Evansville board tables lease amendment for South Oak Hill Cemetery solar project pending CenterPoint review

Evansville City board members on the dais were told the city needs revised lease language with CenterPoint Energy for a 16-acre solar array at South Oak Hill Cemetery to comply with updated federal wetland-management guidance.

Chris, a city cemeteries staff member, told the board the solar installation on Morgan Avenue includes a wetland area where panels were intentionally left out and that federal rules on wetland mitigation have changed since the 2017 lease. "No money's changing hands…We're just bringing the words up to code," Chris said, describing the amendment as largely textual rather than financial. Chris also noted the original arrangement was a 25-year lease with three five-year renewals; staff tied that term structure to a roughly 40-year expected solar-panel life.

An unidentified speaker who referenced review by Jean Bynum of Stolk Keenan said the city's firm had a conflict of interest and that the current draft was not final. The speaker recommended delaying action until CenterPoint reviews and signs off. "We would request that you table this until we get it finalized and ready for signature," the speaker said.

After discussion about timing and CenterPoint's availability, a board member moved to table the amendment; the motion carried. The board did not take a final vote on the amended lease. Staff said CenterPoint may return changes quickly and that the item could be brought back for action once the company completes its review.

Next steps: staff will accept any revisions from CenterPoint, finalize the document in coordination with outside counsel, and return the item to the board for a subsequent vote once the agreement is ready for signature.