The City of Bloomington just completed renovations on a city hall bathroom that cost nearly $1 million. That spending, which used COVID relief funds, does not sit well with city council candidate Jonathan Minks.
A veteran and small business owner, Minks is running for an at-large seat on Bloomington’s city council after previously seeking an at-large seat in 2023. While he came up short two years ago, Minks is running again and wants to bring change to city spending.
In recent days, media outlets have reported that Bloomington spent $980,000 to renovate a bathroom located in a city-owned building that houses both city hall and the Bloomington Center for the Arts. The updated restroom is gender neutral and has 11 enclosed stalls.
KSTP reported that the funds used for this renovation were a part of more than $11 million received by the city via the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The renovation is reportedly one of two dozen projects the city funded with COVID relief funds.
According to Minks, the bathroom renovation is just one of several examples “that reflect a pattern of fiscal irresponsibility and a lack of oversight in how public dollars are spent.”
Criticizing the decision to spend roughly $1 million on the bathroom, Minks told Alpha News “many Bloomington schools, some dating back to the 1950s and 60s, have received little to no structural upgrades.”
“This shows a lack of priorities and a fundamental misunderstanding of the difference between wants and needs,” added the small business owner.
Minks, who is chair of Bloomington’s parks and recreation commission, said needless city spending also includes an overuse of consulting services and large city salaries.
“Bloomington’s new city manager earns roughly $250,000 annually, nearly double the U.S. median income on this position,” he said. “A newly hired Health and Wellness Manager is being paid between $115,000 and $150,000, even though Bloomington’s Health and Wellness Center won’t open for another 18–24 months.”
Alpha News recently reported that Bloomington will soon begin construction on a $100 million complex funded by a special 0.5% sales tax over 20 years. That facility, known as the Community Health and Wellness Center (CHWC), will replace an existing community center and a public health building.
According to city plans, the CHWC will have fitness studios, an indoor playground, a pool, a walking track, a gymnasium, public program spaces, and office space for city departments.
Further, Bloomington is considering raising property taxes by as much as 9.44%. The city council, which has the authority to lower this preliminary figure, will approve the final tax levy amount in December.
When contacted for this story the city said the new bathroom is now more accessible, ADA-compliant, and “will enhance safety and privacy for users.” The city also said property taxes were not used on the project and some of the American Rescue Plan funds received by the city were designated for government facility projects.
“The restroom renovation had been on the City’s capital improvement plan,” said a city spokesperson. “It had been 22 years after Bloomington Civic Plaza was constructed and the restrooms were in need of renovation. The restrooms serve a large number of employees and visitors each day and were updated to address aging infrastructure, improve accessibility, and create a more functional layout.”
On his campaign website, Minks says he “advocates cutting excessive consultant fees and focusing City spending on true needs, not wants, to lower property taxes and make Bloomington more affordable for all.”
He told Alpha News “Bloomington residents deserve leadership that values efficiency, accountability, and common sense in government spending. That’s why I’m running for the city council at large position in Bloomington.”
This story has been updated with comments from the City of Bloomington.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
