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Evansville building authority official asks board to reconsider event closure approvals after alleged violations; matter tabled
Summary
Dave Rector of the Evansville Building Authority told the Board of Public Safety that a recurring event organizer failed to follow approved street-closure plans during a recent festival that overlapped a D-II tournament; the board voted to table the issue and said it will invite the organizer to explain.
Dave Rector, operations representative for the Evansville Building Authority, urged the Evansville Board of Public Safety on April 9 to reconsider approvals for certain street closures after an organizer allegedly deviated from approved plans during a recent festival that overlapped an NCAA Division II tournament at the Ford Center and Old National Events Plaza.
Rector told the board the festival organizer had repeatedly failed to follow submitted closure maps and set up a tent on property owned by the building authority “right by our maintenance office,” blocking an exit and a driveway used for arriving staff. He said the organizer had promised a Sunday teardown by 5 p.m., but the tent remained in place Monday morning, preventing access. Rector described further problems including barricades that trapped five cars in a nearby court parking lot and attendees driving on the sidewalk to exit the lot.
The board’s president said staff would look into the process for rescinding an approval and that the board typically invites both sides to speak before taking unilateral action. Board members moved to table discussion of the closure approvals for further study, and the motion passed by voice vote; no opposed votes were recorded.
Rector asked that the city notify the Evansville Building Authority about future closure requests around the civic center so conflicts with other venues — including the Ford Center and Old National Events Plaza — can be avoided. A city staff member said he would investigate notification practices and report back at the board’s next meeting.
The board asked staff to invite the event organizer to the next discussion so both sides could present their accounts. The board did not rescind any prior approvals during the April 9 meeting.
Rector said he would be available to return to the board for the follow-up discussion.
Ending: The board scheduled follow-up action; staff will review notification and permitting procedures and report back at the next Board of Public Safety meeting.
