| Earlier this week, I was honored by the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center in Evansville with their Legislator of the Year award.
I would like to thank Easterseals Evansville and Kelly Schneider, president/CEO of the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center, for this recognition. There are many reasons I am proud to receive this award, but chief among them is it validates the commitment we’ve made in the General Assembly to protect and defend our most vulnerable communities. |
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In 2025, despite facing a $2.4 billion projected shortfall, we worked hard to pass a biennial budget that did not cut critical care services for our vulnerable populations and fully funded our state’s Medicaid needs.
There is still work to be done, but I’m grateful for this recognition and will continue supporting policies that expand access and opportunity for more Hoosiers. To learn more about Easterseals Rehabilitation Center visit their website. |
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Thank you to Easterseals Evansville for Legislator of the Year Award
Governor Braun Affirms Commitment to Utility Ratepayers with New IURC Appointees
INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Governor Mike Braun announced three appointments to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), the administrative agency that makes decisions in the public interest to ensure utilities provide safe and reliable service at just and reasonable rates. The new commissioners are aligned with Governor Braun’s commitment to making energy affordable for families and businesses.
The three new commissioners will be:
Andy Zay, Huntington County, Chair of IURC
Indiana State Senator, District #17
Andy Zay brings the policy background as a legislator and an entrepreneurial approach to serve the public and ensure utility access and affordability.
Anthony Swinger, Marion County
Executive Director, Technical Operations, Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC)
Anthony Swinger brings a long track record of consumer advocacy and strong experience with ratemaking and regulatory processes.
Bob Deig, Vanderburgh County 
Former Indiana State Senator, District #49
Bob Deig brings a common-sense approach to protect ratepayers from increasing utility costs drawn from his experience on the Senate Utilities and Technology Committee.
“Hoosiers deserve reliable and affordable utilities and have been burdened by excessive and unnecessary utility rate increases for too long. I am appointing these three Hoosier leaders to serve on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to ensure that Indiana has exceptional utilities without saddling families and businesses with excessive prices.” — Governor Mike Braun
The commissioners will begin work on January 12, 2026.
Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners
DRAFT AGENDA
Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners
December 16, 2025 – 9:30 a.m.
Room 301, Civic Center Complex
1. Call to Order
2. Attendance
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Action Items
A. B. Auditor
1. Torian Insurance: 2026 Property and Casualty Insurance Renewal Presentation
2. 3. Exclusive Agreement for Homestead Audit and Proactive Monitoring
Services with The Exemption Project, Inc. d/b/a Trueroll
Service Agreement with Nyhart Company, Inc.
First Amendment to the Administrative Services Agreement and Adoption
of 457b Deferred Compensation Plan
C. Engineer
1. 2. 3. 4. Notice to Bidders: VC26-01-01 “Milling and Resurfacing of County Roads”
Change Order #1: VC24-12-01 “Nisbet Road Small Structure
Replacement”
Change Order #1: VC25-01-02 “Replacement of Adler Road Bridge #100”
Acceptance of Street Improvements: McCutchan Trace, Section 2
(Corrected)
D. Clerk
1. Collection Agreement with Eagle Accounts Group
E. Computer Services
1. Microsoft Enterprise Agreement Renewal
2. Software Service Agreement with Tyler Technologies, Inc.
F. Health Department
1. Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) Grant Agreement Contract #97197
2. First and Final Reading of Ordinance No. CO. 12-25-022 Amending Health
Department Fees
G. Metropolitan Evansville Transit System (METS)
1. 2026 West USI Connection Subsidized Public Transit Agreement
2. 2026 Elderly and Disabled Transportation Services Agreement
H. Sheriff
1. First Amendment to Agreement with Tri-State Towing and Recovery for
Towing and Storage of Disabled, Abandoned, Wrecked, and Impounded
Vehicles by the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office
I. Superior Court
Drainage Board Immediately Following1. Contract for Professional Services Renewal – Court-Appointed Special
Advocate (CASA)
2. Contract for Professional Services Renewal – Guardianship Services of
Southwestern Indiana, Inc. (GSSWI)
J. Small Business Enterprise Consultant Agreement with Talmadge O. Vick, II d/b/a
Vick Strategic Consulting
K. L. Amendment #1 to Old Courthouse Suite Lease Agreement with Chris Goode
Agreement for Legal Services with David Jones of Dentons Bingham
Greenebaum, LLP
M. Memorandum of Agreement with the Evansville Metropolitan Planning
Organization for the Regional Transit Feasibility Study
N. First Reading of Ordinance CO.V-01-26-001: A Petition to Vacate Easements in
Alexander Estates and Replats of Alexander Estates at 1101, 1114, 1121, 1130,
1131, 1200, 1220, 1230 and 1300 Boulder Pass
O. First Reading of Ordinance CO.V-01-26-002: A Petition to Vacate a 12’ Public
Utility Easement at 8201 and 8211 Blessing Way
P. First Reading of Ordinance CO.V-01-26-003: A Petition to Vacate a Portion of a
Public Utility Easement at 8811 Jenkins Drive
Q. First Reading of Ordinance CO.V-01-26-004: A Petition to Vacate a Public Utility
Easement on Lot 15 in Cambridge Village Subdivision at 19347 Saffron Hill Court
R. Resolution No. CO.R-12-25-013 Approving the Issuance of Refunding Bonds of
the Vanderburgh County Redevelopment District
S. Continuing Disclosure Undertaking Agreement with the Vanderburgh County
Redevelopment Commission
5. Department Head Reports
A. Small Business Enterprise Year-End Report
B. Veterans Coliseum Preservation Foundation Report
6. New Business
A. Extension of 2026 Burdette Park Aquatic Center Season and 2026 Season Passes
Discount through December 23, 2025
7. Old Business
8. Consent Items
A. Approval of November 18, 2025, Board of Commissioners Special Meeting
Minutes
B. Approval of December 2, 2025, Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes
C. Auditor
1. Claims Voucher Report
i. ii. December 1, 2025 – December 5, 2025
December 8, 2025 – December 12, 2025
D. Assessor
1. Surplus Request
Drainage Board Immediately FollowingE. Clerk
1. F. Commissioners
1. Transfer Request
G. Engineer
1. Report and Claims
H. Treasurer
August, September, and October 2025 Monthly Reports
1. November 2025 Monthly Report
I. Veterans Coliseum Preservation Foundation
1. October 2025 Treasurer’s Report
2. November 2025 Treasurer’s Report
J. Old Courthouse Foundation
1. November 2025 Treasurer’s Report
K. Kraftwerks, Inc. Old Courthouse Craft Show 2025 Financial Report
L. Board Appointments
1. Amy Canterbury
i. Evansville-Vanderburgh County Emergency Management Advisory
Council
ii. iii. Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee
Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) Board of
Directors
iv. Information Technology Advisory Council
2. Justin Elpers
i. ii. iii. Central Dispatch Board of Directors
Commission on Homelessness in Vanderburgh County
Old Courthouse Foundation Board of Directors
3. Mike Goebel
i. ii. Commission on Homelessness in Vanderburgh County
The ARC of Evansville Board of Directors
iii. Veterans Coliseum Preservation Foundation
4. Dan Carwile
i. Human Relations Commission
5. Laura Tomes
i. Evansville-Vanderburgh Commission on Domestic and Sexual
Violence
6. John Stoll
i. Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee
9. Public Comment
10. Rezonings
A. Final Reading of Rezoning Ordinance VC-10-2025
Petitioner: Daniel McGhee, Jr.
Drainage Board Immediately FollowingAddress: 4900 Daylight Drive
Request: Change from C-4 to R-2
B. Final Reading of Rezoning Ordinance VC-11-2025
Petitioner: Gene and Jeanne Pfeiffer Family Trust
Address: Parts of S Eickhoff Road, 49 S Roesner Road, and 323 S Roesner Road
Request: Change from C-2 & C-4 w/UDC to R-3 w/UDC & C-2 w/UDC to C-4
w/UDC
C. First Reading of Rezoning Ordinance VC-1-2026
Petitioner: Sharismar Martinez Garcia
Address: 5800 Kansas Road
Request: Change from Ag to M-2 with UDC
11. Adjournment
12. Members of the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners
i. Justin Elpers, President – District 2
a. Term: January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2026
ii. Amy Canterbury, Vice President – District 3
a. Term: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2028
iii. Mike Goebel, Member – District 1
a. Term: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2028
Drainage Board Immediately Following
BURTON ON GOV. BRAUN’S IURC APPOINTEES ANNOUNCEMENT
INDIANAPOLIS – Today, State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville) issued the following statement on Gov. Braun’s announcement of the new three appointees to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC):
“As a legislator, I serve with intention. On the Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee, I’ve worked to be collaborative, build coalitions and offer an honest perspective to my colleagues and the Braun administration about the energy burden and challenges facing Southwest Indiana.
“As we develop and implement policy, it’s critical that Southwest Indiana has a strong voice at the table. I’m grateful that Bob Deig has been selected to serve on the IURC. His experience, perspective and commitment to advocating for Hoosiers will be a tremendous asset — especially for our region.
“I look forward to the newest members of the IURC keeping affordability at the forefront as decisions are made and policy is carried out.”
According to the administration’s announcement, the commissioners are set to begin work on January 12, 2026.
Legislative and State Government Updates
| Supporting Indiana Businesses |
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Small businesses contribute to local communities in many ways like sponsoring little league teams and providing places to shop and dine.
There are nearly 600,000 small businesses across Indiana, and they employ about 1.2 million Hoosiers. That’s why it is so important to ensure small-business owners have the tools they need to keep their doors open.
In recent months, Indiana earned rankings as the second-best state to start a business and the sixth-best state for business overall.
To continue fostering a positive environment for our small businesses, I supported a new law that established the Indiana Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation to support small businesses across Indiana and spread economic development to all corners of our state. As your state senator, I’ll continue to prioritize policies that will help our communities grow and thrive. |
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| State Awards Road Funding to Local Communities |
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Communities in Senate District 50 will receive more than $1.5 million to improve roads and bridges through the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program (CCMG).
The CCMG, established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2016, aims to advance community infrastructure projects, strengthen local transportation networks and improve Indiana’s roads and bridges. Since its enactment, the program has awarded more than $2 billion in state matching funds for local construction projects.
Locally, Vanderburgh County received $1 million and Warrick County received $561,294.85.
Through the program, the Indiana Department of Transportation matches up to $1 million annually when localities invest in road and bridge repairs. |
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Supporting Hoosiers Through the Holidays
While the holidays are a time of celebration for many, they can also bring added pressure for Hoosiers experiencing financial strain, emotional challenges or uncertainty. If you or someone you know needs help this season, I encourage you to review these resources that can help provide guidance, relief and support.
As we move through the holiday season, let’s look out for one another. Extending kindness and support to our neighbors can make a meaningful difference for families who need it most this time of year. |
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
HOT JOBS
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Screaming Eagles open Indoor season at IU
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Men’s and Women’s Track & Field open their 2025-26 indoor season at the Indiana University Early Bird Friday evening. |
Senior Joshua Myers was the Screaming Eagles’ lone competitor on the men’s side, posting a fifth-place finish in the mile with a personal-best time of 4:23.38, while sophomore Lauryn Speicher and freshman Alyssa Beyer made their USI debuts with finishes of eighth and 12th, respectively in the women’s 600 meters.
The Screaming Eagles have three meets on the docket when they resume the indoor season January 16-17. The Bellarmine Open is slated for January 16 in Louisville, Kentucky, while the Hoosier Horesepower Invitational in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the Vanderbilt Invitational in Nashville, Tennessee, are January 16-17.
Turnbull and Hughes lead Aces in road contest
Aces fall to Notre Dame in non-conference finale
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Connor Turnbull and Josh Hughes combined to score 31 points on Saturday as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team dropped an 82-58 game to Notre Dame inside Purcell Pavilion.
Reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week Turnbull led UE with 17 points, 9 boards, and 4 blocks. Hughes returned to form, scoring 14 points while hitting four triples. It ended a stretch of four games without reaching double figures. The Fighting Irish were led by Braeden Shrewsberry who registered a game-high 26 points. Sir Mohammed wrapped up the day with 21.
“I thought we played a good 28 minutes of basketball today but let a few uncontrollable things get the better of us during the other stretches,” UE head coach David Ragland explained. “Overall, the final score was not indicative of how competitive the game was. There are some areas we need to fix as we head into conference play.”
Notre Dame scored the opening eight points of the day converting three of their first four attempts. Evansville missed its first two tries while turning it over twice before a 3-pointer by Leif Moeller got UE on the board. It marked the first of eight in a row by the Purple Aces. Connor Turnbull connected on a jumper while Alex Hemenway hit from downtown to tie the score at the 15:31 mark.
Nearly six minutes into the game a layup from AJ Casey gave UE its first lead at 12-10. The Fighting Irish countered with 11 in a row to go up 21-12 with 11:22 left in the period with a Turnbull triple getting UE back on track. UE would get within five points (26-21) until a late stretch by Notre Dame gave them their largest lead of 15 points – 41-26 – inside the final minute.
Josh Hughes drained his third triple of the game to make it a 41-29 game at the break. He led UE with nine points in the half while Braeden Shrewsberry registered 17 in the stanza, knocking down five of his six 3-point tries.
The eighth triple of the afternoon by the Irish matched their largest lead to open the second-half scoring. Triples from Keishon Porter and Hughes helped the Aces get back within nine points, however, a pair of jumpers by Jalen Haraison set the Irish up with a 52-40 lead with 14:46 remaining in the game.
Over the next three minutes, Evansville made its way right back into it as Turnbull scored seven in a row on his own converting two layups and three free throws. Porter added a pair of free throws to cap the 9-0 stretch and make it a one-possession game at 52-49. It did not take long for Notre Dame to respond. It took less than two minutes for them to post nine in a row to retake a 12-point lead.
Trent Hundley went coast-to-coast to end the stretch, but the Fighting Irish came right back with an 8-0 run to open a 69-51 lead at the 7:21 mark. Inside of five minutes remaining, a pair of triples put the Irish up 78-53. From there, they would go on to win by a final score of 82-58. Casey and Porter finished with nine points apiece for UE, who shot 39.6% on the day. Notre Dame finished at 47.5% and outrebounded the Aces by a 38-32 tally.
Evansville returns home to open MVC play on Tuesday against Belmont before facing Drake on Dec. 21 inside the Ford Center. Fans are reminded that Tuesday’s game will be a 6 p.m. tip.