2 change votes, Bloomington city council overrides mayoral veto of anti-pipeline resolution

Bloomington city council meeting on April 17, 2024. Andy Ruff attended on the Zoom video platform. Matt Flaherty was absent.

Map of area of focus for water study: https://www.in.gov/ifa/regional-water-studies/north-central-indiana-water-study/

Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson. (March 27, 2024)

Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson’s veto of a resolution opposing a potential water pipeline, from the aquifers of the Wabash River to Lebanon in Boone County, has been overridden by the city council.

Wednesday’s vote tally was 7–0 with one abstention, by Kate Rosenbarger. Matt Flaherty did not attend the meeting.

Lebanon is about 30 miles northwest of Indianapolis. From Lebanon, it’s another 35 miles, northwest along I-65, to West Lafayette.

The pipeline is part of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s eventual plan to provide resources to its LEAP (Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace) District near Lebanon in Boone County.

On March 27, when the council voted for the first time on the anti-pipeline resolution, it had just five votes of support, with four abstentions. Continue reading “2 change votes, Bloomington city council overrides mayoral veto of anti-pipeline resolution” →

Bloomington’s city council set for potential override vote on mayoral veto of LEAP pipeline resolution

Bloomington city councilmembers from near to far: Matt Flaherty, Sydney Zulich, Dave Rollo, Andy Ruff, Isabel Piedmont-Smith, Hopi Stosberg, Isak Asare, and Courtney Daily. Kate Rosenbarger attended via Zoom. (March 27, 2024)

Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson. (March 27, 2024)

Appearing on the Bloomington city council’s meeting agenda for next Wednesday (April 17) is a resolution opposing the construction of a pipeline in north central Indiana for the diversion of water from the Wabash River.

The pipeline is part of the LEAP (Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace) District, which is a project of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).

The resolution was already approved by the city council at its March 27 meeting, with support from five councilmembers.

But in order to be considered an adopted resolution of the city council, it will need to pick up a sixth vote of support on Wednesday. That would give it the required two-thirds majority needed to override a mayoral veto.

Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson did not sign the resolution within a 10-day window after it was presented to her by city clerk Nicole Bolden, on April 1, which effectively vetoed it. That’s even though Thomson did not return the resolution to the council, with a message announcing her veto with a reason for it.

Indiana state law does not give an option to mayors other than to sign legislation, or affirmatively veto it. But state law does make clear what the status of the legislation is, if the mayor fails to perform their duty, either to sign the resolution or veto it: The legislation is considered vetoed. Continue reading “Bloomington’s city council set for potential override vote on mayoral veto of LEAP pipeline resolution” →

Mayoral veto looks likely for Bloomington city council advocacy resolutions, including any on Gaza, as anti-pipeline measure passes with 4 abstentions

Councilmember Hopi Stosberg. (March 27, 2024)

Councilmember Isabel Piedmont-Smith. (March 27, 2024)

Councilmember Andy Ruff. (March 27, 2024)

Councilmember Matt Flaherty. (March 27, 2024)

Councilmember Isak Asare. (March 27, 2024)

Councilmember Dave Rollo. (March 27, 2024)

Councilmembers applaud Bloomington city clerk Nicole Bolden’s achievement of the status of master municipal clerk. (March 27, 2024)

An additional Bloomington police officer was assigned to city council chambers. (March 27, 2024)

Many in the audience held signs that read: “Cease Fire Now”. (March 27, 2024)

Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson. (March 27, 2024)

Bloomington city council meeting audience. (March 27, 2024).

Bloomington city council meeting. (March 27, 2024)

On Wednesday night, Bloomington’s city council just barely passed a resolution opposing the construction of a pipeline in north central Indiana for the diversion of water from the Wabash River.

The resolution, which had been put forward by Andy Ruff, got support from just five councilmembers, which is a majority on the nine-member body. Voting for it were: Ruff, Dave Rollo, Isabel Piedmont- Smith, Hopi Stosberg and Courtney Daily.

Abstaining on the vote were: Matt Flaherty, Sydney Zulich, Isak Asare, and Kate Rosenbarger.

The resolution passed with some amendments, including one that added a request that the General Assembly establish a comprehensive water management plan.

The council had discussed the resolution opposing the LEAP pipeline at its March 6 meeting, but postponed it until this week.

Before the council voted, Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson gave a clear indication she would not be signing the resolution, or any similar resolutions in the future.

Addressing the council, Thomson put it like this: “While it is your prerogative to pass resolutions that express viewpoints on matters that we do not oversee, as a matter of principle, I will not be signing any resolutions that do not directly impact the business of our city.”

Continue reading “Mayoral veto looks likely for Bloomington city council advocacy resolutions, including any on Gaza, as anti-pipeline measure passes with 4 abstentions” →