[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6032017,"mediaKeyId","5461843-62cd90133624a65cbf1e46105302b453","parentId",5461843,"title","Residents urge city action on trash, vacant lots and suspected squatting; neighborhood cleanups underway","audioSeconds",842,"startMs",2535000,"endMs",3377000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5461843-62cd90133624a65cbf1e46105302b453&start=2535&end=3377","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5461843-62cd90133624a65cbf1e46105302b453/thumbnail_2535000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6032017/Muncie-City/Delaware-County/Indiana/Residents-urge-city-action-on-trash-vacant-lots-and-suspected-squatting-neighborhood-cleanups-underway","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6032017-96dfa1e2af581fdc0aa9c0fe91dee3e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164951&Signature=Tl8KdIrZTVT7KLLZmuyQxGKx~jyHCJ6MX5p8fVDq0HOcJ-~aXOAntJmX-4pzIgc8v0SF7wE1LFNQNIT3lbs~aK1MQCMwrMbgnKx-NsuOhg8vyZWVTDpF1A~2ju4yBe8ay9RlxXm4N~8V~U4mk5PEvPleSUgb8buCG6n3c8WGHtBPgtSgTMdZHxonXX3LayjtkbYFQHKlpSwdnw5I7K7zs1z4VIy3AUd0PrZr5yAYgBjpWxJM7JJgOZ77FMNm~9M-7vGnQ3lYL3P-z6Ox3XeW0xnIV5meO2bgA6tF0xUSzQFmrnSahDZVyunTDrsDd8D9L3St~KzTjk5yMdTW6U37hA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Muncie, IN","date","2025-05-06T00:00:00Z","article","Several neighborhood leaders and residents spoke during public comment at the Muncie Common Council meeting on May 5 about ongoing trash and safety problems in their neighborhoods and asked the city for help.

Janetta Presley, a Thomas Park-Avondale neighborhood board member, said volunteers collected 28 large bags of trash from the fence row in front of a city-owned lot near her home and asked the city to address ongoing dumping on that property. \"It makes our neighborhood look horrible,\" Presley said, describing repeated cleanups on multiple blocks and urging city action on the lot she said is owned by the city.

Courtney Marsh, identified as Southside neighborhood president, asked council members and volunteers to help with scheduled neighborhood cleanups, noting multiple neighborhoods are organizing pickup days and that the Muncie Sanitary District has posted a schedule online to coordinate efforts.

Brian Shaw, a neighborhood association volunteer, said he is following a potential redevelopment project and encouraged neighbors to attend MRC (redevelopment commission) meetings for details on properties that may be acquired or developed.

A resident identifying herself as Amy Duff (address given in public comment) reported an occupied-but-powerless house near 13th and Elm where she and neighbors suspect drug activity and large numbers of people entering and leaving the property. She told councilors utilities were disconnected and that police and code enforcement had been contacted but that the situation continued. Councilman Garrett offered to meet with her after the meeting and said he would follow up with building and code enforcement staff.

Council members and city staff acknowledged neighborhood volunteer efforts and the need for targeted city enforcement on problem properties. No formal council action was taken at the meeting; council members pledged follow-up and encouraged residents to continue coordinated neighborhood cleanups.

Residents announced several scheduled neighborhood cleanups, including dates in Morningside and Southside neighborhoods, and asked for volunteer support.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Muncie City Council Meeting May 5th 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents told the council about neighborhood cleanups and persistent problems with trash, a large city-owned lot, and a vacant house with alleged illegal activity; officials pledged follow-up from building inspection and council members.","taxTitle","Muncie City, Delaware County, Indiana","taxId",4306,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6032021,"Muncie council adopts street, zoning and salary ordinances; controller clarifies opioid funds appropriation",261,1373000,1634000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5461843-62cd90133624a65cbf1e46105302b453&start=1373&end=1634","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5461843-62cd90133624a65cbf1e46105302b453/thumbnail_1373000.jpg","/articles/6032021/Muncie-City/Delaware-County/Indiana/Muncie-council-adopts-street-zoning-and-salary-ordinances-controller-clarifies-opioid-funds-appropriation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6032021-d12a56317260360d711f4876ac5478e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164951&Signature=kfRqD53ac5ExyesodjmT9iBYX4wqpsTbzhOvVMhGEi6bbtVkaKQAqcCJoHNoSrJU2gGXYPu-qOBNuSCkmYO4F~XY2smMJpxdm3mQOIioSnE1uozUnsNyo-S1ojx9Vno8W3OmUkgPS6saV0ojWY67zBqMUixR3IT2gpDJMGkfjzbfa~ZhtQgJ4h9rOuoMivAeFrOo3qMRbybpj~0giZvuxfPh1TLXQGpqr1OP86jw0j~BYriscj-W59NiiXSJ~TbUejdqVHXI08vhh4nSJKZg2aIZJiIH4l2tk4xPYtAYPXxsDnT~pfR6bhTpSyZHbc6vSaRVfX7J6J4S4zloil9k1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Muncie Common Council voted on multiple ordinances at its May 5 meeting, approving an alley vacation, a zoning change and a salary ordinance while introducing technical amendments to the city’s floodplain code.

Ordinance 13-25, to vacate a portion of a public alley at 2619 West Ethel Avenue, was moved, seconded and adopted by roll call after a property owner’s attorney explained the alley is an unimproved grassy area. Ordinance 15-25, which rezones property at 3300 North Milton Street from R-3 residential to BD variety business, was also adopted after motions and roll-call votes recorded at the meeting.

Council members spent more time on Ordinance 16-25, which amends ordinance 33-24 to set maximum salaries for appointed officers and employees for 2025. Matt Waggley, deputy controller, told councilors there had been a misunderstanding about available opioid-settlement funds: \"we thought the opioid funds were like the ARP funds where multiple years were appropriated at once, and that's not the case with these funds. So if any of them are to be expended this year, we would need to do additional appropriations,\" he said.

Council discussion on the salary ordinance also flagged a personnel line described colloquially as a \"paver position\" that council members said does not yet exist in either the parks or street department budgets. Officials agreed to amend the ordinance to add the position or the appropriate line item before funds are expended and to provide clearer salary and staffing details before the next meeting.

Ordinance 17-25, correcting a scrivener’s error in the City of Muncie floodplain management code (chapter 159) that misstated the entity referenced in the special flood hazard area definition, was introduced at the meeting and will return for adoption in a later session.

Council also discussed a vacant ethics commission appointment; the mayor reported the prior appointee stepped down for medical reasons and said the commission position must be filled by a Democrat, per the requirements stated at the meeting.

Recorded motions and roll calls were made on the ordinances; the meeting transcript contains roll-call confirmations for adopting several of the measures. No new appropriations from opioid-settlement funds were executed at the meeting; staff said additional appropriation ordinances would be needed before spending those funds in 2025.","The council approved several ordinances including an alley vacation, zoning change, and salary ordinance; the deputy controller clarified that opioid funds have not been pre‑appropriated and any expenditure this year will require further appropriations. Councilors also identified a missing 'paver' position line to be added by amendment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6032026,"Council adopts ordinance updating code for West Park skate park; parks board says opening date not yet set",357,2049000,2406000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5461843-62cd90133624a65cbf1e46105302b453&start=2049&end=2406","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5461843-62cd90133624a65cbf1e46105302b453/thumbnail_2049000.jpg","/articles/6032026/Muncie-City/Delaware-County/Indiana/Council-adopts-ordinance-updating-code-for-West-Park-skate-park-parks-board-says-opening-date-not-yet-set","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6032026-ef1d3b0a9e4e9f1c56326a6d20a41ad2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164951&Signature=S2Lb6YyJQjyUVQfI9kQP2ynkSvXxGBft6fqfXB6i1l6ZnWeMXuQMu53lZTtwjxhiFhbtuC-colgheEd98ABAGJX8Ca7HRIP9wI6DZvkO3NIc9hWotmNPJ1YPUr9WSMjpAADe973Wf1tEL3uzPNpkBDQ5nj7G3OhmyA03YUceOu19jvus9A1ZXTkV~RMNdfVy4h2rO2CLieb5NI78EXU-gTow~oMiuBfcE6dnVlJntmvagJgrP4BRWtEE7bPY9dSohVUt-ljDn-DkQk0U8q9BSijoZ0qFrpW1w7kWQ3iZvs~dQpTAmHMMbbfU-JWVfO7QJqWupxuJkwY04fnM6~J9tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Muncie Common Council approved Ordinance 18-25 on May 5, amending chapters 92 and 95 of the City of Muncie code of ordinances to address operations at a planned skate park at West Park (Westside Park). The measure was brought to council after the parks board recommended the rules and signage.

\"We're well on the way on the skate park and kind of reviewing the rules and the ordinances there,\" said Brad Marshall, president of the Muncie Parks and Recreation Board, who attended to answer council questions. Marshall said the parks board had approved the proposed rules and that signage — including warnings about skate at your own risk — is planned for the site.

Council members asked whether signs would be posted and when the park would open. Marshall said the board has not been provided with a firm completion or opening date. \"We've requested that, and have not been provided with an open date yet,\" he said.

Council discussion addressed safety and access: members urged that when the park opens, a ribbon-cutting or community event be scheduled on a weekend to allow families to attend. One member asked whether a citywide prohibition on skateboards would affect sidewalk use; council staff said the skate-related ordinances are intended to regulate activity on city-owned park property and lots, not on public sidewalks.

The ordinance was moved and seconded at the meeting and passed by voice vote. The parks board will coordinate signage, rules and a future opening event once construction and safety reviews are complete.

No timelines for final construction or a ribbon-cutting were announced at the meeting.","The Muncie Common Council approved an ordinance amending city code ahead of the expected opening of a skate park at West Park; parks board president said rules and signage will be posted but a completion date has not been provided.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6032031,"Muncie students push repaint of Unity Bridge after community survey; railroad permission still required",432,549000,981000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5461843-62cd90133624a65cbf1e46105302b453&start=549&end=981","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5461843-62cd90133624a65cbf1e46105302b453/thumbnail_549000.jpg","/articles/6032031/Muncie-City/Delaware-County/Indiana/Muncie-students-push-repaint-of-Unity-Bridge-after-community-survey-railroad-permission-still-required","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6032031-9aaca7ae3b078bd3d618de124c03f6b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164951&Signature=gEWuLzPj3l1ie292ijNz7MRUTQ8APRI6cYIaeX9dCSJd1UhOM9UEqdGL1kcXc8otrrbR6obaW32J9lxEWCq1r~RjX7z2OjItjO~iwbgV5qo1RNpW9HshGxvMC-rGWAjE7AzoAk1wZYMo-wXA7sikrakiKEyk5aFuIwu6C7RziTwc44d-3nyhUP1S4YiLFlGLq9oeEab6f~gQb8S5Bw5UHyBQYFDtz~x5M1ESaeZPALA-Dignc2ByzaE-frcu~cbW4rIyz0cZrH4-d7MSZ482fZ4njIpxWjl9t119YBn-JbydqWaOLIH7SAgZewufDDYE0enfUaeo7MEfc~6DLGAUBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Students from the Schaeffer Leadership Academy told the Muncie Common Council on May 5 that a community survey shows strong public interest in repainting the Unity Bridge, but work cannot begin until the railroad grants permission and structural repairs are made.

\"We are here to try to make a change in our community through bridging gaps in this community, in equality by fostering equality through art,\" said Ivana, a student in the Muncie Youth Leadership Program, describing the group’s project and survey work. The students said the online survey drew more than 1,100 responses and more than 200 written comments.

The students’ presentation was led by Mitch Isaacs, executive director of the Schaeffer Leadership Academy, who said the next steps are to develop renderings and a proposal in collaboration with Muncie’s arts community and neighborhood groups before seeking permission from CSX, the railroad that owns the bridge. \"The students had hoped to be able to paint, but when Councilwoman Selby said federal offense, the students all took a step back and said, maybe we should do something else,\" Isaacs said, summarizing how the group shifted to the survey and planning work.

Councilwoman Selby and other community members described the legal and safety constraints around working on a railroad bridge. One council speaker cautioned that \"nobody is to touch the bridge because it is a federal law, and it could be a federal felony,\" and said the city is negotiating with CSX for permission. Council members and presenters also noted the bridge requires structural work — including rebar repairs — before any repainting could safely proceed.

Isaacs said the Muncie Arts and Cultural Council helped the students design the survey; he also named local partners including the A12 Coalition, Habitat for Humanity and the Industry neighborhood. He described a planned sequence: use the survey results to produce renderings with the arts community, then bring a formal proposal to the railroad for approval.

There was no formal council vote or directive recorded during the meeting. Presenters asked only that council members note the students’ work and consider community support while partners pursue approvals.

If and when CSX grants permission, presenters said they will first address the bridge’s structural defects and produce final renderings and a fundraising plan that could be used to secure volunteers or outside funding to cover repainting costs.","Students from the Schaeffer Leadership Academy presented survey results showing community support to repaint the Unity Bridge and said they are working with local arts groups while awaiting CSX permission and structural repairs before painting can proceed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge city action on trash, vacant lots and suspected squatting; neighborhood cleanups underway

Muncie council adopts street, zoning and salary ordinances; controller clarifies opioid funds appropriation

Council adopts ordinance updating code for West Park skate park; parks board says opening date not yet set

Muncie students push repaint of Unity Bridge after community survey; railroad permission still required