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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Evansville Building Commission Hearing – September 24, 2026

City Council — Thursday, September 24, 2026

BodyEvansville, Indiana

SessionCity Council

DateThursday, September 24, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:56:02

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:01

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:03

I'm gonna call the call to order the hearings for the Evansville Venever County Building Commission for September 24th, 2026.

0:11

My name is Michael DiRienzo.

0:13

I've been appointed as a hearing officer for the building commission.

0:17

My authority is derived by uh from Indiana Code 3679 and the unsafe building laws and ordinances enacted by the Vanderburg County Board of Commissioners of authority to issue civil penalties up to $5,000 can require performance bonds to be posted, can affirm ordinance violation fines.

0:34

Today the the bidding commission is requesting that you repair, vacate, or raise uh buildings or other structures on your property.

0:42

I can either affirm, modify, or deny those requests.

0:45

If you wish to appeal my decision, you can do so by filing an appeal with the Vanderburgh Superior Court within 10 days.

0:52

If you do not, you may waive your right to an appeal.

0:55

You can find the forms that assist you in filing an appeal in the clerk's office room S250 uh downstairs in this building.

1:03

A magistrate judge in housing court will hear the appeal.

1:07

Now that I've advised everyone of your rights and my authority, anyone who expects to testify or offer evidence today, please stand and raise your right hand.

1:20

Do each of you solemnly swear affirm under the penals of perjury to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth.

1:26

Say I think that's true.

1:29

All right.

1:30

Go ahead and present your first case.

1:32

Okay.

1:33

Uh your Honor, we're gonna start with some of the routine matters, uh, because these are a little bit quicker.

1:38

First one is for Inspector Allen on page 22, uh, CE number 26 CE 65.

1:44

This is an affirmed repair order on a house located at 1516 Cumberland Avenue.

1:53

Mr.

1:53

Tim, just come up to that table there.

1:57

Report by the department, the house is vacant and secure, the yards are acceptable.

2:01

The property has been inspected eight times, and there's been no progress on the repairs.

2:05

There are no permits on filed, and there has been contact with the owner, and I'll let Inspector Allen give her report and recommendation.

2:13

Uh yes, Your Honor.

2:14

Uh, in July, um there's some cleanup done in the on the back in the backyard.

2:19

Uh the back porch overhang was uh repaired.

2:22

Um haven't had any work done since then.

2:24

Uh upon requesting a repair and time frame from the owner.

2:28

Uh we did get that on uh the 15th, and uh he emailed me uh an idea of where he's gonna start and where we're gonna go from here, so uh somewhat of a plan.

2:37

So I'd just like to return the matter on November 19th, 2026 for progress.

2:41

Okay.

2:42

Anything for the record?

2:44

So um just that they did remove the front porch recently, uh Titan construction.

2:50

Okay, and they got a permit for that?

2:52

Yes.

2:52

Okay.

2:53

Yes.

2:54

Because it was deemed unsafe.

2:56

And then we are gonna do the siding next and hit it hard.

3:02

One item after the next.

3:05

Okay, great.

3:07

All right, show the matter return November 19th, 2026 for progress.

3:13

Thank you.

3:17

That's it.

3:18

Next case.

3:19

Thanks, sir.

3:20

Next for Inspector Allen on page 40.

3:23

CE number 26 CE 75.

3:26

This is a repair order on a house located at 203.

3:32

203 Reed Street.

3:34

Um, and we have uh I show the owners it's 203 Reed Street Land Trust, but I should be uh Sarah Rodriguez here on this property.

3:42

Uh sorry, a um Alicia Gonzalez here on this property.

3:48

Report by the department, the house is vacant and secure, the yards are acceptable.

3:52

The property's been inspected 10 times.

3:55

There has been little progress.

3:56

There are permits on file, and there has been contact with the owner.

4:01

That's correct.

4:02

And I'll let Inspector Allen give her report and recommendation.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Housing Code Enforcement█████████████████████████████████████████████64%

Legal█████████████18%

Procedural████6%

Public Safety████5%

Pending Litigation████5%

Community Engagement█1%

Tree Management█1%

Summary of Proceedings

Evansville Building Commission Hearing – September 24, 2026

On September 24, 2026, at 1:03 PM, the Evansville Vanderburgh County Building Commission held a hearing presided over by Hearing Officer Michael DiRienzo. The meeting addressed numerous evidentiary and routine cases involving emergency vacates, repair orders, and civil penalties for unsafe or non-compliant properties. The hearing officer affirmed, modified, or denied requests, and set future hearing dates for progress reports.

Public Comments & Testimony

303 Chandler Avenue (SK Homes LLC): Several neighbors, including Philip Hooper (Riverside Neighborhood Association president), Sam Forrest, Sarah Rodriguez, and Lou Rodriguez, testified about ongoing structural issues, a brick wall collapse, tenant safety concerns, and public nuisance. They requested maximum fines and a professional engineering assessment of the building. The building commission requested a detailed repair plan and time frame within 10 days, with the matter returned on October 22, 2026.

Evidentiary Cases

303 Chandler Ave. – Repair order affirmed. Owner required to submit a detailed plan and bids from licensed contractors within 10 days. Return date: October 22, 2026.
1129 W. Missouri St. – Emergency vacate affirmed due to lack of utilities. Property vacant; no repairs ordered.
2000 S. Kerth Ave. – Repair order continued to November 19, 2026, pending sale of property.
1111 Edgar St. – Repair order affirmed. Return date: November 19, 2026.
1118 Henning Ave. – Repair order affirmed. Return date: February 25, 2027 (due to pending tax deed transfer).
1515 Dresden St. – Emergency vacate affirmed due to inactive gas/electric.
1917 W. Indiana St. – Repair order affirmed. Return date: November 19, 2026.
1110-1112 E. Negley Ave. – Vacate and raze order affirmed.
2808 S. Villa Dr. – Emergency vacate affirmed due to inactive water/sewer.
220 Jefferson St. – Repair order affirmed. Return date: October 22, 2026.

Routine Cases

1770 Edson St. (KTSM Inc.) – $1,000 civil penalty under advisement for willful non-compliance. Return date: November 19, 2026.
722 E. Gum St. (KTSM Inc.) – $500 civil penalty under advisement. Return date: October 22, 2026.
2575-2579 Stanley Court (Frankie Ray Nehammer) – Continued with $500 civil penalty under advisement. Owner present; discussed progress. Return date: October 22, 2026.
1710 E. Illinois St. (Highlighter 7 LLC) – $500 civil penalty imposed. Return date: November 19, 2026.
1343 E. Franklin St. (Ceekou LLC) – $500 civil penalty under advisement. Return date: October 22, 2026.
1318 Olive St. (WH #3) – $500 civil penalty under advisement. Return date: October 22, 2026.
864 Lincoln Ave. (AVS Estates LLC) – $500 civil penalty under advisement. Return date: October 22, 2026.
1263 Madison Ave. (Ruth Firestone) – $500 civil penalty under advisement. Return date: October 22, 2026.
1115 S. Linwood Ave. (Deli Muz LLC) – Interior inspection ordered. Return date: November 19, 2026.
1320 Olive St. (Bernard Cooper Jr.) – Interior inspection ordered. Return date: November 19, 2026.
1307 Cumberland Ave. (Oda Vanessa Lopez) – Referred to housing court for further compliance.
1100 S. Harlan Ave. (Mega Properties LLC) – Released to voluntary compliance.
1220 Bayard Park Dr. (Evansville Southeast Holdings LLC) – Released to voluntary compliance.
3911 Broadway Ave. (Gary W. Schnell) – Released because camper was removed.
Several properties were reserved or continued due to lack of service (e.g., 905 N. Governor St., 1107 Lodge Ave., 1728 E. Riverside Dr., 2600 W. Illinois St. emergency vacate).

Key Outcomes

Affirmed repair orders for numerous properties, with continuances to future dates (October 22, November 19, December 17, 2026, and February 25, 2027).
Civil penalties were imposed ($500 on 1710 E. Illinois St.) or taken under advisement (up to $1,000) for several properties with no progress.
Emergency vacate orders were affirmed for properties lacking utilities (1129 W. Missouri, 1515 Dresden, 2808 S. Villa Dr.).
Vacate and raze order affirmed for 1110-1112 E. Negley Ave.
Two properties (1100 S. Harlan Ave., 1220 Bayard Park Dr.) were released to voluntary compliance.
Several cases were reserved for future hearings pending proper service or publication.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everyone. I'm gonna call the call to order the hearings for the Evansville Venever County Building Commission for September 24th, 2026. My name is Michael DiRienzo. I've been appointed as a hearing officer for the building commission. My authority is derived by uh from Indiana Code 3679 and the unsafe building laws and ordinances enacted by the Vanderburg County Board of Commissioners of authority to issue civil penalties up to $5,000 can require performance bonds to be posted, can affirm ordinance violation fines. Today the the bidding commission is requesting that you repair, vacate, or raise uh buildings or other structures on your property. I can either affirm, modify, or deny those requests. If you wish to appeal my decision, you can do so by filing an appeal with the Vanderburgh Superior Court within 10 days. If you do not, you may waive your right to an appeal. You can find the forms that assist you in filing an appeal in the clerk's office room S250 uh downstairs in this building. A magistrate judge in housing court will hear the appeal. Now that I've advised everyone of your rights and my authority, anyone who expects to testify or offer evidence today, please stand and raise your right hand. Do each of you solemnly swear affirm under the penals of perjury to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth. Say I think that's true. All right. Go ahead and present your first case. Okay. Uh your Honor, we're gonna start with some of the routine matters, uh, because these are a little bit quicker. First one is for Inspector Allen on page 22, uh, CE number 26 CE 65. This is an affirmed repair order on a house located at 1516 Cumberland Avenue. Mr. Tim, just come up to that table there. Report by the department, the house is vacant and secure, the yards are acceptable. The property has been inspected eight times, and there's been no progress on the repairs. There are no permits on filed, and there has been contact with the owner, and I'll let Inspector Allen give her report and recommendation. Uh yes, Your Honor. Uh, in July, um there's some cleanup done in the on the back in the backyard. Uh the back porch overhang was uh repaired. Um haven't had any work done since then. Uh upon requesting a repair and time frame from the owner. Uh we did get that on uh the 15th, and uh he emailed me uh an idea of where he's gonna start and where we're gonna go from here, so uh somewhat of a plan. So I'd just like to return the matter on November 19th, 2026 for progress. Okay. Anything for the record? So um just that they did remove the front porch recently, uh Titan construction. Okay, and they got a permit for that? Yes. Okay. Yes. Because it was deemed unsafe. And then we are gonna do the siding next and hit it hard. One item after the next. Okay, great. All right, show the matter return November 19th, 2026 for progress. Thank you. That's it. Next case. Thanks, sir. Next for Inspector Allen on page 40. CE number 26 CE 75.

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