Evansville Board of Public Safety revokes massage‑therapy license, denies funeral‑home lane restriction and approves permits, bids

The City of Evansville Board of Public Safety on Wednesday revoked a massage‑therapy license, denied a request to restrict a lane near Pierre Funeral Home, approved multiple special‑event and parking permits, accepted donations to the police department and opened or awarded several construction and demolition bids, the board said.

The board voted unanimously to revoke massage‑therapy license 24‑019 for Camilla Spa after staff said the business did not respond to repeated requests for proof of licensed therapists and did not respond to a certified letter sent May 22. Staff told the board the spa’s phone, email and certified‑mail attempts were unanswered and an online search now lists the business as temporarily closed.

Board members also declined to approve a proposed lane restriction on West Franklin Street for landscaping work near Pierre Funeral Home. Engineering staff and board members raised safety concerns about the proposed closure extending through a curved intersection and limiting sight lines to the stop sign; the motion to deny the plan passed after discussion and on the engineering department’s recommendation.

Other formal actions included approvals of temporary street and parking closures for community events, ratification of a dumpster permit issued by consensus, acceptance of donated equipment for the police department, authorization to surplus old departmental furniture and the opening and review of multiple construction bids.

Key decisions and approvals

- Revocation of massage‑therapy license 24‑019 (Camilla Spa): motion passed; staff cited lack of response to contact attempts and misinformation on file. No further appeals or follow‑up dates were specified in the meeting record.

- Denial of lane restriction at 2601 West Franklin Street (Pierre Funeral Home landscaping): engineering staff recommended refusal because the proposed closure extended through an intersection curve and would impair sight lines and pedestrian/sidewalk protection; motion to deny passed.

- Special‑event and street‑closure permits: the board approved multiple requests, including an Old National Events Plaza date change for the International Jugglers event (moved to Friday, July 18, 8 p.m.–11 p.m.), a one‑time early Adams Street closure for the Haney’s Corner Arts District First Friday on July 4 (close at 2 p.m., reopen by 8 p.m.), the Swarika Brewfest (Saturday, July 12, 6 a.m.–11:30 p.m.), and food‑truck parking for the jugglers convention (15 spaces, July 14–19, 7 a.m.–1 p.m.). Consent section permits approved several neighborhood safety buffers, a wedding safety buffer on Cherry Street and Old National Bank food‑truck parking for August 14.

- Police department donations and surplus: the board approved acceptance of donated equipment from the Evansville Police Foundation (including 16 Avon C50 gas masks, canine training items and training aids) and approved surplus of old office furniture and a paper shredder from the records unit.

- Fire Station 15 renovations: the board opened bids for renovations to Fire Station 15 (South Weinbach). Four contractors submitted bids; the board voted to take the bids under advisement for further review rather than award immediately.

- Demolition contracts and bid awards: the board opened demolition bids for multiple addresses and voted to award several contracts noted from an earlier meeting (listed in the building commission report). Low bidders were identified and the board moved to take all demolition bids under advisement until the next meeting for final action.

- Stop sign installation: the board approved a transportation/engineering request to install a stop sign at Walker Avenue and Hillcrest Terrace (northwest corner) to formalize an existing stop bar and improve intersection control.

Permits, parking and other administrative actions

The board ratified one dumpster permit issued by consensus (109 West Columbia Street) and approved a conditional dumpster permit for Madeline’s Fusion renovation at the corner of Oak and Second Street with a requirement that the dumpster be placed back beyond the yellow line so it does not block turning movements. The board approved parking permits for food trucks and temporary spaces (including 123 Main Street, US Oncology Network) and authorized multiple designated handicap parking spaces at addresses recommended by transportation and engineering after on‑site inspection.

Administrative and procedural items

The board accepted minutes of the June 11, 2025 meeting and approved claims submitted for payment. The board set its next meeting for July 9, 2025, in Room 301 at 1 p.m. and adjourned following the scheduled business.

Why it matters

The board’s decisions affect local public‑safety operations, street access during community events and oversight of businesses that require licensing. Denial of the Franklin Street lane restriction highlights engineering and sight‑line concerns that can delay or alter private‑sector work near busy intersections; the license revocation shows the board enforcing local licensing rules when owners fail to respond to department inquiries.

What’s next

Several construction and demolition bids were taken under advisement; those items are pending for final award at a future meeting. The board directed staff to follow up on the revoked license and the conditional dumpster placement to ensure compliance with the board’s conditions and local codes.