Bloomington City Council examines changes to vision, mission and values of the council

BloomingtonCityCouncil2015JR
The Bloomington City Council is looking at changes to its vision, mission and values. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – The vision, mission and values of the Bloomington City Council may change soon.

Aldermen discussed the issue during a work session at the council meeting this week. Alderwoman Diana Hauman said the group working on the city’s values had several to consider.

“We focused it down to three: Service centered, results drive and inclusive,” Hauman said.

Some aldermen, such as Karen Schmidt, had an issue with the proposed vision for the city: “To lead, steward and uplift the City of Bloomington.”

“There’s something about it that doesn’t convey to me, like maybe what (alderman) Kevin (Lower) was saying, that there’s a business component to our mission,” Schmidt said. “This feels almost spiritual.”

There’s no timetable for any changes to be made.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…