Vanderburgh commissioners approve contracts, adopt septic ordinance, renew MWBE consultant and set ARPA fiscal sponsorship

Vanderburgh County commissioners met on Nov. 12 and approved a series of procurement actions, adopted a county ordinance to align onsite sewage rules with new state standards, renewed an MWBE compliance contract and approved fiscal-sponsorship arrangements for ARPA funds to support Coliseum preservation.

The board awarded VC-24-10-01, North Green River Road drainage improvements, to JBI Construction for the lowest quoted price of $32,658. Commissioners also authorized notices to bidders for three small-structure and drainage projects (VC-24-12-01 Nisbett Road, VC-24-12-02 Radio Avenue, and VC-24-12-03 Northwoods/North Elm/West Franklin Street) with a 12/10/2024 9:30 a.m. sealed-bid deadline.

The Oak Hill Road right-of-way offer for project 22538 was revised to account for updated CenterPoint Energy limits; the county reduced the offer from $13,450 to $13,000 and approved the change.

Public health business included approval of an Indiana Department of Health grant agreement (no. 88413) to fund the county WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutrition program for $843,493.28 to support education and voucher benefits for pregnant women and children up to age 5.

On land-use rules, the board gave final approval to Ordinance CO.09-24-012, which repeals and replaces the county chapter governing onsite sewage disposal systems. County staff said the revised ordinance mirrors updated Indiana Department of Health standards and state law, and reduces certain local registration and testing obligations so local rules match the statewide minimums. A notable substantive change reduces the minimum lot-size threshold for some systems from 2.5 acres to 1 acre and permits new above-ground septic technologies now allowed under state standards.

The county approved a business-solutions service order to add VPLS service for the Health Department’s newly leased space at 111 SE Third Street and approved a first amendment to the waste removal agreement with BFI/Republic Services of Evansville at a cost not to exceed $112,940.88; purchasing staff said negotiations reduced the provider’s possible increase to 4.5% from a contractual cap of 6.5%.

Demolition contracts were awarded for county-owned properties found inhabitable: Velpen Trucking & Disposal for work at 2203 E. Oregon St. ($8,250) and Stemley Excavating Inc. for 1619 W. Missouri St. (single quote at $24,334, including treatment removal).

The board approved a third amendment to the interlocal agreement with the City of Evansville concerning the Area Planning Commission (APC). The amendment clarifies appointment terms (elected officials on the APC now will serve four-year terms, and a consecutive-term limit was clarified as eight years) and will move to other participating entities for signature and related ordinance amendments.

Tom Rich Vick of Vick Strategic Consulting presented the county’s MWBE participation summary and the board approved a renewal of his 2025 MWBE compliance contract. Vick reported $2,695,169.16 in MWBE construction spend and $303,051.85 in professional/design spend in 2024 to date, for a combined total of $2,998,221.01; he also reported 11 MBEs and 18 WBEs engaged to date and said three pending projects could push totals higher. "We're on the cusp of $3,000,000 right now," Vick told commissioners.

The board approved a fiscal-sponsorship agreement to allow an established 501(c)(3) to temporarily hold ARPA funds for a newly formed Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Coliseum Preservation Foundation until the group secures its own tax-exempt status; the board also appointed Laura as the county’s designated representative for the effort. Staff said the project will require years of fundraising and careful stewardship of ARPA funds.

Votes at a glance (major items): - Award VC-24-10-01 to JBI Construction for $32,658 — motion passed (recorded responses: Commissioner Gable: yes; President Elpers: yes). - Notices to bidders VC-24-12-01 / VC-24-12-02 / VC-24-12-03 — motions passed (recorded responses: Commissioner Gable: yes; President Elpers: yes). - Oak Hill Road ROW revision (project 22538) — motion passed (recorded responses: Commissioner Gable: yes; President Elpers: yes). - WIC grant (IDOH agreement no. 88413) for $843,493.28 — motion passed (recorded responses: Commissioner Gable: yes; President O'Keeffe: yes). - Ordinance CO.09-24-012 (onsite sewage) — adopted on second reading (recorded responses: Commissioner Gable: yes; President Elpers: yes). - VPLS service order for Health Department — motion passed (recorded responses: Commissioner Gable: yes; President O'Berto: yes). - Waste removal amendment (Republic/BFI) not to exceed $112,940.88 — motion passed (recorded responses: Commissioner Gable: yes; President Albers: yes). - Demolition awards (2203 E. Oregon; 1619 W. Missouri) — motions passed (recorded responses: Commissioner Gable: yes; President Elpers: yes). - APC interlocal amendment — motion passed (recorded responses: Commissioner Gable: yes; President Elpers: yes). - Vick Strategic Consulting 2025 MWBE agreement — motion passed (recorded responses: Commissioner Gable: yes; President Elpers: yes). - Fiscal sponsorship for Coliseum preservation and appointment of Laura — motion passed (recorded responses: Commissioner Gable: yes; President Elpers: yes).

What it means: The county moved several procurement items forward, updated public-health and land-use rules to match state requirements, continued investments in MWBE outreach and tracking, and placed ARPA funds under a fiscal-sponsorship arrangement to support a multi-year Coliseum preservation campaign. Several items now require follow-up steps (recording easements, city and council approvals for interlocal changes, and continued fundraising/501(c)(3) compliance for the Coliseum project).

Sources and authorities cited in meeting: Indiana Department of Health grant agreement no. 88413 (WIC); Ordinance CO.09-24-012 (final reading, onsite sewage chapter replacement); ARPA funding referenced for Coliseum preservation; interlocal agreement between City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County concerning the Area Planning Commission.

Next steps: staff will circulate the interlocal amendment for signatures, record required easements for drainage plan approvals, and proceed with the approved contracts and projects. The county also instructed concerned parties to consult private counsel where implied easement or title clarity was needed.