professor of higher education and history at UCLA. Cole earned his doctorate at Indiana University.

Cole was able to observe some changes in Bloomington’s physical landscape since the time when he was a student here: “From me coming back to Bloomington having graduated almost 10 years ago, it is shocking to see the high rise apartments and things that weren’t here just a decade ago. They look very nice. I can only imagine how much they cost!”

Cole put his observation into the context of his research: “But we can think about the cost of living for the average resident of Bloomington. What does [Indiana University’s] growth mean to the community?”

That question is connected to one of Cole’s challenges of action: “We have to have pro-active community engagement between institutions in our local communities.” Cole continued, “Universities and colleges must see the community as an equal partner in the education enterprise, not just a partner.” Cole added, “It is easy to have partnerships, it is easy to have meetings.”

Cole posed the question: “Do you see the community as an equal partner within the education enterprise? Does the community even have a say in your university’s strategic goals and objectives?”

Cole’s research is the subject of his book, “The Campus Color Line.” Continue reading “Bloomington MLK Day celebration: “Universities and colleges must see the community as an equal partner in the education enterprise, not just a partner.”” →

Change is the order of the day at Bloomington RDC as Griffin resigns to become deputy mayor

The president of Bloomington’s redevelopment commission, Don Griffin, delivered an expected announcement at the group’s regular Monday night meeting: “At this time, I’d like to tender my resignation from the RDC, folks!”

Screenshot of RDC president Don Griffin at the group’s March 15, 2021 meeting, which was conducted by Zoom video conference.

The announcement came early in the 15-minute meeting. So assistant city attorney Larry Allen checked to make sure Griffin would be presiding over the rest of the day’s agenda. Yes.

“It will be effective at the end of this meeting,” Griffin said. He added, “This will be my last meeting on the RDC, period.”

Griffin’s resignation was expected because his appointment as deputy mayor, succeeding Mick Renneisen, was announced by mayor John Hamilton’s office nearly two weeks ago, on March 4.

Renneisen announced his retirement effective April 23.

The mayor makes three out of the five appointments to the RDC, including the seat in which Griffin served. The other two spots are appointed by the city council.

On Monday, the one new item of business handled by the board was the fourth and final change order on a nearly $1-million multi-use path project along East Winslow Road and South Henderson Street. The change order amounted to an increase of $15,000 on the construction portion of the project, which was handled by Conexco, Inc. Continue reading “Change is the order of the day at Bloomington RDC as Griffin resigns to become deputy mayor” →