Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Evansville council adopts alley vacation, multiple budget transfers and economic revitalization resolutions
Summary
At its April 14 meeting the Evansville Common Council adopted Ordinance G-20‑25‑09 vacating part of a 10-foot alley, approved two finance ordinances and reappropriations and confirmed three economic revitalization resolutions; council also approved an interlocal agreement to split a Local Burn Justice grant with Vanderburgh County.
Evansville Common Council voted unanimously Monday to vacate a portion of an alley, approve several finance ordinances and confirm three economic revitalization resolutions, moving multiple appropriations and grant reappropriations into city accounts.
The council adopted Ordinance G‑20‑25‑09 to vacate the portion of a 10‑foot alley that a building now occupies; the measure passed on an 8–0 roll call. The council also adopted finance Ordinance F‑20‑25‑04, which moves city appropriations across several departments and authorizes purchases, and Ordinance F‑20‑25‑05, a reappropriation package within the Department of Metropolitan Development that moves prior‑year HUD funds back into active grant lines.
Those actions came alongside three confirmatory resolutions declaring economic revitalization areas for properties at 1601 Buchanan Road (Journey 2 Enterprises LLC and Separation by Design Inc.), 2138 N. Sixth Avenue (IRD Group Inc.) and a resolution authorizing an interlocal agreement to divide funds from a 2024 Local Burn Justice Grant award between the city and Vanderburgh County.
Why it matters: The appropriations and reappropriations allocate money for near‑term city projects — including playground equipment and safety surfacing at Fulton Avenue Park and two pieces of fire apparatus the fire department plans to buy — and allow continuation of federal and HUD‑sourced projects. The economic revitalization resolutions enable property tax phase‑in schedules for developer investments, a standard local economic development tool.
Key facts and supporting details
- Alley vacation (Ordinance G‑20‑25‑09): Scott Beadle of Cash Wagner & Associates told the council the request covers a portion of an alley platted as 10 feet where a building was later constructed; utilities and city departments submitted letters with no objections. Councilman Trotman moved the ordinance; Councilman Hieronymus seconded. Roll call: Councilwoman Mosby, Councilman Hieronymus, Councilwoman Carruthers, Councilwoman Kayler Lindsey, Councilman Brinkmeyer, Councilwoman Allen, Councilman Johnson and Councilman Trockman all voted “Aye.” The ordinance was declared adopted.
- Finance ordinance (F‑20‑25‑04): Comptroller Robert Gunter described several line‑item adjustments including moving $13,680 within the Fire Department from full‑time salaries to cover applicant physicals, appropriating funds for Fulton Avenue Park playground equipment (funds received from the Department of Metropolitan Development), moving $1,500,000 from the casino fund to the public safety fund to buy an engine and a heavy rescue without borrowing, and correcting a prior appropriation by moving $55,000 from the casino fund for mold remediation at Swander. Jerry Brown, deputy chief of finance and logistics for the fire department, said the department negotiated delivery slots that will speed up apparatus availability. Councilwoman Mosby moved the ordinance; Councilman Brinkmeyer seconded. Roll call: 8 ayes, 0 nays; ordinance adopted.
- Reappropriation within Metropolitan Development (F‑20‑25‑05): Colby Jackson of the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) said the ordinance reappropriates HUD/home ARP carryover funds that “fell off” at year‑end back into grants and subsidies so the city can continue to expend them. The motion passed by roll call vote, 8–0.
- Economic revitalization resolutions (C‑20‑25‑14 and C‑20‑25‑15): The council confirmed two economic revitalization area declarations and standard five‑year phase‑in schedules for rehabilitation and new equipment at 1601 Buchanan Road and for equipment installation at 2138 N. Sixth Avenue. DMD staff confirmed no changes since preliminary approvals and provided an economic impact analysis to council members. Both resolutions passed on roll calls of 8–0.
- Local Burn Justice Grant interlocal agreement (C‑20‑25‑16): Deputy Chief Scott Dohn of the Evansville Police Department told the council the city applied jointly with the Vanderburgh County sheriff’s office and this year received “just under $104,000.” He said past practice is to divide the award two‑thirds to the city and one‑third to the county; the interlocal agreement formalizes that split. The resolution passed 8–0.
Votes at a glance
- Ordinance G‑20‑25‑09 (vacate portion of 10‑foot alley): Mover — Councilman Trotman; Seconder — Councilman Hieronymus; Vote — 8 ayes, 0 nays; outcome — adopted.
- Ordinance F‑20‑25‑04 (transfers/appropriations; multiple line items): Mover — Councilwoman Mosby; Seconder — Councilman Brinkmeyer; Vote — 8 ayes, 0 nays; outcome — adopted. Noted line items: $13,680 reallocation for Fire Department physicals; $1,500,000 moved from casino fund to public safety fund for apparatus purchases; $55,000 correction for mold remediation at Swander; Fulton Avenue Park playground equipment funded from DMD receipts (amount not specified in the meeting transcript).
- Ordinance F‑20‑25‑05 (repeals/reappropriations within DMD — HUD/home ARP carryovers): Mover/Seconder — not specified on the record; Vote — 8 ayes, 0 nays; outcome — adopted.
- Resolution C‑20‑25‑14 (economic revitalization area, 1601 Buchanan Road): Vote — 8 ayes, 0 nays; outcome — adopted.
- Resolution C‑20‑25‑15 (economic revitalization area, 2138 N. Sixth Avenue): Vote — 8 ayes, 0 nays; outcome — adopted.
- Resolution C‑20‑25‑16 (interlocal agreement for 2024 Local Burn Justice Grant distribution): Vote — 8 ayes, 0 nays; outcome — adopted. Grant amount described as “just under $104,000”; proposed split described as two‑thirds city / one‑third county.
Who spoke (selected): Councilwoman Mosby; Councilman Hieronymus; Councilwoman Carruthers; Councilwoman Kayler Lindsey; Councilman Brinkmeyer; Councilwoman Allen; Councilman Johnson; Councilman Trockman; Scott Beadle (Cash Wagner & Associates); Robert Gunter (Comptroller’s Office); Crooks (Parks director); Jerry Brown (deputy chief, finance & logistics, Fire Department); Colby Jackson (Department of Metropolitan Development); Deputy Chief Scott Dohn (Evansville Police Department); Madam Clerk (roll calls).
Context and next steps
Several items funded or reappropriated at the meeting — notably playground equipment for Fulton Avenue Park and two fire apparatus — were tied to project timelines the departments described: demolition and equipment removal at Fulton Park could start as early as the week of May 16 with final completion in early June, while apparatus delivery timelines vary by manufacturer but the city has negotiated build slots to accelerate arrival. Department staff and councilors said follow‑up and implementation details will be handled by departments and upcoming board meetings (Board of Park Commissioners, procurement) as appropriate.
No items at Monday’s meeting were tabled or failed. Several speakers said departments had provided required utility approvals, grant paperwork or economic analyses; council action was limited to the formal votes recorded on the ordinances and resolutions.
