OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Evansville, Indiana/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners and Drainage Board Meeting - September 15, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, September 15, 2026
BodyEvansville, Indiana
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:22:27

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

All right, good morning.

0:03

Welcome to the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners meeting for September 15th, 2026.

0:08

Madeline, please call the order.

0:10

Commissioner Gable.

0:11

Commissioner Canterbury.

0:12

Here.

0:13

President Elpers.

0:14

Here.

0:14

Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:18

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

0:25

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

0:34

All right.

0:34

First item act uh first action items.

0:37

Engineer, John, come on up.

0:42

Morning, John.

0:43

Morning.

0:44

All right, number one, financial commitment letter for NDOT Community Crossings matching grant application number 15370.

0:52

Paving of County Roads.

0:54

This confirms the county's financial commitment for our grant application.

0:57

Roads included in the area or in the in this are various portions of Old State, Shuty, Petersburg, St.

1:04

Joe, Green River, Bainicamp, Kansas, Hogue Mill, and Norm Wagner.

1:08

The cost estimate for paving of these roads is $1,274,242 and 60 cents.

1:14

So the county's 50% share will be $637,121 and $30.

1:21

Anything else here, John?

1:22

30 cents.

1:23

30 cents, sorry.

1:24

Our limit for this application period was about $660,000.

1:28

So this gets us right at what we are eligible for.

1:32

Okay.

1:33

And this will be for what when will this happen?

1:38

The community crossings application deadline is the 30th.

1:42

So once the commissioner signed off on this, I'll get that submitted probably today or tomorrow.

1:48

It typically takes end dot around a month, give or take to make the community crossings awards.

1:55

And then if we are awarded the funds, then we're allowed three months to get the project out for bid and get the contract awarded.

2:03

So ballpark would be, if we get the money, it would be out for bid and uh bids would be open and the contract will be awarded in January, and then the uh paving would be done next year.

2:13

27.

2:14

Great.

2:14

Okay.

2:15

All right.

2:16

I'll make the mo oh any other questions?

2:18

Sorry.

2:19

I made the motion.

2:21

Commissioner Gable?

2:22

Yes.

2:22

Commissioner Canterbury, yes.

2:24

President El Pers.

2:25

Yes.

2:26

Number two, engineering agreement with Lochmilar Group for replacement of Ho Road Bridge number 860 over Carpenter Creek.

2:33

This agreement is to allow the design work to begin for this project at a cost not to exceed 200,000.

2:39

The total contract is estimated to be approximately 600,000.

2:42

So this contract will be amended at a later date.

2:45

John?

2:46

And this is the bridge that uh we're awarded federal funds on last Thursday at the MPO meeting.

2:52

Um don't have an exact number on what the award was, but the application I put together was for 2.6 million in federal dollars.

2:59

So this at least gets the design started, and the award was for fiscal year 2032 money.

3:06

So that gives us roughly five years to get this ready to go.

3:10

And since federal aid projects take forever, that is probably all we'll use all five years.

3:16

So Sir John Lloyd for you should be completed by then, right?

3:19

Yes.

3:20

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████17%
Infrastructure███████████████15%
Procedural███████████11%
Technology and Innovation███████7%
Public Safety███████7%
Public Engagement██████6%
Drainage Issues██████6%
Workforce Development█████5%
Housing Code Enforcement█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners and Drainage Board Meeting - September 15, 2026

The combined meeting of the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners and Drainage Board was called to order at 9:34 a.m. on September 15, 2026, in Room 301 of the Civic Center Complex, with President Justin Elpers presiding. All three commissioners (Justin Elpers, Amy Canterbury, Mike Goebel) were present. The meeting covered infrastructure projects, technology upgrades, public safety, economic development, a public hearing, and several public comments, followed by a separate Drainage Board session. The meeting adjourned at 10:27 a.m. for the Commissioners, after which the Drainage Board convened.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of August 25, 2026, Board of Commissioners meeting minutes.
  • Employment changes across multiple departments.
  • Auditor’s claims voucher reports for three periods (8/24–8/28, 8/31–9/4, 9/7–9/11, 2026).
  • Assessor’s surplus request (office chairs).
  • Clerk’s July 2026 monthly report.
  • Commissioners’ appropriation requests (4).
  • Computer Services: Konica Minolta equipment delivery and acceptance certificate.
  • Convention Center Operating Fund appropriation request.
  • Engineer’s report and claims.
  • Sheriff’s surplus request (multiple vehicles).
  • Superintendent of County Buildings appropriation request.
  • Treasurer’s July 2026 Innkeeper’s Tax Report and August 2026 monthly report.
  • Appointment of Mark Murry to the Data Center Research Committee (replacing an IT candidate). (3-0)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Andrew Angel (Business Manager, Laborers Local 561): Representing over 1,600 workers, he expressed support for the Elliot Battery Storage System (BESS) project but requested a good-faith commitment from RWE (owner/developer) to utilize the local skilled workforce for construction work traditionally performed by laborers. He noted RWE is reviewing the union’s proposal and that the project is expected to create 200–300 construction jobs for about a year. He urged that workforce commitments be secured before final decisions.
  • Darlena Lancaster (4600 Detroy Road): Addressed a long-standing problem at 4612 Detroy Road, under condemnation for seven years. She requested a clear plan and timeline for demolition, citing the property is in tax sale (finalizing September 24), has changed ownership, and contains asbestos and black mold. Craig Emig reported a hearing officer ordered a raze and gave owners time to hire contractors, though the tax sale complicates progress. Commissioners said they would follow up.

Discussion Items

Engineering and Infrastructure

  • INDOT Community Crossings Matching Grant (Application #15370): Approved a financial commitment letter for paving county roads. Total estimate: $1,274,242.60; county 50% share: $637,121.30. Roads include portions of Old State, Schutte, Petersburg, St. Joe, Green River, Boehne Camp, Kansas, Hogue, Mill, and Norm Wagner. (3-0)
  • Hogue Road Bridge #860 Replacement: Approved engineering agreement with Lochmueller Group for design not to exceed $200,000 (total contract ~$600,000). Federal funds of $2.6 million were awarded for fiscal year 2032; the replacement was timed after completion of the nearby Lloyd4U project to minimize road closures. (3-0)
  • Petersburg Road Project Amendment #1: Approved increase of $1,680,757 (new total $3,437,757) with American Structurepoint for full design, right-of-way engineering, and acquisition for the corridor from Kansas Road to Club House Drive, split into phases. Funding shifted from Vanderburgh Industrial Park TIF to Burkhardt TIF. (3-0)
  • Oak Hill Road Reconstruction Change Order #2: Approved $11,005.49 increase to adjust a water main avoiding a gas transmission line; costs fully reimbursed by Evansville Water & Sewer Utility. (3-0)
  • Temporary Speed Reduction on Clover Drive: Approved continuation of 15-mph limit (Elmridge to Bergdolt) for 30 more days to maintain the Oak Hill Road detour. (3-0)
  • University Parkway Improvements – Old Farm Development: Approved amended plan with a larger rock base in asphalt and eliminated underdrains on turn lanes. (3-0)
  • Sidewalk Waiver – Creekside West: Approved waiver for a commercial subdivision at 125 N Rosenberger Avenue, recommended unanimously by Area Plan Commission. (3-0)
  • Road Plans – Deerfield Section 5: Approved plans adding ~10 lots on the last vacant land in Deerfield (developer Calvin Dentino). (3-0)
  • Road Plans – Fieldstone Section 2: Approved plans adding ~10 lots north of Fieldstone 1, off Oak Hill Road, extending a cul-de-sac. (3-0)

Parks – Burdette Park

  • Facility Use Agreement – American Red Cross: Approved agreement making Discovery Lodge available at no charge for mass casualty or disaster events. (3-0)

Technology Services

  • Managed Service Provider (MSP) Award – EXOS: Approved five-year IT services contract with Sondhi Solutions d/b/a EXOS, estimated to save $1 million annually (city/county combined) for total $5 million savings, based on a joint city-county committee recommendation. (3-0)

Health Department

  • IDOH WIC Grant Amendment #1: Approved additional $11,203.65 to transition a part-time Peer Counselor to full-time. (3-0)

Sheriff’s Office

  • Motorola In-Car Cameras: Approved purchase of seven dash cameras for interdiction and patrol, financed over five years at 0% interest from existing budget. (3-0)

Real Estate – Appraisal Services

  • Old Coroner’s Building: Approved awards to two lowest bidders: Appraisal Consultants ($2,200, three-week turnaround) and Premium Appraisals ($2,500, four-week turnaround). (3-0)

Public Hearing – Road Vacation

  • Vacation Ordinance CO.V-09-26-007: After a public hearing with no opposition, approved final reading to vacate a portion of Roesner Road in the proposed Old Farm Subdivision. The road will be reconstructed to county standards within the development. (3-0)

New Business

  • 2026 State of the County Address: Announced for Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at Bally’s Riverfront Event Center; doors 10:30 a.m., buffet 11:00 a.m., presentation at noon. Tickets $27 via evansvillerotary.com.
  • Elliot Battery Storage System (BESS) – Draft Agreements: Attorney Mike Schopmeyer presented draft Economic Development, Decommissioning, and Road Use Agreements. The $200 million, 40‑acre facility near I‑69 and Baseline Road includes no tax abatement, a $250,000 cash payment at build, and a 30% floor on property tax depreciation (preserving old tax code). Fire Chief Adam Farrar described self‑contained units with onsite water storage; regulatory oversight falls under IDHS and NFPA 855. No vote was taken; final agreements and formal adoption are expected after the BZA hearing.
  • Ribbon Cutting: The new Coroner’s Office ribbon cutting was announced for September 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the county jail.

Drainage Board Proceedings

  • Obstruction Petition: Accepted complaint from Daniel Haas; surveyor to investigate.
  • Encroachment Agreement – 605 White Tail Court: Retroactive approval granted for sewer line relocation affecting a drainage easement.
  • Saddle Creek Estates Section 4 Drainage Modification: Approved removal of swale 1A.
  • Ditch Claims: Approved retroactive payment of 13 claims totaling $3,623.
  • Mark Norman Obstruction – Final Order: Approved removal within one year; findings to be distributed.
  • Cold Ditch Partial Vacation: Approved documentation for the approved vacation.
  • Pigeon Creek Watershed Update: New stream gauge at Lynch Road now transmitting data.
  • Public Comment – Shannon Yarbrough: Raised flooding concerns; surveyor working on a plan for right‑of‑way drainage, with an update expected in about one month. Commissioners committed to follow up.

Key Outcomes

  • All consent and most action items were approved unanimously (3‑0). The BESS draft agreements were discussed but not voted on and will return at a later meeting.
  • Commissioners pledged to follow up with Darlena Lancaster on the Detroy Road property and with Shannon Yarbrough on drainage issues.
  • The 2026 State of the County Address is scheduled for October 6, 2026.
  • The meeting adjourned at 10:27 a.m. for the Commissioners, followed by the Drainage Board session.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good morning. Welcome to the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners meeting for September 15th, 2026. Madeline, please call the order. Commissioner Gable. Commissioner Canterbury. Here. President Elpers. Here. Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge 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. All right. First item act uh first action items. Engineer, John, come on up. Morning, John. Morning. All right, number one, financial commitment letter for NDOT Community Crossings matching grant application number 15370. Paving of County Roads. This confirms the county's financial commitment for our grant application. Roads included in the area or in the in this are various portions of Old State, Shuty, Petersburg, St. Joe, Green River, Bainicamp, Kansas, Hogue Mill, and Norm Wagner. The cost estimate for paving of these roads is $1,274,242 and 60 cents. So the county's 50% share will be $637,121 and $30. Anything else here, John? 30 cents. 30 cents, sorry. Our limit for this application period was about $660,000. So this gets us right at what we are eligible for. Okay. And this will be for what when will this happen? The community crossings application deadline is the 30th. So once the commissioner signed off on this, I'll get that submitted probably today or tomorrow. It typically takes end dot around a month, give or take to make the community crossings awards. And then if we are awarded the funds, then we're allowed three months to get the project out for bid and get the contract awarded. So ballpark would be, if we get the money, it would be out for bid and uh bids would be open and the contract will be awarded in January, and then the uh paving would be done next year. 27. Great. Okay. All right. I'll make the mo oh any other questions? Sorry. I made the motion. Commissioner Gable? Yes. Commissioner Canterbury, yes. President El Pers. Yes. Number two, engineering agreement with Lochmilar Group for replacement of Ho Road Bridge number 860 over Carpenter Creek. This agreement is to allow the design work to begin for this project at a cost not to exceed 200,000. The total contract is estimated to be approximately 600,000.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com