Vanderburgh County commissioners approve multiple contracts and hold first readings of stormwater ordinances
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Summary
At their Aug. 27 meeting in Evansville, the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners approved contract awards and amendments (guardrail repairs, tree removal, engineering amendment, lease extension, vendor agreements), took up a JAG interlocal grant agreement, and held first readings of two stormwater ordinances required by state/federal rules.
Vanderburgh County commissioners on Aug. 27 approved a slate of routine contracts and agreements and advanced two stormwater ordinances to second reading.
The board voted unanimously to award guardrail repairs (VC24-08-01) to CTEK Corp. for $19,000 and Green River Road tree removal (VC24-08-03) to S and S Tree Masters Inc. for $4,000. The commissioners also approved Amendment No. 1 to the Lochmuller Group engineering agreement for Nisvert Road, adding $20,000 for right-of-way acquisition services, and granted an 11-day extension for Blankenberger Brothers to complete the Vandenberg County Bridge No. 1911 work, setting a new completion date of Sept. 27, 2024.
The board approved a series of right-of-way purchase offers to advance Oak Hill Road reconstruction between Lynch and Saint George, accepting multiple parcel offers as presented. Commissioners moved the remainder of the meeting’s consent items except for one budget item (see separate article on the Area Plan Commission budget debate).
Health department business included approval of Amendment No. 1 to Indiana Department of Health contract No. 71482 (My Healthy Baby Retention Grant), shortening the contract end date to Dec. 31, 2024, and the board approved training services with Indiana University’s Prevention Insights for virtual motivational interviewing and SPURT training for health staff. Health staff also promoted a county employee flu clinic on Sept. 26; “it’s free to employees,” the health official noted.
Other approved items included a quarterly grease-trap cleaning contract with American Grease and Septic tied to a recent health-department remodel; two professional services agreements for intake assessment staff in the Protective Order Assistance Office at $16 per hour (Malia Orcutt and Honesty Martin); and Amendment No. 2 to the Old Courthouse lease for Gives Hope Inc., extending the lease to Dec. 31, 2027.
The board approved an interlocal agreement allowing the Evansville Police Department and the Bannerborough County Sheriff’s Office access to county-owned vacant structures for training. Commissioners also approved an interlocal arrangement related to the 2023 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG), under which the City of Evansville will pay Vanderburgh County $34,368.18 upon receipt of grant funds; the total grant amount cited at the meeting was $104,146 to be used for portable radios.
County staff read two proposals submitted in response to RFP-035-001-2024 for towing and storage services (Rideout Service Center Inc. d/b/a Tri State Towing and Recovery; and Feller Towing and Recovery, Inc.) into the record and the board took the proposals under advisement. The sheriff’s office will convene a review panel, conduct yard inspections, and return a recommendation to the commissioners at the next meeting.
On ordinances, the board held first readings of CO-09-24-008 (illicit discharge into the stormwater system) and CO-09-24-009 (construction-site stormwater runoff control). County staff explained these local code changes reflect mandates that flow from the Federal Clean Water Act and implementation guidance from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM); staff said they limited the draft ordinances to IDEM-required elements and informed affected parties including the Southern Indiana Builders Association. “This just covers Clear Creek Subdivision, Petersburg Place Subdivision, and Oakview Subdivision,” said John from the engineer’s office when describing a separate bidding notice earlier in the meeting. The commissioners approved both measures on first reading and scheduled second readings at a later meeting.
The meeting ended after the chair called for public comment; none was offered and the board adjourned.
Next steps: the towing proposals will be reviewed by the sheriff’s panel; second readings of the stormwater ordinances will be scheduled at a future meeting.
