Case Date:

3/6/2024

Citizens of Bloomington want it noted now that we disagree with the following new location for the proposed county jail. This will still be a partnership with the City as there is a need for added city services. As seen in Herlad Times: “Commissioners criticized for slow progress on Monroe County Jail solution - By Boris Ladwig, The Herald-Times” This is a rural and mixed urbanized area in the county. Those communities to the northwest feel the same as the previous venture to the southwest of Bloomington. Those neighborhoods are equally as important and the policy makers in the City need to hear that there is dissent and ensure they make it clear that we do not support this. Thank you

Case Date:

3/6/2024

Please note dissent of the newly proposed location for the Monroe county jail to the northwest of Bloomington (still Bloomington address). Do not ruin this wonderful community area that has greater potential than a jail complex! This dissent amongst Bloomington citizens and visitors to the area alike needs to be noted to city council members, Bloomington transit, and administration for any future coordination of this County Jail. This would be a failure of community planning to the highest degree!

Case Date:

3/15/2024

Thank you City for moving ahead on Morningside calming. So excited and glad you are expediting with construction in mind. Please ignore the curmudgeons. Progress and safety!

Case Date:

3/20/2024

I live on Woodburn Ave. An on Wednesday March 20th around 930am the person driving this city vehicle not only was driving way to fast down my street where kids live and play. But while out putting markings down was loudly talking/yelling to himself I assume, but it was foul language that I would not want my child to hear and possibly repeat. I know in my field of work, when you clock in you are representing your place of work. I am shocked that this is the way the city is representing out in the public eye.

Case Date:

3/19/2024

The city really needs to use something besides Facebook for notifications about public safety issues. Residents should not be required to use that platform to receive timely information. There was a major gas leak today and apparently that was the only place it was posted. People were unaware.

Case Date:

4/3/2024

Residents growing concerned about the force fit of the north west side of county for new jail complex location. Is the city council and administration working to advocate for a more centralized area? This should not be placed to impact commuters, the adjacent retirement homes and elderly and minor care facilities nearby, in addition to various homes and the adjacent community to this “north park” location. The south side of Bloomington received backing to prevent the rezone and placement of the facility there, which arguably is a better location than this new proposal! Will the Council and Administration be stepping up to get the County to consider alternate plans and locations? The karsts, adjacent quarries, and potential for park land to the north west should be considered as high priority instead of an incarceration center. We’re not in favor of increasing the jail size or this location!

Case Date:

9/6/2023

Some comments ahead of budget approval: Are staff members being considered throughout this budget cycle? This question comes up frequently from the employee perspective, but it does not seem to be at the forefront of council, the administration, or even HR’s agenda. Staff are continually told how valuable their benefits are while being grossly overworked and underpaid, often carrying the duties of multiple positions because this organization cannot keep a full staff employed. Employees and citizen onlookers watch this dance every year as the mayoral and department head staff continue to get inflated wages while the vast majority of workers are severely underpaid with high expectations of their output. Yet promises are made during the approval of each budget for things that will benefit staff, however staff never reap the benefits. The staff health clinic has yet to have even a proposed plan discussed to internal staff but was promised last year, a compensation study was to commence yet the results have not been provided internally to staff and the amount allocated is laughable seeing as there are still LARGE wage gaps between the work performed at the same pay grade level accross roles within the organization let alone just in individual departments (pay data is public after all), the bonuses were delayed in getting released to staff via paychecks let alone the other health benefit reimbursements that are constantly delayed in processing, and alleged “progressive” benefits such as paid parental leave (in which the city is just behind in offering such a benefit) are still currently a “trial” so no one employee can actually calculate the value of the “benefits” because they don’t exist or do not apply to them (i.e. the bike cash out program that the majority of staff members cannot even use due to location of where they live, yet this is the topic of concern?). It seems that the organization is constantly asking how can we get people to stay in their roles, when the answers are right in front of them every year - skills based hiring, retention pay incentives, and adequate market/competitive pay. Our municipal counterpart in the County and federal roles work less hours (often closing at 4pm), have more paid holidays, have remote and hybrid work options without repercussions, retention incentives, higher pay rates, larger bonus incentives, and continue to float higher cost of living adjustments than the City. When did it become the case that City civil servants should bare the brunt of public backlash and demand, yet make so little that they cannot afford to live in the city they work for? It is very concerning to watch on every year as the average worker in this organization falls off of the organization’s top priority list. After all, how are citizens’ needs and demands going to be met if there are no people running the city each day? It’s really sad to see that the only individual throughout this process so far to discuss the employees’ treatment is the Clerk. This organization should be doing better than this, and set the same priorities for employees with the newly incoming administration. Someone truly needs to address the large pay gaps, the systemic staffing issues, etc. because it has yet to be accomplished.

Case Date:

12/5/2023

What happened to the employee clinic that had funds allocated for it to be in place by end of 2023? Yet again another example of staff being told they have x number of dollars worth of benefits when in fact that benefit does not exist or is not applicable to certain (all in this case) employees. There should be plans or information made publicly available in regard to this and yet nothing has been sent out or an update provided. When is this to be expected?

Case Date:

7/7/2023

Would like information on when the city clinic is going to have a plan put in place to open? As an “employer of choice,” interested to see these ‘benefits’ go into action. Is remote work still being embraced to recruit and retain more employees? Is the paid leave policy going to be retained for more than a single year ‘trial’ basis? Many would like info on how this budget is actually working for the people

Case Date:

7/9/2023

When is the city going to match the County for work hours/hours worked? Closing at 4pm makes public meetings available to start earlier in the evening, reduces traffic stress on roads as a major employer (remote work accomplishes this too), and creates less confusion on need of City versus County services and what hours they can be reached.