Bloomington Fire Department Pilots New Housing Incentives
In an effort to expand the number of Bloomington Fire Department (BFD) firefighters living in the community they serve, the City of Bloomington is now offering a new housing incentives pilot program within BFD. The incentives include:
- $750 monthly rent assistance, beginning at the start of employment, for firefighters that rent a residence within the City
- $18,000 one-time down payment assistance for firefighters that purchase a residence within the City (after a probationary year)
The City contends that Firefighters living where they work, allows for better community connections and reduces crucial travel time in the event of an emergency situation. In addition, the new incentives pilot will assist BFD in attracting and retaining top firefighting professionals.
BFD is the largest and only fully paid fire service provider in Monroe County and as such has earned an Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of 1/1X, placing the department in the top 0.5% of rated departments in the U.S. and the top 0.2% of rated departments in Indiana. The Bloomington Fire Department serves the community with more than 100 employees, located among five stations, responding to over 5,000 emergencies per year. BFD provides fire suppression, technical rescue, integrated healthcare, and emergency medical response capabilities to City residents and visitors, Indiana University, and surrounding communities through aid agreements. They also provide outreach and education, supporting children, families, and schools in the community.
City of Bloomington prepares for 2023 Budgetary Hearings
Next week, from August 29th to September 1st, the Bloomington Common Council will hold Departmental Budget Hearings for the FY 2023 City of Bloomington Budget. Hearings will start at 6:00 PM each night and will be held in the Council Chambers (Suite #115), City Hall, 401 N. Morton Street. The hearings may also be accessed via Zoom. See the Departmental Budget Hearing Schedule for details.
A digital version of the 2023 Budget Book will be posted on the City’s budget website no later than Friday, August 26th at https://bloomington.in.gov/city/budget, and a hard copy will be available for public inspection in the Clerk/Council Office. To view the schedule of upcoming meetings of the Council and the City’s boards and commissions, please consult the Calendar on the City’s website.
ISP Sergeant Dale Reber retires after 36 Years of service
Indiana State Police Sergeant Dale Reber has retired from the Indiana State Police after 36 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Indiana. Yesterday was Sergeant Reber’s final day on the job as an Indiana State Trooper.
Sergeant Reber, 58 of Fort Wayne, has spent his entire adult life in service to others. After his graduation from South Side High School in 1982, he spent the next six years with the 122nd Fighter Wing of the Indiana Air National Guard where he specialized in communications. During that same timeframe he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Tri-State University. Prior to becoming a State Trooper, Reber worked for two years with the Motor Carrier Division as a civilian Weighmaster until June 1988, when then Weighmaster Reber was selected to attend the 46th Indiana State Police Academy.
Upon his successful appointment as a Trooper in November 1988 he was first assigned to the former Redkey Post for one year before transferring to the Fort Wayne Post. During his time as a Trooper in Fort Wayne, he worked patrol assignments in Adams, Allen and Wells Counties. He has also served the Department as a Corporal (District Duty Officer), a Field Training Officer, a member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon, an Aircraft Crash Investigator, a Crash Reconstructionist, a First Aid Instructor, and a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). As a DRE, Reber has been certified to instruct at both the state and national level and has taught in numerous states, including the New York State Police Academy.
In December of 2009 Reber transferred assignments to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED), specializing in commercial truck and bus enforcement with certifications through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in truck inspections and hazardous materials. In 2011 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant to serve as a supervisor for a squad of CVED troopers covering the areas of the Fort Wayne, Bremen, and Toll Road Post(s), a position which he has held for the last eleven years.
Upcoming Arts Opportunities
- (Sept. 12) Deadline for LOI for 2022 Joyce Awards
Calls for Artists:
- (Aug. 21-29) Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette auditions for two plays
- (Aug. 29) Deadline to submit art to Black y Brown Arts Festival
- (Aug. 29) The Wabash Valley Artists Society invites submissions for its annual exhibition
- (Aug. 30) Newfields Seeks Digital Artists for THE LUME Indianapolis Featurettes
- (Sept. 30) VOICES Seeks Submissions for 2023 Indianapolis Youth Poet Laureate Competition
- (Sept. 5) The City of Angola seeks original sculptures
- (Sept. 30) Vendor applications for City’s Holiday Market, Bloomington
- (Sept. 30) Artist Avenue Seeks 2023 Artists
- (Oct. 23) Gallery 924 Seeks Artwork for 11th Annual TINY Show
Job Opportunities:
- Teaching Artists wanted for Children’s Arts Classes at TAF
- Properties Shop Manager at Indiana Repertory Theatre
- Scenic Artist at Indiana Repertory Theatre
- Teaching Artist at Asante Art Institute
This Week in Hoosier History
1961 – Veteran actor Charles Coburn set new box office records at Avondale Playhouse in Indianapolis. The play “You Can’t Take It With You” entertained large crowds at the theater in the Meadows on East 38th Street. It was to be the last performance for Mr. Coburn, 84, who died five days later in New York City.
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