Bloomington Mayor-elect Kerry Thomson discusses her approach to several ongoing projects she'll be tasked with.
(Lucas González, WFIU/WTIU News)
Correction: This article has been updated to accurately reflect when the annexation process began under John Hamilton.
Bloomington Mayor-elect Kerry Thomson will have a lot on her plate when she takes office.
Between the future of the city’s police department, annexation and the convention center expansion, many projects she’ll be tasked with are still in flux.
Those projects have caused rocky relationships between local leaders.
Thomson succeeds two-term Mayor John Hamilton, who did not seek reelection, on Jan. 1.
WFIU/WTIU News sat down with Thomson to discuss how she’ll proceed.
Police department relocation
Thomson will be tasked with making decisions on the Showers West project, which seeks to relocate the police department into the western part of city hall from its station on Third Street.
Thomson said finding a path forward on that project will be one of her top priorities.
Bloomington City Hall.
“The first thing that needs to be done is, we really need to understand where we are economically with Showers West,” Thomson said. “We need a solution that actually works; it needs to work financially, and it needs to work for our city.”
The space planned to house police is currently under lease. Thomson said it’s unclear how much it will cost to terminate those leases early.
It’s also unclear what will happen with the current police station. Hamilton wanted to sell the building to a private developer and use the proceeds to help pay for the relocation.
Thomson said it was wrong for the city to try selling the station for private use knowing of the heirs’ wishes.
“It’s very clear that it violated the intent of the gift agreement, and I think when we’re talking about how a city moves forward ethically — how we treat people — we need to be concerned about those things,” Thomson said.
Thomson has not ruled out possibly selling the station in the future but said the heirs should be consulted. She also said a rebuild of the current station may be on the table.
The local police union has long opposed the project over concerns about its feasibility, price, and safety. Thomson acknowledged those concerns but said the police department still needs a new headquarters.
“What we have is not going to be adequate for the next decade, let alone the next three decades,” Thomson said. “We need to acknowledge we’ve already spent more than $9 million on Showers West. It would be very significant to walk away from that.”
Thomson has disagreed with Hamilton’s approach to annexation but said the city must still expand.
The adopted annexation areas.
“I do believe that, from the start, we should have been more in conversation with the county about how to do this well,” Thomson said. “What’s important now is, can we make the best of what we have? So, I am looking for a path forward that can be more in conversation with the county.”
There are two separate annexation lawsuits currently playing out in court.
For months, opponents have pushed back against the city’s request to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a law voiding some of the annexation attempt.
Thomson said further action may need to wait until the lawsuits are resolved.
When annexation does move forward, Thomson said she wants it to happen in a way that does not impose on residents but welcomes them to provide input.
“I think it’s very hard to ensure everyone does have a seat at the table; it’s easier and more achievable to invite people to the table,” Thomson said. “Whether they choose to come or not may be up to them — but again, I think the commissioners can be helpful in that. I plan to start listening to folks in the county.”
Convention Center
Thomson said she’ll also collaborate with the county on the convention center expansion project, on which the city and county have struggled to find common ground in the past.
“My role, obviously, will be negotiating on the city’s behalf, but I do have a really positive working relationship with the commissioners, and I think many members of the county council,” Thomson said. “My hope is that we can address whatever issues there may be and ensure that we can move forward with a partnership.”
Hamilton and the city council have signed the interlocal, but the commissioners have discussed possibly amending it over concerns they have. Doing so would require it to be sent back to the mayor’s office and city council for re-approval.
New county jail site
Thomson also weighed in on a county-led project to establish a new county jail.
County officials are considering using county-owned land across Rogers Street from Switchyard Park on Bloomington’s southwest side as a future jail site.
The land under consideration for a new county jail site.
However, questions about the site’s feasibility remain, and some residents have spoken out against using the site for a jail.
Previous discussions between the city and county raised the possibility of using the planned Hopewell neighborhood site for a jail.
The Hopewell neighborhood site plan.
Thomson doesn’t see that as a viable alternative.
“I think it wouldn’t be a good use of resources,” Thomson said. “I believe that this is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create some concentrated housing right where people can live, work, and play.”
Thomson’s goal for Hopewell, which is where the former IU Health Bloomington Hospital used to be, is in line with Hamilton’s original vision.
Thomson and other newly elected city officials will be sworn in noon Monday at city hall, located at 401 N. Morton St. The ceremony is open to the public.
