OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Evansville Vandenburgh County Building Commission Meeting - May 21, 2026

City Council — Thursday, May 21, 2026
BodyEvansville, Indiana
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, May 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:06:23
Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:03

Let's call to order the meeting for the Ebbsville Vandenberg County Building Commission for May 21st, 2026.

0:08

My name is Ryan Schultz.

0:10

I'm an appointed as your as your hearing officer by Mayor Terry.

0:12

My authority is derived from Indiana Code 36-7-9.

0:16

Building laws and ordinances enacted by the City Council of Evansville.

0:19

I have authority to issue civil penalties up to $5,000 that can require performance bonds to be posted and I can affirm ordinance violation fines.

0:26

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

0:35

I can affirm, modify, or deny those requests.

0:38

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

0:44

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

0:46

You may find the forms to assist you in filing an appeal in the Vanderburgh County Clerk's office room S250 of this building.

0:53

A magistrate judge and housing court will hear your appeal.

0:56

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

1:03

Do each of you solemnly swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

1:07

So if you got if so, please say I do.

1:10

Thank you.

1:10

The building commission may present the first case.

1:14

Thank you, Honor.

1:15

Our first case is for Inspector Allen on page 21.

1:24

This is a routine matter.

1:26

CE number 25 CE 231.

1:29

The owner is CJ Funky.

1:31

Property addresses 2911 West Franklin Street.

1:34

This is a repair on a retaining wall and stairs at this location.

1:39

Report by the department.

1:40

The house is vacant and secure.

1:41

The yards are acceptable.

1:43

The property's been inspected 13 times.

1:45

There has been some progress on the orders.

1:47

There are no permits on file, and there's been no contact with the owner.

1:52

And I'll let Inspector Allen give her report and recommendation.

1:59

There appears to have been some work done, as Ms.

2:02

Josie said.

2:03

There are several threaded metal rods for shooting for the wall.

2:08

But we're concerned about their effectiveness as far as holding the wall or uh initiating repairs.

2:14

So we would actually recommend that um Mr.

2:17

Funky submit a detailed plan.

2:21

The detailed plans for the wall repair by a professional engineer, and then we will return on July 23rd for progress.

2:32

Sir, you heard the request from the building commission.

2:34

What's your response?

2:38

I have some pictures of uh the progress on about 85 and 90% done with the repairs on the wall.

2:49

Okay.

2:55

Why don't you show the pictures to the building commission?

2:57

And they can let them know if let me know if they have any objections, and then we'll take a look at the wall.

3:06

At this point, we're just waiting for concrete for the anchors, but there's a couple places on the wall that have cracks.

3:17

Okay.

3:20

So do you do you believe you have to you need uh an engineer to come in and review your wall?

3:26

No, I've already had all the specs spec out.

3:32

Who spec the specs out?

3:34

I didn't see any objection.

3:35

No objection.

3:36

You did.

3:38

Um it's been overbuilt.

3:43

The anchors and uh the metal rods that are being used right now are actually above the requirement for a three and a half feet wall.

3:54

And uh the uh steps, we've got the form built on the steps.

4:02

We're just waiting to pour on that.

4:06

The anchors are uh, sorry, I'll show the pictures admitted, by the way, just in case we're the anchors are six six inch by six inch square metal plate, and uh that display is 36 inches, uh square on the fourth on each section, the anchors are within eight feet apart.

4:32

Um the rods are overbuilt or three-quarter inch.

4:38

Yeah, you said that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████78%
Housing Code Enforcement████████████21%
Housing█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Evansville Vandenburgh County Building Commission Meeting - May 21, 2026

The Evansville Vandenburgh County Building Commission convened on May 21, 2026, at 7:15 PM under hearing officer Ryan Schultz. The commission addressed multiple enforcement cases involving property maintenance violations, including repair orders, vacate orders, and demolition orders. Decisions ranged from affirmance of orders with timelines to imposition of civil penalties and continuances.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Property owner CJ Funky (2911 West Franklin St) testified about his retaining wall repairs, claiming over-engineering, while the city requested an engineer's plan.
  • Jerry and Helen Austinberg (1931 Hathaway Ave) expressed health issues and agreed to repairs but requested time; they stated the shed had fallen and needed removal.
  • Lauren Tapp (2610 Helmuth Ave) gave lengthy emotional testimony about her grandmother's house, financial struggles, and frustration with repeated complaints, asserting harassment. She agreed to make minor repairs.
  • Chad Sanders (411 SE 3rd St) represented the property manager, stating financing was approved and contractor would start June 17.

Discussion Items

  • 2911 West Franklin St (CE 25-231): Inspector Allen recommended detailed engineer-stamped plan. Owner argued his specs were sufficient. Hearing officer ordered owner to provide specs within 10 days, continued to June 25.
  • 1931 Hathaway Ave (CE 26-73): City sought repair of house/garage and demolition of shed. Evidence showed deteriorating conditions. Owner agreed shed needed removal and that repairs were needed. Decision: raise shed approved; repair order affirmed; owner to submit plan within 30 days; next hearing August 27.
  • 2610 Helmuth Ave (CE 26-51): Coordinator Dauphin listed minor violations (downspouts, missing shingles, boarded windows). Owner Tapp expressed financial and personal hardship. Hearing officer modified order to focus on siding, soffit, downspouts, and missing shingles; windows to be addressed later. Plan due in 30 days; return August 27.
  • 411 SE 3rd St (CE 26-11): Inspector Lukey cited missing mortar, loose bricks, hanging electrical clevis, and deteriorating rear steps. Manager Sanders stated financing approved, contractor to start June 17. Repair order affirmed; return July 23 for progress.
  • 312 East Florida St: No owner present. Evidence showed roof holes, structural issues. Repair order affirmed; return August 27.
  • 1770 Edson St (CE 25-290): No progress; coordinator recommended $500 civil penalty for willful noncompliance. Imposed; return August.
  • 614 Jackson Ave (CE 25-48): Inspector Lukey noted bricks falling from chimney, no progress since 2025. $500 civil penalty imposed for willful noncompliance despite some siding work.
  • 1612 S Lynwood Ave (CE 25-133): Owner performed work without permits despite warnings. $500 civil penalty imposed.
  • 4405 Pickest Road (CE 25-41): Inspector Knox described extensive interior damage, squatters, and owner non-cooperation. Hearing officer ordered interior inspection within 30 days; decision taken under advisement.

Key Outcomes

  • Civil penalties imposed: Two $500 penalties for willful noncompliance (1770 Edson St and 614 Jackson Ave, and 1612 S Lynwood Ave also $500).
  • Repair orders affirmed for multiple properties with specific timelines and progress hearings.
  • One structure ordered demolished: Shed at 1931 Hathaway Ave.
  • One case taken under advisement pending interior inspection: 4405 Pickest Road.
  • Multiple continuances granted to allow service on new owners, tax sale purchasers, or property improvements.
  • One case released to voluntary compliance: 4411 Krassville Road.
  • One case released entirely: 916 West Missouri St (emergency vacate unwarranted).

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everyone. Let's call to order the meeting for the Ebbsville Vandenberg County Building Commission for May 21st, 2026. My name is Ryan Schultz. I'm an appointed as your as your hearing officer by Mayor Terry. My authority is derived from Indiana Code 36-7-9. Building laws and ordinances enacted by the City Council of Evansville. I have authority to issue civil penalties up to $5,000 that can require performance bonds to be posted and I can affirm ordinance violation fines. Today the city is requesting that you repair, raise, vacate, or vacate other buildings or structures on your property. I can affirm, modify, or deny those requests. If you wish to appeal my decision, may do so by filing an appeal with the Vandenberg County Superior Court the 10 days of the decision. If you do not, you may waive your rights to an appeal. You may find the forms to assist you in filing an appeal in the Vanderburgh County Clerk's office room S250 of this building. A magistrate judge and housing court will hear your appeal. Now that I've advised you of your rights and my authority, anyone that expects to testify today, please stand and raise your right hand. Do each of you solemnly swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So if you got if so, please say I do. Thank you. The building commission may present the first case. Thank you, Honor. Our first case is for Inspector Allen on page 21. This is a routine matter. CE number 25 CE 231. The owner is CJ Funky. Property addresses 2911 West Franklin Street. This is a repair on a retaining wall and stairs at this location. Report by the department. The house is vacant and secure. The yards are acceptable. The property's been inspected 13 times. There has been some progress on the orders. There are no permits on file, and there's been no contact with the owner. And I'll let Inspector Allen give her report and recommendation. There appears to have been some work done, as Ms. Josie said. There are several threaded metal rods for shooting for the wall. But we're concerned about their effectiveness as far as holding the wall or uh initiating repairs. So we would actually recommend that um Mr. Funky submit a detailed plan. The detailed plans for the wall repair by a professional engineer, and then we will return on July 23rd for progress. Sir, you heard the request from the building commission. What's your response? I have some pictures of uh the progress on about 85 and 90% done with the repairs on the wall. Okay. Why don't you show the pictures to the building commission? And they can let them know if let me know if they have any objections, and then we'll take a look at the wall. At this point, we're just waiting for concrete for the anchors, but there's a couple places on the wall that have cracks. Okay. So do you do you believe you have to you need uh an engineer to come in and review your wall? No, I've already had all the specs spec out. Who spec the specs out?

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com