Evansville hearing officer affirms multiple vacate/raise orders, sets continuances and penalties

Hearing Officer Ryan Schultz presiding over the Evansville City building-commission hearings on Sept. 25, 2025, affirmed multiple emergency vacate and raise orders for properties the department described as structurally impaired or hazardous, set deadlines for owners to supply repair plans, granted several continuances and imposed at least one civil penalty and a housing-court referral.

The hearing produced immediate enforcement for properties the department said posed a public-safety or public-health risk. Schultz said he would “affirm the raise order” for properties where inspectors documented collapsed roof members, severe fire damage or structural movement, and he repeatedly ordered interior or on-site inspections where access had not previously been available.

Why it matters: the decisions clear the way for the city to remove or require major repairs on blighted structures near schools, parks and other occupied buildings, and they create deadlines when owners have an opportunity to present plans to avoid demolition.

Most significant outcomes

- Raise orders affirmed: Schultz affirmed raise (demolition/razing) orders where inspectors documented severe structural damage or repeated vacancy and vagrant activity. Properties noted with affirmed raise or vacate-and-raise findings included 3304 Forest Ave.; 320 Cass Ave.; 718 Bayard Park Dr.; 1412/1414 South Lynnwood Ave. (reported as 1612–1614 South Lynnwood Ave.); 802 N. Fourth Ave.; and others where inspectors testified to collapsed roofs, heavy charring from fires, missing meters and open holes allowing weather intrusion. Inspectors cited hazards such as collapsed garage roofs, bowed foundations and melted electrical components. For example, Inspector Allen testified that the house at 3304 Forest Ave. showed “significant charring” and that the fire department estimated property loss of about $40,000.

- Emergency vacates affirmed: Multiple emergency vacate orders were affirmed where CenterPoint or the water utility reported inactive service (no gas/electric or no water), including 410 N. Ninth Ave., 15 W. Eichel Ave., 1008 N. Morton Ave., 320 E. Virginia St., and others. The hearing officer noted that lack of utilities can make occupancy unsafe and affirmed vacates pending restoration and reinspection.

- Continuances and progress returns: Several owners were granted short continuances or return dates to present a concrete plan and timeline. Notable continuances include: 1417 N. Elliott St. (continuance to Oct. 23, 2025, over objection); 911 E. Powell Ave. (return for progress to Nov. 20, 2025); 1101 E. Powell Ave. (return to Dec. 11, 2025); and multiple cases returned to Oct. 23, 2025 or Nov. 20, 2025 for progress updates.

- Civil penalty and referral: Coordinator Goffin requested and Schultz imposed a $500 civil penalty for willful noncompliance on 629 Madison Ave. that has shown no progress or contact with the owner; that matter was also referred to housing court for further enforcement.

- Other procedural directions: In multiple cases Schultz ordered interior inspections where staff had not had access and reminded owners they have 10 days to file an appeal of his administrative rulings to the Vanderburgh County Superior Court. He also repeatedly told owners they must present permit-ready plans and hire contractors where required.

Votes at a glance (case, CE number, outcome and immediate next step)

- MA Valley Inc., 1417 N. Elliott St., CE#25CE205 — continuance granted (30 days) to Oct. 23, 2025; commission warned no further contingencies. - Kenneth Von Parkman, 911 E. Powell Ave., CE#25CE127 — affirmed repair order on garage; return for progress 11/20/2025. - Nicholas Manonville, 1101 E. Powell Ave., CE#24CE205 — progress noted; return 12/11/2025. - George W. Wells Sr. estate (Felicia & George Wells Jr.), 413 S. Bedford Ave., CE#25CE130 — garage: raise order granted; house: taken under advisement and continued to Oct. 23, 2025 with instruction to provide plan/time frame; interior inspection ordered (owner agreed to allow inspection next morning). - James K. Schafer estate (emergency), 410 N. Ninth Ave., CE#25CE203 — emergency vacate affirmed (lack of utilities); owner’s representative told the panel the occupant was not living there. - Kelly Wickware (multiple properties), 1108 N. Elliott St. CE#25CE164 and 1110 N. Elliott St. CE#25CE165 — at 1108: inspector recommended vacate/raise; owner said he disagreed but had no plan on hand; matter continued for interior inspection (Sept. 29 at noon) and plan due by Oct. 23, 2025; at 1110: similar findings, return/plan deadline set. - Catherine Beckham & Brandy Beckham Bertinati (fire-damaged), 3304 Forest Ave., CE#25CE109 — raise order affirmed (fire damage, structural and electrical compromise); owners present; hearing officer affirmed order. - Stephanie L. Finch (owner), 718 Bayard Park Dr., CE#25CE199 — vacate and raise order affirmed; building commission offered list of contractors and owner advised of appeal rights. - Anthony Robinson, 320 Cass Ave., CE#25CE197 — vacate and raise order affirmed (roof damage, collapsed garage, vagrant activity); site near Glenwood Park noted as public-safety concern. - 2218 W. Iowa St., CE#25CE186 (repair) and CE#25CE194 (vacate) — repair order affirmed and vacate order affirmed (utilities/inactive water); return/compliance dates set where appropriate. - 629 Madison Ave., CE#23C284 — affirmed repair-order enforcement; $500 civil penalty ordered for willful noncompliance and referred to housing court (no progress, repeated inspections). - Numerous other cases were continued for progress (typical return dates Oct. 23, Nov. 20 or Dec. 11, 2025) or released where inspectors certified completed work (examples documented by inspectors during the hearing). See the transcript for the full docket and case CE numbers.

What owners and inspectors said

Hearing Officer Ryan Schultz opened the hearing reminding attendees of his authority under state law and local ordinance: “I have authority to issue civil penalties up to $5,000,” he said during the case-call. Inspectors described specific structural hazards: “The condition of the front porch, large portion of the front porch has already collapsed, blocking the front door,” Inspector Lukey said about 413 S. Bedford Ave., and “there’s significant charring of rafters and melted wiring” was cited by Inspector Allen when describing the fire-damaged 3304 Forest Ave. Several owners or family members described attempts to contract repairs or secure financing but said they lacked completed bids or permit-ready plans.

Next steps and appeals

Owners were reminded of their appeal rights: decisions can be appealed to Vanderburgh County Superior Court within 10 days of the decision. Where continuances were granted, owners were ordered to submit specific plans and time frames by the listed return dates; failure to appear or present an acceptable plan will, in several cases, result in the hearing officer granting the raise order.

The hearing record (transcript, CE numbers and exhibits) documents each exhibit and inspector report and is available through the building commission clerk’s office.

Ending

The commission scheduled many return dates across October, November and December to monitor progress; in several matters, inspectors warned that the next absence of a plan or visible work would lead to raze orders or referral to housing court.