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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.

Monroe County OKs surface upgrades: Downtown parking lot, rural border bridge

Monroe County OKs surface upgrades: Downtown parking lot, rural border bridge

Monroe County commissioners approved two surface-repair projects Thursday: a $296,000 overhaul of the North Showers parking lot ahead of 2026 early voting, and a joint $46,500 agreement with Owen County to fix roadway approaches to Bridge 209, with Monroe County managing the work.

Monroe County commissioners exclude $1,800 grant to Seven Oaks Classical School on 2–1 vote

Monroe County commissioners exclude $1,800 grant to Seven Oaks Classical School on 2–1 vote

Monroe County commissioners voted 2–1 to remove a recommended $1,800 Sophia Travis grant for Seven Oaks Classical School, citing its charter school status and past conflict over COVID mask rules.

Joint Ellettsville–Richland Township government could be on November 2026 ballot

Joint Ellettsville–Richland Township government could be on November 2026 ballot

A proposal to merge Richland Township and the Town of Ellettsville into a single government could appear on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. The move, prompted partly by state tax changes and talk of eliminating township government, will be discussed Friday in a joint public meeting.

Bloomington plan commission splits on payment-in-lieu rule, backs lower income thresholds for affordable units

Bloomington plan commission splits on payment-in-lieu rule, backs lower income thresholds for affordable units

Bloomington’s plan commission was split Monday on two proposed changes to affordable housing rules. A revision tightening the payment-in-lieu option advanced to the city council with no recommendation, while a proposal lowering qualifying income thresholds won unanimous support.

Monroe County councilors, commissioners try to regroup on question of next steps for new jail

Monroe County councilors, commissioners try to regroup on question of next steps for new jail

Two weeks after the county council rejected funds for a new jail site, Monroe County officials met to discuss next steps. Councilors may draft a “risk tolerance” resolution as commissioners are pressing for answers on questions about the council’s position on location and one-story jail design.

Owner wants land annexed into Bloomington: Zoning recommendation OK’d by city plan commission

Owner wants land annexed into Bloomington: Zoning recommendation OK’d by city plan commission

Bloomington’s plan commission voted unanimously Monday to recommend R2 zoning for 2005 W. Cory Drive, a 0.39-acre lot that could be annexed voluntarily. The property lies in an unincorporated “island” where forced annexation has failed, at least for now.

Bloomington says no to commercial urban agriculture use in residential areas

Bloomington says no to commercial urban agriculture use in residential areas

Bloomington’s city council voted 7–1 to reject an ordinance creating a new “urban agriculture” land use allowing outdoor garden classes and small-scale commercial farming in residential areas. Supporters cited food security; opponents called it the wrong approach to allowing outside teaching.