Evansville council approves $3.68 million in bills, zoning change and personnel actions

At its April 15 meeting the Evansville Common Council approved several finance, personnel and planning measures.

Finance Chair Alderperson Abbey Barnes presented a simplified breakdown of city bills. The council voted to accept the March 2026 city bills totaling $3,678,376.21 (motion by Barnes, second by Lathrop; roll call 8-0). The council also approved a revised employee handbook and approved an employment contract with Ryon Riggan; during that discussion Alderperson Bill Lathrop raised concerns about prior high consulting fees and the council amended the motion to approve the altered document presented in the packet before voting to approve the contract (motion passed by roll call, 8-0 as recorded).

On planning, the council approved Ordinance 2026-03 (rezoning parcel 6-27-830) on second reading (Barnes motion; Lathrop second; 8-0). Additional finance actions included approval of Reimbursement Resolution 2026-12 allowing a short-term advance from the city general fund to the Electric and Water Utility; the minutes record City Administrator Jason Sergeant noting the Public Service Commission had approved prior borrowing requests submitted over the past three years, prompting the need for a temporary loan until PSC disbursement. The council also approved a Hunt Brothers lease to farm Maple Hill Cemetery, approved Resolution 2026-13 extending affordable housing provisions for TID #6 and then approved Resolution 2026-14 terminating TID #6, and set the municipal judge salary via Resolution 2026-15 (motion recorded as passed 7-0-1 with Alderperson Lathrop recused). All motions referenced here are recorded in the minutes as approved unless otherwise noted.

The minutes summarize the actions and record the vote outcomes; they do not include verbatim exchanges for all discussion points.