Bloomington City Hall.
(Ethan Burks, WFIU/WTIU News)
Bloomington City Council members say they want improvements to security at the council chambers, where their regular sessions take place.
That was part of the council’s discussion Thursday, the last day of hearings for the 2024 city budget. The city’s planning and transportation, engineering and public works departments presented their requests that night.
Security enhancements to the chambers would fall under the facilities section of the public works budget. Council members spoke generally about wanting improvements but did not talk in detail about features they’d like to see.
Council member Steve Volan said security within the entire chamber, including its entrance, should be tightened. He cited a few recent instances of people disrupting council meetings.
“I trust that there have been conversations about this, but we could have been doing some things by now to make this room safer,” Volan said. “We don’t even have a Sergeant at Arms in the room. I don’t know why that’s the case. We do budget week every year. I think it’s an oversight that we can’t afford this day and age.”
Steve Volan (Courtesy of Community Access Television Services)
The council chambers are generally accessible by any member of the public who wishes to attend meetings there. One must simply enter the building and head to the chambers. The doors are not locked on nights when council meetings take place.
Public Works Director Adam Wason told the council the city’s 2024 budget proposal does not include security improvements for the council chambers. He added that he was involved in discussions on that topic this past spring but had not been privy to any more recently.
Volan at one point asked Wason whether the council would have to specifically request security improvements, and if investments could be made over time instead of all at once.
Wason said he did not have an immediate answer, adding, “I think it’s going to be a conversation that I go back and have with the mayor’s office, the police department and others.”
Adam Wason (Courtesy of Community Access Television Services)
Other members, including Jim Sims, also said they want to beef up security at the chambers. Sims said there have been discussions on proactive measures, but they have not yielded results.
“Not only am I here to serve my role in this community and legislative process, but my number one concern is getting home to my wife and family safe after every meeting,” Sims said. “There’s too many examples now, throughout our country, our state, for us not to be more considerate of safety.”
Jim Sims (Courtesy of Community Access Television Services)
Council member Isabel Piedmont-Smith said the council’s safety concerns date back several years. She did not take issue with the proposed budget and said she is unsure where funds for security improvements would best fit. She did, however, add that she wants to further discuss security.
Piedmont-Smith cited a 2008 shooting at the Kirkwood, Mo., city hall that left six people dead. She added, “It can happen anywhere. It can happen here, and we need to be better prepared for it.”
Isabel Piedmont-Smith (Courtesy of Community Access Television Services)
Council member Dave Rollo said he would not support the proposed public works budget solely because it did not set aside money for tighter security.
The council rejected the public works budget proposal by a vote of 4-2-2. Council members Ron Smith and Volan voted no while Rollo and Sims abstained. The two yes votes were Matt Flaherty and Sue Sgambelluri. Kate Rosenbarger was not present.
The 2024 public works budget can be amended before the council takes a final vote on it.
WFIU/WTIU News has reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.
