Evansville City Council Meeting - September 14, 2026

The Evansville Common Council met on September 14, 2026, at 5:39 p.m. in Room 301. Eight members were present (one absent, quorum present). The meeting included adoption of consent items, second readings of two finance ordinances, approval of a resolution concerning a tax phase-in memorandum, and public comments on data centers, surveillance, code enforcement, and LGBTQ+ community needs.

Consent Calendar

• Approved ordinances (first reading): G-2026-16 (alley vacation at 214-222 Main St), G-2026-17 (PILOT agreement for affordable housing project Crawford Door, LP), F-2026-13 (appropriation transfers), R-2026-20 (rezoning 5100 E Morgan Ave from C2 to M1), R-2026-21 (rezoning 1500 N Heidelbach Ave from M2 to R5). Adopted unanimously without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Charlene Breaker (2526 Serenity Place) opposed placement of data centers near residential areas, citing noise impacts causing stillbirths in cattle and potential harm to pets and humans. She questioned whether data centers would replace human jobs.
• Connie Whitman (Evansville, SE side) expressed opposition to data centers and AI, referencing dystopian literature and articles from the Evansville Courier & Press. She urged council to act against these technologies.
• Candace Taylor (317 Hayes Drive) expressed concern about surveillance technology (cameras, license plate readers) and requested transparency, public oversight, and safeguards against misuse.
• Yvonne Moran (Booneville, IN, former Evansville resident) advocated for LGBTQ+ community needs: an all-night youth halfway house, better data collection on homelessness, and a local LGBTQ+ history museum. She also urged expanding the data center advisory board to include more citizens and outside scientists.
• Christopher Neumann (3121 S Rotherwood Ave) complained about slow code enforcement on a fire-damaged property still unrepaired after 18 months, suggesting the system relies on neighbor complaints rather than proactive follow-up.
• Ken Colbert (1 NW Martin Luther King Blvd) submitted a public records request under Indiana Code 5-14-3 for emails and logs between Mayor Terry and Evansville Water & Sewer regarding solar panel fund transfers, and for meeting minutes on the interlocal agreement. He asked the council to forward his request to the mayor's office and water utility; the council declined to forward but noted they would respond for council records.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance F-2026-11 – $300,000 appropriation from cash balance for riverfront levy upgrades. Robert Gunter (Controller) introduced the item. Mike (parks/levy representative) explained that the Army Corps of Engineers inspects the levy annually and this work (cleaning, painting, concrete repairs) addresses items on their grade card. It has been 15–20 years since the last paint job. Council members asked about fund balance health (it remains healthy) and the bidding timeline (expected completion this year). Passed 8-0.
• Ordinance F-2026-12 – Two items from the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD, presented by Colby Jackson): 1) $70,000 from HOME shovel-ready fund and $130,000 from Crawford Door's HOME account (total $200,000) for Memorial CDC's Ravenswood rehabilitation project (8 units at 1550-1556 S Kentucky Ave). 2) $25,000 in CDBG funds from contractual services to Echo Housing for the Evansville 360 initiative, a community-based crime prevention framework modeled after Omaha's program. Eric Tilkemeyer (Echo Housing) described the program, noting a 70% reduction in violent crime in partner cities within two years. Council members Johnson, Hieronymus, and Hatfield recused themselves due to potential conflicts (with HOME/CDBG boards). Passed 5-0.
• Resolution C-2026-32 – Authorizing execution of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Uniseal, Inc. regarding a previously granted 8-year property tax phase-in for a warehouse at North Fourth Avenue. The MOA formalizes enforcement provisions, clawback rights, and mutual obligations. Council attorney explained it is a housekeeping matter. A council member raised concerns about tax incentives in general and the metric requiring 90% performance on 2 out of 3 categories (questioning why job creation was not required in all categories). The attorney noted metrics are tracked by E-REP and noncompliance can trigger removal of incentives. Public commenter Ken Colbert asked if a bond is required to guarantee the 61 jobs; the president answered no. Resolution adopted 8-0.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance F-2026-11 adopted (8-0).
• Ordinance F-2026-12 adopted (5-0, with three recusals).
• Resolution C-2026-32 adopted (8-0).
• Consent agenda adopted unanimously.
• Next meeting scheduled for September 28, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.
• Budget hearings announced for September 15 and 16 (if needed) at 3:00 p.m.; public input will not be permitted at those hearings.