EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: Â EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
EVSC is buildind an underground parking gaurge at Welborne
We hope that today’s IS IT TRUE will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address rationally and responsibly.
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IS IT TRUE that it was also reported in the Evansville Courier and Press that 1st Ward City Councilman Ben Trockman said, “I would ask the Mayor or Deputy Mayor to spend some time with the council in the new year to (address) the city’s health insurance plan issue†is kicking the political can down the road? …that .Mr. Trockman would have been spot on if he had made the motion to immediately put the city’s health care insurance plan out for a formal bid in the private sector?
IS IT TRUE the back side wing of the WELBORN HOsipital is currently being demolished to ass an underground parking garage
IS IT TRUE that several years ago the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis provided some clarifying data about who stands to lose the most from social distancing in a recent report? …that occupations at the highest risk of unemployment also tend to be lower-paid occupations? …the average annual earnings of the low-risk occupations are $64,600, about 75% higher than earnings in the high-risk occupations, at $36,600″? …that they went on to say that, the economic burden from this health crisis has most directly affected those workers who are likely in the most vulnerable financial situation?
IS IT TRUE that the modern history of presidential pardons is full of examples of presidents who provided a “Get Out Of Jail Free Card” to friends, family members, and donors? …that President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton, and campaign donor Marc Rich? …President George W. Bush pardoned the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, Scooter Libby after he was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice?
IS IT TRUE that over the last several decades the City of Evansville Employees Healthcare Insurance has continually posted a severe deficit each year? Â …it looks like it’s time for newly elected members of the City Council to vote to hire a new Employee Health Insurance broker in order to find a long-term solution to create an affordable City of Evansville Employee Healthcare Insurance plan?
IS IT TRUE that it was also reported in the Evansville Courier and Press that 1st Ward City Councilman Ben Trockman said, “I would ask the Mayor or Deputy Mayor to spend some time with the council in the new year to (address) the city’s health insurance plan issue†is kicking the political can down the road?  …Mr. Trockman would have been spot on if he had made the motion to immediately put the city’s health care insurance plan out for a formal bid in the private sector?
Evansville Rescue Mission Going To Offer Camp Reveal For Sale
According to the Evansville Rescue Mission President / CEO Tracy Gorman, the ERM is going to be offering its 105-acre retreat center, Camp Reveal, for sale in the very near future:
“Camp Reveal has played an extraordinarily important role in the life of your Evansville Rescue Mission over the past eight decades. The Board of Directors and I are very aware that, more than ever, our community truly needs the focus of the ERM to be on meeting the needs of a rapidly growing homeless population here in the Tri-State. In fact, the number of unhoused individuals has increased significantly this year, and we want to rise to the occasion by providing the best possible assistance to as many of those individuals as we possibly can.â€
Gorman says, “This will happen best through our ministry at the Men’s Residence Center, where we offer 222 beds; and from which we will provide over 300,000 meals this year. As well, beginning in 2025, the Mission will open the Susan H. Snyder Center for Women and Children on the east side of Evansville. This new facility will provide between 125 and 170-bed spaces to homeless women and their children – and will be the first such facility in our entire region.
With limited resources, the ERM had to make some tough, strategic choices. With prayerful consideration, and a focus on where our community has the direst, currently unmet needs, we concluded the resources the Lord has and will continue to provide must be intentionally focused on our ministries to the homeless, hungry, addicted, and marginalized. That realization helped us to make the decision to sell Camp Reveal.â€
Gorman says that the Broker for the sale will be announced soon, and that the current summer camp season will not be affected by this decision.
FOOTNOTE: Camp Reveal is a 105-acre retreat center on the far north side of Evansville and is located at 1340 E. Boonville –
New Harmony Road. It has been owned by the Evansville Rescue Mission since the mid-1930s. It is named after the founder and first president of the ERM, Dr. Ernest “Pappy†Reveal.
The Evansville Rescue Mission was founded in 1917 by Dr. Ernest Reveal and has continually operated in the Evansville area for 107 years. It is comprised of the Men’s Residence Center; the Youth Care Center; Camp Reveal; The ThriH Store; Mission Grounds Coffee Shop; The Furniture Warehouse; the ERM Leadership and Resource Center;
and the coming Susan H. Snyder Center for Women and Children. The Evansville Rescue Mission is overseen by a 14-member Board of Directors; and is led by its President / CEO, Tracy L.
Area legislators spotlight new state laws now in effect
Area legislators spotlight new state laws now in effect
STATEHOUSE (July 7, 2023) – New state laws supporting Hoosiers and backed by local lawmakers during the 2023 legislative session are now in effect.
“Years of fiscal responsibility have put us at the forefront of states with a low cost of living and low taxes, and we continue setting new records for economic development,” said State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville). “This session, we kept our focus on helping families and taxpayers, and putting their needs first as we make Indiana a better place to live and work.”
Most legislation passed during the recent session took effect at the beginning of the state’s new fiscal year on July 1.
Under that state’s newly passed state budget, taxpayers are expected to save an estimated $430 million over the next two years via tax relief passed during the legislative session. Thanks to the acceleration of individual state income tax cuts, hardworking Hoosiers will have one of the lowest rates in the nation by 2027. Indiana’s K-12 spending makes up about half of the state’s $44.6 billion budget, and lawmakers supported increasing student funding by 10% over the next two years. In addition, parents will no longer pay textbook and curricular fees.
“As liberal policies from Washington, D.C. leave Hoosiers behind, we took action to provide relief for taxpayers, including fast tracking planned cuts to the individual income tax,” said State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. “As stewards of taxpayer dollars, it’s our duty to keep taxes low while investing in areas that deliver results like education, public safety and mental health, and that’s just what we did this session.”
Local lawmakers also highlighted the following new laws:
To honor members of the armed services, active-duty military will receive a complete income tax exemption starting next year. O’Brien said this tax relief could also attract more out-of-state service members and their families to call Indiana home, and help fill the workforce pipeline.
Providing Tax Relief for Homeowners
Property tax dollars are collected and spent locally, and help pay for schools, police and fire protection, and other local government services. To help counter the rise in local property tax bills, the state took actions to provide about $100 million in property tax relief for homeowners beginning next year. Hoosiers can expect a temporary increase to the supplemental homestead tax deduction and additional limits on property tax levy growth.
“While property taxes are collected and spent on the local level, we took action to provide about $100 million in relief to Hoosier homeowners,” said State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Pakota). “Our work addressing this complex issue is not yet done, and I look forward to finding more ways to provide additional relief.”
Increasing High School Relevancy
To boost the number of career-ready students, McNamara said those in grades 10-12 can soon use Career Scholarship Accounts to pay for career training or industry-recognized certification while in high school. Additionally, the state will review graduation requirements to better accommodate work-based learning experiences. Public high schools will host annual career fairs to encourage connections between students and employers.
Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about these and other new state laws now in effect.
City Council Meeting
JULY 10, 2023
5:30 P.M.
AGENDA
| I. | INTRODUCTION |
07-10-2023 Agenda Attachment:
| II. | APPROVAL OF MEETING MEMORANDUM |
06-26-2023 Memo Attachment:
| III. | REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS |
| IV. | SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY |
| V. | CONSENT AGENDA:Â FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS |
A. ORDINANCE F-2023-10 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Transfers of Appropriations, Additional Appropriations and Repeal and Re-Appropriation of Funds for Various City Funds Sponsor(s): Beane Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Beane Discussion Date: 7/24/2023 Notify: Russ Lloyd, Jr., Controller F-2023-10 Attachment:
B. ORDINANCE R-2023-22 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 4404 Washington Ave Owner: KK Washington Properties, LLC Requested Change: CO2 to C4 w/ UDC Ward: 3 Heronemus Representative: Scott Buedel, Cash Waggner & Associates, PC R-2023-22 Attachment:
C. ORDINANCE R-2023-23 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 2200 Oak Hill Rd Owner:Briar Pointe Development, LLC Requested Change: R1 & M2 to C2 Ward: 5 Koehler Lindsey Representative: Scott Buedel, Cash Waggner & Associates, PC R-2023-23 Attachment:
D. ORDINANCE R-2023-24 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 3400 N Green River Rd Owner:Evansville Day School Requested Change: R1 to C4 w/UDC Ward: 5 Koehler Lindsey Representative: Matt Lehman, RLehman & Son Consulting R-2023-24 Attachment:
E. ORDINANCE R-2023-25 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 114, 116 & 120 E Delaware St and Part of 110 E Delaware St Owner:John F Maier Requested Change: R2 to C4 w/ UDC Ward: 4 Burton Representative: Bret Sermersheim, Morley R-2023-25 Attachment:
F. ORDINANCE R-2023-26 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 927 Lincoln Ave Owner:Levels and Company, LLC Requested Change: C1 to C2 w/ UDC Ward: 4 Burton Representative: Bret Sermersheim, Morley R-2023-26 Attachment:
| VI. | COMMITTEE REPORTS |
| VII. | REGULAR AGENDA:Â SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS |
A. ORDINANCE F-2023-09 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Transfers of Appropriations and Additional Appropriations of Funds within the Department of Metropolitan Development Sponsor(s): Beane Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Beane Discussion Date: 7/10/2023 Notify: Kelley Coures, DMD F-2023-09 Attachment:
| VIII. | RESOLUTION DOCKET |
A. RESOLUTION C-2023-13 A Preliminary Resolution of the Evansville City Council Declaring an Economic Revitalization Area for Property Tax Phase-In for the Rehabilitation of Real Property and Installation of New Equipment 5818 Vogel Rd (KCG Development, LLC) Sponsor(s): Heronemus, Burton, Mosby Discussion Led By: President Heronemus Discussion Date: 7/10/2023 Notify: Bob Grewe, Evansville Regional Economic Partnership C-2023-13 Attachment:
B. RESOLUTION C-2023-14 A Preliminary Resolution of the Evansville City Council Declaring an Economic Revitalization Area for Property Tax Phase-In for the Rehabilitation of Real Property and Installation of New Equipment 501 NW 3rd St (KCG Development, LLC) Sponsor(s): Heronemus, Burton, Mosby Discussion Led By: President Heronemus Discussion Date: 7/10/2023 Notify: Bob Grewe, Evansville Regional Economic Partnership C-2023-14 Attachment:
| IX. | MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS |
A. THE NEXT MEETING of the Common Council will be Monday, July 24, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.
B. ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
| X. | COMMITTEE REPORTS |
| XI. | ADJOURNMENT |
DJ Balentine Returns To UE As Director Of Player Development
DJ Balentine returns to UE as Director of Player Development
Balentine is Purple Aces’ all-time leading scorer
 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – One of the best to wear the Purple Aces uniform is back! University of Evansville head men’s basketball coach David Ragland has announced the addition of DJ Balentine as the Director of Player Development.
“We all are excited to welcome back Aces great, DJ Balentine as our new Director of Player Development. Aces fans had the privilege of cheering on DJ during his storied career here at UE and now will be able to watch him grow and develop as a coach,†Ragland exclaimed. “DJ is as energetic as his game was, he is extremely personable but also an up-and-coming superstar in this profession. I admire and respect Jimmy Elgas a ton and grew a good relationship coaching against him while we were both assistants in this league. Jimmy is a very good coach and has groomed some of the most talented young assistants across college basketball today.
Jimmy echoes the thoughts that I have on DJ’s potential to grow and be a valuable addition to our staff as we build towards chasing championships on and off the court here at UE.â€
Balentine returns to Evansville following a season as an assistant coach at Henderson State University in Arkansas where he reunited with former Aces assistant coach Jimmy Elgas. He helped the team to a successful 2022-23 season as the Reddies earned a berth in the GAC Tournament Semifinals. Coach Elgas was on staff for three of Balentine’s four seasons with the Aces.
Prior to joining Henderson State, Balentine served as the assistant coach at Indiana University-Kokoma from 2020-22, where he helped the team to a 39-6 overall record, including an 18-1 conference record, leading to a Rivers State Conference Championship and a trip to the Sweet 16 at the NAIA National Tournament in 2022.
“As our Director of Player Development, DJ will focus on formulating a detailed plan of success for our student-athletes both on and off the court. We want to be able to clearly communicate with our student-athletes our expectations of them individually,†Ragland added. “We will focus on each person’s strengths while assisting them in their areas of improvement. DJ will also be heavily involved in our day-to-day off-court operations.â€
“DJ will also be able to have a hand in our on-court instruction of our student-athletes due to the new rules being passed by the NCAA. We want to establish an environment in which we allow our student-athletes to have a first-class experience. We feel with our staff additions and realignment that we are making a huge step in the direction of providing a first-class student-athlete experience.â€
Finishing his UE career with 2,464 points, Balentine passed Colt Ryan’s program record of 2,279 points. Leading the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring for three consecutive years, Balentine joined Larry Bird and Oscar Robertson as the only other players to do so. He wrapped up his career as the #4 scorer in MVC history.
Following his collegiate career, Balentine saw a four-year professional basketball career, which gave him the opportunity to travel around the world to countries such as Lithuania (2016), Netherlands (2017), Iceland (2018), and Cyprus (2019).
Balentine earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Advertising and Management with a minor in Business from Evansville in 2016.
Otters hit and homer past ThunderBolts
Evansville, Ind. – The Evansville Otters battered the Windy City ThunderBolts for 15 hits and three home runs in a 9-5 victory Friday night at Bosse Field.
Ethan Skender launched two home runs and the Otters scored six runs over the last three innings to pull away from Windy City. Evansville secured their first win of the week, snapping a three-game losing streak.
The Otters’ second baseman Skender became the third Otter with a multi-homer game this year. He doubled his season home run total to four with the two blasts.
Skender started the Otters’ scoring with a two-run homer to left in the third inning. Jeffrey Baez followed Skender with a solo blast over the left field wall on the very next pitch. The Otters have hit back-to-back home runs four times this year, all at Bosse Field with Baez involved in all four occurrences.
Windy City took the lead with four runs in the sixth inning on five straight base hits.
The Otters responded quickly, retaking the lead with three runs in the sixth inning. Evansville mounted four straight hits.
John Dyer started the inning with a single. Noah Myers followed with a base hit. Brody Tanksley then brought in the first run with a double down the left field line. Kona Quiggle added a two-RBI double to cap the inning.
The Otters would continue their late game surge with another run in the seventh as Jomar Reyes led off the inning with a double and came around to score. Skender then launched his second home run in the eighth, a massive solo shot to left field.
A Reyes’ RBI single followed in the eighth for a two-run inning to finish the game’s scoring.
Parker Brahms started on the mound for Evansville. The righty did not allow a hit until the fourth inning. Brahms did not factor into the decision with four runs allowed, all coming in the sixth inning.
Hunter Kloke earned the win with an inning and two-thirds of relief. Jake Polancic worked his sixth save of the season, pitching the final four outs without allowing a baserunner.
Evansville received hits from eight different players. The Otters’ 15 hits is tied for the second-most in a game all season.
Dyer had three hits in his Bosse Field debut after his first five appearances of the season on the road. Tanksley hit two doubles in his first 2023 game with the Otters.
Evansville and Windy City continue their three-game series Saturday evening with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch. The ballgame is part of Heritage and 14 News- A League of Their Own Night at Bosse Field.
All home and road Otters games this season are televised on FloSports with audio-only coverage available for free on the Evansville Otters YouTube page.
UE Men’s Soccer Releases 2023 Season Schedule
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Building off back-to-back MVC Conference finals, Head Coach Robbe Tarver and the University of Evansville’s men’s soccer program have announced their 2023 schedule Purple Aces will play a 19-game slate including 3 exhibition matches in 2023. Evansville continues to have tough non-conference matchups and a conference schedule that includes three new additions to the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). Five of the Aces 19 opponents appeared in postseason play in 2022 in the NCAA tournament.
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Season tickets for the Aces’ nine-game home slate are available for just $45 and can be purchased here. Combo season tickets that include admission to all home UE Men’s and Women’s Soccer matches is just $75 and is available here.
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In preparation for the regular season, the Purple Aces will head down to Birmingham to play the University of Alabama-Birmingham on Saturday, September 12th for a rematch after a 2-2 draw in the 2023 spring season. The following weekend sees the Aces traveling to Indianapolis to play IUPUI on Sunday at 4pm. This is another rematch of the 2022 season for UE as they won 3-1 against the Jaguars in the second match of the 2022 season. Two days later, Evansville rounds out its exhibition slate hosting Hanover in an annual preseason matchup with the Panthers.
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Saturday, August 19th marks the return of the annual Alumni Game after a COVID-induced break. The festivities that weekend will include a 2:00pm Kick Off and a social gathering following the match. Register to attend here:Â https://www.uealumnionline.com/s/1096/bp20/interior.aspx?sid=1096&gid=1&pgid=3900&cid=6728&ecid=6728
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The regular season again opens with a familiar opponent, the Bellarmine Knights, who travel to Evansville on Thursday, August 24th for a 7:00pm kick. A growing rivalry, the 2022 matchup ended in a 2-2 draw after some late match drama. Bellarmine is another opponent that had a deep postseason run going to the ASUN semi-finals. Before heading on their first road trip of the season, the Purple Aces host CSU-Fullerton on Sunday, August 27th at 1:00 pm. The Titans are coming off an 8-6-5 season.
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For Labor Day weekend, the Purple Aces will go on the road to North Carolina, starting with a Friday night tilt against High Point. High Point won the 2022 Big South tournament and made the second round of the 2022 NCAA tournament, beating perennial power, UNC along the way. On Labor Day, the Aces face off against another Big South opponent, UNC-Asheville, who they last saw in 2019 for a 1-0 win.
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The road trip ends with the Mayor’s Cup as the Purple Aces travel down the Lloyd to face off against the Screaming Eagles in the second Division I edition of the Mayor’s Cup on Saturday, September 9th. The inaugural D1 edition ended in a 0-0 draw in 2022 with the Aces outpacing USI in shots 15-6.
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Evansville then returns home to face another OVC opponent in Lindenwood, on Wednesday, September 13th. The Purple Aces won their 2022 match 2-1 with goals from Kai Phillip and Carlos Barcia.
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To start the MVC portion of the season, UE heads to Des Moines, Iowa to play Drake on Saturday, September 16th. The Aces won their lone matchup of 2022 to the Bulldogs 3-0 on a brace from Nacho Diaz and a goal from Kai Phillip.
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Evansville then has a 2-game home stand starting with a midweek match against the University of Louisville. The Cardinals are coming off back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances and their first regular-season ACC title. The Cards won last season’s match 2-0 in Kentucky. UE then welcomes new MVC foe Northern Illinois to town for the second match of MVC play. The game against NIU on Saturday, September 23rd will be during Family Weekend.
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The Purple Aces return to the road to visit another new MVC opponent, Bowling Green State. The Falcons went 6-5-5 on the heels of a 2021 NCAA tournament appearance in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Continuing MVC play, UE hosts Western Michigan at 5 pm on Saturday, October 7th. WMU won the MAC last year and made the 2022 Sweet 16, defeating familiar foes Louisville and Lipscomb in the NCAA tournament.
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An in-state rivalry is renewed midway through the season as Evansville heads to Indiana in a non-conference match on Wednesday, October 11th. Evansville and IU tied 1-1 last year at Arad McCutchan Stadium, marking the first draw against the 2022 NCAA runners-up for UE since 1994.
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The Purple Aces close out the season with four conference games including heading back to Chicago to face UIC on Saturday, October 14th. UIC won 2-0 with two second-half goals in 2022. In a midweek conference match on October 18th at 6pm, UE welcomes Missouri State back to Evansville for a rematch of the 2021 and 2022 MVC Conference finals. MSU won the back-and-forth affair 4-3 in the regular season and snuck by the Aces with a lone goal in the MVC final.
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The Aces host their final home game of the regular season with Senior Day on Friday, October 27th at 7 pm. UE welcomes the Bradley Braves to Evansville after a 0-0 draw in the 2022 season. In their last match of the regular season, the Purple Aces head down to Nashville to face the Belmont Bruins. UE and Belmont faced off three times last season with the Aces besting the Bruins 1-0 in the MVC semi-finals on a Ola Arntsen’s rocket after two ties in the regular season.
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The MVC Championship will be hosted at campus sites starting on November 5th, with the No. 1 overall seed hosting the semifinals and finals.
Evansville returns its top 5-point getters for the 2023 season in Nacho Diaz (9g, 1a), Kai Phillip (5g, 1a), Jose Vivas (4g, 3a), Carlos Barcia (3g, 4a), and Nkosi Graham (1g, 4a). The Aces also welcome back net minder Jacob Madden from injury and return Tobias Bak, Francesco Brunetti, Nalu Wagner, and Marc Vila. In all, the Aces return 12 players from their 2022 roster.