A decision on a proposed parking lot beside St. Peters Lutheran Church in downtown Columbus again stalled at Columbus City Council last night, with the council deadlocking over the issue.

St. Peters is asking to rezone four properties along Fourth Street from residential and commercial community uses to public facilities use. The properties, just east of Chestnut Street would be turned into a parking lot with just over 40 parking spaces to support the neighboring church, school and outreach center.

Councilwoman Elaine Hilber said she remains concerned that the idea of a new parking lot in the downtown area goes directly against the conclusions of the Envision Columbus planning group. She said the plan explicitly says more housing is needed to revitalize the downtown area, but at the first opportunity opposing council members want to approve even more parking space.

When it came to a vote, Hilber, Tom Dell and Jerone Wood voted against the rezoning, while Frank Miller, Tim Shuffet and Dave Bush voted for the change. Councilwoman Grace Kestler recused herself from the vote because her family is affiliated with the church. With the 3-3 split, council continued to make no decision on the issue.

The council did vote to stop hearing the proposal at future meetings. Ultimately, the request will default to the plan commission recommendation, which looked positively on the issue, after 90 days.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools are adding a new number to their COVID-19 calculations — the percentage of mask compliance in the schools.

At this week’s school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts gave an update on the district’s COVID-19 statistics and the current state of the school district’s mitigation efforts.

One of the metrics the school district has planned to track is the percentage of those in the buildings wearing their masks, and wearing them properly Roberts said. The first tallies are now available, he said.

Administrators have tallied 95 percent compliance across the schools, he said.

The majority of those tallied without a mask were actually wearing a masks incorrectly, such as below their nose, he said. There were also instances where the youngest students had masks that were simply to large for their face, Roberts said.

Roberts said that the district, and the community, is current seeing either no spread or minimal spread of the disease. The district staff and students have not had a positive test result for COVID-19 since before Aug. 31st, he said.

Overall the district has had 22 positive test results — 14 students and 8 staff members. However, only four of those were students or staff that were actually in the school buildings.

Roberts said the biggest challenge is finding ways to maintain physical distancing in the school buildings.

A Columbus man is under arrest, accused of entering a home on State Road 7 with a gun.

Bartholomew County deputies were called to the 11000 block of State Road 7 at about 4:23 Saturday afternoon on a report of a suspicious person in a stolen vehicle. The victims said that the man, identified as 28-year-old Shane Mosier, entered their home but they were able to get him out before deputies arrived.

Deputies confirmed that the vehicle had been stolen and arrested Mosier on charges including residential entry, theft or receiving stolen property, carrying a handgun without a permit, giving a false identity statement, resisting law enforcement along with two outstanding Bartholomew County warrants.

Sheriff Matt Myers said his deputies are seeing an increase in dealing with armed suspects.

Bartholomew County Commissioners are considering changes to the county zoning ordinances that would regulate some businesses that operate next to homes.

Jeff Bergman, director of the city-county planning department said that the proposal was being made to more closely align the city and county zoning rules. The changes would affect businesses in the county that are zoned as CN or Commercial Neighborhood, which are smaller businesses in largely residential areas. Bergman said that the zoning category is used sparsely in the county, but mentioned examples in Newbern, Waymansville and Grammar.

The city of Columbus has been going through a process to more closely regulate those sorts of businesses. He said the suggestions for the county represent a pared down list from the city changes. Under the proposal, which was presented at Monday’s commissioners meeting, changes would include making uses inconsistent with a neighborhood setting into conditional uses or even prohibited entirely in the CN zoning districts. That would include uses such as fitness centers, night clubs, bars, parking lots, athletic complexes, and liquor stores .

It would also prohibit businesses with drive up windows, reduce the number of signs allowed, and require things such as bicycle racks and connections to sidewalks if they are already in the area.

Tony London, who is running unopposed for a seat on the county commissioners in November, cautioned that in these difficult times for businesses, such changes might make it harder for a business to succeed. Chris West, the German Township trustee, questioned whether the change would prohibit his office from establishing a drive-through service for trustee’s clients.

Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz said that the issue is of balancing the needs of business owners, and the residential neighbors. Commissioner Carl Lienhoop used the ZwanzigZ restaurant in downtown Columbus as a perfect example of the tensions that arise between a neighborhood business and residential neighbors and the concessions that must be made.

The county plan commission recommended approval in July with a 7-1 vote. Commissioners Monday decided to give their first approval to the ordinance changes. It will come back for a final decision next Monday.

You can read more about the proposal here (PDF Download)

Indiana’s Chief Justice has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the state Supreme Court.

The court announced today that Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush tested positive on Sunday after a family member also tested positive.

Rush immediately notified her colleagues, staff, and other government officials. Her public schedule will be adjusted as needed. Rush began self-isolating immediately and will continue to work remotely while quarantined.

Rush has been working remotely and has not been in the State House since Sept. 1st.

The Indiana Supreme Court and Clerk’s Office remain open, with continued adjustments in place to protect the health and well-being of employees and the community.