Monroe County evicts homeless from Thomson property encampment

The Monroe County Commissioners this week voted to spend up to $42,000 to remove hazardous material from county-owned land recently considered as a location for a new jail.

But when they approved the appropriation during their May 1 meeting, the three commissioners failed to mention the clean-up at the former Thomson Consumer Electronics site included moving out the people in a homeless camp on the property.

On April 23, the commissioners issued an eviction notice to people living on the site, warning the encampment would be cleared in one week.

The contract with Bio One Northwest, an Indianapolis-based company specializing in homeless encampment clean-ups, was “for removal and proper disposal of hazardous materials and general garbage in multiple locations at Thomson Park,” meeting documents said. There was no reference to the homeless camp.

Bio One's contract with Monroe County said the clean-up, which started April 29, was expected to take seven to 12 days at a daily cost of $3,500. It specified that personal property found at the site could be claimed within a week at the Monroe County Highway Garage.

During the May 1 meeting, commissioners’ administrator Angie Purdie said the county had used Bio One in the past “in cleaning up particular properties.”

There was no discussion among the commissioners or public comment about the latest expenditure and no mention it was for a homeless camp clean-up.

“I appreciate this was arranged quickly,” commissioners’ president Julie Thomas said before moving on to the next agenda item.

Concerns about human waste and used needles

Purdie said the commissioners heard from residents about health concerns regarding human waste and needles entering a stream. Once the reports were confirmed, healthcare and social service providers worked with camp occupants to seek other housing, she said.

She said six to eight people were still on site when the clean-up began and they left without incident.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Phil Parker said on Thursday that Bio One's work continues.

“From there, county highway (department) will be removing refuse and debris from the site over the coming days,” Parker said. “Our role in this entire process is to provide on-site security to those completing the removal of the camps.”

Bloomington closes down Switchyard Park encampments

Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson ordered the clearing of several encampments adjacent to Switchyard Park that occurred on May 1 as well.

In that instance, police resource officers visited the camps for a month, offering services and telling people they had to move out by the deadline.

It was the city’s third homeless camp closure since Thomson took office in January. The city uses its own workers and equipment to remove debris left behind.

Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Commissioners authorize $42k clean-up of homeless camp on Thomson land