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Record of Proceedings

Evansville Fire Merit Commission Meeting - September 8, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, September 8, 2026
BodyEvansville, Indiana
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 9:30

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:17

Good afternoon.

0:19

Want to call to order the Evanville Fire Mary Commission meeting September 9th, 2026.

0:25

It is 4 p.m.

0:27

Wanna call the meeting to order.

0:30

Roll call officers, please.

0:32

Vice President Jackson.

0:34

Present.

0:34

Commissioner Fetcher, present.

0:36

Commissioner Ferguson.

0:38

Mr.

0:39

Vice President, we have a quorum, two present and one via video and audio.

0:46

Okay.

0:47

First order of business.

0:48

We need to approve the minutes from our regular communication on August 11th, 2026.

0:54

Has everybody had a chance to read those minutes?

1:00

You want to motion that?

1:02

Yes, please.

1:06

Second.

1:07

Have a motion to approve the meeting from the minutes from the meeting August 11th, 2026.

1:14

And a second.

1:16

All those in favor, normal sign of voting.

1:18

Aye.

1:19

Aye.

1:20

All those opposed have the same right.

1:23

Seeing nine.

1:24

Motion carried.

1:26

Also have a approval of minutes from my special meeting, September 2nd, 2026.

1:33

Has everyone had a chance to read those minutes?

1:37

Mr.

1:37

Vice President, I move to approve the minutes as written from the meeting on September 2nd.

1:43

It's been properly moved and second.

1:45

They will approve the minutes from our special meeting on September 2nd, 2026.

1:50

All those in favor, normal sign of voting.

1:53

Aye.

1:54

Aye.

1:55

Aye.

1:56

All those opposed.

1:57

Seeing none.

1:58

Motion carried.

2:01

Okay, time to pay some bills here.

2:03

Approval of claims.

2:05

PSHRA, 126 dollars.

2:09

Administrative fees for computer-based testing.

2:13

Motion.

2:16

Second.

2:18

So it's been properly moved and second that we pay our administrative fees claims.

2:24

All those in favor?

2:26

Chief Garrett, just uh the the normal, just the computer-based tests.

2:31

Is that their scoring or is that too?

2:32

That's an administration fee that the company for the uh it's just administration fee that the company that did the computer-based test charged.

2:42

Okay.

2:42

Customer service fee.

2:44

Any other questions on the motion?

2:46

Oh, sir.

2:47

All right.

2:48

Thank you.

2:52

Any other questions?

2:54

Been properly moved and seconded that we pay our administrative costs for our computer-based testing.

3:01

All those in favor?

3:02

Aye.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████71%
Personnel Matters██████████████████29%
Summary of Proceedings

Evansville Fire Merit Commission Meeting - September 8, 2026

The Evansville Fire Merit Commission met on September 8, 2026, at 4:00 PM in Room 307 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order with Vice President Kenneth B. Jackson Jr., Commissioner Chad Fetscher, and Commissioner Ally Ferguson present (quorum via video/audio). The commission approved minutes, paid claims, heard the Chief's report, and discussed upcoming events.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes from the regular meeting on August 11, 2026, and the special meeting on September 2, 2026, by unanimous voice vote.
  • Approved a claim of $126.00 to PSHRA for administrative fees for computer-based testing, by unanimous voice vote.

Discussion Items

  • Chief's Report: Chief Garrett provided updates on the recruit academy, noting recruits are performing well. No promotions were initially reported, but it was later noted that Paige Jones was promoted to Lieutenant. Probationary Firefighter Lieutenant John Keester successfully completed his one-year probation, and the commission recommended making his promotion permanent.
  • Discipline: A member received a three-day suspension without pay for conduct unbecoming and insubordination (violations of policies 103 and 218); this discipline was not contested. Another member received a five-day suspension without pay and a recommendation for termination for harassment and conduct unbecoming (violations of policies 103, 217, and 218); this discipline was contested, and a hearing date was set for October 2, 2026, at 12:00 PM in Room 307.
  • New Business: The commission discussed potential legislative changes to Indiana merit statutes for the upcoming state legislative session. Members were encouraged to submit recommendations to the commission secretary for crafting proposed language.
  • Announcements: The 2026 Recruit Graduation was announced for September 30, 2026, at 3:00 PM at the Vector Auditorium. The next regular meeting was scheduled for October 13, 2026, at 4:00 PM in Room 307.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved minutes and claims as presented.
  • Made permanent the promotion of Lieutenant John Keester after successful probation.
  • Set a discipline hearing for October 2, 2026, for the contested suspension.
  • Adjourned the meeting by unanimous motion.

Note: The agenda and transcript list the meeting date as September 9, 2026, but the provided meeting date is September 8, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. Want to call to order the Evanville Fire Mary Commission meeting September 9th, 2026. It is 4 p.m. Wanna call the meeting to order. Roll call officers, please. Vice President Jackson. Present. Commissioner Fetcher, present. Commissioner Ferguson. Mr. Vice President, we have a quorum, two present and one via video and audio. Okay. First order of business. We need to approve the minutes from our regular communication on August 11th, 2026. Has everybody had a chance to read those minutes? You want to motion that? Yes, please. Second. Have a motion to approve the meeting from the minutes from the meeting August 11th, 2026. And a second. All those in favor, normal sign of voting. Aye. Aye. All those opposed have the same right. Seeing nine. Motion carried. Also have a approval of minutes from my special meeting, September 2nd, 2026. Has everyone had a chance to read those minutes? Mr. Vice President, I move to approve the minutes as written from the meeting on September 2nd. It's been properly moved and second. They will approve the minutes from our special meeting on September 2nd, 2026. All those in favor, normal sign of voting. Aye. Aye. Aye. All those opposed. Seeing none. Motion carried. Okay, time to pay some bills here. Approval of claims. PSHRA, 126 dollars. Administrative fees for computer-based testing. Motion. Second. So it's been properly moved and second that we pay our administrative fees claims. All those in favor? Chief Garrett, just uh the the normal, just the computer-based tests. Is that their scoring or is that too? That's an administration fee that the company for the uh it's just administration fee that the company that did the computer-based test charged.

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