By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – The mayors of Bloomington and Normal updated Illinois State University’s governing board on some of the key issues impacting ISU’s host communities, including a particularly contentious debate expected to be decided this evening by the Bloomington City Council.

Bloomington mayor Tari Renner told ISU trustees Friday he expects Bloomington aldermen will support creation of a civilian board to review citizens’ complaints against the police.

Renner views the panel as another set of eyes to advise the police chief and city manager on internal investigations.

Renner said other cities found their civilian boards have acted as a mediator for disputes involving police and residents.

“Sometimes an apology stops the problem. Sometimes, it’s a little more than that, and then obviously other times, it’s not,” said Renner.

“But, this is definitely something that no mayor I spoke with that adopted it said they thought it hurt community, minority, and police relationships. Mostly, they helped,” Renner said.

Normal Mayor Chris Koos expects ISU will benefit from Rivian, the company that’s taken over the shuttered Mitsubishi plant to manufacture electric cars.

“They have offered to Heartland College, to Unit 5, and to Illinois State University, resources in terms of the brainpower that they’re bringing to their manufacturing operation,” said Koos.

“They want to be part of this community, and they want to be an active part of this community,” he added.

Koos said Rivian plans to begin making electric vehicles in 2019.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].