Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners & Drainage Board Meeting - May 12, 2026

The meeting of the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners and Drainage Board took place on May 12, 2026, beginning at 9:38 AM. All votes were unanimous unless otherwise noted. Key actions included approvals of engineering change orders, a data use agreement, a workforce development agreement, a mowing contract, and several drainage board items. Public comment featured a presentation on federal grant opportunities.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of April 28, 2026, Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes
• Employment Changes (approved)
• Auditor Claims Voucher Reports: April 27-May 1, 2026 and May 4-May 8, 2026 (approved)
• Burdette Park Letter of Support for Trails Capacity Program Grant Application (approved)
• Clerk March 2026 Monthly Report (approved)
• Engineer Report and Claims (approved)
• Highway Surplus Request (approved)
• Treasurer March 2026 Innkeeper’s Tax Report (approved)
• Application for Abutting Property Owner to Purchase County-Owned Property - 716 E Florida (approved)
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Consent for Access to County-Owned Property at 621 E Delaware (approved)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Johnny Kincaid, community liaison for the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, introduced himself and presented two grant programs available to Vanderburgh County:
  • Owner Occupied Rehabilitation: A $500,000 grant for low-income homeowners to fund repairs like roofs, air conditioners, and ADA accommodations. The county would apply and administer through a certified grant administrator. A 20% match is required.
  • Recovery Housing: Up to $750,000 for construction of housing for individuals in substance abuse recovery. The grant covers bricks and mortar only; a sub-recipient would handle programming. No grant cycle restriction.
  • Mr. Kincaid also thanked Commissioner Elpers for assistance with the American flag project and hinted at a forthcoming positive announcement.

Discussion Items

• Purdue Extension Program Highlights – Meagan Solomon, Extension Director, reported on ongoing and new initiatives including:

  • 4-H Ag Days where fourth graders from the county learn about agriculture through 12 hands-on stations.
  • Mental health supports for youth and adults, including mindfulness and stress management programs delivered in schools (pre-K through high school) and for adults, reaching both 4-H and non-4-H youth.
  • A seed library launched this year that was well-received.
  • Parenting programs mandated for divorcing parents.
  • Solomon noted coordination with school counselors and youth resources but expressed openness to closer cooperation.

• Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) 1st Quarter Report – Pat Hickey presented:

  • TaylorMade Golf Expansion: Announced in February 2026, a $60 million investment retaining 150 existing jobs at risk. The company chose to stay in Vanderburgh County over a larger metro area. The existing 313,000 sq ft facility on Garrison Avenue will become available and is considered the most marketable property in the region.
  • Partner Visits: 10 formal visits to established unincorporated county businesses in Q1.
  • Property Searches: 13 from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation; only 2 resulted in a submitted property due to site readiness gaps.
  • River Vision: Schematic design 50% complete; a design competition held for a future riverfront restaurant pavilion.
  • Southwest Indiana RDA: Disbursed $1.2 million in ready funds for projects serving county residents, including housing (Poet Square Apartments, Flats at Old Farm).
  • Talent Attraction: The “Belong Here” program attracted 10 households (29 people) to the county since January.
  • Advocacy: Continued support for I-69 Ohio River crossing; Kentucky invested $150 million.
  • Small Business Development Center: Served 130 Vanderburgh County clients in Q1, facilitated $750,000 in capital, supported 6 new business launches, sustained 301 jobs, and created 16 jobs.
  • Discussion included the need for site-ready locations, the potential for a shell building program, and upcoming county tax phase-in score sheet revisions to incentivize local contractor usage.

• New Business: The commissioners announced that ambulance services for 2027 will be addressed at the next meeting, with a public announcement forthcoming.

• Old Business: None.

Key Outcomes

• Open Bids: VC26-04-01 "Repair and Resurfacing of County Roads" – Bids were opened: E&B Paving ($558,222.99), J.H. Rudolph ($652,257.60), and Jerry David Enterprises ($639,548.35). Taken under advisement.
• Receipt of Plan B Pipe Repair Fund Fees: Green River Meadows Section 1 – $958 fee accepted to close out the project (approved).
• Change Order #1: VC25-05-01 "Replacement of Broadway Avenue Bridge #274" – Increase of $2,377.71 for additional signage; bridge expected to be completed in August (approved).
• Change Order #2: "Boonville-New Harmony Road Reconstruction" – Increase of $7,084.62 to fix a sinkhole caused by a previously unknown storm sewer (approved).
• Release of All Property Damage Claims for Baseline Road Guardrail – $7,000 settlement with driver’s insurance to reimburse county (approved).
• Data Use Agreement with The Polis Center of Indiana University Indianapolis – Health Department agreement to access birth and death records for research (approved).
• Standard Engagement Agreement Between the Veterans Coliseum Preservation Foundation and BookPress Publishing – For 2026 Gala keynote speaker Robert Hoot Gibson (approved).
• Local Elected Officials’ Agreement for Southwest Indiana Workforce Development Board – Two-year agreement for Region Eleven (approved).
• Request to Award Quote for Mowing and Debris Removal Services – Awarded to Super Cutz Lawn Care for nuisance abatement (approved).

Drainage Board

• Final Drainage Plan and Variance for Old Farm Development – Plan for 14 commercial lots, 163 single-family lots, and an apartment complex (Lot 172) on 109.78 acres plus 6.77 acres future expansion. Variance approved for detention basin #5 to omit a 10-foot maintenance pathway around the entire perimeter due to topography; access exists. (Approved)
• Drainage Encroachment Agreement – Scott Vincent – Request to allow a 10x12 utility shed to remain in a drainage easement at 3830 Westmill Road, with removal of existing above-ground pool and gazebo. (Approved)
• Application to Effect Vanderburgh County Regulated Drain – Crawford Brandeis Ditch – Evansville Water & Sewer Utility requested to use temporary coffer dams for sewer line installation, supplementing an application approved October 7, 2025. (Approved)
• Ditch Claims – Four claims totaling $3,162.27 for dormant spraying (2025) and 2026 work. (Approved)
• Informational Items: The next Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission meeting will be June 15, 2026 (rescheduled); May 18 meeting canceled. Mark Norman obstruction petition update: other property owners are willing to work toward a solution; deputy sent inquiry to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding jurisdictional streams.