Local News Headlines: July 10, 2023

Mayor Hamilton Appoints Larry Allen as Deputy Mayor
Mayor John Hamilton announced today that Larry Allen will serve as Deputy Mayor for the City of Bloomington effective July 29, succeeding current Deputy Mayor Mary Catherine Carmichael who is stepping down effective July 28.

Larry Allen has served as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Bloomington since February, 2018, and has been deeply involved in some of the city’s most consequential projects, including Hopewell, the Trades District, annexation, and the city’s zoning code. Prior to working for the City, Allen worked as a Deputy Attorney General specializing in appeals for the State of Indiana. A Bloomington native, Allen is a graduate of Bloomington High School North and earned his bachelor’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University, a Master in Public Affairs from IU’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and a J.D. from IU’s McKinney School of Law. Prior to becoming an attorney, Allen also worked in human rights and public radio. Allen will earn an annual salary of $120,913.

Carmichael has served as Deputy Mayor since January 2023, before which she served as Communications Director from 2016 to 2018, and Public Engagement Director from 2018 to 2022.

City of Bloomington project update

Scatter Garden at Rose Hill Cemetery – The Scatter Garden at Rose Hill Cemetery is nearing completion. Decorative fencing was installed this week, and vegetation management crews are overseeding annual rye in the area this week. Decorative stone will be laid around the granite monument the week of July 10. The Scatter Garden is scheduled to be available for use on August 1. For more information about fees for use of the Scatter Garden, contact Rose Hill Cemetery at 812-349-3498.
Griffy Lake South Shore Trail and Dam Crossing – Work continues on the new, four-mile section of the South Shore Trail at Griffy Lake. Contractor Spectrum Trail is focusing on establishing new routes around several steep coves on the western shore of the lake, just south of the dam. At the same time, Scenic Construction has mobilized and begun work on the trail crossing over the dam. Please heed trail closure signs, and use caution in the Griffy Lake dam area as a portion of the dam parking lot is being used as a staging area for construction equipment and materials.
Henderson (2nd to Smith) Neighborhood Greenway Connection – Henderson has reopened. Allen St from Patterson to Walnut is closed this week for milling for and installation of speed cushions. This includes a portion of Madison and Morton in that area. More information is available on the project webpage at: https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/henderson-hunter
Duke Energy – Duke Energy is continuing to work on Phase 3 of the Bloomington Reliability Project. They will have temporary, short term single lane and full closures throughout the project area until the end of November. The project will be substantially completed by September 30th with restoration work continuing to the end of November. The closures will be in S Rogers St south of Patterson, Patterson east of Rogers, S Morton St north of Patterson, Madison from the Convention Center to 4th, 4th to Rogers, Rogers from 4th to 10th, Fairview from the B-Line to 11th, and 11th from Fairview to Rogers.
Monroe Water Treatment Plant – A new belt press is being installed at the Monroe Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at 5790 S Fairfax Rd. This will improve the way we handle sludge, which is what is removed from lake water before it becomes drinking water. The Monroe Water Treatment Plant was originally built in 1967, near Lake Monroe. It was expanded in 2014 to a production rate of 30 million gallons per day, resulting in a capacity to meet the community’s needs even during periods of peak demand. The purity of the drinking water produced by the Monroe WTP is rigorously monitored, and meets or exceeds all Federal and Indiana water quality standards.
Resurfacing Projects – During the week of July 10th, weather permitting, the Department of Public Works Street Division crews are scheduled to complete the S College Ave resurfacing project and begin prepping for resurfacing on N Rogers St from W Kirkwood Ave to N 11th Street. The Division will prep streets prior to resurfacing and will have restrictions during work hours (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Signage will be posted. View an interactive map of 2023 paving projects at: https://bton.in/tpNzZ

Indiana Arts Commission invests over $3M to strengthen communities through art and creativity
The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced it has awarded $3,431,351 to 414 nonprofits to fund arts projects and organizations around the state through the Arts Organization Support and Arts Project Support grant programs. The Commission approved the funding recommendations for the two grant programs. after applications were reviewed by 146 panelists from around the state and country with expertise in the arts, community development, and nonprofit management.

Arts Organization Support grants provide annual operating support for the ongoing artistic and administrative functions of eligible arts organizations. Arts Project Support grants provide funding to Indiana 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and public entities for a specific arts project or arts activity(ies). Between both programs, 75 of Indiana’s 92 counties will receive funding.

Changes to the program throughout this year’s application process resulted in increased support and access to small organizations and increased average overall award size statewide. The Arts Organization Support program received applications from 36 organizations not previously funded by the program, and funding to smaller organizations and rural communities increased.

This Week in Hoosier History

1863 – About 450 members of the Harrison Home Guard waged battle with over 2,400 Confederate soldiers under General John Hunt Morgan. The “Battle of Corydon” was the only Civil War conflict on Indiana soil.

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