OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Evansville Vanderburgh County Building Commission Meeting - April 23, 2026

City Council — Thursday, April 23, 2026
BodyEvansville, Indiana
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, April 23, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:13:16

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

We're gonna call to order the meeting for the Evansville Vanderburgh County Building Commission.

0:04

My name is Ryan Schr.

0:05

Oh, for uh I should say for um Thursday, April 23rd, 2026.

0:09

My name is Ryan Schultz.

0:10

I've been a I've been appointed as your hearing officer by Mayor Terry.

0:14

My authority is derived from Indiana Code 36-7-9, the Unstate Building Laws and Ordinances enacted by the City Council of Evansville.

0:21

I have authority to issue civil penalties up to $5,000.

0:25

I can require performance bonds to be posted, and I can affirm ordinate ordinance violation fines.

0:30

Today the city is requesting that you repair, vacate, or raise buildings or other structures on your property.

0:36

I can affirm, modify or deny those requests.

0:39

If you wish to appeal my decision, may do so by filing appeal with the Vaniver County Superior Court within 10 days of the decision.

0:45

If you do not, you may waive your rights to an appeal.

0:57

Is it why do I do this every time?

0:59

Is it 5250?

1:02

I can't read my own hands writing.

1:04

S250.

1:05

I'll see if I can make that.

1:08

S 250 of this building.

1:10

A magistrate judge and housing court will hear your appeal.

1:14

Now that I've advised you of my of your rights and my authority, anyone that expects to testify today, please stand and raise your right hand.

1:24

Do you solemnly swear in affirmed to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so be out of so please say I do.

1:29

I do.

1:30

All right.

1:31

Building commission may present the first case expeditiously.

1:34

We have got some routine matters.

1:35

We're gonna get on those first.

1:37

First one's on page 17.

1:41

An affirmed repair order on a house and garage located at 1307 Cumberland Avenue.

1:46

This is for Inspector Allen.

1:48

The owner is Otra Vanessa Lopez, Elder Rocinos is here on this property.

1:53

Report by the department.

1:54

The house is vacant, secure, the yards are acceptable.

1:57

The property has been inspected 18 times.

2:00

There's been some progress on the orders.

2:02

There is a permit on file for interior work only, and there has been contact with the owner, and I'll let Inspector Allen get her report and recommendation.

2:11

Uh your Honor, I spoke with Mr.

2:12

Rencinos in the hall.

2:14

He has secured um other uh uh permits for uh doing some of the exterior work.

2:18

Uh he has uh secured a dumpster, and I think he's had three of those taken off now, so he's making good progress on getting the uh property cleaned out.

2:27

So my recommendation is to just keep the $500 civil penalty under advisement and we return the matter on June 25th, 2026 for progress.

2:34

Sir, please keep making good progress.

2:38

And if you get this completed, make sure you let the building commission know so that you don't have to come back here.

2:45

Okay, okay.

2:46

It would be my greatest joy not to see you back here.

2:50

I mean that sincerely.

2:52

All right.

2:52

Nothing against you personally.

2:54

All right.

2:55

All right.

2:55

Well show we're so returned on June the 25th.

2:58

Well, they want me to keep the civil penalty under advisement, basically, just hold it there.

3:03

Okay.

3:03

That's nice incentive for you to get it done.

3:06

Uh yeah.

3:07

So we hold the $500 civil penalty on advisor.

3:11

Return the matter on June the 25th for progress.

3:13

Thank you.

3:13

Thank you.

3:14

Next for Director Lukey on page 23.

3:18

Another routine matter.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Housing Code Enforcement█████████████████████████████████████████████100%
Summary of Proceedings

Evansville Vanderburgh County Building Commission Meeting - April 23, 2026

The Evansville Vanderburgh County Building Commission convened on April 23, 2026, at 1:00 PM under Hearing Officer Ryan Schultz. The meeting addressed a series of routine and evidentiary matters concerning repair, vacate, and raise orders for residential and accessory structures. Several cases were continued for progress updates, civil penalties were held under advisement or imposed, and a few orders were affirmed or modified.

Consent Calendar

  • 1307 Cumberland Avenue: Affirmed repair order. $500 civil penalty held under advisement. Returned June 25, 2026 for progress.
  • 1220 South Harlan Avenue: Affirmed repair order. Returned June 25, 2026 for progress.
  • 915 North Fourth Avenue: Affirmed repair order. Returned June 25, 2026 to allow property transfer.
  • 3926 North Fourth Avenue: Affirmed repair order. $500 civil penalty held under advisement. Returned June 25, 2026 for progress.
  • 1309 North Elliott Street: Affirmed repair order. $500 civil penalty held under advisement. Returned June 25, 2026 for progress.
  • 1102 North Garden Street: Affirmed repair order. $500 civil penalty held under advisement. Returned June 25, 2026 for progress.
  • 3355 West Franklin Street: Affirmed repair order. Interior inspection ordered. Returned June 25, 2026 for compliance.
  • 2426 West Illinois Street: Affirmed repair order. All repairs completed; matter released.
  • 1926 South Red Bank Road: Affirmed repair order. $500 civil penalty imposed (previously under advisement). Returned May 21, 2026 for update.
  • 508 South Rosenberger Avenue: Affirmed repair order. Returned May 21, 2026 for progress.
  • 1220 Baird Park Drive: Affirmed repair order. Returned July 23, 2026 to allow new owner access.
  • 614 Jackson Avenue: Affirmed repair order. $500 civil penalty held under advisement for willful non-compliance. Returned May 21, 2026 for progress.
  • 1101 East Powell Avenue: Affirmed repair order. Returned July 23, 2026 for progress.
  • 2028 South Fares Avenue: Emergency vacate release; shed torn down.
  • 713 Ridgway Avenue: Emergency vacate release; tent torn down.
  • 4405 Thickest Road: Matter released to upgrade to a raise order.

Discussion Items

  • 41 Southeast Third Street (apartment building): Property manager Mark Sanders requested a 30-day continuance because the out-of-state owner (a recent Navy veteran) only learned of violations in February 2026 and is seeking financing for repairs estimated at $100,000–$125,000. The hearing officer granted the continuance to May 21, 2026, citing the owner's military service. A repair order hearing will proceed if no agreement is reached by then.
  • 2610 Helmuth Avenue and 1710 East Illinois Street: Evidentiary matters. The first was continued to May 21, 2026 due to service issues. The second (1710 E Illinois, owned by Ohana Reynolds LLC) proceeded to hearing: Inspector Tremell testified to foundation shifting, a large hole by the back door, missing downspouts, and a garage with fire damage and leaning wall. The repair order was affirmed.
  • 701 Oak Hill Road (house): Inspector Tremell testified that the property had shifting foundation blocks, multiple openings, missing gutters, interior trash, animal excrement, exposed wiring, and a collapsed ceiling. The property was part of a trailer park where 10 trailers were already emergency-raised. The vacate and raise order was affirmed.
  • 1303 MacArthur Drive: Continued to May 21, 2026 to allow time for sale of property.
  • 2600 West Illinois Street (garage): Inspector Allen sought a raise order for the garage, but the hearing officer found the evidence insufficient for a raise, citing only cosmetic issues and a single cracked block. The order was modified from raise to repair. The house repair order was affirmed. Both returned June 25, 2026 for progress.
  • 2218 West Iowa Street (house): Inspector Allen testified to a bowing foundation, broken windows, exposed wiring, vagrant activity, and neighbor complaints. The property had 4.2 tons of trash removed by the city. The raise order was affirmed.
  • 4133 Clement Street (shed): Inspector Allen testified that the shed was on a hillside without a permanent foundation, with children playing under it. The owner was unreachable. The raise order was affirmed.
  • 916 South Elliott Street and 3918 South Elliott Street: Both continued to July 23, 2026 because the Land Bank is considering taking the properties.
  • 1907 Lincoln Avenue: Continued to May 21, 2026 due to a potential purchase.

Key Outcomes

  • Affirmed orders: Repair orders affirmed for 1307 Cumberland, 1220 S Harlan, 915 N 4th, 3926 N 4th, 1309 N Elliott, 1102 N Garden, 3355 W Franklin, 508 S Rosenberger, 1220 Baird Park, 614 Jackson, 1101 E Powell, and 1710 E Illinois. Vacate/raise order affirmed for 701 Oak Hill and 2218 W Iowa. Raise order affirmed for 4133 Clement shed. Repair order modified from raise for 2600 W Illinois garage.
  • Continuances: 41 SE 3rd to May 21; 2610 Helmuth to May 21; 1303 MacArthur to May 21; 1907 Lincoln to May 21; 916 S Elliott and 3918 S Elliott to July 23.
  • Releases: 2426 W Illinois, 2028 S Fares, 713 Ridgway, and 4405 Thickest (to upgrade to raise).
  • Civil penalties: $500 penalty held under advisement for 1307 Cumberland, 3926 N 4th, 1309 N Elliott, 1102 N Garden, and 614 Jackson. $500 penalty imposed for 1926 S Red Bank.
  • Next steps: Many cases return on May 21, 2026 or June 25, 2026 for progress reports.

Meeting Transcript

We're gonna call to order the meeting for the Evansville Vanderburgh County Building Commission. My name is Ryan Schr. Oh, for uh I should say for um Thursday, April 23rd, 2026. My name is Ryan Schultz. I've been a I've been appointed as your hearing officer by Mayor Terry. My authority is derived from Indiana Code 36-7-9, the Unstate Building Laws and Ordinances enacted by the City Council of Evansville. I have authority to issue civil penalties up to $5,000. I can require performance bonds to be posted, and I can affirm ordinate ordinance violation fines. Today the city is requesting that you repair, vacate, or raise buildings or other structures on your property. I can affirm, modify or deny those requests. If you wish to appeal my decision, may do so by filing appeal with the Vaniver County Superior Court within 10 days of the decision. If you do not, you may waive your rights to an appeal. Is it why do I do this every time? Is it 5250? I can't read my own hands writing. S250. I'll see if I can make that. S 250 of this building. A magistrate judge and housing court will hear your appeal. Now that I've advised you of my of your rights and my authority, anyone that expects to testify today, please stand and raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear in affirmed to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so be out of so please say I do. I do. All right. Building commission may present the first case expeditiously. We have got some routine matters. We're gonna get on those first. First one's on page 17. An affirmed repair order on a house and garage located at 1307 Cumberland Avenue. This is for Inspector Allen. The owner is Otra Vanessa Lopez, Elder Rocinos is here on this property. Report by the department. The house is vacant, secure, the yards are acceptable. The property has been inspected 18 times. There's been some progress on the orders. There is a permit on file for interior work only, and there has been contact with the owner, and I'll let Inspector Allen get her report and recommendation. Uh your Honor, I spoke with Mr. Rencinos in the hall. He has secured um other uh uh permits for uh doing some of the exterior work. Uh he has uh secured a dumpster, and I think he's had three of those taken off now, so he's making good progress on getting the uh property cleaned out. So my recommendation is to just keep the $500 civil penalty under advisement and we return the matter on June 25th, 2026 for progress. Sir, please keep making good progress. And if you get this completed, make sure you let the building commission know so that you don't have to come back here. Okay, okay. It would be my greatest joy not to see you back here. I mean that sincerely. All right. Nothing against you personally. All right. All right. Well show we're so returned on June the 25th.

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