The Evansville Redevelopment Commission elected new officers and approved a budget transfer to reimburse the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Authority for a holiday tree, commissioners said at a meeting in which details about the reimbursement amount were not specified.

The meeting opened with Greg Watson, chairing the session, asking for nominations for commission officers. Watson said Randy Ostman "has done a superior job" and would be willing to serve as president. Commissioners nominated and approved Ostman as president by roll call. Watson nominated himself for vice president and Hope Fusener was nominated and elected secretary.

The commission also took up Resolution 25 ERC-1, authorizing use of the redevelopment commission's parking-garage budget to reimburse the Building Authority for the purchase of the holiday tree used in the city's tree-lighting. Dave Rechter of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Authority said the tree had been purchased and used for this past Christmas, stored afterward and that the county council requested reimbursement because the authority paid for the purchase. "The county council have made a request, that that's a city tree and would like reimbursed for the portion of the money that I used to buy that tree," Rechter said.

Commissioners voted to authorize the transfer. The transcript does not specify the dollar amount requested or the exact portion of county-versus-city cost; commissioners discussed that the Building Authority's operating funds come from both city and county and that the redevelopment commission controls the parking-garage account, which funds maintenance and related expenses.

Votes at a glance

- Election of president (nomination of Randy Ostman): approved by roll call (Commissioner Wathan: yes; Commissioner Busner: yes; Commissioner Morley: yes). Motion outcome: approved.

- Election of vice president (Greg Watson nominated): approved by roll call (Commissioner Fusner: yes; Commissioner Morley: yes; Commissioner Woffley: yes). Motion outcome: approved.

- Election of secretary (Hope Fusener nominated): approved by roll call (Commissioner Walton: yes; Commissioner Morley: yes; Commissioner Fusner: yes). Motion outcome: approved.

- Approval of prior meeting minutes: approved by roll call (Commissioner Wathan: yes; Commissioner Fussner: yes; Commissioner Morley: yes). Motion outcome: approved.

- Resolution 25 ERC-1 (authorize transference of parking-garage budget to reimburse purchase of holiday tree by the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Authority): approved by roll call (Commissioner Walton: yes; Commissioner Klessner: yes; Commissioner Morley: yes). Motion outcome: approved. Amount to be reimbursed: not specified.

Commissioners briefly noted that similar, occasional requests can come before the redevelopment commission because it controls the parking-garage revenue account. Watson said he would discuss year-end handling with staff and that the finances exist to manage installation and removal of the tree in future years. No further business was raised and the meeting proceeded to adjournment.