Council approves appropriations, moves funds for mold remediation, parking debt service and housing trust projects

The Evansville Common Council on March 10 voted 9-0 to adopt ordinance F2025-02, which authorizes multiple transfers and additional appropriations across city funds, including money for facility repairs, debt service and housing programs.

Controller Robert Gunter and Danielle Crook, executive director of Parks and Recreation, told the council the Swonder Ice Arena required extra work to remove mold discovered behind a wall; the city will use casino revenue to cover approximately half of the remediation shortfall. “As they were getting in and removing the mold, they noticed it was more involved than what we had anticipated,” the controller said; Danielle Crook confirmed HVAC failures created condensation and that crews stopped work after finding mold extended into the East Arena.

The ordinance also moves general-fund cash balance dollars into the debt service fund to cover bonds for the planned parking garage on the 500 block of Main Street. The controller said the city has appropriated money to pay the bonds but had not previously appropriated the general-fund cash balance to the debt service fund and agreed to provide the bond term and timing when available.

Other items included a $35,000 public-safety fire grant carryover, roughly $7,400 carried over for human relations, and a housing trust fund appropriation that brings available housing trust resources to roughly $1.86 million (city had earlier committed $1 million). Colby Jackson, DMD, described how the carryover will allow ongoing homeowner repair grants; staff reported about a dozen projects are ready or nearly ready for contracting and about 25 additional applications are in the pipeline. The council heard that $450,000 of the housing trust allocation will be split among three housing organizations—Habitat for Humanity, Memorial CDC and Community 1—to support a coordinated neighborhood initiative in the Teepee Park area. Specific planned uses listed by staff included five roofs, three HVAC replacements, two whole-house rehabs, acquisition and renovation of 660 Ravenswood Drive and new construction at 1555 South Linwood.

Council members asked for further details on the parking garage bond term and timing for local income tax (LIT) receipts; the controller said he would provide that information after the meeting. The ordinance was adopted by roll call: Councilwoman Mosby, Councilman Hieronymus, Councilwoman Carothers, Councilwoman Kayla Lindsay, Councilman Brinkmeyer, Councilwoman Allen, Councilman Green, Councilman Johnson and Councilman Schrockman voted aye; there were no nays.

The ordinance as adopted authorizes the transfers and appropriations presented; council did not attach additional conditions in the meeting record.