OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners and Drainage Board Meeting - June 30, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, June 30, 2026
BodyEvansville, Indiana
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, June 30, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:06:24
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

All right, good morning.

0:02

Welcome to the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners meeting for June 30th, 2026.

0:07

Madeline, please call the order.

0:09

Commissioner Gable.

0:10

Commissioner Canterbury.

0:11

Here, President Elpers.

0:13

Here.

0:14

Welcome.

0:16

We're gonna do something a little bit different here this morning as you notice.

0:19

Uh what's that?

0:20

Yeah, we're gonna get to that in a second.

0:22

Uh the room is decorated nicely.

0:25

Uh we got an important weekend coming up.

0:28

And uh Laura, thank you for decorating the room.

0:32

Amy, thank you for the final touches as well.

0:35

So, um Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners has put forward a resolution, and we're gonna read through that and then uh say the Pledge of Allegiance after that.

0:45

So here we have a resolution of the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners recognizing and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, whereas on June, or I'm sorry, whereas on July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming that all men are created equal and endowed with an inalienable rights, thereby establishing the United States of America as a free and sovereign nation, and whereas July 4, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the semi-quincentennial of the founding of the United States of America, a milestone of extraordinary historical and national significance.

1:20

Whereas for two and a half centuries, the United States has stood as a beacon of liberty, democracy, and opportunity, shaped by the courage of its founders and sacrifice of its veterans and the enduring spirit of its people.

1:31

Whereas Vanderburg County and the city of Evansville have proudly contributed to the heritage of the nation in times of war and peace, including during World War II, when Evansville's plants built P 47 Thunderbird Thunderbolt Fighter Aircraft and served as a key munitions manufacturer and when the Evansville Shipyard, the largest inland producer of ocean going ships in the country, built LST landing ships that carried troops and armor onto enemy beaches, with Evansville built vessels putting men ashore at great at the great invasion of Europe, including Normandy, and whereas citizens of Vanderburgh County, along with communities across the nation, will join together to commemorate this historic milestone with patriotic celebration, reflection, and renewed civic pride, whereas the city, whereas the 250th anniversary of American independence provides an opportunity to honor those who came before us to celebrate the progress and achievements of our nation and to renew our collective commitment to the principles of freedom, justice, and equality upon which this country was founded.

2:49

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Vanderborough County Board of Commissioners at Section 1.

2:54

The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners hereby recognizes and celebrates the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, the semiquincentrical commemorated on July 4th, 2026.

3:13

The board extends its deepest gratitude and honor to all men and women, past and present, who have served in the United States Armed Forces and whose sacrifice and dedication have preserved the freedoms and liberties that all Americans enjoy.

3:29

The board encourages all residents of Vanderburgh County to participate in local and national semi-quincentennial celebrations to reflect the rich history of our nation and to renew their commitment to the enduring values of liberty, democracy, equal justice.

3:49

The board calls upon all citizens to display the American flag with pride on July 4, 2026, and throughout the semi-quincentennial celebration in honor of the 250-year legacy of the United States of America.

4:06

This resolution shall be entered into the official records of Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners, and a copy shall be made available to the public.

4:17

Sure.

4:18

Adopted this 30th day of June 2026 by the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners.

4:24

Thank you, Commissioners.

4:26

Is there any uh people who have served in our armed forces?

4:32

Will you please stand?

4:34

I would appreciate if you could lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance today.

4:43

Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

4:50

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

5:01

Thank you for doing that.

5:01

I saw uh Mr.

5:03

Riney.

5:03

Appreciate your service and cliff.

5:05

Appreciate your service.

5:06

Thank you for doing that.

5:08

All right.

5:09

Action items.

5:10

Do you want to discuss anything else on the 250th?

5:13

Go ahead, Commissioner.

5:14

Okay.

5:14

Sorry.

5:15

I just want to make comment about uh local uh involvement with the 250th uh anniversary and what it means to all of us here in Vanderburgh County.

5:26

Obviously, the declaration broke us and made us into a free country.

5:32

The uh signing of the Constitution in September of 1787, built about our government and rule of laws, and as Mr.

5:42

Lincoln eloquently put it back in uh 1863 with the Gettysburg Address of for and by the people, and uh the great contributions our community has made it abounds.

5:56

Take a look around LST 325, the old uh soldiers of Saylor Coliseum, the World War II or the memorial uh building out by the airport, and just the contributions throughout Republic Aviation during the war.

6:16

Uh James Bethel Gresham, Barn, or served from this country, born I think in Henderson, but considered the first American to die on foreign soil, it's buried right here at Locust Hill.

6:29

Um, the number of presidents, and I want to congratulate the Evansville courier for bringing out some great stories.

6:38

John Webb wrote about the instrumental uh contributions that Evansville and Vanderburgh County have made throughout our history, and also uh Mr.

6:49

McCabe came through with some photos of not just Evansville history but all of the presidents who have made it to our community to be recognized and to recognize this group.

7:01

Uh, particularly uh in my mind when President Roosevelt came to Republic Aviation, the old whirlpool back in the 1940s because of the building of the P 47s, and all of the contributions this uh community swelled as far as population goes during the war, and we helped win that war, or our forefathers did, and thank you all for that.

7:25

It's truly uh a great time right now to celebrate 250 years.

7:30

Thank you.

7:33

I don't think I could top the uh his history teacher here, but well, very well said, and and yes, I think we should be very, very proud, and thank you to those who have served, and um really the legacy that Evansville does leave is quite amazing.

7:48

So I'm very appreciative of our community and actually being able to serve here.

7:54

Very well said, Commissioners, and uh, you know, we got our uh American flag there at my residence uh shining and waving or it's erected, it's been there for a couple years now, but it's uh every time I leave the house, I always look up at that and very thankful that uh I live in the country that I do.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████27%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████████████25%
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Historic Preservation██████████10%
Public Safety█████████9%
Active Transportation█████5%
Technology and Innovation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners and Drainage Board Meeting - June 30, 2026

The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners and the Drainage Board held a joint meeting on June 30, 2026, at 9:41 AM. The meeting began with a resolution celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence, followed by action items including the selection of a new EMS provider, approval of engineer items, and adoption of a stormwater drainage ordinance. The drainage board approved several drainage plans and variances.

Call to Order and 250th Anniversary Resolution

  • President Elpers called the meeting. The board unanimously adopted Resolution CO.R-06-26-017 recognizing and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. Commissioners made remarks about local contributions (e.g., Evansville's WWII production of P-47 fighter aircraft and LST landing ships).

Action Items: Selection of County Emergency Medical Services Provider

  • After due diligence, including meetings with township trustees and a public meeting, the board voted unanimously to recommend the Evansville Fire Department as the county's EMS provider. Comments thanked AMR for past service and emphasized safety and fiscal responsibility.

Engineer Action Items

  • Notice to Bidders: Approved for Concrete Street Repairs (VC26-08-01), sealed bids due July 28, 2026, covering work on Oglety Drive, Strawberry Hill, and Copper Field subdivisions.
  • Sidewalk Waiver Request (The Nest Subdivision): The Area Plan Commission recommended denial (5-2). Design engineer Storm Colak (Lock Mueller Group) argued no sidewalk connectivity on Red Bank Road. Lieutenant Chad Ferguson (Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office) presented statistics: 57 pedestrian crashes (2016-2026), 51 injured, 4 killed, 49 struck where no sidewalk present; he opposed sidewalk waivers generally. Commissioner Gable voted no, following APC recommendation; Commissioners Canterbury and Elpers voted yes, noting no existing sidewalks on Red Bank Road. Motion to approve passed 2-1.
  • Change Order #1 (Oak Hill Road): 22-day extension due to design revisions for drainage structures, no cost, approved.
  • Pipe Fee Acceptance (Poet Square Section 4): $2 per foot fee for pipes outside right-of-way, approved.
  • Temporary Speed Limit Reduction (Clover Drive): 15 mph for 30 days due to construction detour from Oak Hill Road project, approved.

Old National Events Plaza and Settlement Agreement

  • Approved First Amendment to Wind Down Agreement with ASM Global.
  • Approved settlement agreement regarding contractual bidding process at Community Corrections.

Stormwater Drainage Control Ordinance (Final Reading)

  • Resolution CO.R-06-26-016 adopted, establishing Chapter 13.04. Chief Deputy Surveyor Mike Ward asked about effective date; President Elpers clarified it applies to current and future projects. Approved unanimously.

Engineer Certification Form 803 and Code Enforcement Fees

  • Approved Form 803, shifting responsibility for drainage design and increasing detail.
  • Resolution CO.R-05-26-014 establishing administrative fees for code enforcement hearings, approved.

Department Head Reports

  • Holly Buchanan (Floodplain Administrator) provided information on storm flooding and permit activities, emphasizing services for insurance claims.

New Business: Data Center Research Committee

  • Commissioners announced discussions to establish a committee, currently with the Area Plan Commission.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved June 16, 2026 meeting minutes, employment changes, auditor claims vouchers (June 15-19 and June 22-26, including settlement), engineer report and claims, treasurer's May 2026 Innkeeper's Tax Report, EPA consent for access to county-owned property at 1004 Edgar, appointment of Troy Tornatta to the Economic Development Commission, and application for abutting property owner to purchase county-owned property at 3900 Saunders.

Public Comment (Commissioners Meeting)

  • None.

Drainage Board Meeting

Call to Order and Pledge

  • Meeting called to order, Pledge led by veteran Mike.

Greystone Estates

  • Preliminary drainage plan approved, public hearing set for August 11, 2026, regarding vacation of a portion of Cold Ditch regulated drain. Developer to notify affected property owners per Indiana Code 36-9-27-37.

The Nest at Red Bank Apartment Complex

  • Final drainage plan approved with variance allowing up to 15% undetained discharge (actual 87% detained). Variance approved to allow continued development.

Saddle Creek Estates Section 4

  • Final drainage plan approved with variance for 22% undetained runoff (mostly to Little Pigeon Creek), mitigated by restricting detention basin outflow to 8.56 cfs instead of allowed 70.08 cfs. Approved.

Ditch Claims

  • Two claims totaling $450.60 approved.

Informational

  • Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission meeting scheduled for July 27, 2026, at 10 AM in Room 301.

Public Comment (Drainage Board)

  • Jack Keenan (213 Cherry Street) described a private drain dispute with neighbors causing water damage to his historic house. The board explained it lacked jurisdiction over private drains and suggested private legal remedies.

Adjournment

  • The drainage board adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good morning. Welcome to the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners meeting for June 30th, 2026. Madeline, please call the order. Commissioner Gable. Commissioner Canterbury. Here, President Elpers. Here. Welcome. We're gonna do something a little bit different here this morning as you notice. Uh what's that? Yeah, we're gonna get to that in a second. Uh the room is decorated nicely. Uh we got an important weekend coming up. And uh Laura, thank you for decorating the room. Amy, thank you for the final touches as well. So, um Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners has put forward a resolution, and we're gonna read through that and then uh say the Pledge of Allegiance after that. So here we have a resolution of the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners recognizing and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, whereas on June, or I'm sorry, whereas on July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming that all men are created equal and endowed with an inalienable rights, thereby establishing the United States of America as a free and sovereign nation, and whereas July 4, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the semi-quincentennial of the founding of the United States of America, a milestone of extraordinary historical and national significance. Whereas for two and a half centuries, the United States has stood as a beacon of liberty, democracy, and opportunity, shaped by the courage of its founders and sacrifice of its veterans and the enduring spirit of its people. Whereas Vanderburg County and the city of Evansville have proudly contributed to the heritage of the nation in times of war and peace, including during World War II, when Evansville's plants built P 47 Thunderbird Thunderbolt Fighter Aircraft and served as a key munitions manufacturer and when the Evansville Shipyard, the largest inland producer of ocean going ships in the country, built LST landing ships that carried troops and armor onto enemy beaches, with Evansville built vessels putting men ashore at great at the great invasion of Europe, including Normandy, and whereas citizens of Vanderburgh County, along with communities across the nation, will join together to commemorate this historic milestone with patriotic celebration, reflection, and renewed civic pride, whereas the city, whereas the 250th anniversary of American independence provides an opportunity to honor those who came before us to celebrate the progress and achievements of our nation and to renew our collective commitment to the principles of freedom, justice, and equality upon which this country was founded. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Vanderborough County Board of Commissioners at Section 1. The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners hereby recognizes and celebrates the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, the semiquincentrical commemorated on July 4th, 2026. The board extends its deepest gratitude and honor to all men and women, past and present, who have served in the United States Armed Forces and whose sacrifice and dedication have preserved the freedoms and liberties that all Americans enjoy. The board encourages all residents of Vanderburgh County to participate in local and national semi-quincentennial celebrations to reflect the rich history of our nation and to renew their commitment to the enduring values of liberty, democracy, equal justice. The board calls upon all citizens to display the American flag with pride on July 4, 2026, and throughout the semi-quincentennial celebration in honor of the 250-year legacy of the United States of America. This resolution shall be entered into the official records of Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners, and a copy shall be made available to the public. Sure. Adopted this 30th day of June 2026 by the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners. Thank you, Commissioners. Is there any uh people who have served in our armed forces? Will you please stand? I would appreciate if you could lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance today. Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you for doing that. I saw uh Mr. Riney. Appreciate your service and cliff. Appreciate your service. Thank you for doing that. All right. Action items. Do you want to discuss anything else on the 250th? Go ahead, Commissioner. Okay. Sorry. I just want to make comment about uh local uh involvement with the 250th uh anniversary and what it means to all of us here in Vanderburgh County. Obviously, the declaration broke us and made us into a free country. The uh signing of the Constitution in September of 1787, built about our government and rule of laws, and as Mr. Lincoln eloquently put it back in uh 1863 with the Gettysburg Address of for and by the people, and uh the great contributions our community has made it abounds. Take a look around LST 325, the old uh soldiers of Saylor Coliseum, the World War II or the memorial uh building out by the airport, and just the contributions throughout Republic Aviation during the war.

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