The honorable council of the city of Evansville is hereby called to order.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilwoman Taylor?

Present.

Councilman Hieronymus.

Here.

Councilwoman Hatfield.

Here.

Councilwoman Kaler Lindsay?

Here.

Councilman Brinkmeyer?

Here.

Councilwoman Allen?

Here.

Councilman Green?

Here.

Councilman Johnson.

Councilman Chalkman.

Here.

There being eight members present, one absent, representing a quorum.

I hereby declare this session of the Common Council officially opened.

This evening, after much preparation, the pledge will be led by none other than the most popular man in the room, Patrick Hickey.

And to the Republic for which is one nation.

And the visible with liberty and just please join me now in a moment of silence.

Fellow counselors and those in the audience, welcome to the July 13th, 2026 meeting of the Common Council.

Is there a motion to approve the meeting memorandum of the June 22nd, 2026 meeting of the Common Council as written?

So moved.

Second.

Hearing a first and a second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

So ordered.

Reports and communications.

Emailed material ordinance G 2026-13, G 2026-14, F 2026-0, the second amendment.

R 2026-15 and resolutions C 2026-25 amended.

C 2026-26, C 2026-27 amended, and C 2026-28.

And also in your desk this evening, extended agenda.

Is there a motion to acknowledge the reports and communications?

So moved.

Second.

Hearing a first and a second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

So ordered.

Special orders of the day.

There are no special orders this evening.

Consent agenda.

First reading of ordinances and resolutions.

Ordinance G, 2026-13, an ordinance to vacate a 20 foot alley behind 20 foot wide, being 20 foot, excuse me, 12 foot wide, 29.5 feet long, located north of and northwest of block one in block one of the northern enlargement, being south of Indiana Street and west of Garfield Avenue, having a common address of 213 West Division Street or 210 West Indiana Street within the City of Evansville, Indiana.

Ordinance G, 2026-14, an ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville, amending chapter 16.10.090, duties and responsibility of the floodplain administrator of the Evansville municipal code.

Ordinance R, 2026-15, an ordinance to rezone certain real estate in the city of Evansville, State of Indiana, more kindly known as 5033 Belmade Avenue.

Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda as written?

So moved.

Second.

Hearing a first and a second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

So ordered.

Committee reports.

There are no committee reports this evening.

Regular agenda, second reading of ordinances and resolutions.

And for this one, we're going to have to have Councilman Hieronymus and Councilwoman Hatfield recuse themselves.

Ordinance F.

2020 608 amended an ordinance of the Common Council, the City of Evansville authorizing transfers of appropriations, additional appropriations, and repeal and reappropriation of funds for various city funds.

And before you guys vote, there was an amendment that was made today.

Robert, you may have.

Correct.

And for you do that, is the one today that we have on our desk any different from the email one?

The one today you have on your desk is the first amendment.

There was a tiny change that we made today that he's just gonna tell you about that we did not reprint.

Okay.

Okay, is there a motion to accept a second amendment for the ordinance F 2026-08?

So moved.

Second, being a first and properly seconded, all in favor?

Any opposed?

Is there a motion to adopt ordinance F 2026-08 as amended?

So moved.

Second, floor is now open for discussion.

Robert?

You need me.

I'm Robert Guntra with the city controller's office.

And as I go through these, please stop me if you have questions and we have staff available.

Because especially when we get the DMD.

So the first item all we're doing is moving money from contractual services to small tools to buy uh a new computer for uh using the federal forfeiture fund.

Uh the next section we're going to repeal and reappropriate.

We're repealing some uh items out of the cemetery and the casino fund to put it back into cash.

And later on, I'm gonna ask that we appropriate some perpetual care funds to do these projects.

So rather than using casino, we're gonna use perpetual care.

So we're asking to put 110,000 back into casino.

And then Robert, um how will that change the balance on the casino fund?

Well, it'll put I mean it'll be that it it um right, can you give us an update then on what that fund has in it after uh yeah I think we I got the uh report, I just haven't gone all the way through it yet.

Yeah, I can send that.

Uh if you could send that, that'd be great.

Thank you.

Uh the next one uh that's it's the CDBG, which is the community development block grant.

Um transferring the remaining balance of twelve thousand one thirty-eight, and use that to memorial youth development account.

The last one on that page is the home administration fund.

Um, one million dollars and use it for the various projects there at the crawford door, grandview towers, and home.

I mean hope.

And this is the 2026 allocation, correct?

Some of some of it is the prior year fund because all funds that we can do a home account for the shovel with so it could be 2026, could be some prior year funds.

So these are all the shovel reggie projects that that are gonna go forward in 2026.

Thank you.

Next page, miscellaneous grant funds.

Robert, what fund is that 2512 fund?

Is that the U23 account?

Uh what kind of count?

String free account.

Is it named asked?

Um, Colby, would you mind coming up?

Might as well just hang out up here.

Sorry, Colby.

Yeah.

I was I was just curious on what exactly fund 2512 was.

Yeah, so that's a we it's labeled as UDAG, so Urban Development action grant, and that's what it was called way back when.

And so there's funds that are sit some funds that sit in that account that are, I guess what you call string free.

They're not tied to any federal um rules or regulations, and so that's an additional allocation that DMD is using to support the acquisition of the Phoenix apartments.

Um there's gonna be acquisition and some rehab work done over there.

You guys have seen prior approved some affordable housing trust funds as well for the acquisition over there, but there's multiple funding sources for that project, and so that's why you are seeing it come back again as well as some of these other projects that are listed.

And then I did I see the Phoenix is also one that's getting some of the home dollars.

Okay, yep.

All right, thank you, Coba.

The next one there is the general fund, uh, Animal Shelter.

Yeah, received $21,000 from Best Friends Animal Society, and we'd like to use it for vaccinations for the animals.

The next one is the that's our new uh local will tax fund, and we're going to put the community crossing grant in this one, and the city was awarded the one million dollars.

So we're gonna use it for paving Robert.

What I'm just curious.

Uh we talked about this recently, but I don't recall.

Do we know what the balance in that account is before this?

It was just over one million dollars at June 30th, so which we budget deal.

Yeah, we budgeted a million, so we'll be coming to the council to appropriate the what we get from here to the uh end of the calendar year.

Excellent.

We'd much rather put it into roads than have it sitting.

Exactly.

So uh the next one is the housing trust fund, $750,000 for affordable housing.

Do we know how many projects we're getting for the $750,000?

Yes.

So, um this is a housekeeping item to move those that so the one million that was allocated in the 2026 budget, we're receiving 750,000 of that to help with various projects that some of which have been pri previously approved through the affordable housing trust fund.

Um one of those would be Grandview Towers, which you all have seen come before you.

Um JD Sheth's Mina's place is another one.

Uh Hope of Evansville, which I just mentioned is another one.

So and I think can you give me one second?

I want to grab something.

I don't believe anybody got yeah, and if you want to um email that to us later too so that we've got the total number of projects.

Yeah, so um, JD Chef Mina's Place, Advantage River City Homes, um, Grandview Tower that I mentioned, and then Phoenix apartments, and then some of the other ones are actual individual home repairs for homeowners.

So it's a combination.

Yep.

Yep.

Thank you, Colby.

You're welcome.

Uh the next one there uh it's where we're using the locust hill perpetual care fund where we freed up the money in the casino.

We're only asking for five thousand here.

And then where is the balance of that perpetual care fund come from?

Uh we we set 20% of our revenue aside for this.

The next one is the Oak Hill Perpetual Care where we're spending a hundred thousand and it's it's for a road.

There do road improvements out there.

Okay, again, that's a different different fund, different uh perpetual care fund.

So and just so I think you were just saying this is different than the hundred thousand that's on the first page.

Well it's it's it's the same one, but it right we have two.

We have one for locus and one for oak hill.

Okay, so the five thousand above it was for Locus Hill.

Well, I'm looking at the first page where it has the from, and then it has a two, and it has a hundred thousand from fund 4437, right?

And then this one is from Fund 8824.

Are these two different things?

Same project, we're just paying it out of two different funds.

So is it two hundred thousand dollars?

No, it's just one hundred.

We're we're putting we're putting the hundred back into casino.

Okay, and then rather than paying for the road out of casino, we're gonna pay it out of the perpetual care fund.

Okay.

Same project, just a different fund.

Okay, and it says improvement other than building the use of that's the roads.

Okay, that's definitely needed.

Thank you.

Next page, page three.

We have interest from the American Rescue Plan.

Uh we'd like to put into some paving projects.

So the mayor's requested 400,000 from that.

And then are we still on target to get those funds spent down by the deadline?

Everyone's, I think they're all spent except for some in uh city engineer projects, but then the interest we're okay on keeping that, it doesn't have the same restrictions, is that correct?

Right, and what we plan to do is before the end of the year is to move whatever interest is in that account to the general fund and assign it, reserve it for uh future projects.

So we just want to completely close out that fund by the end of the year so there's nothing nothing left, and we're required to have it spent by uh December 31st.

Okay, thank you.

And then on that wheel tax fund, um that's that's also ARPA dollars, that 400,000 that's going to paving projects.

And do we know like how many miles of roads or how many projects are we're getting done for that amount of money?

I think Brian's on vacation.

And maybe maybe he can get that information to us when he gets back.

That'd be great.

Thank you.

If I remember right, our member Brian telling us at one point it was $300,000 a mile.

Okay.

That last you heard from him.

Is that correct, Ben?

That's correct.

Okay.

On the next one, the general fund, um, I'd like to change the description on that first item where it says state grant general revenue to reimbursements.

And that's what we could they just voted on that.

So that is what they have in front of them.

It says the state grant general revenue.

What we considered the second amendment was just changing that to reimbursements.

So they have voted on that, but just so you know, that was the only change of the amendment.

It was just correcting that error right there, so it'll be state grant general reimbursements.

No, it just just reimbursements.

Just reimbursements, thank you.

So I don't know if you remember we set up a new fund called charging stations fund.

So it'll come this money will come into the general fund and then we'll move it to that charging station fund.

And so then we already have this grant in place, and this is one of the ones that Lauren had worked on with Climate Collaborative.

Great, great.

Thank you.

Last page, uh, this is for Mets.

All we're doing is moving money from temporary salaries to other services, uh, for cleaning of buses.

Not asking for overall increase, just moving it within Metz department.

Todd, I'm seeing some of that new signage out there.

Looks good, Metz signage.

Is there any other discussion from council?

Is there any discussion or questions from the public?

Christopher Nori, 2728 Harmony Way here in Evansville.

I'm just expressing my continued philosophical difference with how the ARPA interest funds are spent.

I think that those should be spent within the spirit of the original ARPA grants, and I don't think paving falls into those kind of categories.

Thank you.

Any other comments from the audience?

Seeing none, Madam Clerk.

Councilwoman Taylor.

Yes.

Councilwoman Kayler Lindsay?

Yes.

Councilman Brickmeyer?

Aye.

Councilwoman Allen?

Aye.

Councilman Green?

Aye.

Councilman Chuckman.

Aye.

Six ayes and three abstentions.

Ordinance F 2026-08 amended is hereby declared adopted.

Thank you.

Resolution docket.

Council of Romans might have fallen asleep out there.

Resolution C 2026-25 amended preliminary resolution of the common council of the city of Evansville declaring an economic revitalization area for property tax phase in for the rehabilitation of real property and installation of new equipment.

817 Maxwell Avenue, Evansville, Indiana, 47711.

Indian Industries Incorporated, doing business as Escalade Sports.

Is there a motion to accept the amendment for resolution C 2026 25?

So move.

So move.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any oppose?

So ordered.

Is there a motion to adopt resolution C 2026-25 amended?

So moved.

Second.

Hearing a first and a second.

Pat and crew, it's up to you.

Good evening, council members.

Patrick Hickey, economic development director at the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership.

Uh also have with me president and CEO of Escalade, Patrick Griffin, and as well as his team and advisors.

So this is a property tax uh phase-in application.

Uh just a uh brief I'll briefly tee it up and then open for any questions.

But Escalade, of course, is a publicly traded uh sporting goods company with nearly a century of history in Evansell and its Maxwell location facility is over a hundred years old with aging structural issues that have left large sections unusable.

Uh the company is proposing roughly eight million in real property rehabilitation and nine hundred and twenty-five thousand in new equipment.

The investment would help retain a hundred and fifty-five existing jobs and add 17 new ones.

The 155 jobs represent over 12 million in income.

And the 17 new poss new positions carry an average salary of 77,000 dollars a year, which is 40% over the county's average.

Uh according to the company and it's in its application without uh this investment, it's its board um has indicated it it may relocate headquarters and distribution elsewhere, which would put those jobs at risk.

And so as such EREP recommends the standard nine-year phase in for both real and personal property.

Uh standard meaning uh roughly a 50 percent property tax deduction on the new qualifying equipment, uh, and that's consistent with uh the council approved score sheet uh we use for every project as a as a guide and and making our recommendation to you um well pause there and ask if there are any questions council I'm curious the 77,000 um average what is the lowest paying like I always like to kind of know where because the average I don't know what is that an executive um salary teed up to a new person bringing this average although that's just a really high average though I guess so yeah it varies on the the role so we have some marketing people that would be involved in that some people working in the warehouse as well so that then Tree Mods here is our president of our Escalate sports group and he's kind of responsible for the warehousing and Stephen Warren's our CFO here as well but you have a feeling for the range there on how you low and yeah I would say 40,000 can you uh please approach the podium so that we can get out of the matter of record.

Um 40,000 would be at the low end for the warehouse workers.

Gotcha thanks now.

Council any other questions I counselor Hatfield may have some of the shares he's been in a number of these meetings but um thinking about my hat as a city counselor but also with or fellowship.

I've learned a lot about escalated sports over the last year and a half and uh let me just say we want to keep you here and so appreciate uh the efforts uh Patrick of yours and uh team for being here this evening and uh certainly again look forward to a long uh history and road ahead of us well thank thank you Ben we've enjoyed you know being here in Evansville for over 100 years and being members of the you know the Jacobsville community there where we're at and supporting you know Evansville we hope to continue to be here as well.

Thanks Pat any questions of uh the audience I'm sorry Zach no I've got one one question just uh and then I think uh counselor Hatfield was gonna speak as well just kind of looking at the the tangible um construction side of things uh what is the intention on hiring locally uh to to do this rehabilitation this improvement of the facility cover that uh Ben Tremont um we're gonna do our best effort to hire local um we see no issue with uh the construction uh the racking uh stuff like that um where the question remains is um specialization in a salt tooth roof um but we're we've quoted this out to a number of groups and there are local contractors that are bidding and have bid on the the work and just uh a further clarification a saw tooth roof is exactly uh it's a it's a structural component of a roof where the roof um it's not a flat roof uh it's not an angle roof but it actually goes up goes down up down so you're carrying about 45% more uh materials okay on the roof I got itself as a popular design in the 1920s like this for lighting yeah I wonder why counselor hatfield go ahead oh yeah I just really and I no questions for uh for the group but more just want to um just say how grateful I am um to Patrick and and to the group at Escalate for including counsel in our in our discussions over the last several months uh inviting us to your facility and really showing us and explaining to us what you do the important work that you do in Evansville uh it's imperative that we keep strong successful businesses in Evansville and um I uh I look forward to continue to work with you all here in Evansville.

And um, and it's really all I wanted to say.

I just I'm grateful to you all and glad that you're here.

Thank you very much.

We appreciate the support we should appreciate also the opportunity to discuss you know the project and what we're trying to to accomplish, you know, with you and the council.

So um when we were discussing on one of the calls, um, one of the comments were made, um, and I don't remember which person um in the group made the comment, but there was a comment made about how um the business had enough money in the account to pay off all their bills.

So, how do we balance that with having enough money to pay off the bills, and you're in such financial um is such a good financial place?

How do we balance that with the need for the tax abatement?

Yeah, the challenge we have is the uh building we have is not real economical to invest in, so we need some additional support to invest in the building relative to you know a brand new building in another location.

So that's the challenge from our board of directors as a public company is where where and how should we invest, you know, for our shareholders, and so we're trying to balance that with the support that we would get from you helps make it an economical investment for us.

So in plain terms, and I need that a lot more simple.

Um plain terms.

If you are you in a place right now that if you did not get this tax abatement, do you have the financial ability to make the changes that you need to make with what you have right now?

We wouldn't make the investment.

You would not make the investment.

And what would be the reason for not making the investment?

Because the investment wouldn't make sense.

Okay, any uh questions from the audience?

Okay, Madam Clerk, Councilwoman Taylor, no.

Councilman Hieronymous?

I.

Councilman Brickmeyer?

Aye.

Councilwoman Allen?

Aye.

Councilman Green?

Aye.

Councilman Trumpman.

Aye.

There being seven ayes, one nay.

Resolution.

C 2026-25 amended is hereby declared adopted.

Thanks, gentlemen.

Thank you for your support.

Resolution C.

2026-26, a preliminary resolution of the Common Council of the City of Evansville, declaring an economic revitalization area for property tax phase and for the rehabilitation of rail property and installation of new equipment, 1700 Lynch Road, Evansville, Indiana.

1700 LLC, Qualas Engineering Plastics LLC.

Is there a motion to adopt resolution C 2026-26?

So moved.

Second.

Hearing a first, a second, and a sneeze.

Patrick, you are the man of the evening.

Another tax phase in application.

So this is uh 1700 LLC Qualis Engineered Plastics LLC.

Uh newly formed uh plastics compounding manufactured uh manufacturer that's uh founded by local investors, including uh former Omniplastics executives, Bill Veith and Andy Herman.

Uh the project would reactivate the 141,000 square foot uh former Lionel Basel building on uh Lynch Road, which has been vacant for more than more than a year, year and a half, close to two years, with about 10 million in investment.

Uh roughly nine of that, uh 10 million in new equipment and another million in building improvements, including the recommissioning of uh the site's Rails for the company projects 35 new full-time jobs within five years with wages representing over two and a half million in income annually.

Uh these wages are uh also high uh higher paying 30 30 percent over the the county's average wage.

EREF recommends a 10-year phase in on a standard declining schedule given the the rail investment and uh uh competing out of uh city and out of county site uh paired with uh a clawback agreement uh just kind of in light of the the company's startup status.

Uh but with me are two representatives uh from Anderson Capital uh partners who are the the sponsoring principals, um Brad Osborne, President of Operations, and Drew Meyer, who is the Chief Financial Officer of Anderson.

Uh happy to answer any questions.

Counselors?

Patrick, you may have said this and I was sleeping.

How many jobs are we creating?

Yes, 35 new full-time jobs.

And that will that be um over the 10 year period or just the initial five years.

Five years, okay, thank you.

Gentlemen, do you want to share uh anything in particular that says your time in the sun?

While y'all are coming up, I will say I appreciate the fact that it's using, you know, we're reactivating a building that is currently sitting there empty, and also that you're recommissioning that rail.

Um, I think I've believed if I've hear right someone had looked at that even before and they weren't interested in the building because of that rail um not being you know useful.

So I appreciate those investments in particular.

Yeah, we have lost millions of dollars and and dozens uh of jobs because uh there is not rail access direct.

So it's good perspective.

Uh Drew Drew Meyer, CFO with Anderson Capital.

Uh we're a lead investor in the in the group.

Um our group is all local uh investors, some of which have uh had success in the plastics injury in industry before.

Um just to note that the rail, we are in conversations with CSX.

Um it's a moving target right now, but we think there is a pathway to get that uh reopened and it's good for that building and also good for our our uh potential operation freight cost.

Um just in regards to the dollars spent on equipment, um, some of that will be sourced here locally.

I know that question came up earlier.

Um, some of it's gonna uh have to come from out of state and potentially out of country, depending on uh specialized uh orders there, but we do plan to um have operations start uh at some point in 2026 and build over the next uh five to seven years and increase our operations in Evansville.

Great.

As a council member who represents this area, I just want to welcome you all and say thank you for investing in our community and and particularly in you know, like councilman uh Alan said, bringing back a building that that's been sitting there vacant.

So we we do appreciate that.

We look forward to having you here in our area.

Thank you.

Any questions uh of the audience?

Oh, I'm sorry, please.

Do you have a breakdown of uh payroll information?

For as for the workers, 35 workers, I believe you said, I know you gave it a yearly total, but the wages and wages individually.

How much with the individuals, yeah.

We we're just a salary range, yeah.

So that'll that'll range from anywhere um from some administrative uh jobs in the front office.

That'll be forty, fifty, sixty thousand dollars to um plant operators, um, and that fifty to sixty thousand to mechanics um and electricians that would be in the eighty to 70 to 80 range.

Um, it's not enough for electrician.

I'm just kidding.

It might be a bias, yeah.

Uh yeah, but no, and then we'll we'll obviously have uh uh various levels of management and sales um leaders that that will probably uh be over that 100,000 mark.

Well the will the equipment installation be done like under a warranty thing, or will you hire local contractors to do a lot of that?

I'm sure electrical drops, different things that the machines have to have.

Yeah, so for the vast majority of it, it'll be local contract local contractors doing install electric run electric runs.

Only if that's advantageous from there'll be some packaged equipment that we're buying from some of the OEMs that will come with their warranty and certification of their installation, so but that'll be a very small, be a small.

And they'll be doing their own startup, I'm assuming.

They'll be doing the calibration and checkout for it as part of if it's part of the warranty, then it'll be done under their calibration, but again, very small, very small on the start-up of that.

Okay.

Thank you.

So I don't um I've been trying to research this and I can't really find an answer.

What is the impact environmentally?

Environmentally with the type of is there is there any impact environmentally with the type of manufacturing that's happening, going into the neighborhoods, things of that sort.

Can you give anything on that?

Uh I would say no significant change to what was done in the building prior.

Um, if anything, we're doing some upgrades that I'll say the facility before didn't have dust collection fume ventilation and things for the operators and people working within the plant that will help prevent quite a bit of that.

But the facility is very well set up from an environmental capture standpoint.

We've got August Mac doing a bunch of the environmental work for us to go ahead and get the air, water, sewer permitting completed.

But as a leader in plastics in the tri-state and the area and in the world for here, I'm sure you guys are aware of like we we obviously understand the impact plastics makes.

Um we will be part of the recycle, we'll be part of the recycle world in some way, shape or form, bringing it back in.

And again, like so if we just do our best to minimize minimize our impact and take credit for the downstream for the gas mileage and the other improvements that we can make within the world, but yes, understand that we we definitely have an environmental impact to the world that we owe it due to.

Have there been any studies done as of right now, EPA or anything of that sort, um, with what chemicals are being released and what um if any that would reach any community neighbors, things of that sort?

So we've been in contact, Evansville Sewer, Edmundville Water and Sewers been out already.

Um we've talked to them about the monitoring program, where they're going to take their sampling and things back, having done similar processes that add in value or in Sabik in the last 20 years for myself.

Um I don't see a significant environmental impact for what we're going for what we're going to be doing.

Obviously, as new products or new materials come in, we have adjust this to validate the different materials and come back and make sure that we've got the proper containment and proper actions in place to keep that from going out to anywhere in the in the body.

Thank you so much.

Just to put a little bit more context to this, um you were talking about the previous company.

This was Lionel Bazelle, right?

Um they are plastics manufacturer as well, right?

Looking, you know, and just to kind of piggyback off counselor Taylor, um, just so you know the the public is aware outside of the water and sewer utility.

What other governing bodies oversee uh regulation of you know pollutants uh with respect to this type of industry?

So you'll have sewer water, so for us sewer what sewer water air, and then we won't be a we won't be a recre-hazard site, we won't have uh any significant chemicals that we'll be generating from from the lab from the lab or any of the process uh again.

They said for in the foreseeable business plan for it.

We don't have any major stakes like that.

So the major one for us outside of what outside our water sewer is the environmental EPA, the air permit air permitting is is the main key, which is like I said, why I'm kind of proud of us pulling over the pulling over a new dust collection system and bringing that in because for the operators and for everybody in the environment outside, capturing that up capturing that before is yeah, important for it.

So, what I'm hearing you say is it's a federally rate relegated industry.

Yeah, okay, at least from an air quality standpoint.

Air quality standpoint, yeah.

Okay, thank you.

Any more questions, Council?

Counselors?

Any questions from uh or comments from the audience?

Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Councilwoman Taylor?

Yes, Councilman Hieronymus.

Aye.

Councilwoman Hatfield.

Aye.

Councilwoman Kayler Lindsay.

Aye.

Councilman Brick Meyer?

Aye, Councilwoman Allen.

Aye.

Councilman Green.

Aye.

Councilman Chalkman.

Aye.

There being eight ayes and zero and a is resolution C 2026 26 is hereby declared adopted.

Thank you.

So much, gentlemen.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks, Pat.

Resolution C, 2026-27 amended.

A resolution in the common council.

The city of Evansville, Indiana, recognizing the United States of America's 250th anniversary and encouraging civic and education.

So moved.

Second.

First and a second, all those in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

So ordered.

Is there a motion to adopt resolution C 2026 27 amended?

So moved.

Hearing a first and a second.

For anyone who was not on the uh original resolution as a sponsor, if you would like to join.

Mr.

President, I would love it if we could even do this as uh from all members of council, council as a whole, if that would be amenable to everyone.

So normally I would say yes.

The reason why we can't hear is because Courtney's not here.

Yes.

Can we add everybody else that's here?

I would uh ask to be added.

Yeah, I would ask to be added to Taylor Lindsay.

So we would just need a motion to add counselors, uh Lindsay and Hieronymous to this resolution.

Ms.

Taylor, you've got to make the resolution too.

I would make that motion to add Council Heronymus and Taylor.

Or Angela Lindsay, Kaylor Lindsay.

Yeah.

You can put four of my names on there, but that's okay.

So moved.

Okay.

Yes, second.

Yeah.

Excellent.

All those in favor?

All those in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Okay.

Now the fun stuff.

The floor is now open for discussion.

Counselors.

Anything you might want to share in particular.

There seemed to be a lot of talk about this back in June.

I thought there might be more talk about it tonight.

I think that's the second step of this whole comment process, right?

So I would say, personally, and Paul, you can share anything that you might that uh, you know, obviously we have past uh our birthday, but the celebration uh continues as I was reflecting on this and some of the um celebrations that have happened and just really kind of the past month.

I have thought a lot about where I am sitting today, and only a place like the United States of America, is there an opportunity where a disabled Jewish man can lead a city council in the third largest city in Indiana?

And I don't take that lightly, and I think it's pretty damn cool, and I appreciate counselors what each and every one of you do for our community and uh for each other, and so uh again that might have been a little deep uh philosophical, but I was thinking and it was late last night, so that's what you get.

Evansville uh has played a big role in the country and where it's at today, especially in World War II.

So I think this was appropriate.

I do I do apologize that it wasn't done last month, but it's it was something I thought needed to be done in July, and uh I think it, you know, with Evansville's contribution to the country as a whole uh that that's the way it should be done.

Of course, the meeting obviously comes after the uh fourth, but that's just that's just the calendar.

So anyway, I think uh I think this is uh a great thing if for those I don't know I'm assuming everybody's got an opportunity to read it, and uh I do want to thank everybody for being sponsors, and uh let's move this thing forward.

I appreciate you bringing it forward, Paul.

And uh and I agree it's something to your point, Ben, something to be celebrated the entire year.

It's a monumental occasion.

It's pretty cool that we're all alive for such time as this.

That's what I I had the honor to speak at the mayor's uh proclamation ceremony um out here at the civic building, and um, I think it's yeah, it's it's it's a pretty amazing thing to be able and to and to be to acknowledge where we have come and the sacrifices that have been made to get us here um and to continue to protect those freedoms and those rights that we have, and to say that we um love our country enough to keep wanting to improve it, and I think that we all are trying to do that in the work that we do every day.

So thanks.

And for those who got to attend, that was uh uh excellent ceremony that was that the mayor presented out front.

Biggest flag I've seen in a long time, that's for sure.

Um we have a couple slips, and and if I'm not mistaken, I think all of the uh decorations were already bought up, right?

So we isn't that what you that's right.

We uh we had we had a plan to have some a little uh swag, some USA swag.

But uh Laura says they're all bought up at DG and other places, so we do have our normal flag.

Um any comments from uh the public, sure, the teacher has to say so.

So section two where you um encourage the schools, libraries, and community organizations to provide appropriate opportunities for residents and students to engage in learning related to the Declaration of Independence, the Founding Fathers, the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Civic Virtue, and the responsibilities of citizenship.

I think I can speak on behalf of all of EVSC, even though I don't have the authority to do that.

I'm going to and uh the ISTA, which Ms.

Taylor is um uh I know supporting this part as well.

We are doing our part with that.

Um I think in November you're gonna see several high schoolers working in polls around the city.

Um I would love it if you all could reach out to local government teachers and take that step to do your partner schools.

Don't wait for them to contact you.

And just before you leave, can you set your name and address for the record?

Yes, Seth Easter Day 625 South Norman Avenue.

Thank you.

Seth, I'm curious.

I have a question.

Uh not to elongate this, but to elongate this.

Uh what is uh what's the temperature on the ground of uh high school student right now, their realization of this moment in history uh and apologies for the sermon that Seth has going to be.

No, um the last five years has been an amazingly, as teacher, government junkie, political science guy, has been amazing amazingly fun um area to be teaching in, also sad, and um informative.

So it's been uh full of amazing learning opportunities and civic engagement within the classroom, but then um also just within the community with the students that want to get involved.

I can tell you that the discussions that take place in my classes uh typically um well, I would just say are um representative of the kind of conversations we want to have in society, but we're not seeing among adults right now.

So um I think it's it could be very educational for people to just take a look in the classroom and see people of opposing views um discussing things.

Love that.

Thank you, Seth.

Yeah, that's great.

All right, I'll just say a couple things.

Uh you know, it's interesting to hear that uh perspective, Seth, for a couple reasons.

I mean, obviously, the nation, you know, is a nation of ideals, right?

And uh community politics on the local level have historically really fed up instead of been pushed down.

Uh and I think you know, right now is a time where we're seeing a lot of that noise, you know, chip away at the strength and the fabric of community uh that conversations around ideals uh are best to be had.

Um so just I want to thank you for that perspective uh being an educator and being around our next generation.

Uh I also do want to vouch for how thrilled he is and excited about the the work that he does because my wife and I got an email, what was it last week?

I guess uh talking about the difficulties of this AP, you know.

What tell me again what the class is called again?

AP human geography that my son is is gonna be fortunate enough to learn uh in your classroom.

So I want to say uh thank you for the uh upfront uh summer homework assignments uh uh and I know that Jackson is looking forward to learning alongside his his peers at Bosse.

Um Madam Clerk, Councilwoman Taylor.

Do I have the ability to abstain?

What was the question?

Yeah, it's it's my understanding that we don't have a ability to abstain unless we have a conflict of interest per or ordinance rules.

No, Hieranimus.

Aye.

Councilwoman Hatfields.

Aye.

Councilwoman Kaler Lindsay.

Aye, Councilman Brickmeyer, aye.

Councilwoman Allen?

Aye.

Councilman Green?

Aye.

Councilman Trockman.

Aye.

There being seven ayes, one resolution C 2026 or 27 amended a few times.

Uh is hereby declared adopted.

Okay.

Resolution C 2026-28, a resonu a resolution acknowledging the city of Evansville brand standards and preserving the city's corporate seal and corporate flag.

Is there a motion to adopt resolution C 2026-28?

Second.

Here we go first, and a second.

Welcome, sir.

Good evening.

Uh my name's Aaron Allen with Zemir Staman Weitzel and Shoulders.

I'm here uh appearing on behalf of Sarah Dower Corporation Council in the city.

Uh this resolution relates to the brand standards that the Mayor's office, I believe, presented earlier this year to this board or to this council.

Um it essentially acknowledges the brand standards for the public facing branding and communications purposes while making clear that they do not replace or modify the city's corporate seal, corporate flag, official attestation, certified documents, or any official city insignia.

Excellent.

Straight into the point.

Of course.

Counselors.

And there's no cost associated with this resolution, correct?

Correct.

Any comments from the public?

I think it's been kind of refreshing, refresh and rebrand of the city, and I I appreciate uh the mayor's office and and the public input and uh the elected officials' input on helping us get to where we're at.

I think uh I've been pleasantly uh surprised uh to see how well it turned out.

Yeah, and we should give credit where credit is due.

Uh there was uh a Hieronymous that was behind a little bit of uh uh the makings of all this for many months and uh that was nice to have uh Megan involved.

Yeah, one helping with a flag, one helping with the logo, right?

Yeah, that's right.

That's right.

Um any comments from the public on this one, Madam Clerk.

Please call the rule.

Councilwoman Taylor, yes.

Councilman Horanus?

Aye.

Councilwoman Hatfield.

Hi.

Councilwoman Kyler Lindsey.

Aye.

Councilman Brickmeyer, Councilwoman Allen.

Hi.

Councilman Green.

Hi.

Councilman Chalkman.

Hi, there being eight ayes and zero nodes.

Resolution C 2026 28 is here.

Declared adopted.

Thank you very much.

Miscellaneous business.

We have loved us for we're gonna get to that miscellaneous business.

Uh, the next meeting of the common council is on Monday, July 27th at 5 30 p.m., but maybe a little more, even more important than uh Patrick.

He's gone now, so I can say that.

Um, is Lauren.

Do tell us more about all the fun that is being had with the solar project and all the money we're gonna save.

Good evening.

Lauren Lynch, director of the Evansville Climate Collaborative.

Um, in 2019, this council, well, the Evansville City Council passed the clean energy resolution with the goal to transition city operations to 100% renewable energy by 2050.

And just last year, the city council passed a resolution to adopt the Evansville Climate Action Plan with goals to reduce emissions, greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050, and to improve the community's sustainability and resilience.

And in May of this year, this council passed a resolution supporting the pursuit of solar on city facilities through an interlocal agreement with the Evansville water and sewer utility.

So I'm here to provide an update to you about the progress we're making on those resolutions and answer any questions you may have.

So this the city strategically selected facilities to consider for solar energy based on their energy consumption and the essential services that they provide to the community.

Those selected involved some of the highest energy consumers, such as Deaconess Aquatic Center and Swander Ice Arena, and some of the buildings at the zoo, as well as um as well as facilities that host critical public safety and animal life support systems such as Central Dispatch, Evansville Fire Department, and Mesca Park Zoo and Animal Care and Control.

So the city executed uh an interlocal agreement with the Evansville Water and Sewer utility to oversee the solar projects, and they conducted a competitive bid process, and they selected four contractors out of what I understand to be five bid bidders, and um to uh entertain all of those solar projects that we put out a bid for.

And the project is set to begin this summer and completed over the next four years, and solar will be installed on site for each facility at the rooftop or the parking lot, and um so it'll be just focused on that facility.

So I figured you would like some numbers, some data.

Uh keep in mind that we are still in the process of ironing out all the details on this project.

It involves a lot of facilities and four different contractors.

Um, and so we are just working on the details as we speak, and we have a pretty darn good idea of the data, so I'm gonna share some with you, but just know that they're preliminary, and as we assess building needs and feasibility of solar on these buildings as well as our budget, we will do minor um adjustments in the project.

So the solar project will cost approximately 6.5 million.

That's the total price tag on it.

But this investment will be offset by the energy that we no longer have to buy from the grid based on the solar energy that's generated on site.

And it's going to be reimbursed.

About 50 to 60% of that total project cost is going to be reimbursed by the federal clean electricity investment tax credit.

So it's an amazing opportunity.

Basically, the city is going to be installing solar for these facilities at about half the price or even less, depending on what we're approved for as that reimbursement.

The average return on investment is a mere six years.

So we are going to be paying this in six years, and it has a 25-year lifespan.

So everything over that six years is gravy.

We get that free energy generation on the solar panels for each facility.

So it's an incredible opportunity with just a six-year ROI.

The utility is the Evansville water and sewer utility will front the initial investment, and the city is going to reimburse them over the next six years.

This will not influence the utility water and sewer rates for residents in Evansville, nor is it expected to impact the city's annual operating budget.

The utility is going to manage the project for us through to completion with their engineering team because they have the capacity to do so.

And then the city will own it and manage the solar systems once they're complete.

The solar project is expected to reduce a combined collective annual electricity cost for these facilities that is currently 1.6 million dollars a year, and we're going to save upwards of 35% of that each year.

And that's about a little over a half a million dollars each year for these facilities going solar.

And that's at current electricity rates.

As you know, over 25 years, you're gonna we're gonna see more inflation and more energy increases, rate increases.

So that is in today's dollars.

So in the long term, over the 25 years, we're gonna save a lot more than that.

Um we will also save on our greenhouse gas emissions, one of our other goals, one of our very important goals, by an estimated 1,600 metric tons of CO2 equivalent, which are is how we express greenhouse gas emissions, and that's about half of the city's greenhouse gas emissions that we contribute just on energy, just on powering our buildings and our facilities in city operations.

So it's quite a savings to the city for just their emissions and just their energy costs.

Those emissions, 1600 metric tons of CO2 equivalent is about the same amount of emissions that a car, a gasoline-powered car would emit, driving 3.6 million miles.

That's a lot.

So as inflation energy rates and government cutbacks negatively impact our city budget more and more every year.

We cannot pass up the opportunity to invest here locally for long-term benefit to the city and the taxpayers of Evansville.

I want to commend you all for taking the initiative and to support initiatives like this to help our community be more sustainable and resilient.

I know from my perspective in this industry, I know that Evansville is leading the way in our region.

We are on par with other cities in Indiana, and we are even contributing throughout the Midwest as an uh a shining example of what can be done if we all work together to do it.

And Evansville's gaining recognition for our proactive actions to make our community more sustainable and resilient, resilient.

Thank you.

And I'm here to take questions if you would like.

Council.

Lauren, can you just repeat the part about this is not gonna affect the city budget?

It's not gonna cost the taxpayers any money.

I mean, how exactly is that gonna work?

So we are designing the solar project to basically make complete economic sense.

It um we are looking at designing the solar systems for each facility to offset the maximum amount of electricity that we can, but that we can still still afford to under our budget, as far as paying for the system.

So that's all being taken into account.

We have collected the data on energy use for each building, energy costs for each building, and we're looking at that and using that as a guideline of our budget to um to fund the project.

And again, um, so instead of paying for paying center point for electricity that we purchased from them, we're gonna pay for solar, pay for it in six years, and then everything else after that is you know, is nothing we're paying for for the for the 25 year lifespan of the panels.

So it pays for itself because of the energy savings as well as the federal tax credit that's paying a good portion of the total cost, and the the initial cost to install is being paid by as a water and sewer, is that correct?

They're fronting the funds just to start the project and get it going.

We will immediately start saving money on our energy bills once each project is complete, and the city will be reimbursing um the water and sewer utility over six years, just want to make sure that that's all clear.

Thank you.

So in my research, there was a grant that was there, um, maybe 15 something million dollars, and then the grant was canceled due to the new federal whatever.

What is there any part of that grant that's being pursued in other avenues right now?

And the part B to that question is have there been things that have not been able to take place because of the loss of that funding.

So the grant you're referring to was the US EPA community change grant.

It was for 20 million dollars and it was for clean transportation initiatives in Evansville.

Um we were looking at um, we were looking at installing EV charging for all neighborhoods.

We were looking at um, we were looking at putting solar on the Mets building, that was the only solar component to it.

We were looking at creating 15 mobility hubs, we were looking at e-bikes for um residents to have memberships for, etc.

etc.

Um, that's micro expanding that.

Yeah, so um we did have the grant, it was terminated by USCPA.

The only thing it has to do with solar was for the Mets building.

Um, so we are parsing out the projects that were in that grant and trying to find other revenue sources for them.

Um, for example, the Mets Micro Transit has expanded a little bit to add uh a one route for the year.

Um, so we just keep looking for funding to try to fund those projects, and this is another IRA funded um the inflation reduction act funded program through the IRS, and the IRS code is a whole lot harder to change.

So um, so this project is or this tax credit is in effect until the end of 2027, and we have acted before July 3rd of this year to safe harbor our projects.

So we have four years to complete them.

Okay, well, so it can't be it can't be canceled.

Okay, did that answer your question?

Yes, it did.

Um, because with that, and I saw the portion about the Met and it's being for that.

Um, and then I don't know, somewhere in there I saw something about Wellburn, had picked up some portion of it and things of that sort, but I just didn't know where that was and if that project was still being pursued through other financial avenues, um, and if that had any impact on what you're currently doing, but now them processing two separate things, two separate initiatives.

And I just wanted to be clear with that in my head.

Okay, okay, thank you.

At the risk of sounding again too philosophical, when we have passed previous uh resolutions, encouraging such behavior and actions as this never did I think that there would be this huge of a project that would affect our community and uh literally our city's payroll, and when I think about my nephew penn, when I think about um Zach's son, Jackson, um, and all of our uh young kids and all of Seth's kids at Bossy.

It's like this is a really cool moment.

This is special, not only for uh the city, but for our environment.

Um so thank you for continuing to pursue, even though I can't imagine how you felt when Azrita brought up that grant that was canceled and to continue looking for something like this that would have been our fit our city for again the next 20 25 years is pretty incredible.

So thank you for all the work that you do, Lauren.

Welcome.

Um any comments from the audience on this one, all right.

Madam Clerk, I'm gonna leave some I'm gonna leave.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm gonna leave a handout.

That's right.

Members of council, just know that these numbers are preliminary and our best guess at the moment.

Thank you.

I got into uh habit there.

Um are there any additional comments from the members of council this evening before we move to public comment?

I would like to say something.

I uh I'm very proud to be a citizen of the United States of America.

Um, and I feel very fortunate and blessed to be here, to be born here.

Um over the last year or so.

I've talked to a lot of people about, or actually, they've come to me and talked to me about the 250th anniversary and and how they felt they didn't really feel excited about it, um, because of things going on out of Washington, DC, and I'm not going to get into that, so um anyway.

There was a there was a news release came out last month.

Now I will say this about it, that there's a lot of name-calling and and really fifth grade type stuff that comes out of Washington DC that you wouldn't expect from people that's that high in government.

And I've often believed, always believe, and still believe that the majority of the people that are in government positions on a local level, whether they be Democrats or Republican, all care about their community.

We may not all agree on how to get to where we need to be, but I believe that we all care.

Now there's been very, very few examples where I've personally feel that that wasn't the case, but I think overall, everybody cares about their community.

Okay, I don't think that the news release that came out last month was necessary.

I think that was a very cheap shot.

That was something that would that you would see coming out of Washington, DC.

And I would really like to say to all of the people serving in government and those planning on running for these positions to remember our how our community is.

I've done a lot of work in this community with a lot of organizations, and this is one of the most caring communities that I think I've ever seen.

I mean, people want to give, people want to help, and it's just unbelievable how good of a community that we have.

And I really hate to see that kind of rhetoric start in this community.

I think it was uncalled for, and I am asking for everybody to to back down.

If you don't agree with me, then don't agree with me.

Quite honestly, I don't care what you say to me, I got thick skin.

But if you don't like something that somebody brings up, explain to them why.

Don't attack the person.

Explain to them why they don't think it's a good idea.

You know, when I ran for this office, we were put in positions where we were really close with our opponents all the time at different functions and and forums.

And I got to know these people.

And don't necessarily agree with it.

Some of the stuff, but got along with them.

We all treated each other great.

A couple of them I even became friends with.

But I implore everybody to remember what this community is and what it's about.

And we don't have to attack each other like that.

I mean, it just wasn't necessary.

And it and it just those kind of things take away from something that everybody's been looking forward to for a long period of time is our 250th birthday or anniversary.

So let's as a city, especially as servants in this city, I implore that we keep all of that stuff down, and we can agree to disagree without taking cheap shots at each other.

Anyway, that's all I got to say.

Thank you.

Counselor Green has really stepped into his role as the grandpa of counsel.

That was the what?

Grandpa of Council.

You got the big heart, my friend.

Thank you.

And Paul, I um I appreciate the statements that you made.

Um, when you talk about America's 250, this is a difficult place.

Um and looking at that because it also America doesn't have a really good history when it comes to aspects of it.

And I believe some of and I even the personal attacks I've taken the inboxes and the hateful things that I've received, um, because of um not being a forefront running with the flag person on America 250, but just acknowledging that you know, when we when we look at 250 years ago, as much as we don't want to bring up certain topics or address certain topics, it has to be an acknowledgement.

Um, and we look at history.

And for me, this is um this is a place where I fully recognize that when this 250th anniversary, there are people who were not free at the time, and it's difficult for me to cheer on the liberty for some, because it wasn't liberty for all.

And so um I would ask, and I hope people hear you clearly when we say the personal attacks and the things of that sort, to understand that not everyone's history is the same.

Um, not everyone's experience is the same, and it does not mean that people are not grateful for where we are right now, but there is an acknowledgement that what that, what 250 represents to some is not what it represents to all.

And it's a very um, you know, if I was a petty person, well, let me say I am a petty person, but if I was more of a petty person, I would show those inbox messages.

I would show what um the messages um that I've gotten just since then, and I I hope people take that seriously because I and when I asked to abstain, it was for that reason.

Um, and saying that it was a conflict of interest, to me, it really is a conflict of interest there because there is a very painful history, and we don't like to talk about it, and we say to get over it, and it was the past, and but that's still very selective of what people choose to get over and what people choose not to get over.

So I appreciate your comments about that, and I hope that not only are they on the record for this council meeting, but I hope that people really take it to heart, and people understand that what makes our city great is the diversity that we do have, and that celebrating one thing doesn't take away for celebrating something else, and acknowledging, even while celebrating that there's some things there that were not good, and it it's very difficult, and you know, even when we get to um things like singing the national anthem, there's a reason why only the first stanza is sung.

That third or fourth stanza is horrible of that.

So we have to be clear of looking at history and be clear that um not supporting something does not mean that's anti-American, that it's not an anti-what we believe, but is recognizing um the buried and the troubled history that we have experienced and been through.

So I appreciate your comments about the personal attacks because I would very much appreciate not being called the things that I've been called and not getting the threats that I have received, and all those things that's unnecessary, and it's not who we are.

Thank you for sharing.

You mind if I say a word or two?

I want to say, Counselor Taylor.

I um I can only imagine what those messages are.

Uh, it's it is a uh unfortunate situation that we're in.

I I will have to agree with Paul about, you know, kind of to end to your point, uh, counselor Taylor, that what transpired was taking a celebration, no matter what side of the spectrum you were on it, and pitting a group of people in our own community against something that we should coalesce and come around, right?

I uh kind of alluded to this uh when Seth was there, you know, America is a nation of ideals, uh, and being somebody who's lived in, you know, as an army brat in foreign countries, predominantly in the South, and have experienced cultures and communities.

Um, I've brought all of that to this particular community and and know what I've experienced and know that when I was in high school in Madisonville, and I was reading about uh history and Europe, you know, and I was able to say, Oh, well, I experienced that firsthand because I got to visit that, and many of the kids that I went to high school with, the farthest they got out of town was to Evansville, which I was one of those kids as well, right, to come and enjoy all that this community has to provide.

Um, and then the rest of the kids were going to Panama City Beach.

That was the culture that they were experienced too, or you know, the vast majority of experience.

But when we think about community, and we think about politics and we think about discourse and dialogue and discussion, we're at a bad point, you know, and I think a lot of that has to do with the the temperature at the top, bleeding down into true community, because what they say at the federal level, and what you want to see from a public policy standpoint, which is investments in Americans of all, right?

All types, all colors, all creeds, all religions, all preferences, um, that's what we all aspire for.

We want to see our kids grow up and have opportunity, and it's tough right now.

Costs are out of line, we're not digging in shoulder to shoulder to figure out solutions to these problems.

We're letting the top lead in.

I want to say one thing, and and it is kind of indicative of political discourse, because there was a time, and this is a story I'd like to share from a uh longtime friend and mentor uh in the political sphere who had the fortunate um opportunity as a young politico to work for uh Democratic Congressman Frank McCloskey uh way back in the day.

And I remember having a conversation with uh this mentor about a certain situation that happened while they being him and the rest of the staffers for Frank McCloskey were in DC and they had an intern.

And one of McCloskey's Republican, I guess, what she thought was a nemesis.

She felt it was appropriate to basically, you know, say bad words and you know, basically try and shit on them, you know, thinking that it was a cool thing to do.

And Frank McCloskey heard her sit disparage this other congressman on the other side of the aisle and ran all the way across the room and chewed her ass up and down.

And the reason why was it wasn't about what party it was.

It was about what people truly believe the direction of their country needed to be and the sacrifices that they were making for their families to do what they thought was right.

But at the end of the day, Frank McCloskey and that other congressman could sit down across the table and share a meal and have legitimate discourse about the direction of the country.

That's what we all aspire for.

That's why many of us are here on council.

That's why we're missing time with our family.

That's why we're taking unfortunate abuse uh in written form.

And email and social media just makes it so much easier to tear at that very fragile fabric of community.

And honestly, and I said this to other uh uh counselors in all my time in the 19 years I've lived here and been involved in politics.

I have never seen two uh a local party take a such a cheap shot at another one for no reason whatsoever, but to get the aunt stirring in the jar, and that's not Evansville.

That's not our community, and I I hope that we can be better moving forward.

Turns out we had a few things to say about uh the 250th.

Um Madam Clerk, we have a couple slips.

We do.

First up, Christopher Norwick.

Inspire us, Chris.

Or not.

I don't know how you call it that.

All right, you know the drill, name and address, and you have three minutes, sir.

Uh Christopher Norwich, 728 Harmony Way uh today representing my employer, Solar United Neighbors of Indiana.

It's gonna give you an update writing uh Lauren's coattails a little bit about resolution C 2026 17 that you all passed a little while back in support of the solar co-op here in town.

So just uh FYI, we're up to 113 residential households who have signed up and passed our initial roof review.

We have had the uh the what we call the selection committee made up of the other co-op members got together last week and poured through five bids and selected an installer.

Hopefully, when we get to all those agreements finalized, we'll be able to announce that relatively soon.

That just happened last week, and we're finishing up that work.

Um just a quick mention that we are very confident to include some grant funding in this co-op to support some free solar installations on income qualified households, more on that to come, not to put the cart before the horse.

That's what I've got.

And just one small correction to Lauren's statements.

The lifespan of solar panels, uh, she mentioned 25 years a few times.

Most modern solar panels have a power production warranty up to 25 to 30 years, saying that they will produce up to 80 to 90 percent of their original capacity after that amount of time.

So those panels after 25 years will still be producing significant amounts of electricity, and I hope they do for the city for a long, long time.

And so thanking Lauren again for all of her hard work to just make solar power in Evansville something that I thought I would never ever see in my lifetime, and I'm so happy to see it.

So that's my update.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up, Margaret Madden.

If you can just state your name and address, and you'll have three minutes to speak.

Margaret Madden, uh 3019 Southeast Boulevard, of course in Evansville.

Um I went to the property maintenance enforcement office.

Um I'm having a problem with bamboo to see if they could uh help me get my neighbors and to remove it.

It's starting to grow into the building, my garage.

And he said he suggested that I come here to get you guys to vote to make it an evasive um plant.

Um, because it's not in the city of Evansville, and it's not just affecting me, it's gonna affect the whole neighborhood.

I got pictures of what it's doing to my garage.

It's not planted in my yard, it's planted in the yard behind me.

And um he said that uh in some uh like I forgot where what city he said they go and remove it and they donate the bamboo to uh the zoo animals to eat.

So it's just it's a really bad problem.

Um may I suggest that uh I think this is something that we definitely uh explore, and one of the one of our counselors uh can speak with you more about this.

Um I wish we would have uh talked about this before the meeting because we can have a one-off conversation uh about this.

I'm sorry, I didn't know it's for the same.

No, no, that's that's okay.

I I should have asked when you put in your can I leave these for you?

Yeah, please, and stick around after uh the meeting, and we can have one of uh the eight of us uh can get you uh going on what you're looking for.

What's the what's your address again?

Um I'm sorry.

3019 Southeast Boulevard.

Is that south of Washington or north of Washington?

South.

South.

So I think it runs that street runs northeast, south, and west.

It's over by Lorraine Park Pool, and it picks up over by Van Avenue.

And so you're closer to Lorraine Park, is that closer to Van Avenue.

So, okay.

I mean, south of Washington Avenue, east of Van or West of Ann.

Um West.

Okay, then that's definitely Counselor Taylor.

Um, if it was east of Ann, then that would have been me.

So it gets really confusing.

In some of these spots where we're at clarification.

Yeah.

Can I make an appointment to talk to someone at a different time?

Pardon me.

Counselor Taylor is your your counsel representative, and she would love to have a conversation with you after this meeting.

How about that?

Thank you.

Okay, next up, Kyle Morse.

Well, I don't want to just seem like an internet bully, so I figured I'd come put a face and stand in person after uh putting out that press release a few weeks ago.

I want everybody to know that I stand behind what you're doing.

Sorry, I'm Kyle Merce.

I live at 522 South Bakey 47114.

Thank you.

Um, you know, if any ounce of division was inferred from that press release, if there was any controversy from it, you know, I don't I really don't know what to tell anybody on council about that.

Um simply the point of that and something I want to point out tonight because it you know the resolution was passed tonight, is that council has made ample time and opportunity to recognize anniversaries and other social causes well in advance of their passing.

Um, for example, Pride Month and Juneteenth were recognized in May, right?

Well before they happened.

And here we are now after 4th of July, recognizing the 250th anniversary of our country, and I think that something that's already been hit on, so I won't beat it to death is the rich history of this city and the contributions that we've made to freedom around the world and really what we have done to establish ourselves in the annals of our country's history.

I personally would love to see the same amount of attention and commemoration given to the 250th anniversary of our country that has been given to any other cause or anniversary.

And that is my remarks for tonight.

Okay, thank you.

Next up we have Luke Bryant.

Again, if you can just state your name and address and you'll have three minutes to speak.

Um I had a whole speech, but I'm just honestly gonna wing it since we all are like kind of having our ideals and philosophy.

So I got a lot of like was taking notes from uh counselor green, counselor Taylor, and Hieronymous.

Um, you know, I agree that it's American to stand up to your council and uh speak about certain things that you disagree with them on.

I don't know about any of you or you know what you think about Flock.

I mean, I came here last time talking about it.

Um, but I would I would like to like ask some questions if that's okay, like I know I have three minutes, but how like how educated are you guys about the Flock and recent additions that they've done because I feel like there's a kind of a lack of transparency because there is no warrants that you have to do, the the policies that the police department sheriff department uh or Vanderburgh County Sheriff they they can just type in any reason they they can police themselves essentially um and they can make their own data retention policies.

I just want to know, like, um if you guys whatever the when Flock came here and tried to sell uh sell the contract, I mean I I wonder what they told everyone that we just keep expanding this, and I think it's I I honestly growing up, you know, uh, you know, we talk about history, we talk about the history of the country growing up reading books like 1984 and mass surveillance and you know what better way to contribute to freedom than esta uh than better to establish the uh mass surveillance state and contribute to it.

I think um we've really I would like to have a conversation or have some sort of transparency.

I know there's a group called D Flock Evansville that came here in April, but it's been months, and I would just like to see some sort of resolution or tighter oversight because there is no oversight.

Uh Evansville still shares their um their data nationwide, it's not even restricted to the local police, um, and they decide to do it willingly.

And I know that uh was it the state-county prosecutor, uh, I think it's Tina.

Um, she said that, you know, this is no different than carrying your your cell phone that's voluntary uh voluntarily giving up your your privacy.

But you know, the Supreme Court they they've ruled numerous times that they need a warrant to track your cell phone, get the location, metadata, and things like that.

I mean, um, but recently I would I would like to talk about like Flock Nova, which they released uh talk about in Q2 of 2025, which not just license plates anymore, it's not ALPRs, it's AI cameras that track people.

Um it's it's it's short clips.

I just think it's uh like a massive overreach of power.

Um that's that's all I gotta say.

So thank you.

Thanks.

I'm not gonna turn this into a QA, but I will respond and and answer a couple of your questions.

So, I'm not gonna act as if I'm an expert in Flock here locally, but what I do know is the type of cameras that we have are not the Condor cameras, so they cannot be utilized for AI uh or any of the more advanced features that we see in others.

As I said the last time, do we need to consider some policy around it?

Is there some merit to whether or not we have it open uh nationwide from uh you know being able to tap into it?

I think there's a there's credible, you know, um reason reasoning for having you know debate and dialogue and and figuring out what is the best way to deploy it, but yet keep it available for our local law enforcement to see some of the successes that they're seeing from it.

Um I will tell you they are so unadvanced that uh we have had one stolen and we don't know who did it, you know, so uh and and I don't know if that was a city one or if a county one was it, but my thoughts are if it if it was the more advanced one, we would at least know uh who it was that took it.

Um not to not to you know uh not to encourage it, yes, not to encourage it, and number two, um uh not to uh um, you know, belittle, you know, any of your concerns by any means.

I want you to know that I've been hearing you and and the rest of the folks uh and I've been having conversations about what does that look like, you know, behind the scenes.

So I I had conversations as well.

I was concerned about um with the increase of ICE activity in our area and how um how flock would assist or not assist.

I've asked a lot of questions um of how all that happens.

This may be an insult, and I and I hope that it's not, but we we got the generic flock.

Like, I just I'm not I I'm not trying to be offensive, but like we we we got the entry level generic, take a picture of a of a license plates and um that and I am extremely concerned um about protecting um all humans in the United States and whatever your status is.

I don't I I do not agree with adopting people and supplying people with the need with the access to do that.

Um all of my questions were answered and my concerns were addressed.

I pulled back on um, I pulled back on some of the things that I have even said, because I have been given proof and evidence that that's not it.

I did raise a concern there was um several people sent me a concern about a police officer who used flock to track his ex-wife and things of that sort.

Um I I look at it just with everything else.

That is a such a minority of a situation that does not diminish what happened, but it is not how things are happening.

I did check there are policies that um are in place with EPD if it's ever used incorrectly or things of that sort.

There's a disciplinary process there that up to and leading to is termination.

Um, but I've asked the questions and I've done the work, and that doesn't mean I'm stopping.

Um I also one of the questions that was asked was could other agencies use the system for their needs um by going through the EPD system.

What I learned again is we have such a generic system that it would take a hard soft, a hard um software, hardware, it would take hard hardware in order to modify do anything, so it's not a download that can happen that can give people access.

Um of my concerns are diminished, but I'm still watching, I'm still looking, and I will have a conversation with you after this, and I appreciate you continually bringing it up.

And I also um one of the things that I get a lot is what can council do in situations like this.

Um I look at the job of counsel as something completely different, is what most people think.

We do a lot of codes, we do a lot of rezonings, we do a lot of things, but when it comes to the EPD, the you know, fire department, things of that sort.

We do not have access to go and change what they do.

We can make recommendations, we can talk, we can have the conversations, but we as council cannot go and say turn that machine off.

You know, turn this thing off.

That's it.

If it's looking at a budget thing, that's later.

But it's already done.

But I will continue having conversations, but I wanted to address that because of my previous conversations at council about flock.

So I did my research, I talked, but I will continue to have conversations, and I'll be happy to schedule time with you as well to have to continue those conversations.

I hope Chief Smith wasn't watching the past 15 minutes.

He's gonna be offended that you talked so demeaningly about his flock system.

I entertain a motion to adjourn.

Oh, Robert, you come on.

But he, I mean, this is a rare occasion right here, right?

This has got to be important.

I'm sorry.

I should have done this at the start of the meeting.

I want to introduce our two summer interns that we have.

Well, they deserve it after hanging out.

Well done.

All right.

If you don't mind if they can come up and introduce themselves and that would be wonderful.

Ask them hard questions.

It would be great to appreciate.

They've sat here this long, they can come up and do that for sure.

I've been wondering what the heck you guys are doing.

I'm gonna question their desire.

My name is Nolan Doan.

I'm uh I just finished my sophomore year at IU and I'm studying public finance and economics, and it's been a really good experience working with Robert and uh Lisa Tooley, she's phenomenal and feeling like we're learning a lot.

Um, have you ever written a check before?

Um I have, yes.

I'm very proud of you.

It's hilarious.

I did do it for my housing, the lost star.

Thank you very much.

That's my hard question.

Well, we appreciate you uh choosing uh Robert and his team to come and learn, and uh um I I've only heard good things about uh Robert, so you got any dirt on him?

No, he's winking.

I see the wink.

We're glad you're interning with us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Thank you.

My name is Will Wangler.

I will be a senior at IU studying finance and business analytics and like Nolan mentioned, it's just been a great experience so far working with Robert and really the whole controller office.

Uh, they're really great at what they do, and I've learned a lot.

And to answer your question, I've not written a real check with the glad you're here too.

You're working with the best.

Thanks for sticking around, Robert.

Thanks for the introduction.

I'll do that motion to adjourn.

You asked for Mr.

President.

Thank you, sir.

Yeah.

Can I get a second?

Second.

Andrew.

Somebody's paying attention.

Hearing a person and a second, all those in favor.

Any opposed.

So ordered.

Meeting adjourned at 7 15 p.m.

Thank you, everyone.