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Local Government

Articles in this section cover Bloomington city council, the mayor's office, Monroe County's board of commissioners, county council, and all the other local units.

ACLU interviews at Monroe County jail frame $30K legal request, reset for work group

ACLU interviews at Monroe County jail frame $30K legal request, reset for work group

Monroe County councilors voted 6–1 to appropriate $30,000 for sheriff Ruben Marté’s outside legal counsel as the ACLU prepares new jail litigation. The council also pared down a stalled jail-site working group from eight voting members to six before another try at convening.

Bloomington mayor vetoes carless Kirkwood, council could try override on July 22

Bloomington mayor vetoes carless Kirkwood, council could try override on July 22

Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson vetoed a council ordinance that would close Kirkwood Avenue to cars from April to November, citing limited public input, fiscal uncertainty and no implementation plan. The council can override the veto with six votes at its next regular or special meeting.

Ellettsville–Richland reorganization headed to November ballot

Ellettsville–Richland reorganization headed to November ballot

Richland Township and Ellettsville voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to merge into a single government. Separate votes by the township board and town council advanced the plan, which would dissolve township government, create a seven-member council, and set separate urban and rural tax districts.

Advocates say financing plan for Seminary Pointe feasible, if land swap happens

Advocates say financing plan for Seminary Pointe feasible, if land swap happens

Bloomington Homes for All says Seminary Pointe can become a permanently affordable cooperative with a $1.6M rehab plan. But the proposal depends on a CIB-RDC land swap that is stalled as host-hotel and College Square proposal deadlines loom.

Federal court declines to block Indiana ICE-detainer law before July 1 effective date

Federal court declines to block Indiana ICE-detainer law before July 1 effective date

A federal judge denied Monroe County sheriff Ruben Marté’s request for a preliminary injunction to block Indiana’s new ICE-detainer law before July 1, citing the political subdivision doctrine. The constitutional challenge remains unresolved, with Rokita’s dismissal motion still pending.

Monroe County judges, sheriff decline jail-site working group role, first meeting canceled

Monroe County judges, sheriff decline jail-site working group role, first meeting canceled

A jail-site working group formed by county and city officials last week missed its first meeting for lack of a quorum. Judges and the sheriff’s office declined to participate, leaving the panel about three weeks to recommend a location amid potential litigation over jail conditions.

Hotel timeline narrows window for Seminary Pointe land swap in downtown Bloomington

Hotel timeline narrows window for Seminary Pointe land swap in downtown Bloomington

Seminary Pointe’s future as a convention center host-hotel site remains likely, despite a push from affordable housing advocates for a land swap with the RDC-owned College Square lot. The CIB says it does not plan to respond to the RDC College Square offering.