Indy Documenters Janna Thomas (from left) and Kayla Bledsoe attend a meeting of the Marion County election board Friday, April 5, 2024, in Indianapolis. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy

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Indy Documenters attend local government meetings every week in Marion County and report on what happened. Last week, they covered the Citizens’ Police Complaint Board, the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission, and the Marion County Election Board.

Citizens’ Police Complaint Board

At the April 9 Citizens’ Police Complaint Board meeting, Documenter Sarah Herrera reported that the board reviewed eight citizen complaints against Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers. 

Takeaway

Most of the complaints were exonerated or not sustained. One of which involved Officer Cameron Taylor. Taylor was accused of not following protocol with a domestic violence call. He didn’t request a statement from the victim’s daughter, who witnessed the incident. 

Taylor said, “I did not do a very good job.” The board voted to exonerate the complaint.

What’s Next?

The next Citizens’ Police Complaint Board meeting is at 6 p.m., May 13 at the City-County Building at 200 East Washington Street.

Read more from Sarah’s notes here.


Marion County Election Board

At the April 5 Marion County Election Board meeting, Documenter Kayla Bledsoe reported the board recently approved $400,280 for election day staffing, equipment, and general legal expenses.

Takeaway

Indianapolis Public Schools filed a voting boundary redistricting plan with the Marion County Clerk’s office. This plan claimed parcels outside of the district and left out parcels within their district. 

Patrick Becker, deputy director of the Marion County Election Board, said, “What we’re looking at today within the redistricting plan are technical corrections that could be made within the plan. Is the board or the voter registration office allowed to make those changes at this point?”

Becker said state law contemplates redistricting, and when it can be done. The time frame around technical corrections isn’t clear.

103 incorrect parcels were identified. These will need to be corrected before the general election in November.

What’s Next?

The next Marion County Election Board meeting is at 9 a.m., May 7 at the Election Service Center at 3737 East Washington Street.

Read more from Kayla’s notes here.


Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission

At the April 3 Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission hearing, Documenter Thomas Beeler reported that the commission met to vote on old business in the Herron Morton, Fletcher Place, and Cottage Home neighborhoods.

Takeaway

The board discussed updates to a building located at 1806 North Alabama Street. 

Cornelius Duvall, a representative of the Land Use Committee of Herron-Morton Place, spoke against the continued application of the building. He said several structures in the neighborhood are in worse condition than the one at 1806 North Alabama Street.

“2110 North Alabama, long abandoned, has a tree of paradise growing in its front parlor,” he said. “150 East 16th Street, also abandoned, was defaced while they widened 16th Street. Those are just two examples.”

The board added a measure to preserve the building through photographs. They will be stored in IHPC records before voting to proceed with demolition.

What’s Next?

The next Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission meeting is at 5:30 p.m., May 1 at the City-County Building at 200 East Washington Street.

Read more from Thomas’s notes here.

Want to join Documenters? Learn more here.

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