Bloomington had an eventful 2014. (Zach Dietmeier/WJBC)
By Adam Studzinski
BLOOMINGTON – From budgeting woes to street resurfacing, 2014 could be described as an up and down year for the City of Bloomington.
"I can't sign this budget," Mayor Tari Renner said.
Those were Renner's words after the City Council approved a budget which he believed did not properly fund police and fire pensions. It came down to the wire, but eventually aldermen approved additional taxes which satisfied Renner and allowed the budget to pass.
However, things turned hostile between Renner and alderwoman Judy Stearns, who argued over cuts proposed by Stearns.
"It would not have been unreasonable to make a two minute phone call to make sure that what you're talking about would have put our entire community at risk," Renner said.
"I did that. I absolutely did that," said Stearns. "I think this kind of discussion is a disgrace."
Later in the year, Alderman Rob Fazzini announced his resignation from the council due to his involvement with Paradigm BioAviation, a local company which converts trash to jet fuel. He believed there was a conflict of interest.
"The company is planning to spend $120 million to build a plant and equipment and Bloomington to take all of the municipal solid waste garbage and turn that into jet fuel and electricity," Fazzini said.
That proposal was eventually shot down by the council.
Bloomington completed $10 million worth of street resurfacing work during the construction season. Public works director Jim Karch said the project impacted the entire city.
"It actually covered all of the different streets all across the city; every quadrant was in need," said Karch. "What this was is it hit arterial roads, the major roads, some of the minor roads."
Finally, a pair of movie theaters had requests for liquor licenses approved by aldermen this year, those being the Carmike Palace Cinema and the Wehrenberg Galaxy Theater, both of which are creating more of a dine-in theater concept.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].
