Evansville Board of Public Works approves RFP, housing amendment, Portland Loo award and series of permits and events

The Evansville Board of Public Works on Oct. 9 approved a package of routine procurement actions, a housing-grant amendment and multiple permits and event closures affecting streets near the University of Evansville.

Madam Vice President opened the meeting at 1:30 p.m. and the board moved quickly through new business, approving motions on vendor selection, contract amendments and public‑works projects.

City Computer Services asked the board to authorize advertising RFPDash948Dash01Dash25 to replace the city’s multifunction printers after the existing contract expired. “We’ve got about 50 devices that are at end of life,” said Mister Lutz, the city’s computer‑services representative, who told the board some units cannot be repaired because parts are no longer available. The board approved putting the replacement contract out to bid to seek better pricing for taxpayers.

Jonathan Sibeking, director of MET, said Evansville is part of a 2023 contract with TANK (Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky) and Gillig that allows purchase of up to 20 buses over five years. Sibeking said MET and Owensboro Transit have each purchased two vehicles so far; Owensboro asked to use two of Evansville’s remaining purchase options. The board approved a letter assigning those options to Owensboro and authorized Sibeking to sign and send it.

The board approved an amendment to a 2023 agreement with Hope of Evansville that shifts the project scope from a single senior unit to 10 or more scattered‑site units targeted at residents at 65% area median income. Butcher, a Hope of Evansville representative, said the prior planned purchase fell through and the organization now proposes acquiring and renovating scattered sites suitable for people 55 and older. The record shows the board approved the amendment; funding and final contract details remain in the agreement file.

The Department of Metropolitan Development requested a second amendment to an Ace Home Improvements Inc. contract under the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for home repairs at 515‑301 Chadwick Road. Miss Foster said the amendment extends the contract to Sept. 30, 2025 to allow completion; the total contract amount in the record is $37,200. The board approved the extension.

DMD also presented an agreement with the University of Evansville to reimburse the city for expenses providing internet service in the Promised Neighborhood area. The board approved the agreement. The meeting transcript contains garbled numeric lines for the schedule and dollar figures; the record indicates reimbursements but the precise amounts as read in the meeting are unclear and should be confirmed in the signed agreement.

City engineers opened bids for the 2025 Barrett Law Project (project 25‑007) and later reported two bids received: JBI Construction (recorded as $137,567.81) and Rivertown Construction LLC ($124,407.50). The board voted to take the bids under advisement. Engineers also recommended rejecting bids for the Oak Hill Cemetery project after responses exceeded the available budget.

The board approved awarding a contract to Dye Brothers Lumber & Construction Co. Inc. for the Portland Loo project (project 25‑005) for a total contract amount of $319,006.25. City engineers described the work as installation of a Portland Loo structure and foundation, curb bump‑out, sidewalk, sanitary and water service connections and an electrical service connection.

The board approved Appendix A right‑of‑way permit recommendations with an exception for application 24‑32 (work outside the city boundary). The board also approved road‑closure requests and barricade/signage use for University of Evansville Homecoming (Nov. 8, 2025) and a Thunderbolts Education Day event expected to bring about 7,000 students and roughly 150 buses; the Evansville Police contact for those events was listed as Officer Andy Carlisle.

The board approved bills and payrolls and adjourned at 1:42 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Advertise RFPDash948Dash01Dash25 (multifunction devices): Approved - Assign MET purchase options to Owensboro Transit System; authorize letter and signature by Jonathan Sibeking: Approved - Amendment to Hope of Evansville agreement (scope change to 10+ scattered senior units at 65% AMI): Approved - Second amendment, Ace Home Improvements Inc. (home repairs at 515‑301 Chadwick Road), extend to 09/30/2025, contract amount $37,200: Approved - Agreement with University of Evansville (neighborhood Wi‑Fi reimbursement): Approved (amounts in transcript unclear; see contract file) - Open bids / Barrett Law Project (25‑007): Bids opened and later taken under advisement (JBI Construction; Rivertown Construction LLC) - Reject bids for Oak Hill Cemetery project: Recommendation recorded (bids exceeded budget) - Award contract to Dye Brothers Lumber & Construction Co. Inc. for Portland Loo (25‑005), $319,006.25: Approved - Approve Appendix A right‑of‑way permits (exception for application 24‑32): Approved - Approve barricade/signage and road‑closure requests for UE Homecoming and Thunderbolts Education Day: Approved - Approve bills and payrolls: Approved

What happens next City staff will return with the results of the RFP process, finalized contract documents and any required additional approvals for awarded projects. The Barrett Law Project bids will be reviewed further after being taken under advisement; the Hope of Evansville amendment will proceed according to the terms in the amended agreement.