City Council receives award for passing of I-69 resolution

Wednesday night Tim Maloney, director of Hoosier Environmental Council, awarded the Bloomington City Council the 2004 Excellence in government. The Council was recognized for its outstanding effort to protect the city of Bloomington and its environment. This recognition comes with the city's efforts to oppose the route of Interstate-69 through Bloomington. \nIn 1999, the city sent a declaration opposing the route to the governor, director of Indiana Department of Transportation and other state officials. In 2002, a letter was signed by seven of the nine council members and sent to officials as part of a comment period provided for the review of the Environmental Impact Statement. In September of this year, the council passed a resolution introduced by Councilmen at large Chris Gaal and Andy Ruff. The resolution states an interstate highway would create pollution, noise, traffic and generic sprawl. It also states Bloomington's economic advantage is its beauty and natural surroundings. \nThey resolution passed 7-1 and states I-69 will have an overall harmful affect on Bloomington and Monroe County. It asks the governor and the INDOT to focus on existing roadways such as State Road 37. Residents expressed their extreme gratitude towards the councilmen for taking the time to address an issue of great concern to the city.\nHEC strives to protect Indiana's environment through education and advocacy. They strive for clean air, safe water and wild places. They work to redirect government spending from building new roads that induce urban sprawl to repairing our existing roads.\nDuring the September council meeting residents voiced their concerns. \n"I love this city, I left ... but I came back," said Michael Redman, a Bloomington resident. "But I didn't come back because I wanted a super-highway running through here."\nMaloney recognized the Council for their efforts in recognizing their community's needs.\n"Bloomington has a very engaged council ... they have (in mind) the true interest in what the citizens think," Maloney said.\nAlso during Wednesday's meeting the Council discussed a resolution to confirm a petition by Schulte, a local home storage and organization corporation. Schulte hopes to renovate a building at the Indiana Enterprise Center and seek a tax abatement for 10 years on real estate improvements and a tax abatement for five years on new manufacturing equipment passed its second reading, 8-0. Schutle plans to retain its 168 workers as well as create 223 jobs in the next five years.\nAlso, the Council discussed an amendment to an ordinance that would increase the salaries of elected city officials by two percent. \n-- Contact staff writer Jill Brooks at jimbrook@indiana.edu.