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Record of Proceedings

Building Commission Hearing for Vanderburgh County – October 14, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, October 14, 2026
BodyEvansville, Indiana
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, October 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 47:09

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

Noon uh everyone uh let's call to order

Unassigned speaker

0:03

the

Speaker 1

0:03

hearing of the Evansville Vanderburgh County Building Commission for October 14th, 2026.

0:10

My name's Joe Harrison.

0:12

I've been appointed as your hearing officer by the Vanderburgh County Commissioners, and my authority is derived from Indiana Code Section 36-7-9.

0:26

The unsafe building laws and ordinances which have been enacted by the Vanderburgh County Commissioners.

0:34

As hearing officer, I have authority to issue civil penalties up to $5,000.

0:41

I can require performance bonds to be posted, and I can't affirm ordinance violation fines.

0:50

Today the county is requesting that you repair, vacate, or erase property or other structures on your property.

0:59

I can affirm, modify, or deny those requests.

Unassigned speaker

1:04

If

Speaker 1

1:04

you wish to appeal my decision today, you may do so by filing an appeal

Unassigned speaker

1:11

with

Speaker 1

1:11

the Vanderburgh Superior Court within 10 days of the decision.

1:16

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

1:23

In the Vanderburgh County Clerk's Office, that's room S250, and that's in this same building.

1:29

A magistrate, judge, and housing court will then hear your appeal.

1:35

Now that I've advised you of your rights and my authority, anyone who expects to testify or give evidence today, I would ask that you please stand and raise your right hand at this time.

Unassigned speaker

1:50

If

Speaker 1

1:51

you wish to make any statements or present evidence regarding any matter, raising raise your right hand, please.

Unassigned speaker

2:02

Do

Speaker 1

2:02

you swear affirm the testimony you're about to give is true and accurate, so help you guide.

Speaker 2

2:07

I

Speaker 3

2:07

do.

Speaker 1

2:07

Thank you very much.

2:09

The building commission may call their first case.

Speaker 3

2:12

All right.

2:13

Our first case is on page five.

Unassigned speaker

2:16

This

Speaker 3

2:16

is a routine matter.

2:17

CE number 26E 85.

2:20

This is an affirmed repair order on a house located at 4612 Detroit Road.

2:25

The owners are Christopher Roman, Amber Preskey, Lillian Presky, Logan Preskey, Misty Bruce, and Aaron Preske, and Mr.

2:33

Goodridge is here on this case, and also a neighbor, Darlene Lancaster.

2:38

Report by the department.

2:39

The property is vacant and secure.

2:41

The yards are acceptable.

2:42

The property's been inspected five times.

2:44

There has been no progress on the orders.

2:46

There are no permits on file, and there's been no contact with the owner.

Unassigned speaker

2:50

And

Speaker 3

2:50

I'll let Inspector Knopfs give his report and recommendation.

Speaker 4

3:19

What date was

Speaker 5

3:20

that?

3:21

Sorry.

3:23

December 9th.

3:24

December 9th, 2026.

Speaker 1

3:41

Anything else that the county would like to say?

Speaker 6

3:44

I would just like to ask because I believe especially I would imagine Miss Ms.

3:49

Lancaster.

3:51

She's very concerned with kind of the status of this house as the immediate neighbor.

3:56

We had given a continuance previously to bring it to today's hearing.

4:01

I believe that was under the impression that there would be some form of list or something from either the owners, obviously through you, of what repairs were, I guess hoped to be made by them if they hadn't made any effort to seek contractors' bids, things to be done to this house.

4:22

Just curious, has any of that been done, or are we still in the same place we were at last?

Speaker 4

4:26

We're not in the same place as we were.

4:27

There's multiple owners of the property.

4:29

They receive fractional chairs.

4:31

We're trying to consolidate the property into one owner.

4:34

Once that is done, then we'll be able to make progress.

4:50

Once that's completed, we'll be able to have one owner that can make progress on the repairs.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Housing Code Enforcement█████████████████████████████████████████████78%
Public Engagement█████8%
Housing█████8%
Procedural███6%
Summary of Proceedings

Evansville Vanderburgh County Building Commission Hearing – October 14, 2026

The Evansville Vanderburgh County Building Commission convened on October 14, 2026, at 12:58 PM, with Hearing Officer Joe Harrison presiding. The commission addressed five property cases involving repair orders, raze orders, and continuances under Indiana Code 36-7-9. All cases were continued to the next hearing on December 9, 2026, at 1:00 PM, with two orders formally affirmed. No minutes were available; this summary is based on the raw transcript.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Darlene Lancaster (neighbor of 4612 Detroy Road) expressed strong frustration, stating she has lived next door for 39 years and has been trying to get the property addressed for nearly seven years. She noted the property has no water or electricity, was sold at tax sale and not redeemed, and that the current title holders are family members, including minors. She also reported that people were removing items from the property that they do not own and that she was advised to call the sheriff if they returned. She opposed further extensions.

Discussion Items

4612 Detroy Road – Repair House (Routine Case)

  • The property is vacant and secure; yards are acceptable. It has been inspected five times with no progress, no permits, and no owner contact.
  • Attorney Mr. Goodridge appeared on behalf of owners, explaining that multiple fractional owners are being consolidated into one owner to enable progress. Inspector Knox recommended a repair order.
  • The county requested permission for an interior inspection; Mr. Goodridge agreed, expecting title consolidation within two weeks.
  • Neighbor Darlene Lancaster voiced concerns and disputed ownership status. Hearing Officer Harrison continued the matter to December 9, 2026, and ordered an interior inspection within 30 days (preferably 10 days).

3925 Kansas Road – Raze Barn (Evidentiary Case)

  • This case involved an order to raze a barn. Owners Michael V. and Danielle D. Kibbe were not present; attorney Nathan Dewan represented Fifth Third Bank, the mortgage holder.
  • Inspector Kenneth Knox testified to inspecting the property four times, first in August 2025. He observed severe roof damage and recommended razing the barn.
  • Mr. Dewan had no objection to the raze order but requested time to confirm which parcel the barn sits on and to potentially arrange demolition by the bank. The matter was continued to December 9, 2026, to allow for parcel verification and communication.

4307 Brom Road – Repair House (Evidentiary Case)

  • Owner John F. Arnold appeared. Inspector Knox reported five inspections, noting roof and porch railing damage. The county recommended repair.
  • Mr. Arnold stated his intention to tear down the house and barn himself. He planned to salvage wood from the barn (built by him and his father 65 years ago).
  • The hearing officer advised him to prioritize the barn (which is the subject of the next case) and suggested he could patch the roof or remove railings in the meantime. The repair order was not affirmed; the matter was continued to December 9, 2026, with encouragement to make progress and stay in contact with the inspector.

4333 Brom Road – Raze Barn (Evidentiary Case)

  • This was a separate order to raze a collapsed barn on a neighboring parcel. Inspector Knox testified the barn is fallen due to wind damage and recommended affirming the raze order.
  • Exhibits were admitted, including violation lists, photos, raze order, title search, and service affidavits. Hearing Officer Harrison affirmed the raze order, finding the structure unsafe, a fire hazard, a public nuisance, and blighted. Mr. Arnold indicated he would tear it down himself. The matter was continued to December 9, 2026, for verification of progress.

3056 Grove Street – Repair House (Continued Evidentiary Case)

  • Owner Carlos Amaya appeared. Inspector Knox had inspected the property eight times since September 2025, documenting siding damage, missing gutters, roof damage, open windows, and lack of insect screens. No improvements had been made.
  • Mr. Amaya stated he had not received prior notices due to an incorrect address. He now committed to beginning exterior repairs within a week and planned to lease the property after repairs.
  • Hearing Officer Harrison affirmed the repair order and continued the case to December 9, 2026, at 1:00 PM, with the county to notify Mr. Amaya if his presence is not needed.

Key Outcomes

  • 4612 Detroy Road: Continued to December 9, 2026, with a required interior inspection within 30 days (10 days preferred).
  • 3925 Kansas Road: Continued to December 9, 2026, to confirm parcel and allow mortgage holder to coordinate demolition.
  • 4307 Brom Road: Continued to December 9, 2026, without affirming the repair order; owner plans to demolish the house.
  • 4333 Brom Road: Raze order affirmed; owner to demolish the barn, with a follow-up on December 9, 2026.
  • 3056 Grove Street: Repair order affirmed; owner to begin repairs; case continued to December 9, 2026, at 1:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Noon uh everyone uh let's call to order the hearing of the Evansville Vanderburgh County Building Commission for October 14th, 2026. My name's Joe Harrison. I've been appointed as your hearing officer by the Vanderburgh County Commissioners, and my authority is derived from Indiana Code Section 36-7-9. The unsafe building laws and ordinances which have been enacted by the Vanderburgh County Commissioners. As hearing officer, I have authority to issue civil penalties up to $5,000. I can require performance bonds to be posted, and I can't affirm ordinance violation fines. Today the county is requesting that you repair, vacate, or erase property or other structures on your property. I can affirm, modify, or deny those requests. If you wish to appeal my decision today, you may do so by filing an appeal with the Vanderburgh Superior Court within 10 days of the decision. If you do not, you may waive your right to an appeal. In the Vanderburgh County Clerk's Office, that's room S250, and that's in this same building. A magistrate, judge, and housing court will then hear your appeal. Now that I've advised you of your rights and my authority, anyone who expects to testify or give evidence today, I would ask that you please stand and raise your right hand at this time. If you wish to make any statements or present evidence regarding any matter, raising raise your right hand, please. Do you swear affirm the testimony you're about to give is true and accurate, so help you guide. I do. Thank you very much. The building commission may call their first case. All right. Our first case is on page five. This is a routine matter. CE number 26E 85. This is an affirmed repair order on a house located at 4612 Detroit Road. The owners are Christopher Roman, Amber Preskey, Lillian Presky, Logan Preskey, Misty Bruce, and Aaron Preske, and Mr. Goodridge is here on this case, and also a neighbor, Darlene Lancaster. Report by the department. The property is vacant and secure. The yards are acceptable. The property's been inspected five times. There has been no progress on the orders. There are no permits on file, and there's been no contact with the owner. And I'll let Inspector Knopfs give his report and recommendation. What date was that? Sorry. December 9th. December 9th, 2026. Anything else that the county would like to say? I would just like to ask because I believe especially I would imagine Miss Ms. Lancaster.

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