Bloomington City Council addresses shooting, council dispute, and data center regulations

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Bloomington City Council addressed the recent fatal shooting, a disagreement between Ward 9 Council Member Abby Scott and Ward 3 Council Member Sheila Montney and the ongoing discussion surrounding data center regulations during its meeting on Monday.

Shooting discussion and recognition of first responders

During discussion of the consent agenda, Scott raised concerns about gun violence in Bloomington, pointing to mental health and a factor.

“One of the things that we can control is funding for mental health,” Scott said. “We have learned that gun violence in our town is not due to say outside forces or gang violence coming in, but it’s from kids. It’s from kids getting access to guns and not having the ability to go ahead and de-escalate conflict, but instead escalate it to the point of violence.”

On Nov. 1, a mass shooting near Illinois Wesleyan University left one person dead, and seven others injured.

Police believe the shooting was an isolated incident with no current threat to the community. The investigation is ongoing.

Bloomington Mayor Dan Brady also addressed the recent shooting, sharing details about his visit with the family of Giana Dettloff, a freshman at North Central College who was killed in the shooting.

“[Detloff’s family] left us with these parting words, which were, ‘please catch the person or persons who killed our daughter and our sister.’ I assured them that’s exactly what we intend to do,” Brady said.

Bloomington City Manager Jeff Jurgens recognized the first responders to the shooting, thanking the Bloomington Police Department, Bloomington Fire Department, dispatchers, Illinois State Police, McLean County and the Town of Normal.

“The officer was first on the scene within a minute, and the first patients were transported to the hospital at 1:41 a.m.,” Jurgens said. “That is an incredible response. They had over 30 responders at the scene, and it’s just the type of situation no one ever wants to live through, and I can only imagine how difficult it is on our first responders responding to an incident like that, but they have done an amazing job.”

Scott raises concerns about Montney’s county board appointment

Scott pulled an item from the consent agenda on the reappointment of Montney to a county board position.

Scott said she was concerned that work with the McLean County Mental Health and Public Safety Fund Advisory Council (FAC) would be a conflict of interest as part of the Bloomington City Council.

“When I asked our corporate counsel if this could be considered a conflict of interest, the answer was yes,” Scott said. “I didn’t like being surprised by that.”

Montney said the city had been notified about her work with the county and that the majority of her work was completed “pro bono.”

“It’s unfortunate that this is a perceived conflict,” Montney said. “I did notify and reach out to advise prior to responding. I was solicited for that proposal. I did not solicit myself [for] that proposal to help and support the county’s efforts to make their services more efficient through employee engagement and empowerment.”

Brady said the appointment was his responsibility and explained the process.

“Not one person came to me to ask me to consider them for an appointment to this board,” Brady said. “I went forward and asked if member Montney would continue to serve. She said, ‘Is there anyone else that would like to serve?’ I said, ‘No, no one’s come forward.’ So therefore, I wrote a letter to the county board chairwoman in August of this year, and asked her to reappoint member Montney.”

The appointment passed 5-4, with Ward 1 Council Member Jenna Kearns, Ward 6 Council Member Cody Hendricks, Ward 7 Council Member Mollie Ward and Scott voting against it.

Data centers update

Jurgens announced a data center public hearing on Nov. 16, at 4 p.m. at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

“The process of the public hearing will essentially be to receive an overview of those revised regulations,” Jurgens said. “After the first public hearing, there was a lot of feedback. There were requests for changes. Staff has incorporated a lot of that, so they will go over that.”

The public hearing will include expert testimony.

A meeting on Nov. 23 will have the opportunity for public testimony.

“We are likely to come back and ask the city council to consider extending the moratorium,” Jurgens said.

Bloomington City Council passed a six-month pause on large data centers in May.

During public comment, Bloomington resident Adam Heenan urged the council to approve a moratorium on large-scale data centers.

“Last Tuesday, 21,851 Bloomingtonians cast their unequivocal support to prevent large-scale data centers in our city limits.” Heenan said.

Heenan was referring to an advisory referendum question on the Bloomington ballot for the Midterm Election, where 78% of the county voted to implement a moratorium.

The outcome of referendum questions only expresses voter intent, and does not mandate elected officials to act in any way.

“It is incumbent upon this body to finally pass a moratorium on large-scale data centers. We don’t want them,” Heenan said. “Six months ago, we put this issue to bed. Now, it’s time to bury it.”

Ward 2 Council Member Micheal Mosley encouraged residents to attend the upcoming public hearing.

“It’s an opportunity to hear different views, as well as the follow-up action of the experts that they’re recalling or having come back to answer some questions, and so is really insightful,” Mosley said.

The Bloomington City Council meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.