Members consider issues

With no legislation to consider Wednesday, Bloomington's Common Council members used the opportunity to make statements on current issues at the city, state and federal levels before adjourning the truncated session.\nGov. Mitch Daniels' "Major Moves" highway plan, the telecommunications bills coming to a vote in the General Assembly, the leadership situation at IU and the contested demolition of the Kappa Sigma house were topics of the evening. \nCouncilman Andy Ruff lamented the Indiana House vote Wednesday that passed Gov. Daniels' highway plan 52-47.\n"It looks like we're going to be getting the governor's radical change in the way we operate, fund and maintain our public transportation systems, roads and even airports in the state of Indiana," Ruff said. "My concern is that this was done without responsible public scrutiny."\nRuff went on to accuse proponents of the plan of using unethical tactics to garner the support of Republican representatives in the House.\n"It's been reported in The South Bend Tribune that Republican state representatives were threatened with the denial of future leadership positions and funding for projects in their districts," he said. \nCouncil President Chris Sturbaum called for IU to save the abandoned Kappa Sigma fraternity house at 1503 E. Third St. Council members have recently debated the demolition of the 80-year-old house once visited by musician and IU alumnus Hoagy Carmichael.\nCouncilman Stephen Volan offered congratulations to IU Bloomington's new Interim Provost Michael McRobbie and IU's new University-wide Chancellor Ken Gros Louis.\n"There is cause for celebration on the other side of Indiana Avenue," he said.\nThe next city council meeting will not be held until Feb. 22 due to lack of legislation.