Council to discuss Habitat project, taxes

The third Bloomington City Council deliberation session on a controversial Habitat for Humanity project will take place this Wednesday.

The council has warned that discussion and public comment about the Habitat project may be limited at the meeting.

The session will also include deliberation on two resolutions up for second reading, council member Dave Rollo said.

“Essentially it’s cooperation between departments that are doing similar things in different parts of the county,” Rollo said.  

The first resolution requests waived payments in lieu of taxes the city might require of the Bloomington Housing Authority. This is known as paying a PILOT, according to a legislative packet.

The resolution exempts housing authorities from having to pay property taxes but allows them to enter into agreements with related departments to pay for the estimated cost of services and improvements provided by the political subdivisions, according to the packet.

Lisa Abbott, director of the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department, has submitted a memo presenting the Housing Authority’s request that the city forgive a $29,183 payment in lieu of taxes.  

The second resolution requests an amendment to the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between Bloomington and Monroe County regarding the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds.

The amendment suggests that some funds received by the Bloomington Police Department be used to purchase digital signage rather than an N-Dex server, according to the packet.

The N-Dex server securely connects to the Law Enforcement National Data Exchange and helps officers “identify persons of interest and access their criminal histories,” according to the packet.

However, the grant administrator has deemed the N-Dex server unnecessary and advised that the $5,199 requested to purchase the secure server should be used to purchase digital signage.

A digital signage package would allow the department to interact with members of the community by providing them with scheduling information, announcements, videos and social media updates, according to the packet.

Patty Mulvihill, assistant city attorney, said the purchase would likely result in televisions being placed around the department and training room, according to the packet.

Rollo said he is confident these resolutions will pass because it is important that the city and county share responsibilities cooperatively.

“I would expect them to pass. I don’t think there’s anything controversial,” Rollo said.