Evansville Board of Public Works approves lease, multiple contracts and right-of-way permits

The Evansville City Board of Public Works on Aug. 28 approved a series of routine leases, contracts and permits affecting city operations, public safety facilities, housing assistance and a planned cemetery storage building.

The board voted to approve a lease agreement with the Evansville Vandenberg County Building Authority for a building at 401 East Illinois Street to use as a storage facility for the Evansville Police Department; approve a $183,752 contract with Dye Brothers Lumber and Construction to renovate the bathroom and locker room at Fire Station 15 (1711 South Weinbach); and approve a $1,500 professional services contract with Form Function Integrity Engineering Solutions LLC (project 2025-001) to prepare a project scope and preliminary drawings for construction of a dirt barn with attached shop at Oak Hill Cemetery. The board also authorized advertising for bidders on the cemetery project, with advertisements scheduled for Sept. 5 and Sept. 12, 2025.

Board members approved an amendment to the city's pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) contract with Maxor that extends the agreement from Dec. 31, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2028, with the city's staff reporting lower rates that can be locked in effective July 1, 2025. Benefits staff member Miss Lindbergh told the board that Maxor is the city's PBM and that the amended rates would be reprocessed to capture refunds to the city where applicable.

The board granted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency access to a downtown transfer-station property identified in an EPA notice as within the Jacobsville sampling area and authorized Jonathan Sebecuing, director of METS, to sign the access agreement. Sebecuing told the board the EPA letter described residential sampling and that the letter appeared to include the city's downtown terminal; he said it was "free to the city" for the EPA to collect samples and, if necessary, to fund soil replacement and removal.

The board approved an amendment extending a CDBG-funded down-payment assistance contract with Hope of Evansville Inc. (CDBG 02/2024) through Dec. 31, 2025, keeping the contract total at $150,000, and approved a slate of right-of-way permit applications (numbers 22292'02294, 2296'02299, 2301'02309) with no exceptions taken; application 2295 was noted as work that lies in the county and therefore exceptioned.

All motions reported at the meeting were approved by voice vote; the minutes, bills and payrolls for the previous period were also approved and the board adjourned at approximately 1:42 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes (08/21/2025): approved (voice vote). - Lease: Approve lease agreement with Evansville Vandenberg County Building Authority for 401 East Illinois Street (EPD storage facility): approved (voice vote). - Contract: Approve contract with Dye Brothers Lumber and Construction for Station 15 bathroom and locker-room renovation, $183,752: approved (voice vote). - Contract: Approve professional services contract with Form Function Integrity Engineering Solutions LLC for Oak Hill Cemetery project 2025-001, $1,500: approved (voice vote). - Procurement: Authorize advertisement for bids for project 2025-001OH (Oak Hill Cemetery dirt barn); ad dates 09/05/2025 and 09/12/2025: approved (voice vote). - Contract amendment: Extend Maxor PBM contract to 12/31/2028; lower rates to take effect 07/01/2025: approved (voice vote). - Agreement: Grant EPA access for soil sampling in Jacobsville (downtown transfer station included in notice); authorize Jonathan Sebecuing to sign: approved (voice vote). - Contract amendment: Extend Hope of Evansville Inc. CDBG down-payment assistance contract to 12/31/2025; contract total $150,000: approved (voice vote). - Right-of-way permits: Approve permit applications 22292'02294, 2296'02299, 2301'02309; exception taken for 2295 (work in county): approved (voice vote). - Approval of bills and payrolls: approved (voice vote).

Why it matters

The actions approve city facility and maintenance work, preserve a funding stream for local down-payment assistance, and formalize a multi-year PBM arrangement that city staff said will lower prescription rates beginning July 2025. The EPA access agreement could lead to federal soil testing and, if necessary, remediation work in or near the Jacobsville neighborhood and the downtown transfer station.

Who said what

- Miss Lindbergh, benefits staff, explained that Maxor is the city's pharmacy benefits manager and that the amended contract lowers rates for the next three years and can be applied retroactively to July 1, 2025. - Jonathan Sebecuing, director of METS, said the EPA's letter appears to target residential sampling and that the agency had included the downtown transfer station; he characterized the sampling as free to the city and said federal funding would be used if removal and replacement were required. - Lisa Foster identified herself and requested the extension for Hope of Evansville's CDBG down-payment assistance contract so the organization could continue providing down-payment help to Evansville residents.

Meeting context

The Board of Public Works conducted a brief meeting focused on routine city business and procurement. Most items were presented with limited discussion and approved by unanimous voice votes. The cemetery building design and bid advertisement were discussed in two related agenda items (contract for preliminary design and separate authority to advertise for bidders).

Clarifying details

- Station 15 renovation contract: $183,752; location: 1711 South Weinbach. - Cemetery design contract: Form Function Integrity Engineering Solutions LLC; project number 2025-001; contract amount $1,500; subsequent separate agenda item authorized advertisement for construction bids (project 2025-001OH), ad dates 09/05/2025 and 09/12/2025. - Maxor PBM amendment: extends contract to 12/31/2028; lower rates reported to take effect 07/01/2025; staff said the rates will be reprocessed to capture savings. - Hope of Evansville CDBG down-payment assistance: contract extended to 12/31/2025; total $150,000; CDBG reference 02/2024. - Right-of-way permit applications approved: 22292'02294, 2296'02299, 2301'02309; exception: application 2295 (work is in county jurisdiction). - EPA access: letter from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposing soil samples in Jacobsville; downtown transfer-station property included in the EPA notice; board authorized METS director to sign access paperwork.

Proper names

[{"name":"Evansville City","type":"other"},{"name":"Evansville Vandenberg County Building Authority","type":"other"},{"name":"Evansville Police Department","type":"agency"},{"name":"Fire Station 15","type":"facility"},{"name":"Dye Brothers Lumber and Construction","type":"business"},{"name":"Form Function Integrity Engineering Solutions LLC","type":"organization"},{"name":"Oak Hill Cemetery","type":"location"},{"name":"Maxor","type":"business"},{"name":"U.S. Environmental Protection Agency","type":"agency"},{"name":"Jacobsville","type":"location"},{"name":"Hope of Evansville Inc.","type":"nonprofit"},{"name":"METS","type":"agency"},{"name":"Indiana MUTCD","type":"regulation"}]

Speakers

[{"name":"Board President","role_title":"Board President","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Miss Lindbergh","role_title":"Benefits staff","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Jonathan Sebecuing","role_title":"Director, METS","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Lisa Foster","role_title":"Representative, Hope of Evansville","affiliation_type":"nonprofit"},{"name":"Chief Iker","role_title":"Fire Chief","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Mister Wyle","role_title":"City staff/engineer","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Contractor representative","role_title":"Contractor representative","affiliation_type":"business"},{"name":"City staff","role_title":"City staff","affiliation_type":"government"}]

Authorities

[{"type":"regulation","name":"Indiana MUTCD","citation":"Indiana Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices","referenced_by":["right-of-way permits"]},{"type":"other","name":"AIA contract form","citation":"American Institute of Architects standard contract","referenced_by":["Station 15 renovation"]},{"type":"other","name":"U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sampling notice","citation":"EPA sampling letter (Jacobsville)","referenced_by":["EPA access for sampling"]},{"type":"other","name":"CDBG 02/2024","citation":"Community Development Block Grant reference","referenced_by":["Hope down-payment assistance"]}]

Actions

[{"kind":"motion","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"old_minutes_08-21-2025"},"motion":"Approve minutes of 08/21/2025 BPW meeting","mover":null,"second":null,"vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Approved by voice vote (all in favor)."},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"lease_401EIllinois"},"motion":"Approve lease agreement with Evansville Vandenberg County Building Authority for 401 East Illinois Street for EPD storage","mover":null,"second":null,"vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Lease reviewed and negotiated by staff; final form authorized for execution."},{"kind":"contract_award","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"station15_renovation","contract_number":null,"project_slug":"station15_bathlocker"},"motion":"Approve contract and agreement with Dye Brothers Lumber and Construction for renovation of Station 15 bathroom and locker room; total contract amount $183,752","mover":null,"second":null,"vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Standard AIA contract; work at 1711 South Weinbach."},{"kind":"contract_award","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"oakhill_design_2025-001","project_slug":"oak_hill_dirt_barn"},"motion":"Approve professional services contract with Form Function Integrity Engineering Solutions LLC for project 2025-001 to produce project scope and preliminary drawings; contract amount $1,500","mover":null,"second":null,"vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Design services for dirt barn and attached shop at Oak Hill Cemetery."},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"oakhill_advertise_2025-001OH","project_slug":"oak_hill_dirt_barn"},"motion":"Authorize advertisement for bidders for project 2025-001OH (Oak Hill Cemetery dirt barn with attached shop); ad dates 09/05/2025 and 09/12/2025","mover":null,"second":null,"vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Separate agenda item to advertise after approving design services."},{"kind":"contract_award","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"maxor_amendment","contract_number":null},"motion":"Approve amendment to extend Maxor PBM contract from 12/31/2025 to 12/31/2028, with improved pricing effective 07/01/2025","mover":null,"second":null,"vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Staff indicated rates will be reprocessed to capture savings retroactive to 07/01/2025."},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"epa_access_jacobsville"},"motion":"Approve agreement granting EPA access to property for soil sampling in Jacobsville and authorize Jonathan Sebecuing to sign","mover":null,"second":null,"vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"EPA letter appears to target residential sampling; downtown transfer station included in notice; sampling and potential remediation would be federal-funded if performed."},{"kind":"contract_award","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"hope_cdbg_extension","project_slug":"hope_downpayment_02-2024"},"motion":"Approve amendment to extend Hope of Evansville Inc. CDBG down-payment assistance contract through 12/31/2025; contract total $150,000","mover":null,"second":null,"vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Extension allows Hope to continue assisting residents with down payments."},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"right-of-way_permits"},"motion":"Approve right-of-way permit applications 22292'02294, 2296'02299, 2301'02309 with exception that application 2295 work is in county jurisdiction","mover":null,"second":null,"vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Board of Public Safety approval required prior to lane restrictions or street closures; open pavement cut repairs must follow city utility cut repair standards."},{"kind":"motion","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"bills_and_payrolls"},"motion":"Approve bills and payrolls","mover":null,"second":null,"vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Approved by voice vote."}],