Evansville board approves contracts, change orders, sidewalk waiver and event closures

The City of Evansville board at its March 20, 2025 meeting approved a series of contracts, change orders, permits and event closures that the city said advance transportation projects, a trails connection, fair-housing training and routine administrative requirements.

The actions included approval of a Fair Housing Summit contract totaling $7,410, an annual actuary/retiree-benefits report contract for $20,100, a $150,000 multi-year grant from Deaconess for the METS micro program, purchase of right-of-way for a Crosspoint Boulevard roundabout for $53,950, and several construction change orders and permit decisions. The board also granted a sidewalk waiver for a two-lot subdivision on Division Street tied to a donated parcel for a trails switchback and approved street closures for community events.

Why it matters: the approvals affect near-term construction and right-of-way acquisitions tied to the Crosspoint roundabout and other street projects, provide funding and programming for community events and services, and clear a donated parcel to be used in the city nd partners'+ mile trail connection into Wesselman Park.

Major approvals and votes

- Fair Housing Summit contract: The board approved a contract with International Development and Planning LLC and named presenters (Jeffrey Paul, Stella Jones Adams and Michael D. Mitchell, JD) for a total contract amount of $7,410. Staff said the event is free and co-sponsored with the Indiana Southwest Association of Realtors to provide fair-housing training and homeownership information.

- Actuary report (GASB 75): The board approved a contract with the Howard E. Neihard Company, Inc., for data collection, review and preparation of the annual actuary evaluation and required disclosures under GASB 75 for retiree benefit reporting for $20,100. Laura Bennett, deputy controller, presented the item as required for the city udit.

- Deaconess grant for METS micro program: The board approved a $150,000 contribution from Deaconess, described as $50,000 per year over three years, to promote the METS micro program. City staff said the mayor and other staff negotiated the agreement and characterized it as incoming revenue rather than an expenditure.

- Crosspoint Boulevard right-of-way purchase: The board authorized a contract with Mantera Bank to buy parcel number 2 for the Crosspoint Boulevard roundabout project for $53,950 (CIP 2121). City staff said this is the second of four parcels needed for the project and represents the northeast quadrant acquisition.

- Traffic signal / radar detection change order: The board approved change order #3 with RegLink to add a radar vehicle detection unit on the eastbound approach of Lynch and Max to improve signal coordination, increasing the contract by $10,370.91 to a new total of $238,453.91. Staff said the unit is needed for efficient programming and coordination with nearby signals.

- Division Street / Westwood Park change order: The board approved change order #5 with Dye Brothers Lumber and Construction Company, Inc., for the Division Street and Westwood Park entrance project for an increase of $6,050, bringing the contract total to $997,453.29. Staff said the change order covered additional surveying/recording work required during permitting because of a nearby CenterPoint gas transmission line.

- Right-of-way permit decisions (Appendix A): The board approved right-of-way permit applications numbered 2115 through 2120 with no exceptions, and separately denied permit application 2121 because the proposed work was in the county.

- Sidewalk waiver for Division Street 3002 / trails switchback: The board granted a sidewalk waiver requested by the property donor and the Evansville Trails Coalition for a two-lot subdivision on Division Street. Laurie Van Hook, executive director of the Evansville Trails Coalition, told the board the coalition wrote a Next Level Trails grant for $2,000,000 and that the donated parcel will host a switchback trail connection to Wesselman Park; staff noted they typically avoid granting sidewalk waivers but supported letting the board decide in this case. The board approved the waiver after discussion that the planned trail would provide an accessible, separated connection from downtown to the park.

- Event street closures and barricades: The board approved barricades and street-closure requests for community events, including the Evansville Commission on Homelessness" Homeless Connect event (closure of Ninth Street between Locust and Walnut at Old National Events Plaza, April 3, 2025) and a closure for the Market Street Apartments grand opening (Marcus Street between Northwest Third and Northwest Second, March 28). City staff noted paperwork and prior public-safety review for those requests; the board approved the closures and barricades as presented.

- Purchasing quotes and procurement: Staff presented a single quote from All Star (reams/case and line-item prices) for APA-001-25 dual copy paper; the board took the quote under advisement.

- Routine approvals: The board approved the March 20, 2025 minutes, authorized bills and payroll and adjourned at 1:47 p.m.

Discussion vs. decisions: Several items drew brief staff presentations and minimal board discussion. The sidewalk waiver generated the most substantive discussion: staff said they generally prefer not to grant waivers, while Laurie Van Hook and other supporters emphasized the donated parcel, the planned switchback design nd the trail s the preferable, accessible connection. The board decided to grant the waiver. For construction change orders and right-of-way purchases, staff described the technical need (surveying work, irrigation valuation, signal timing) and the board approved the items. For the actuary contract, staff described the GASB 75 reporting requirement and presented the contractor role.

What the board did not decide: No ordinances or long-term budget adoptions were taken up; approvals were limited to contracts, change orders, permits, event closures and administrative items as described.

Next steps and follow-up: Staff will execute the contracts and change orders and proceed with right-of-way closings and construction scheduling as required. For the sidewalk waiver and trails project, city staff and the Evansville Parks Department will coordinate on design and trail construction funded in part by the Next Level Trails grant.