Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson at City Hall Tuesday.
(Joe Hren, WFIU/WTIU News)
On mayor Thomson's first show, we get updates on the interlocal agreement, annexation litigation, Lower Cascades Road closure, and more.
In this week’s installment of Ask The Mayor, Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson addresses these issues and more during a visit to City Hall. Listen to the full conversation with Indiana Newsdesk anchor Joe Hren by clicking on the play button above, or read some of the questions and answers below. A portion of this segment airs 6:45 and 8:45 a.m. Wednesday on WFIU. Here are some highlights.
This conversation has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
Hren: Something that you had to face right away in January people experiencing homelessness. It's been a month or so now since encampment movements, what's the plan to focus in on the issue instead of moving around the issue?
Thomson: Moving camps is not a strategy. And the only reason that we have done it is when the when the camps become particularly unsafe. And what we need actually is a strategy to get people housed in one way or another. And so we will work on a plan that ensures that we can say to everybody who's from Bloomington, we have a place for you to stay tonight. And, and that if you're not able to accept that what we also need is a robust enough physical and mental health support system so that we can offer them care, because that's what people really need is recovery care for mental health and substance use.
Mayor Kerry Thomson and Police Chief Michael Diekhoff at the camp Thursday. (George Hale, WFIU/WTIU News)
Hren: You announced a city review of internal finances and litigation, which most of the news has focused on annexation. What did you learn from those reviews?
Thomson: I'll first just say that, that unless you've been the mayor before, you're going to be surprised by what you find when you are the mayor. So, there have been things that that we didn't know about. And we're still sort of processing where we are with things and how to how to really put things in place so that we can move forward, really with a plan that is best for our city in several different instances.
I have a deeper understanding now of the intricacies of of annexation. And, I have said from the beginning that I wish that annexation had included county residents in the conversation sooner. I remain open to talking to county residents and those opposed to annexation about things that we might be able to, to discuss in terms of timelines or other things that may make annexation more amenable.
Hren: In previous reporting we know you plan to let the courts decide if annexation moves forward, they city is not dropping out of annexation. So if it does move forward, how do you get the county and city residents together?
Thomson: If it goes forward, having really open meetings where people live now. So going to find the nearest library or, community building thing that we can find, to have listening sessions, but also to answer questions. And all throughout the annexation process. I've been hearing things that just simply are, I think misunderstandings. But there are also some valid concerns that we may be able to address. And so I'm interested in those and it's hard to get everybody to the table, but it's not rocket science to make yourself available.
Initial adopted annexation areas. (City of Bloomington)
Hren: Can get a update on the city county interlocal agreement for the convention center expansion that was passed by the county council, is everyone on board with this?
Thomson: The commissioners are set to review it tomorrow. I did talk to Commissioner Githens last night, and she said she fully expects that they will be approving it and that it is their priority to get this moving. So I expect that. It actually has been back to my desk, because the commissioners sent it back for some revisions which were agreeable to us. So then it went to county council, now commissioners, and then the final route will be to back to city council.
Hren: We'd love enough any update to the progress of the police fire headquarters to Showers West. We know selling the current police station is dead for now.
Thomson: I actually have met with the families of the donors from that from the property. And they are very clear that they wanted that property to be used for park or public use. And so it will remain dead. The sale of that I believe that will not be an issue unless those donors would have a change of heart.
CFC Business Plaza at Showers (WFIU/WTIU News)
Hren: So would the current plan be to move just the fire headquarters the other side of City Hall - Showers West?
Thomson: It's likely to happen, that hasn't been decided for sure. But we do have a space for them. Now, that is really pretty ready, we could do some small modifications. The fire chief and deputy chief and the mobile integrated health folks are all really pleased with that. So I would expect that's probably something that's going to happen. But as you may know, tomorrow night, during the City Council time, I will be having a collaboration meeting with the full council as well as members of that Showers West advisory team.
This team will be collaborating about what the future holds for police headquarters. You know, I think it didn't make a lot of sense, especially with the bids the way we got them to put the police over at Showers West. But there were some important priorities that some council members in particular had when they thought about putting police over at Showers West, and that was to integrate public safety with some other pieces of of government. I do think that it's important to have really a full 21st century vision for public safety. And that would be a vision in my mind that works upstream. And where our law enforcement, and those that are responding to emergencies are working hand in hand with those that are trying to prevent them.
A photo looking south on Old State Road 37 near the playground in Lower Cascades Park. (WFIU/WTIU News)
Hren: Let's just talk a little bit about the plan of closing part of State Road 37 Lower Cascades to drivers, just because the historic preservation commission is supposed to vote on that Thursday. What's your take on that?
Thomson: The historic preservation commission is taking the approach that if we protect it, historically, the road will remain closed.
(Editor's note: The mayor's office says Thomson misspoke when she said the commission's position is for the road to remain closed. The commission wants the road left open.)
I think that's an interesting idea. It's not clear whether or not legally that will hold up. But I know that we have a lot of residents who are passionate on both sides of that issue. Close it or keep it open. And and I know we've also done a survey, that was pretty clear that the majority of respondents really wanted it open.
My administration is not pushing for anything yet. But will always be for listening to the people discerning what's best for the community based on that data and then leading the way forward for a resolution.
