The City of Evansville Board of Public Safety on Wednesday approved a permit for a downtown festival after the event organizer, Joe Nader, agreed to changes intended to prevent the vendor- and access-related problems that prompted complaints from the Evansville Building Authority.

The permit passed 2–1, with the board requiring proof of insurance (a certificate of insurance) before the permit becomes final and warning that future permits could be denied if the event does not meet the conditions. The board’s conditional approval follows a dispute between the organizer and Dave Rector of the Evansville Building Authority over gate access and what organizers and the building authority described as inconsistent compliance at previous events.

Board members said they value events that bring business downtown but want a clear commitment from the permit holder to manage setup, vendor placement and post-event cleanup. “All I want is compliance with the plan that was all agreed upon,” said Dave Rector, identifying himself with the Evansville/Vanderburgh County Building Authority. Rector told the board he receives complaints and phone calls about vendors blocking access to authority parking areas and that prior events had required intervention.

Organizer Joe Nader said he had submitted a revised event map limiting the closure to Ninth and Main and described operational changes: a single entry point on Sycamore, signage to deter traffic from entering closed sections, and an on-site security guard to oversee vendor placement. “We’re gonna have one point of entry coming in through Sycamore,” Nader said. He told the board he would be on site for setup and breakdown and promised vendors would be instructed to leave the area orderly.

Board members repeatedly told Nader that responsibility for the event rests with the permit holder from setup through cleanup. “You have to give us a 100% commitment that you will be responsible from the start to the finish,” a board member said during deliberations. The board’s motion to approve was made with the explicit understanding that failure to follow the plan would make it difficult for the organizer to obtain a permit at the next cycle four months hence.

The motion was made, seconded and carried by voice vote; recorded tallies were two in favor, one opposed. The board noted the approval was contingent on receipt of the required certificate of insurance and other standard permit conditions.

The board did not adopt any additional penalties at the meeting; members said enforcement will be stricter going forward and that future applications from the organizer could be denied if the conditions are not met.

The permit discussion occurred during the meeting’s old-business segment, where board members reviewed the revised map and operational commitments before voting.