Evansville official summarizes stormwater program; audits, inspections and outreach highlighted

Karen Barnhill, presenting for the City of Evansville's stormwater program, reported to the Board of Public Works and Safety on the city's annual stormwater activities as required by the MS4 General Permit (4.3(e)). She gave a run-through of public education, inspections, enforcement and an audit completed during the permit term.

Barnhill said the city offered 24 education programs in 2024, including contractor workshops, a Hoosier River Watch event, rain-barrel activities at McGarry Middle School and neighborhood presentations. "As required by 4.3 E of the MS4 General Permit, I must report stormwater program updates to elected officials or an advisory board," Barnhill said.

On inspections and enforcement, Barnhill reported the city has a total of 199 outfalls on its inventory and that 37 outfalls were inspected during the reporting year. She said the program must reach 100% of outfall inspections within the permit term and noted remaining work to be done. For food-service establishments, she reported a total of "7 43" establishments and said 342 had been inspected; 39 notices of violation were issued and fines collected totaled $1,000, as presented.

For construction-site controls and post-construction measures, Barnhill reported 15 stormwater pollution prevention plans approved, 922 inspections of active sites (reported as "9 22" in the presentation), 134 violation notices and $22,350 collected in fines for construction-related violations. She said 11 post-construction measures are required with new development and that, since the program began in 2011, there have been 78 inspections of 184 measures installed.

Barnhill also described municipal operations compliance and staff training requirements: municipal employees are to receive at least 12 hours of training; she named staff who have received training and said any facility deficiencies found during municipal inspections were corrected within the required timeframes.

When asked who receives fine revenue, Barnhill said the money is deposited into the city's general fund. She described a grease-collection event held after Thanksgiving to keep cooking grease out of storm and sanitary sewers and said the city will continue that effort, noting some local businesses accept grease year-round for recycling.

Board members asked about jurisdictional questions. Barnhill explained that some universities and other entities operate their own MS4 jurisdictions; she said University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana remain MS4 jurisdictions and that Ivy Tech was dropped this past year because it no longer has on-site residents. She also said some smaller municipalities (she named Darmstadt) have been designated as MS4s and are contesting that designation.

Barnhill said the program was audited (MCMs 1, 2 and 3) and that the auditor found a few deficiencies that were corrected; she reported the audit outcome as satisfactory. In the presentation she referenced a regional stormwater specialist's site visit on Oct. 7 and said she had not yet received the final notice packet at the time of the meeting.

The Board did not take an action vote on the report; Barnhill said she was presenting the required report and that no formal Board action was required.

Ending: The Board thanked Barnhill for the presentation and had no further votes on the stormwater report.