Evansville Board of Public Safety approves Pearl Laundry demolition contract, Narcan policy and a slate of fall event and street permits

The City of Evansville Board of Public Safety on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, unanimously approved a series of routine departmental items and permits, including awarding a contract to clear the former Pearl Laundry building and several fall event street closures.

Kim of the Building Commission asked the board to award a contract to remove brick and other building debris at 428 Northwest Third Street, the former Pearl Laundry site, saying the low bidder was “excavating at $49,400.” The board approved the award. A board member asked when work would start after noting gaps in fencing around the vacant lot; Kim said work should begin “within the next week or so” once paperwork is complete.

Deputy Chief Garrett presented three fire-department items. The board approved an Evansville Fire Department policy on crew use of Narcan; Garrett noted legal review had been completed. The board also approved a mutual-aid agreement with Ohio Township and the surplus of certain hazmat items and a carabiner.

From the police department, the board approved a routine equipment request read into the record and agreed to surplus several training mats from C.K. Newsome after identifying black mold on them.

Transportation Services secured board approval to add a “no outlet” sign at Southeast Third Street and Chestnut and two “advance stop ahead” signs on Oak Hill Road near Willow Avenue.

The board cleared a large group of special-event and road-closure requests for community events this fall. Approvals included the Evansville African American Museum’s Baptist Town Emancipation Festival (closing Garvin from Lincoln to Bauer, Aug. 10, 3 p.m.–8 p.m.), the City Church outdoor movie night (Market Street closure Aug. 27, pending EPD approval), Swarika Brew Fest (closures Sept. 14, approved pending COI), the Evansville Pickle Festival (closures Sept. 6–8), Zion Church’s block party (Sept. 7, pending COI and EPD approvals), the Annunciation Parish picnic (Sept. 8), and the Evansville Rescue Mission Drumstick Dash route scheduled for Nov. 9 with a start and finish at Eastland Mall.

The board also approved several operational permits: lane restrictions and parking reservations for the Westside Nut Club’s fall festival preparation (Sept. 5–Oct. 13); a lane restriction by Interliner Solutions on Veterans Memorial Parkway for Aug. 14 for infrastructure work; a short closure for Allstate Hoffman Plumbing on West Maryland Street for utility work Aug. 26–29; dumpster permits for Memorial High School renovations and a private remodel by Clarence ROM; a parking permit for Kingdom Grounds Coffee tied to an Oct. 26 event; handicap parking permits at 1501 South Morton Avenue and 1422 Gibson Street; and a new massage-therapy application for Camilla Spa at 3812 North First (noted as 1 employee, 2 tables).

Board business concluded with approval of claims and the minutes from the July 24, 2024 meeting. The board scheduled its next meeting for Wednesday, Aug. 28, and adjourned.

Votes at a glance: all recorded motions in the meeting were approved by voice vote (motions moved, seconded and met with 'Aye' responses) — including the Pearl Laundry contract award, the Narcan policy, the mutual-aid agreement with Ohio Township, multiple special-event and road-closure approvals, handicap parking permits, and the Camilla Spa license application.

What’s next: The board will reconvene Aug. 28; contract start dates for the Pearl Laundry demolition depend on contractor paperwork and permitting.