Evansville Board of Public Safety approves routine surpluses, demolition contracts and dozens of event permits

The Evansville Board of Public Safety on March 12 approved a bundle of routine requests including equipment surpluses, demolition contract awards, a two‑year renewal of a vehicle storage contract and a long list of special‑event and road‑closure permits.

The board’s agenda opened with departmental reports from the police and fire departments and moved quickly through motions that passed by voice vote. Captain John McQuay of the Evansville Police Department asked the board to approve a multi‑page list of surplus items and additional single‑item surpluses, saying the items are “old equipment…[that] we no longer use and is not, doesn't really have any monetary value.” McQuay also asked permission to solicit quotes for two unmarked detective vehicles; he said the purchase is a regular fleet refresh already budgeted and that marked vehicles would be handled separately via an RFP.

Why it matters: The actions keep city operations current — removing unusable equipment, funding demolitions of hazardous or derelict properties, and permitting community festivals — and set procurement steps for new police vehicles.

The board accepted several surplus requests listed on the meeting agenda: a multi‑page list of items, a compact micro portable projector (missing a power cord), and an old Dell laptop described as unusable. McQuay told the board that the city “contracts with the recycling service so that they do actually, recycle the materials and reuse whatever they can,” indicating disposal will follow the city’s recycling contract rather than landfill disposal.

Deputy Chief Kim Garrett of the Evansville Fire Department asked the board to approve a contract with chaplain Tyrone Edwards and reported a donation of 11 rescue and safety items from the Evansville Firefighters Foundation, including lifting bags, regulators, quick connectors and 20 half‑face respirators. The department also requested and received board approval to surplus a damaged ScubaPro weight pouch.

On demolition and cleanup, Building Commissioner Kim Josie presented low bidders and award recommendations for eight properties. The board approved awards as presented; the agenda listed bidders and amounts, including Belkin CD Landfill at $8,150 for 719 Wagner Avenue, Assembly Excavating at $5,476 for 413 Reed Street, Simply Excavating at $13,710 for 609 East Blackford Avenue and other low bids ranging from $1,530 to $18,826 across the listed properties.

In purchasing and contracts, the board approved a two‑year renewal of the city’s contract with Wolfs (the vendor that stores towed/abandoned vehicles and auctions unclaimed vehicles). Robert Gunter of the controller’s office said the arrangement has returned funds to the city, noting a recent sale that brought $5,500.

The largest single block of approvals covered special‑event permits and road closures. Curtis Eustace read a lengthy list of events and requested barricades as needed. Approved items included: the Shriner Fest on the Ohio Riverfront (May 1–5), a ceremonial Shriner parade (May 10), multiple Downtown Evansville Improvement District events (June Fest, July 4 fireworks, night market, Asian Night Market, Spooky Wine Walk, Dog Day Downtown, Christmas holiday celebration), the Rotary Santa Run (Dec. 6), Take Back the Night (April 26), a Taco Festival (April 25–27) and many others. The board also approved a set of consent road closures, dumpsters for property cleanouts, truck permits for construction access, a taxicab driver permit and a weekly parking permit for a mobile clinic at 20 Reed Street to begin April 7 and recur on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through the year.

All motions presented in open session were approved by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript.

Votes at a glance - Approval to surplus multi‑page police equipment list: approved (voice vote). - Approval to surplus micro projector and Dell laptop: approved (voice vote). - Permission to seek quotes for two unmarked detective vehicles (budgeted refresh): approved (voice vote). - Approval of chaplain contract for Tyrone Edwards (Fire Department): approved (voice vote). - Acceptance of donations from Evansville Firefighters Foundation (11 items): approved (voice vote). - Surplus of damaged ScubaPro weight pouch (Fire Department): approved (voice vote). - Award demolition contracts for eight properties to listed low bidders (see clarifying details): approved (voice vote). - Two‑year renewal of vehicle storage/auction contract with Wolfs: approved (voice vote). - Dozens of special‑event permits and associated street closures and barricade requests (see clarifying details): approved (voice vote). - Consent agenda items (road closures, dumpsters, truck permits, taxi permit, handicap parking removal, parking permits): approved (voice vote).

What the board did not do: The meeting record shows no rejected motions or formal votes against motions. Most items were routine and drew no extended debate. Where staff clarified limits or next steps — for example, that marked patrol cars will be advertised separately — the transcript records those as staff comments, not formal directives.

Next steps and context: Staff will proceed to solicit quotes for the two unmarked vehicles and will return with bids for marked cars through the RFP process. Demolition contractors will proceed under their award notices. Event organizers will receive permits and barricade coordination from city staff.

Ending note: The board scheduled its next meeting for March 26, 2025 at 1 p.m. at the Civic Center Complex, Room 301 and adjourned after approving claims and minutes for the prior meeting.