Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners and Drainage Board Meeting - April 28, 2026

The Board of Commissioners and the Drainage Board met jointly on April 28, 2026, at 9:32 AM in the Civic Center Complex. The meeting covered infrastructure contracts, personnel appointments, software licenses, tax phase-ins, a flood hazard ordinance, department reports, public comments, a rezoning, and drainage board business. All action items were approved unanimously unless noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of April 14, 2026 Board of Commissioners meeting minutes.
• Approval of employment changes.
• Claims voucher reports for April 13–17 and April 20–24, 2026.
• Assessor surplus request.
• Burdette Park surplus requests for concessions tables and a mower, and a special purchase request for a bucket truck.
• Engineer travel request and report and claims.
• Authorization for Daughters of the American Revolution historical marker installation at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum.
• Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District Board of Directors appointment of Rev. Adrian M. Brooks, Sr.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Shannon Yarborough (7322 Greenborough Drive) reported persistent flooding from three drains adjacent to her property. She requested an update on the planned drainage project. Deputy Surveyor Mike Ward and County Engineer John noted the project is a work in progress, with a pending water line locate and issues with pipes outside the public right-of-way that predate county maintenance ordinances. They indicated the matter will return to the commissioners or drainage board for bidding.
• Darlena Lancaster (4600 Detroit Road) described a six-year struggle with a nuisance property at 4612 Detroit Road—a vacant, condemned house with structural collapse, black mold, raccoons, and unregistered RVs. She demanded enforcement action. County Attorney Ryan Schultz responded that a hearing is set for June 3, 2026, and the property will be prioritized. He noted the county is working to set up nuisance hearings and that the building inspector has visited multiple times.

Action Items

• Engineer – Notice to Bidders VC26-04-02 (Charlotte Avenue Pipe Replacement): Sealed bids due May 26, 2026, to replace a failed storm sewer too deep for county crews. Approved unanimously.
• Engineer – Acceptance of Street Improvements (Green River Meadows, Section 1): Streets in the first phase of the subdivision on the west side of Green River Road, south of Kansas Road. Approved unanimously.
• Drugs and Alcohol Deferral Services – Contract with Jami Carlson: Carlson will serve as a substance abuse education class instructor at $45/hour, replacing the prior instructor who unexpectedly passed away. Funding from the DADS line item. Approved unanimously.
• Computer Services – CivicPlus, LLC Statement of Work Addendum: CIO Vernon Luce explained that eGov is ending web hosting support, forcing the county to move to CivicPlus (also used by the city). A committee (including Commissioner Canterbury) negotiated ADA compliance, a joint city-county landing page with an AI search bot, a discounted rate, and favorable legal terms. Approved unanimously.
• Health Department – Health Officer Appointment: Dr. Jason Bredenkamp, an emergency physician and chair of emergency medicine at Ascension St. Vincent, was appointed as Health Officer. His employment begins May 22, 2026, after coordination with county council and insurance. He replaces Dr. Spears, who serves until then. Approved unanimously.
• Health Department – Amendment #2 to IDOH Grant Contract #91512: A $14,966 increase (to $104,762) and extension through June 2026 to fund a disease investigation specialist position. A further amendment will extend through March 2027. Approved unanimously.
• Recorder – Addendum and Extension with Fidlar Technologies: A five-year renewal for recording and indexing property records, Laredo software, at flat pricing of $117,500/year. County Attorney Ryan Schultz noted improved warranties, remedies, indemnification, and Indiana governing law/venue clauses. The county has contracted with Fidlar since 1994. Approved unanimously.
• Sheriff – Indiana DNR Marine Patrol Grant Agreement: $15,000 grant to support river patrol operations on the Ohio River during summer. Approved unanimously.
• Superintendent of County Buildings – Professional Services Agreement with Helming Brothers, Inc.: Annual roof inspection services at the Old Courthouse for $2,645 per inspection, including minor repairs and deficiency reports. Approved unanimously.
• Property Tax Phase-In with SEZ Holdings, LLC: A seven-year phase-in for real property improvements at 15000 Foundation Avenue. Approved unanimously.
• Property Tax Phase-In with PolyRam USA, LLC: A seven-year phase-in for new manufacturing equipment and personal property at the same facility. PolyRam commits to creating 9 new full-time positions with an estimated $710,000 in total annual salaries. Approved unanimously.
• Final Reading of Resolution CO.R-04-26-010 (Flood Hazard Protection Ordinance): The second and final reading adopting a flood hazard protection ordinance as Chapter 18.04. Bill Petkey of the Southwestern Indiana Builders Association spoke in support, thanking the county attorney and engineer for working with the private sector to avoid overly restrictive development costs while qualifying for flood insurance discounts. Approved unanimously.

Department Head Reports

• Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs Biannual Report: Kevin Hinton, Southwest District Service Officer, presented the new state code (IC 10-17-1-9, formerly SEA 433) effective January 1, 2026, requiring briefings to all county commissioners twice a year. He reported that all three Vanderburgh County Veteran Service Officers and two assistants received state accreditation based on 1,000 hours of work per year and key performance metrics. He commended the county office as one of the best in his district.
• Vanderburgh County Veterans Services Office Quarterly Report: Veteran Service Officer Tonya Webber reported slightly lower call volumes due to referrals to other Kentucky service officers. She highlighted a major change in property tax exemptions effective July 1, 2026: all veterans with a service-connected disability must file a new exemption form. Veterans rated 100% disabled (wartime or peacetime) receive full property tax exemption regardless of property value; others may see changes. The office is coordinating with the auditor to notify all 9,889 known veterans via phone, mail, and outreach to American Legions and VFWs. A media blitz is planned by the IDVA.

Rezoning

• First Reading of Rezoning Ordinance VC-5-2026 (Chal Corporation, 5925 & 6001 Covert Ave): Request to change zoning from PUD, R-1, and C-2 to R-3. The motion to approve and forward to the Area Plan Commission for its May 7, 2026 hearing passed unanimously.

Drainage Board

• Call to Order and Pledge: The Drainage Board meeting began immediately after the commissioners meeting adjourned, with President Canterbury presiding (Commissioners Gable and Elpers present).
• Approval of Previous Minutes: Approved unanimously.
• Final Drainage Approval – Eagle Point Subdivision: Presented by Cash Wagner for SB Development Group LLC, a 24-lot single-family residential subdivision on Volkman Road. Preliminary approval was granted February 24, 2026. The county surveyor and engineer confirmed code compliance. Approved unanimously.
• Ditch Claims: Five claims totaling $1,127 for previously approved contracted work from 2025 and 2026. Approved retroactively.
• Informational Items: The Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission will meet May 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM in the same room. An update on the petition to remove an obstruction from a natural surface water course for Mark Norman (8400 Church Hill Court) – staff are still notifying landowners and hope to resolve by the first meeting in May.
• Adjournment.

Key Outcomes

• All action items and consent items were approved unanimously by voice vote with Commissioner Gable, Canterbury, and Elpers voting yes.
• Dr. Jason Bredenkamp appointed as Health Officer effective May 22, 2026.
• The Flood Hazard Protection Ordinance (Chapter 18.04) was adopted on final reading.
• The rezoning for Chal Corporation was advanced to the Area Plan Commission hearing on May 7, 2026.
• The public was informed of ongoing drainage and nuisance enforcement processes with specific timelines (drainage project still in planning; nuisance hearing set for June 3, 2026).
• Veterans property tax exemption changes take effect July 1, 2026; outreach underway.