Mayor Mark Kruzan announces NeighborLink

One-stop shopping for all neighborhood issues!

Hello!

In my recent State of the City speech, I outlined an initiative I thought you might find of interest and that I hope will help improve the quality of life for residents in all our community's neighborhoods.

One concern I've heard from neighborhood residents is that they sometimes aren't sure who to contact when there's an issue city government needs to address. For instance, if a sign is vandalized, should a call be placed to the police, Public Works Department, or to the Housing & Neighborhood Development Department?

I'm pleased to announce that the City of Bloomington has established one-stop shopping for all neighborhood issues. We've established a new tool to allow for fast and easy reporting of any and all challenges a neighborhood may face. It's called NeighborLink. NeighborLink is literally a link between neighborhoods and all City departments. This tool will allow for neighbors to communicate with the City in one central way and place. It also will allow City departments to efficiently organize, track and solve issues reported by residents.

Here's how it works: whenever you see an issue that needs to be reported, you can call NeighborLink Coordinator Vickie Provine at 349.3581. Vickie will ensure that your concern is channeled to the right place and followup to make sure it's addressed. You also can visit www.bloomington.in.gov/neighborlink to describe the situation, leave contact information, or even to upload a photo. Finally, you also can visit NeighborLink using the City of Bloomington's mobile site on your cellphone at www.bloomington.in.gov/m .

Please always feel free to let us know what you think of NeighborLink and how we can improve upon it. Thanks for helping to make Bloomington the most livable community possible!

Mayor Mark Kruzan

Image of NEIGHBORLINK courtesy of the city of Bloomington

What Long-Term Projects Should our Neighborhood Take on?

There are a number of long-term projects that the neighborhood could take on. Take a look at the list below and let us know what would be most important to you. If you have other ideas, please do share them!


-Rogers streetscape enhancements
-Patterson landscaping and enhancement
-Allen Street bike boulevard & Safe-to-Schools pathway
-Madison St. south edge cleanup (ASPLUND lot)
-Fairview St. sidewalks
-Fairview St. traffic speed mediation
-Madison St. storm drain and curbs
-Morton St. (b-Line) rezoning (2nd St. to Grimes Ln.)
-B-Line edges rezoning, Grimes Ln. to Tapp Rd.


Please share your comments and ideas with us either at the next neighborhood meeting or by contacting one of the executive committee members.


map image courtesy of the city of Bloomington

Do You Have Ideas for Future Neighborhood Grants?

Every year, our neighborhood applies for grants that allow us to do enhancements and improvements around the neighborhood. Through Neighborhood Assistance Grants and Bloomington Small and Simple grants,we have gotten: limestone planters, benches along Rogers St., street sign toppers, doggie-doo bag dispensers, and the restoration of WPA sidewalks along W. Wylie and W. Dixie. What are your ideas? Share them with us at our next meeting or send your ideas to a neighborhood executive committee member.

Put Your Hat in the Ring!

We need new faces who care about their neighborhood to step up and participate. Please consider running for a place on our 5-person executive committee this summer. Duties and time obligations are limited but critical to the continued success of our neighborhood.

Your McDoel Neighborhood Association Representatives are:

Jack Baker jack.ajb@gmail.com

Jeannie Beyer jeanniebeyers@att.net

Elizabeth Cox-Ash paul-liz@bluemarble.net

Matt Press mattpress@comcast.net

Jenn Will jennjwill@hotmail.com

Neighborhood Litter Patrol Saturday April 16

McDoel Gardens needs a spring cleaning! Join your neighbors on April 16th for a neighborhood litter patrol. We will be walking the neighborhood picking up debris from the streets and sidewalks. The event runs from 10 AM to noon. We will be meeting at 10 AM at the McDoel Baptist Church, where we will be handing out bags and gloves.

McDoel Baptist Church
1008 South Rogers Street




SEE YOU THERE!!

District and City-wide Candidates to speak to McDoel Gardens residents

The McDoel Gardens Neighborhood Association have invited candidates in the upcoming primary election to speak at
their next meeting. Those invited include the candidates for mayor, city council at-large and the district 5 city council seat.


WHEN: Thurs, April 7th , 6:30 PM

WHERE: McDoel Baptist Church, 1008 S. Rogers St., west entrance.


See you there!

Guest Speaker Ann Kreilkamp about Green Acres Community Gardens @ our next meeting!

Ann Kreilkamp from the Green Acres Neighborhood Community Garden (GANG) will be the guest speaker at our Dec. 3 neighborhood meeting.  She will be reporting (with pictures!) on the process that Green Acres has gone through to establish and maintain this garden, including the relationship that has unfolded with the city's planning department.  Many Green Acres neighbors have consistently come together to make this garden a great success, and have even held a series of permaculture workshops to increase their knowledge & enhance the community aspect of the garden. 

Check out their blog to learn more about the work they are doing:
http://tendrepress.com/archives/category/urban-farmstead

Many neighbors in McDoel Gardens have expressed interest in the possibility of creating a community space of some sort in our own neighborhood (garden, compost, park, or otherwise).  This presentation will be a good opportunity to hear about and consider the realities of executing & maintaining such a project.  We hope to see you all there:

Thursday, December 3 @ 6:30 in the basement of the McDoel Baptist Church on the corner of Rogers & Allen