[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6224308,"mediaKeyId","3551271-5ba02ee680d5065fe2c6609d385aa472","parentId",3551271,"title","Stagehands union urges Bloomington to require local labor and safety inspections for TNT festival","audioSeconds",168,"startMs",3148000,"endMs",3316000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3551271-5ba02ee680d5065fe2c6609d385aa472&start=3148&end=3316","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3551271-5ba02ee680d5065fe2c6609d385aa472/thumbnail_3148000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6224308/Bloomington/McLean-County/Illinois/Stagehands-union-urges-Bloomington-to-require-local-labor-and-safety-inspections-for-TNT-festival","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224308-a122e6226a0eabe4833e0af57390a5aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771078053&Signature=YW2XFkzV7tRq1-vlvKk6uiM8im0YhHX0JTnXEsYqwVY1pY~Dupb8UZTd0TU64c30TtEIDrwJ2GvHAckBIzfHGh-fA3N9xQwzhD5yJ-dzjsGKVTfBmI2h00ou0kxwZAsCBd9Ub0EVLHFPg7vZ00snwtAVNbMCBvSPz3cXfMbfQ1QaL13HnBGIoYfN1ebXBu4p53~mEEFDldXcsiWrzfEvORIhEjwaPmTZbBDYaxFj8LjI-2K555ozMX2XQjbpTOuxagDR-RxRSNZqGfAW9uA9CRlAKYdyhPPTOokkSZJIA-m4OtGZgZAMsvOblWWZgyDWxtLi~gAbsGYc9~FMI~suCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Bloomington, IL","date","2025-05-28T16:08:18Z","article","A representative of IATSE Local 193 told the Bloomington City Council that festival promoter USA Concerts has used out‑of‑area labor and contractors, raising safety and economic concerns, and urged the council to insist on local, certified stage crews for future events.

Michael Irvin, business agent for IATSE Local 193, told council he and his members have staffed the TNT (Tailgates and Tallboys) event for about a decade and that this year the promoter partnered with CrewOne, an out‑of‑state company, to supply labor. Irvin said using nonlocal labor diverts wages from the local economy: \"This means when the work is done, that labor money will leave the area and go to other states and will not be reinvested into our local community by local stage hands.\"

Irvin also raised safety concerns based on past incidents and what he said were reduced safety practices by nonlocal crews. He described a prior collapse during teardown when an inexperienced crew worked on the VIP deck and said he observed crew members not wearing safety harnesses at heights \"well above 20 to 30 feet.\" He recommended ongoing site inspections and that the city insist the promoter use local ETCP‑certified riggers, certified scaffolding crews and OSHA‑trained stagehands. \"I would strongly suggest ongoing site inspections to guarantee safety,\" Irvin said.

Council members did not take immediate regulatory action in response to the public comments. The remarks were presented during the public‑comment period; Irvin asked the council to support using local labor in future contracts and to prioritize safety inspections for big events.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Township/City Council Meeting - 5/27/2025","oneSentenceSummary","A representative of IATSE Local 193 urged the council to require local, certified riggers and stagehands at the TNT/Tailgates & Tallboys festival and to require ongoing site inspections after reporting past safety lapses and use of out‑of‑area labor.","taxTitle","Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois","taxId",2828,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6224313,"Advocates urge Bloomington to regulate massage businesses, citing illicit‑spa trafficking concerns",523,2407000,2930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3551271-5ba02ee680d5065fe2c6609d385aa472&start=2407&end=2930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3551271-5ba02ee680d5065fe2c6609d385aa472/thumbnail_2407000.jpg","/articles/6224313/Bloomington/McLean-County/Illinois/Advocates-urge-Bloomington-to-regulate-massage-businesses-citing-illicitspa-trafficking-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224313-d7526538c4f0e0b6c752314fa26d740a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771078053&Signature=KqX-9-3NIHh~vq27QI~mKaC2vDBiI174czMfQocH2zISQrZHMPH8l6468Io25AxkknY3v5rqC2CtRG4ixBFEFstjsoh-qKf-eMI7-VkNXI4nukC-QCyID1TviCh8fq20kpCbx3A1y4ZZ5DgVX6VhZw~4R7TzMvNhcPGKDnxuULSH1MoLHjsrfrN22H1Ozeo~QNl~Z~vpTVeqhOjLSnnA01XvkiaR8~EvOSm-LD5NRysUuUpT5SSrb193g-4me-7WpYv3wfHNJ4FHJ~TEKVi4-dwQ0-uxrViOz-bCY2ypFWQpjk2KSZ~5Eu0Ao1d5N6lmHvU-CWbAGak9ik0gl7~LmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents and trafficking‑prevention advocates urged the Bloomington City Council to adopt local regulations requiring massage‑business registration and proof of therapist licensure, saying illicit massage businesses are a conduit for human trafficking.

Paul Halverson, speaking during public comment, framed trafficking as a community problem that \"everyone needs to come together,\" citing social and fiscal harms that he said follow from trafficking victims’ involvement with criminal justice and health systems.

Nancy Bolliger, executive director of Allies Against Trafficking, told the council the illicit massage industry is a major trafficking channel and urged the city to act. \"As of March sixth of this year, there are 14 illicit massage businesses in Bloomington,\" she said, adding that the illicit industry \"is one of the largest, most networked forms of human trafficking in The United States, generating over $5,000,000,000 in revenue a year.\" Bolliger urged the council to adopt an ordinance requiring massage establishments to register with the city and to prove that their therapists are licensed by the state of Illinois, a model she said neighboring communities have used successfully.

Bolliger cited actions by nearby jurisdictions: \"Since 02/2018, Springfield, Peoria, Chatham, and Morton passed local ordinances to regulate massage businesses,\" she said, and described closures that followed in some communities. She asked the council to adopt similar regulatory tools in Bloomington so that law enforcement and city staff can verify that operations are legitimate and licensed.

Council members did not take immediate action at the meeting; the comments were part of the public‑comment period. Staff and council members acknowledged the request and did not announce a specific timeline for drafting an ordinance.","Local advocacy groups and residents told council they believe illicit massage businesses in Bloomington are linked to human trafficking and urged the council to adopt a licensing and registration ordinance similar to neighboring jurisdictions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6224318,"Council debate over incentive for Greentop Grocery ends with ordinance ruled not passed",5678,3781000,9459000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3551271-5ba02ee680d5065fe2c6609d385aa472&start=3781&end=9459","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3551271-5ba02ee680d5065fe2c6609d385aa472/thumbnail_3781000.jpg","/articles/6224318/Bloomington/McLean-County/Illinois/Council-debate-over-incentive-for-Greentop-Grocery-ends-with-ordinance-ruled-not-passed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224318-87702c4573b534042c2969447ddc6128/orig.mp4?Expires=1771078053&Signature=V5nzE6ZTs~tatBZe6WgJi2-DC8mjzKvko~1y64Xv~2Vr0QGgqQo9gikV8JEJF6b8b2JVtkXYh~VcK5~1l1-bx4WR8yQu~LUAVUryh2Nni0BVZTHNnCFuM~Gtsgh~n8zcJ99Pmpone8wxq8fTiXeBN~YbOyt5WQoNJa4x2lBZHkyYQeKlvWdwL9YeCivsfMbqJS~HtlkaEgN2FJq3UujvurQ-vrn8Qyr3zpvl6pE7Owwnoh2qWQB08ZCACVTwhtGwxyuIarCrAopoWDI1w0BEpX4N6sR6t3MQHl3YL3Htd3UVRrWlM2dUX-u8vucxyWehc7YzKHGnDZCbIGTZZFvlYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bloomington City Council spent substantial time debating the first amendment to an economic incentive agreement with Greentop Grocery Cooperative before a final legal review found the ordinance did not pass because it lacked the five votes required for ordinances under Illinois law.

The item returned to the agenda as consent item 6(p). After public comments and council discussion about the appropriateness of subsidizing a single downtown grocer, Council member Montney moved to \"decline\" or not approve the item. Montney later noted the city's fiscal constraints and voiced concern about augmenting one business for a decade. Council members questioned the dollar amounts and the net fiscal effect to the city; multiple speakers referred to a $15,000 annual rebate figure. One council member summed the objection: \"I mean, that is, again, $15,000 a year that we would be giving to a business when no other business is in that situation.\" (Council member, transcript.)

After the decline motion failed, another motion to approve the amendment was made and initial ballots indicated approval. However, later in the meeting corporation counsel Chris Banos advised the council that he had erred in his earlier procedural remarks. \"Under the Illinois municipal code, all ordinances require a minimum of 5 votes to pass,\" counsel said, and concluded \"I was incorrect. We did not get the minimum to pass the Greentop grocery ordinance, so, therefore, the motion failed.\" He apologized to council for the mistake.

Members who discussed the item weighed the potential revenue the store generates against the value of an ongoing rebate, and several council members said they supported finding ways to assist small businesses broadly while questioning a single‑business rebate during a time of tight city finances. Council members who had a conflict recused themselves earlier in the meeting from item 6(p).

The net procedural outcome was that the ordinance did not take effect due to the statutory vote threshold for ordinances. Council did not adopt another ordinance at the meeting to create a different subsidy or program for the grocery.","Councillors debated renewing an economic incentive for Greentop Grocery Cooperative, with concerns about subsidizing one business and the fiscal context; legal counsel later said the ordinance did not pass because it lacked the five votes required for ordinances under Illinois law.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6224322,"Bloomington council approves $33 million water bond plan; officials say it is unrelated to dredging",1000,4922000,5922000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3551271-5ba02ee680d5065fe2c6609d385aa472&start=4922&end=5922","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3551271-5ba02ee680d5065fe2c6609d385aa472/thumbnail_4922000.jpg","/articles/6224322/Bloomington/McLean-County/Illinois/Bloomington-council-approves-33-million-water-bond-plan-officials-say-it-is-unrelated-to-dredging","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224322-b59cf85515b24d4866322866c736a214/orig.mp4?Expires=1771078053&Signature=lKoSv3eY8oSUmvp7vBfqdSRywtcQY3k5xgb2fs-Ke9~t8PoMZ7g3Rd3EZXF6OsJGLCYL0kDZxBmG8T~gOFtuRNEETeUSlPjXrAS34-BjLN6rvFclk4HP~r1WBNuF4ko4-5Fof1nWjIK-M1~4rQN6jBEJH1Kv5sEem1LD-ft4M6QQV36jVzY7Ofn~~Ai5NEVBD2qbIGvGDIGyLzZriQNfBqmEZrXrn7YlEyAQzVPK2ogIeT7ixzxhd3RAmeM5ASApPZqdCxqB79ijVia6eMP4J6gPVjQr4mBwN3U05AfrkLw6YQ7YhnkiBtdjYkuu59lJYbqqjqUwwjxLPmIjEWC6IQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bloomington City Council approved borrowing to fund a multi‑year water infrastructure program, authorizing bond proceeds designed to fund water main replacement, lead service‑line replacement and plant upgrades while city officials emphasized the borrowing is unrelated to dredging.

City Manager Jeff Jurgens introduced the item, noting the city’s 10‑year water plan includes projects required by state and federal standards. \"Some of these are federal or state mandates that we have to do,\" he said. Water Director Ed Andrews presented the scope: \"Hundred and 25 mil for water main replacement,\" he said, plus \"a hundred million in lead service replacement\" and about \"$50,000,000 on upgrades\" to the treatment plant as components of a broader long‑term plan.

Finance Director Scott Rathbun described the near‑term borrowing plan. The council approved seeking approximately $33 million in bond proceeds and authorized issuance up to $36 million to allow flexibility for market pricing and closing costs. Rathbun said the two fiscal‑year borrowings were combined for efficiency; fiscal year 2025 had $15 million originally planned and fiscal year 2026 about $18 million, with combined proceeds used to reimburse interim financing and fund projects.

Rathbun and Andrews said the borrowing is supported by a multi‑year rate structure already adopted by the council. The rate increases were designed to raise revenue for capital and to create capacity for future annual debt service; Rathbun presented projections showing metered service revenues rising from about $15.2 million in FY24 toward roughly $30.9 million in later years under the adopted rate plan. \"This funding really covers the needs for those 2 years,\" Rathbun said.

Multiple council members asked whether the bond had any connection to proposed dredging projects; both staff and the city manager answered directly. \"This actually has nothing to do with dredging. There's nothing in this plan relating to dredging,\" Jurgens said, and Andrews reiterated the planned work relates to mains, towers and plant improvements.

The council moved and seconded approval of the ordinance authorizing general obligation water bonds; the competitive sale was recommended by the city’s financial adviser. Rathbun said the city had briefed Moody’s and expects continued strong credit ratings to support attractive borrowing rates. The ordinance authorized issuance \"not to exceed $36,000,000\" to account for possible market discounts or premiums, with the city’s plan to realize roughly $33,000,000 in proceeds.

City staff said projects expected under the borrowing include replacement of aging transmission mains (including mains from the 1920s), decommissioning and replacement of elevated storage tanks, distribution‑system upgrades in targeted neighborhoods and plant electrical and treatment improvements. Several projects are already underway: Prairie Vista water tower work was nearing completion and Meadowbrook water‑main work has produced data on service‑line materials.

Rathbun recommended approving the ordinance and the council voted to proceed with the planned bond issuance. No dredging funds or dredging projects were authorized by this vote; staff said dredging was not part of the water program now before council.","Council approved borrowing to fund replacement of aging water mains, lead service line replacement and plant upgrades; staff stressed the borrowing and rate increases fund mandated upgrades and are not connected to any dredging project.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6224326,"Bloomington council tables Opticos \"missing middle\" housing report after heated questions",3583,4523000,8106000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3551271-5ba02ee680d5065fe2c6609d385aa472&start=4523&end=8106","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3551271-5ba02ee680d5065fe2c6609d385aa472/thumbnail_4523000.jpg","/articles/6224326/Bloomington/McLean-County/Illinois/Bloomington-council-tables-Opticos-missing-middle-housing-report-after-heated-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224326-10f445b24c89565bb31660e857b421a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771078053&Signature=HtBTgiQWxZMtt5rHovwCn8r~p7imhV3mrPAF8K0V~zUk4mVF9yYcsAbMGolomvDkBu9t~1dG97Gfn7w34yJX018GQkS4L0AtaywGUPiAOWtanSKzZ4zOXneXLdK1voS64JqFjYBNaC3X1rzNIS205RF9yN1O3LaPiMqRUpsFitFZS0E4erRUDY3xVwlTAJ0ZRLfGr-zyF-N3vay6H7a3C1xoCy30IKHjOfgmSjXXegwpRUlZWrIZXoOtn7yDdfHztCqmXqBAcs1umPHXbo5CppihhXixrMCZp1WPlw9g1jfl-M4gb1nbpYnaRku3kpVdj-i2BQ9VhK6vi6zhRIjK7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bloomington City Council on May 20 received a presentation of a missing-middle housing study by consultant Opticos and then voted to table consideration of the report indefinitely, citing concerns about details, community outreach and next steps.

The report, commissioned by the city to identify regulatory barriers to small-scale, house‑scale multifamily housing, was presented by Jennifer Settle of Opticos and city planner Alyssa Pemberton. \"The goal here today is to really highlight, some of the key takeaways and pieces that are in the missing middle housing study for Bloomington,\" Settle told the council during the presentation.

Council members and several members of the public pressed staff and the consultant for more information about community engagement, specific implementation steps and whether the study would force immediate code changes. City Manager Jeff Jurgens said the resolution before council would \"direct staff to say, you're on the right path. We think you did what we asked you to do. Now please go figure out how to implement it,\" and emphasized that any specific text amendments would still require hearings and planning‑commission review.

Public commenters offered sharply different views. Resident Jackie Beyer urged removal or deferral of a resolution that would adopt the report's findings and recommendations, saying the document would \"direct the city to change the code so that housing in this report can be developed by right. That means the developments will get no review, no public hearing, no input from the community.\" By contrast, Dakota Black, a renter who supported the study, told council that zoning reform \"can spur more small scale and local developers to invest here\" and help produce housing options for young people and seniors.

Council members raised process questions. Council member Montney asked for details about the two stakeholder sessions Opticos convened and who attended; Pemberton said staff invited neighborhood associations and industry stakeholders and that 14 people attended one of the sessions. Several members said the council had different priorities in prior discussions—such as housing rehabilitation programs—and wanted assurance those items were not being displaced.

Opticos recommended a range of actions including: mapping existing and potential walkable centers for targeted code changes, clarifying the comprehensive plan to specify what densities and building forms are desired in different contexts, lowering barriers such as minimum lot area and parking minimums for house‑scale multifamily, and performing visual and financial feasibility testing before finalizing code changes. Settle described the report as \"a starting point, a toolkit or a guidebook to get the conversation started and to understand where Bloomington can start.\" She said communities commonly use testing and outreach so residents can visualize outcomes before code amendments are drafted.

After extended discussion the council voted on a motion to table the resolution \"to be rescheduled later.\" The motion passed on a roll call with Council members Kearns, Ward, Hendricks and Scott voting yes; the measure was therefore tabled indefinitely.

The council did not adopt any code changes at the meeting. Staff and the consultant said more testing, targeted outreach and financial feasibility work were expected before any zoning text amendments would be drafted for public hearing.

Looking ahead, Opticos and staff recommended steps that include design and financial testing of sample code changes, clearer mapping in the comprehensive plan of where different housing forms are acceptable, and targeted community education to explain tradeoffs such as reduced parking in walkable areas. Council members asked staff to return with more targeted materials and time for broader review before taking the next step.","Council members heard a presentation of a consultant report recommending zoning and code changes to encourage small-scale, “missing middle” housing, then voted to table consideration indefinitely amid requests for more testing, outreach and clarity about implementation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Stagehands union urges Bloomington to require local labor and safety inspections for TNT festival

Advocates urge Bloomington to regulate massage businesses, citing illicit‑spa trafficking concerns

Council debate over incentive for Greentop Grocery ends with ordinance ruled not passed

Bloomington council approves $33 million water bond plan; officials say it is unrelated to dredging

Bloomington council tables Opticos "missing middle" housing report after heated questions