Case Date:

5/22/2025

Subject: Formal Complaint and Damage Notification – Fallen Tree Incident at the corner of 700 Ashlynn Park Dr. & 300 W. 11th St. Bloomington, IN near Upland Brewery. Dear City of Bloomington Officials, We (Katherine & Renas Van Lue) are writing to formally report an incident involving a hazardous tree that resulted in significant damage to our parked vehicle. The tree in question, located near the sidewalk and parking meter of 700 Ashlynn Park Dr. & 300 W. 11th St. Bloomington, IN ( near Upland Brewery )dropped a large bough on our car on the night of May 21,2025 at approximately 10:40pm. This location is marked by a clearly deteriorating and partially dead tree, which appears to have been neglected for a significant period. As seen in the attached daytime Google Maps Street View (screenshot dated 2025) and our personal photographs taken at the time of the incident as well as the next day during daylight hours, the tree shows clear signs of rot and structural instability. It is evident that this tree posed a danger to public safety and property, especially in an area with active parking meters and pedestrian traffic. The incident has resulted in physical damage to our vehicle, which was legally parked by the curb at a paid meter. A section of the tree broke off and landed directly on the front of our car, causing not only structural damage but also significant inconvenience and cost. Two witnesses were at the scene. This situation could have easily led to personal injury had someone been present near the vehicle at the time. Given the foreseeable and preventable nature of this hazard, we respectfully urge the City of Bloomington to: 1. Investigate the incident and confirm the ownership and maintenance responsibility of the tree in question. 2. Take immediate action to remove or professionally inspect the remaining portion of the tree to prevent further harm. 3. Reimburse or assist with damage-related expenses caused by the City’s negligence in maintaining public safety. safety. We would like to note that after the incident, we called police to report what had happened and police just said to contact our insurance instead. No police report was made. Our insurance company has been notified and a claim has been filed. We have not been given any estimates of the damage. We are awaiting for an adjuster to come and view the damage. Please let me know the next steps in initiating a formal claim for property damage and what further documentation may be required. We are reachable by phone at 812-617-5016 or 773-564-3266 and by email which is provided at the top of this letter. We would appreciate timely communication. Thank you for your attention to this serious safety matter. We hope the City takes swift and responsible action to prevent similar incidents in the future. Sincerely, Katherine and Renas Van Lue

Case Date:

5/20/2025

Two sets of wires that are loose and not connected to anything. They are hanging on two parts of the fence in the back alley behind 15th Street behind 315 and 319. If they can be taken down that would be appreciated.

Case Date:

5/20/2025

Apparently the string used to bundle and carry all of my yard waste to the curb was not strong enough to meet the requirements for the sanitation department. Is there a particular type of string recommended so after the bundles sit in the ROW for 2 weeks I can make sure they can endure the process to make it into the truck? Thanks!

Case Date:

5/17/2025

For the last 25 YEARS I have complained to the city how the owner will not cut back weeds that have grown into trees or her other 8-15 feet weeds all around the property and the city has done nothing to make her keep the yard up . Now for the last 10 years she has had Bamboo that is overtaking her yard and starting to creep into my yard. I have tried to speak with her about doing something about her yard and she does nothing.The Bamboo she has is now illigal in Bloomington.

Case Date:

4/19/2024

To whom it may concern, The following describes multiple code violations from Chandler Automotive that I noticed/experienced during the process of retrieving my towed car from their site. I have video/audio evidence of the violations, and I would prefer if someone reached out to me so I can submit these as proof. It will only allow me to upload images through this submission form. Thank you: BMC 4.32.140(b): Called the number at around 5:30pm to ask to retrieve car, employee stated that she will not be able to get my car until about 9:30/10pm. This is in violation of part 1 of section B, as well as violation of part 2 of section B, since this was well outside the sixty minutes. I recorded the phone call where the employee told me 10pm. Please reach out if you would like this evidence. BMC 4.32.140(f): The invoice, see attached, is not itemized correctly pursuant to the requirements of I.C. 24-14-5-1. The invoice is missing/incorrectly accounted for the following: - I.C. 24-14-5-1(4)(D) - No VIN number. - I.C. 24-14-5-1(4)(C) - No year. - I.C. 24-14-5-1(5) - License plate # is incorrect. - I.C. 24-14-5-1(C) - No explanation is given for the additional charges incurred, which is required here. BMC 4.32.130(a)(2) - The company attempted to charge me $185 for the tow. One $25 charge being a go jack fee, and the other being a dollies fee. Since a go jack fee is a special fee, the total for those should not be $50 according to the code, but a maximum of $25. They corrected this upon me providing them a copy of the code. However, I have audio recording of them attempting to charge me that amount, and being unable to explain these additional charges. BMC 4.32.120(a) - As stated above, the towing company failed to comply with applicable state law in the invoice. BMC 4.32.120(e) - The vehicle was not able to be claimed upon calling at 5:30pm on 4/18/2024. Please reach out for a copy of the evidence as I am not able to upload it here. These laws were created by the legislature with the intention to be construed strictly due to the stated purpose of this chapter being to protect the public from unconscionable practices (BMC 4.32.010). Please reach out to me if you have any additional questions. I plan on following up in fourteen (14) days if I have not heard back from the city on this matter by that time. Thank you for taking the time to read this complaint, and I appreciate your enforcement of the laws of our wonderful city. Respectfully, Matt Shelton