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Record of Proceedings

Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission Meeting – September 28, 2026

City Council — Monday, September 28, 2026
BodyEvansville, Indiana
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, September 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:46:40

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:17

Yay, all right.

0:20

Okay, now that we have our granicus and things rolling here, um it is um Monday, September 28th, 2026.

0:29

Uh according to the computer time here, it's 10.02, and like to call this Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission meeting to order.

0:38

Uh attendance, please.

Speaker 2

0:41

Linda Freeman.

Speaker 1

0:42

Here.

Speaker 2

0:43

Cheryl Muskart?

0:44

Here.

0:45

Christy.

Speaker 3

0:47

Here.

Speaker 2

0:48

Karen.

0:49

Here.

0:49

You

Speaker 1

0:49

look like you're here.

Speaker 2

0:51

Here.

0:52

Justin.

Speaker 4

0:52

Here.

Speaker 1

0:53

All right.

Speaker 2

0:55

Ms.

0:55

President.

Speaker 1

0:56

All righty.

0:58

Would everyone join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

Unassigned speaker

1:03

A

Speaker 5

1:03

pledge of allegiance

Speaker 3

1:05

to the flag

Unassigned speaker

1:06

of the

Speaker 3

1:06

United

Unassigned speaker

1:06

States of America.

Unassigned speaker

1:08

And to

Speaker 1

1:08

the Republic for which a stands.

1:11

One nation.

1:12

Another God.

Speaker 3

1:15

And justice for

Unassigned speaker

1:16

all.

Unassigned speaker

1:17

All right.

Speaker 1

1:20

Okie dokie.

1:23

Christopher Burke Engineering GIS inventory and work plan discussion.

Unassigned speaker

1:28

I'm

Speaker 6

1:29

on lit.

1:30

Thank you.

1:30

Good morning, everyone.

1:32

So just as a brief introduction.

1:36

So the status of our agreement, I think Justin was sort of summarizing here

Unassigned speaker

1:41

a

Speaker 6

1:41

few minutes ago, but the items that we have left on the agreement to finish up the work plan are to present the GIS inventory tool that Matt is going to do here in a in a minute.

1:55

And then that will be the tool for both public and internal mapping and tracking and taking questions and answers, and as he will explain in a minute.

2:15

So we'd like to take your any final comments today, make some revisions as needed, get it back to you guys well prior to that meeting, and then for the October 26,

Speaker 3

2:28

provide a short presentation for

Speaker 6

2:31

the public.

2:32

And then if there are public comments that need revision to the plan and working with you, then uh we plan to have the final work plan, the final language then by the end of December, as Justin mentioned, that is the end of our agreement and the timeline we had set in place to provide the final work plan.

2:55

So we do have the on-call in place for any potential survey design follow-up work that may be needed as recommended as part of the work plan, but we don't have any um task orders assigned to that yet.

3:11

So there's been no work approved for that, but it's is there if we need it.

3:17

Um so I will I will let Matt discuss the inventory tool, and then after that I'm going to take just briefly any questions and comments related to the work plan.

3:29

So Matt Rummel, our BERC GIS manager is going to demonstrate the inventory tool.

3:35

Um and then like I said, I will I will discuss the work plan after that.

3:40

So thanks, Matt.

3:41

Go ahead.

Speaker 7

3:43

All right.

3:44

Thank you, Beth.

3:46

And can you all see a map of Pigeon Creek?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████29%
Procurement█████████████████17%
Technology and Innovation██████████10%
Procedural████████8%
Water And Wastewater Management████████8%
Aerial Inspection████████8%
Public Engagement██████6%
Land Use Planning██████6%
Legal███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission Meeting

The Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission met on Monday, September 28, 2026, from 10:02 AM to 11:48 AM. Members present included Linda Freeman, Cheryl Muskart, Christy, Karen, and Justin. The meeting focused on a GIS inventory tool demonstration, work plan finalization, new business including aerial flights and debris removal, and a legal review of the commission's authority.

Consent Calendar

  • A motion to approve the consent agenda was made, seconded, and passed unanimously. No specific consent items were read into the record.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public were present to speak.

Discussion Items

  • GIS Inventory Tool Demonstration: Matt Rummel (BERC GIS manager) presented a crowdsourcing app for public reporting of watershed issues. The commission discussed requiring name, email, phone number, and address as mandatory fields; adding photo attachment capability; implementing a screening process where Justin (watershed manager) would review and approve or reject submissions before public posting; adding a status column color-coded by progress (under review, addressed, completed); and exploring CAPTCHA to prevent bot submissions. Members Linda and Cheryl emphasized the need to prevent spam and ensure contact information is collected. The tool will include stationing, lat/long auto-calculation, and a splash screen with rules. The commission also requested inclusion of a legal drains layer and a separate map for projects.
  • Work Plan Update: Beth (Christopher Burke Engineering) noted that remaining items include presenting the GIS tool and finalizing the work plan. The public stakeholder meeting is set for October 26, 2026. Revisions to the work plan based on email comments (including Christy's comments on bridges and tributaries) will be due back to the commission by October 5, 2026. Public comments from those unable to attend the stakeholder meeting must be submitted by October 21, 2026. The final work plan is expected by the end of December 2026.
  • Legal Authority and Administrative Rules: Craig (attorney) clarified that the commission has exclusive authority over projects within 75 feet of the top of the channel bank for activities like bank stabilization, tree removal, and sediment removal. He recommended drafting administrative rules to guide applicants and to provide enforcement mechanisms (currently only through lawsuit). Members supported adopting rules, especially given Karen's upcoming retirement in June 2026.
  • Stream Gauge Update: A new stream gauge was installed on September 8, 2026, and is operational. Data collection will take six months to a year to calculate flow rates. Interest was expressed in adding a gauge in Warrick County, using a similar 205J grant tied to water quality sampling stations.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to issue RFP for biannual aerial flights: Passed unanimously. The RFP will separate components (flights and ground control) and must adhere to the work plan's goals.
  • Motion to authorize Justin to approach landowners for permanent ground control points: Passed unanimously. If a landowner refuses, Justin will move to alternate locations.
  • Motion to approve 2027 board meeting dates as sent: Passed with a caveat that dates may change if the building authority requires.
  • Motion to issue RFP for debris removal at Stringtown Road Bridge: Passed unanimously. The RFP will be developed in cooperation with the county engineer and will consider the county's responsibility for the bridge right-of-way.
  • Discussion on on-call woody debris removal contract: No formal motion; staff will explore and report back.
  • Discussion on purchasing property at Stringtown Road: No formal action; staff will work with the attorney on appraisal and acquisition procedures.
  • Direction to draft administrative rules: Craig will prepare rules for review at a future meeting, with a goal to have them adopted before Karen's retirement.
  • CD renewal: Noted as automatically rolled at the same rate; officers were reminded to track maturity dates.

Meeting Transcript

Yay, all right. Okay, now that we have our granicus and things rolling here, um it is um Monday, September 28th, 2026. Uh according to the computer time here, it's 10.02, and like to call this Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission meeting to order. Uh attendance, please. Linda Freeman. Here. Cheryl Muskart? Here. Christy. Here. Karen. Here. You look like you're here. Here. Justin. Here. All right. Ms. President. All righty. Would everyone join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? A pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which a stands. One nation. Another God. And justice for all. All right. Okie dokie. Christopher Burke Engineering GIS inventory and work plan discussion. I'm on lit. Thank you. Good morning, everyone. So just as a brief introduction. So the status of our agreement, I think Justin was sort of summarizing here a few minutes ago, but the items that we have left on the agreement to finish up the work plan are to present the GIS inventory tool that Matt is going to do here in a in a minute. And then that will be the tool for both public and internal mapping and tracking and taking questions and answers, and as he will explain in a minute. So we'd like to take your any final comments today, make some revisions as needed, get it back to you guys well prior to that meeting, and then for the October 26, provide a short presentation for the public. And then if there are public comments that need revision to the plan and working with you, then uh we plan to have the final work plan, the final language then by the end of December, as Justin mentioned, that is the end of our agreement and the timeline we had set in place to provide the final work plan.

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