The Monroe County Sheriff’s office said Thursday a homeless camp was cleared Tuesday by police and the MCSO after getting calls from nearby businesses complaining about individuals trespassing and causing damage.
The building owners of the westside Fresh Thyme market, which is in the City of Bloomington, and Cowden Construction, located in Monroe County, were the callers, according to the MCSO.
Several residents of the camp told the Bloomingtonian Tuesday that law enforcement arrived at the camp around 2 p.m., and gave them a few hours to leave, or be arrested for trespassing.
Chief Deputy Russell Brummett said the MCSO and Bloomington Police originally asked residents at the camp to have their possessions packed by 5 p.m. but agreed with all parties to give them until 7 p.m.
The land where the Fresh Thyme is located is owned by Bryan Rental Inc & Crane Llc, with the following address: “C/o Lakes Venture Llc 209 Blm 2650 Warrenville Rd Suite 700 Downers Grove, Il 60515.”
The land where the homeless camp was located is owned by Cowden, Donald L Revocable Trust with an address listed as: “Po Box 2177 Bloomington, In 47402.”
It’s unclear from GIS info which parcel of land next to the homeless camp is owned by a construction company. The land directly to the north of the site belongs to an owner listed with a Florida address.
Many of the parcels of land in the area are owned by several different limited liability corporations, and it’s unclear in most cases who owns the land. Other plots in the area are owned by corporations, trusts, or individuals.
The Bloomington Police Department told the Bloomingtonian Tuesday’s call was a county call, but they had sent several officers and a resource officer to aid the Sheriff’s Office.
County policies affecting the unhoused are the following:
“CHAPTER 257
Camping, Littering, and Storage of Personal Property
on Monroe County Government Property
257-1. Unlawful Camping.
Except as otherwise provided by ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person to camp, occupy camp facilities, or use camp paraphernalia on any property owned or controlled by Monroe County, Indiana, government, including, without limitation:
a. Any park;
b. Any roadway; or,
c. Any parking lot or other property, improved or unimproved,
without the express permission of the Board of Commissioners of the County of Monroe, Indiana.
257-2. Unlawful Littering and Storage of Personal Property.
Except as otherwise provided by ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person to place trash, garbage, or solid waste or to store personal property, including, for example, camp facilities and camp paraphernalia on any property owned or controlled by Monroe County, Indiana, government, including, without limitation:
a. Any park;
b. Any roadway; or,
c. Any parking lot or other property, improved or unimproved,
without the express permission of the Board of Commissioners of the County of Monroe, Indiana.
257-3. Removal and Disposal of Unlawfully Stored Personal Property.
Personal property that is stored in violation of Section 3 above, shall be removed and taken to the Monroe County Highway Garage. Prior to removal of the property, notice will be posted of the intent to remove the property at least 72 hours prior to removal. The notice shall contain: the date and time the property will be removed; the location to which the property will be removed; the telephone number and name of the person to be contacted regarding the recovery of the property; and a statement that the personal property remaining on the site at the scheduled removal date and time shall be deemed abandoned and subject to disposal. Notices shall be posted at locations and in a manner reasonably calculated to effectively communicate notice to the property owners (e.g., close by the items of personal property, etc.). All property removed shall be subject to the disposal procedures set forth in Monroe County Code Sections 258-2 through 258-4. In the event the unlawful storage is deemed to consist of trash, garbage, or solid waste, or to constitute a significant health hazard, the 72 hour notification need not be given and that property may be disposed of immediately.
257-4. Definitions.
“Camp” means to pitch, erect, or occupy camp facilities, or to use camp paraphernalia, or both, for the purpose of, or in such a way as will permit remaining overnight, or parking a trailer, camper, or other vehicle for the purpose of remaining overnight.
“Camp facilities” include, but are not limited to, tents, huts, temporary shelters, lean-tos (cardboard or other materials), or vehicles.
“Camp paraphernalia” includes, but is not limited to, tarpaulins, cots, beds, hammocks, camp fires, or other cooking facilities, and similar equipment.
“Park” means those areas subject to the executive and administrative responsibility of the Monroe County Parks Board and Department.
“Recreational vehicle” means a travel trailer, motor home, truck camper, or camping trailer that is primarily designed or used as temporary living quarters, is either self-propelled or mounted on or drawn by another vehicle.
“Roadway” means any highway, lane, road, street, right-of-way, boulevard, alley, and every other way or place in Monroe County, Indiana, open as a matter of right to public travel, vehicular or pedestrian.
“Store” means to put aside or to accumulate for use when needed, to put for safekeeping, to place or leave in a location.
257-5. Violations – Penalties, Remedies, and Enforcement.
The violation of any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be a Class C Ordinance Violation. One who violates this chapter shall be subject to the following penalties and remedies: the civil penalties and terms set forth in Monroe County Code Chapter 115; and/or, an escalating scale of expulsion from the County property (e.g., expulsion for thirty days for the first violation, sixty days for the second violation, 90 days for the third violation, and so forth). Those who are found on the County property from which they were expelled, during a period of expulsion, are trespassing on the property, unless they are actively engaged in conducting County business (e.g., recording a document, attending a meeting, etc.). The provisions of this ordinance may be enforced by Monroe County Maintenance Staff, by any county employee responsible for maintaining or managing the County property, and by law enforcement officers.
257-6. Parked Recreational Vehicles Exempt.
The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to recreational vehicles parked on any roadway, on in any publicly owned parking lot or publicly owned area, improved or unimproved, if the recreational vehicle is not at that time being used as a temporary living quarters.”
