By: Diane Benjamin
Everything passed last night. The Convenience Center will be closing. City Manager Jurgens stated it could be relocated but getting permits might be a problem. Hum, who issues permits for City owned property? Are residents dropping off hazardous waste? The CCC has to relocate because of the detention pond they are building to control flooding, really close to the homeless cabins.
It appears the solid waste program had little accountability. Staff couldn’t say how much the change to bulk pickup every two weeks would cost or save. An amendment was added telling staff to start tracking expenses. As usual, Alderman Montney did her homework and asked questions staff couldn’t answer.
There were frequent references to their 3 on 1 meetings. That’s 3 aldermen and likely more than 1 staff stating their case for what they want. In other words, items on the agenda are hashed out where citizens have no insight into discussions. If it feels like meetings have pre-planned outcomes, it’s because they do.
Maybe since few bother to vote nobody cares.
Maybe more would care if they knew this: Bloomington Comptroller’s Office Report Card
Some of the increased debt might be attributable to pension debt that wasn’t previously required to be disclosed. The change was effective in 2014. Debt in 2014 was $135,471,900, 2013 was $132,192,276. 2012 was $117,173,586.
Outstanding debt:
FY 2023 $277,325,366 Debt per resident was $3,517
FY 2022 $209,218,992
FY 2021 $206,379,933
FY 2020 $270,944,173
FY 2019 $270,035,636
FY 2018 $242,010,034
FY 2017 $266,805,884
FY 2016 $270,629,828
Jump back to 1999:
Total debt was: $40,196,524
Debt per resident was $697.
It jumped in 2005: $79,301,949 Ground breaking on the Coliseum was in 2004, it opened in 2006. Debt per resident was up to $1,158.
Total debt for the year ended 4/30/2025 was $262,239,844 Bloomington data 2015
Bloomington has no debt limit since they were automatically qualified to be a Home Rule city in 1971. How’s that working?
If you want to watch the solid waste discussion, just hit Play:
They can use the newly acquired BNWRD land for the CCC!
Bulk waste process change.
Why does Mrs. Montney always seem know more about the subjects that the staff present than the staff do? The staff’s excuse that “I wasn’t here when the original decision was made”, isn’t an appropriate answer and only serves to cause one to question the basis of the “new and improved” process proposal.
I agree with her lone NO vote on the bulk waste proposal. That big red NO was an indictment of the staff. She understands that the staff are negligent in their duties to the citizens when they make proposals base on flimsy documentation and an incomplete understanding of the problem at hand.
Ward’s ammendment to remind staff to monitor the success of this process change shouldn’t be needed. If it is needed, every staff proposal in the future will have to include wording that tells the staff what their jobs are and how to do them.
Both Bloomington and Normal are out of control with their taxing/spending…..
Bloomington needs to pickup bulky trash every week at the curb – just like they used to do!
If Bloomington cannot figure out how to go back to picking up the bulky trash, then they should just merge with Normal to pickup the bulky trash everywhere. Normal can show them how to do it.
I also think it is ridiculous to expect residents to drive their bulky trash to a random location (selected by the City) for drop off. Many folks do not have a pickup truck, some folks do not have a vehicle at all…. so the City should just pickup the trash on the curb! Stop playing games with the residents over trash pickup.
One more thought,
the fact that the City requires people to show a valid drivers license to throw away trash is hilarious!!
I mean when it comes to voting the “story” is about how we cannot request/require a valid drivers license – but when it comes to dropping off trash, you MUST show an ID! Literally, HILARIOUS!
Hey Bloomington =
Just PICKUP the trash (every week – at our homes) and stop harassing us!!