A weekly program where mayors from Bloomington, Columbus, Terre Haute, and Nashville answer questions about your community. We also delve into new and long-term city topics.
The show airs on WFIU on Wednesday mornings at 6:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m.
From left: Mayor Jim Lienhoop (R-Columbus), Mayor Duke Bennett (R-Terre Haute), Mayor John Hamilton (D-Bloomington), and Nashville Municipal Consultant Dax Norton.
First Wednesday of the month: Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop (R)
Second Wednesday of the month: Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett (R)
Third Wednesday of the month: Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton (D)
Fourth Wednesday of the month: Nashville Municipal Consultant Dax Norton
The Brown County Playhouse has been upgraded, tourism dollars don't fund town infrastructure, a human rights ordinance gets a first reading, and most storefronts are full despite COVID.
Hamilton explains why now is the time to raise the local income tax rate, the communication process between the mayor and council, and your questions on fiscal transparency, and the lawsuit on annexation waivers.
The Terre Haute Convention Center is officially open for business, the city will dedicate a new art plaza in May that aims to link downtown to the Wabash River, and the city will host its first Pride Festival.
It's our first visit to Columbus since the pandemic took hold two years ago. Lienhoop says he's seeing an increase in foot traffic downtown, takes your questions on climate change, and previews the groundbreaking for a housing and grocer development.
A fire destroys at least two downtown shops, the town is looking for state grant money to fund sewer projects, the town needs more police officers during tourism season, and we learn more about Nancy Crocker as we welcome her to our show for the first time.
An engineer says the downtown creamery smokestack will have to be reduced in size. A proposed local income tax increase could fund police dept. raises. And decisions on city annexation lawsuits could be announced in a week or two.
Terre Haute’s new convention center is getting ready for an April 9 grand opening. The city will have to adjust budgets for higher gas prices and increase sewer rates for its long-term control plan.
The city plans on loosening the mask requirement in government buildings, a new study on the proposed downtown conference center, NexusPark funding, and the mayor responds to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
If declining COVID trends continue the mask mandate could end, the city is using some of the food and beverage tax dollars for pandemic assistance, and there's still a long ways to go before annexation is finalized.
The city is cleaning up from last week's winter storm, neighborhood planning forums aim to revitalize the 12 Points area, and the city update is rescheduled for February 24.
Despite the pandemic, the town was able to break the innkeepers tax record, sewer infrastructure and public safety are the town's top funding priorities in 2022, and COVID testing/vaccinations continue.
Hamilton says the city hasn't had to reduce city services due to increased COVID cases, the Monroe Convention Center expansion is still on hold, a study is underway on the future of performing arts venues.
Bennett says he rather see vaccine mandates come from the statehouse and not the White House, masks in public places should be up to individuals, and says state tax cuts are fine if legislators replace those funds to cities with other revenue streams.
The first program of the year comes with Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop who reacts to the lag in COVID vaccinations, new READI grant money, demolition work at Fair Oaks Mall, and an update on the 1821 Trail.
Hamilton says the latest controlled burn lead report is the last test in the area, the city is waiting for finalized remonstration report to determine if legal action is necessary, and the mask mandate is keeping COVID cases low despite the recent uptick.
Like most places, Terre Haute is experiencing a COVID surge, Churchill Downs has been selected as the new casino operator, the city allocates American Rescue Plan Act funds, and the mayor reflects on 2021.
Hamilton says in hindsight the controlled burn should have been done differently, the 7-Line dedication is set for Wednesday, and the city has a letter of intent with a developer to install high-speed Internet throughout the city.
The mayor says a 54 percent vaccination rate is not high enough, Columbus Regional Health is beginning to take over the former Carson's location at Fair Oaks Mall, and city tax districts will help fund a mixed-use urban grocer development.
Tourists are still flocking to Nashville despite the delay of autumn colors. A new proposed development means housing options for keeping young residents in the community.
Bennett says the city hasn't reacted, but has been evolving policing for some time. He prefers Lucy Luck gaming as the city's casino operator. And we get an update on the end of this year's paving projects.
In this week's "Ask The Mayor" program, we visit with Nashville municipal consultant Dax Norton and talk COVID during tourism season, police budget, and more.
Monroe Co. is one of only three in the state's yellow COVID metric, annexation is scheduled for a vote tonight, and the mayor disagrees with FOP city salary ranking.
Bennett says the state is doing the best it can do despite rising COVID numbers, the city would welcome any Afghan refugees to live and find work, and he doesn't believe the census numbers are correct.
Lienhoop says a whole bunch of people need to get vaccinated and another mask mandate would be difficult to enforce. He's also motivated to help refugees start a new life in America, and is supportive of Amtrak service through Columbus.
No mask mandates in effect, the county is rated 'orange' in the state metric for COVID cases, water utility needs millions of dollars in repairs, and budget hearings are scheduled this week.
Hamilton says he doesn't believe the U.S. Census numbers are accurate, more restrictions could come if COVID numbers continue to rise, and the city could take Gov. Holcomb to court over the 2019 annexation waiver legislation.
The city is status quo on COVID-19 cases and doesn't see the need for more restrictions, the balance of annexing more people into a city, and a few interested casino operator parties have contacted the city.
Twenty percent of positive COVID cases are the delta variant, a 900 bedroom apartment complex is approved at the former K-mark location, why Kirkwood floods, and will the city be able to maintain a proper police force staff after annexation.
Mayor Bennett reflects on fallen officer Detective Greg Ferency a day after the funeral and procession. More on the state's denial of a Terre Haute casino license... and a COVID-19 update.
Hamilton apologizes for lack of notice of last week's military helicopter overnight training, residents can contact the city one on one rather than in public forums over annexation issues, and 7th street closure is just the beginning of the 7 Line project.
Bennett says he's not interested in showing vaccination cards for benefits, he agrees with the governor's decision to halt federal benefits to unemployed workers, and casino groundbreaking will most likely happen in July.
As COVID restrictions loosen, more buildings and places are opening. Human bones were discovered during sewer work. Sewer rate proposal heads to city council. And FairOaks Mall will soon be renamed.
Brown Co. is in the yellow cautionary state metric level, municipal buildings open June 1, the DNR is working with the town in providing water and sewer for Brown County State Park.
City loosens COVID restrictions, UDO duplex ordinance passes with compromise, all eyes turn to annexation procedures, and Bloomington's 4th of July parade will look different this year.
Bennett says media and politicians should step aside and let non-vaccinated COVID residents consult their doctor. Convention center construction is on time and on budget, and officials are waiting for rescue plan money.
Bartholomew County is at the blue COVID metric level, vaccine hesitancy and variants could block herd immunity, 20-year-olds are contracting the most COVID cases, and a new gateway project is in the works.
The mayor addresses COVID metrics, uptick in cases, Rescue Plan funding, herd immunity, senior citizen parking downtown, UDO zoning, IU's new president, and more.
Bennett agrees with Holcomb's loosening of COVID restrictions and says the city would need to see cases in the 30s before imposing local restrictions. And the city is getting $38 million in federal relief funding.
Lienhoop says COVID rates would have to reach January levels to extend a public mask mandate, the city is just starting to look into spending the $8 million in federal relief funds, and police are still looking for the individual who left white supremacist graffiti downtown.
Vaccine preference, fans at NCAA games, city infrastructure, rental assistance, herd immunity, and no-income housing are just a few of the questions submitted for Mayor Hamilton today.
The mayor reflects on a year of COVID, the vaccination supply is still good, a new attraction at Fairbanks park is just getting started, and a casino groundbreaking could come in April.
Why Columbus had a head start on the coronavirus response, when Columbus could reach herd immunity, scheduling summer events, Riverfront project costs are going up, and Exhibit Columbus returns.
Plexes are more restricted after changes to the UDO amendment, city crews are working on getting secondary roads cleared, annexation is still on pause, and a structure design bill could hamper community standards.
COVID-19 vaccinations are moving along smoothly, prison cases are declining, the new casino groundbreaking could still be in a couple weeks, and the city laid out four Community Crossings projects.
The mayor is scheduled to get his vaccination Thursday, a COVID relief bill isn't a priority, and a new downtown development has plans for a new Bloomingfoods location.
Dax Norton talks about his company's contract with the town of Nashville, the Brown County Music Center, COVID cases and forward thinking in the new year.
Monroe County's COVID-19 positivity rate is the lowest in the state, vaccination roll-out is ongoing, and why the city continues to remove people experiencing homelessness from a city park.
Bennett says he isn't sure there are enough vaccinations for the number they need, he's watching for any TIF changes in this year's state legislative session, and renovations are underway on the new police station building.
Vaccinations are underway to frontline responders, but not much information is coming from the state on next round scheduling. Lienhoop says state legislature shouldn't limit the Governor's emergency powers.
Despite a coronavirus vaccine and lower county positivity rates, Hamilton says there's still a long way to go. And we talk about the decision to enforce the prohibition of overnight camping in city parks by those experiencing homelessness.
Hospital room supply is low - and so is the amount of healthcare workers. Enforcing the mask mandate is still a challenge. And the city is moving forward on a number of downtown developments.
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations hit all time highs, the availability of quick testing before the holidays, timeline of the IU Health downtown Bloomington Hospital site plans, and UDO proceedings continue.
Mayor Hamilton takes your questions on where COVID cases are originating, rapid test availability, religious service mask exceptions, early voting wait times, Halloween, canopy of lights celebration, and more.
The federal prison in Terre Haute isn't to blame for the county's uptick in coronavirus cases, the governor is on the right track to the pandemic response, and the new city police station is on schedule.
A steady line of Columbus voters cast their ballot at FairOaks Mall Tuesday, the city celebrated the opening of the railroad overpass, and Halloween should go on as scheduled with extra precautions.
The city receives a second request to become a Second Amendment Sanctuary, city officials begin to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak, and Lienhoop prepares for his fifth State of the City Address.
The city is looking for developers for the hospital site and a parcel of land next to Switchyard Park. Also, next year's Farmers' Market and the ongoing convention center expansion delays.
Students are returning for the start of another school year, the I-69 substantial completion date is pushed back, and more on the dispute between the city and county over the convention center hotel developer.
