Dear Officer Holders, Department Heads, and County Employees:

Pursuant to a recent updated guidance from the CDC and the Indiana State Department of Health (“ISDH”) (see attached), the Board of Commissioners is issuing an amended guidance to the Back on Track Indiana Plan Vanderburgh County Operating Procedures previously issued on May 8, 2020.  Based on an updated definition of “close contacts,” and to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to keep our work force safe, we are issuing amended operating procedures that are mandatory for departments and strongly recommended for the elected office holders to implement within their respective offices.  

Beginning immediately, the Vanderburgh County Health Department will inspect every office, department, and workplace facility of Vanderburgh County and provide the supervisor of that office a maximum employee occupancy based on the new CDC and ISDH Guidelines.  All departments shall adhere to those guidelines and use alternative methods in their best judgment to achieve these guidelines.  These methods could include alternating work schedules or allowing employees to tele-work remotely.  This is necessary, as exposure to a positive person could cause widespread quarantine or self-isolation requirements for an entire office or department due to the broadened definition of “close contact.”  

Further, the Board of Commissioners will institute strict policy of utilizing the webex platform for all public meetings and meeting either telephonically or through another video system for any required department meetings or intra-office meetings.  The Board of Commissioners requested the Building Authority to physically remove chairs that are not in compliance with maintaining proper social distancing, including chairs in the gallery and on the dais of meeting rooms.  

In order to accommodate increased attendance, the Commissioners have requested availability from the Old National Events Plaza and will be utilizing that space, once again, for public meetings.  Until such time as a larger, alternative venue can be secured, all Boards that meet under the jurisdiction of the County Commissioners shall utilize the webex or other digital meeting platforms in order to avoid the possibility of becoming in close contact and complying with new distancing requirements.

As we progress, and further guidance develops, the Commissioners will continue to adjust and update their Back on Track Plan Operating Procedures.  We will continue to adhere to the advice of our Vanderburgh County Health Department, our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Spear, and other community medical professionals in maintaining a safe work environment for our employees and the public.  

If you have any questions, please contact your supervisor, the County Law Department (ljones@joneswallace.com) or the Commissioners’ Office.

Very truly yours,

  VANDERBURGH COUNTY 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

The COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region has awarded two new rounds of allocations, granting $283,700 to eight nonprofit agencies and $43,800 to four organizations, respectively. A total of 17 organizations addressing community needs related to the novel coronavirus applied during Rounds Eight and Nine. In total, the Response Fund has distributed approximately $1.7 million to more than 70 area nonprofits. 

Disbursements made in these two rounds will aid in funding healthcare navigators, COVID testing, operations, transportation for elderly, disabled and veteran populations, food, and emergency financial assistance. Applications from organizations that serve each of the five counties covered by the fund – Gibson, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick – were approved. 

As part of Round Eight, the Children’s Museum of Evansville was awarded $50,000 to fund building improvements and safety accommodations prompted by the pandemic. A portion of the allocation will be used to install a sanitizing fogger and water bottle filling stations. Across the nation, three fourths of all museums have experienced closures; estimates are that one in three will not survive. We do not want our Children’s Museum to be that “one in three.” Thus, the remainder will aid in ensuring the continuation of service to families and children through experiential learning and imaginative play opportunities. 

In addition to funding requests for Relief, recent applications are signaling a turn toward Recovery and Restoration efforts. A revised application that incorporates new criteria for funding Recovery and Restoration initiatives will be available soon. In the meantime, agencies are encouraged to continue to apply and will be evaluated on relief, recovery*, and restoration* criteria (*soon to be published).

Total contributions to the Response Fund stand at nearly $5.1 million, which includes a grant from Indiana United Ways, with funding provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc.  

Eighth Round Funding Recipients:

Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Indiana – Evansville, Indiana

Awarded $25,000

Organization: Habitat for Humanity of Evansville – Evansville, Indiana

Awarded $26,200

Organization: Louis J. Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville – Evansville, Indiana

Awarded $50,000

Organization: North Gibson Education Foundation – Princeton, Indiana

Awarded $20,000

Organization: Posey County Council on Aging – Mount Vernon, Indiana 

Awarded $20,000

Organization: The Salvation Army – Evansville, Indiana

Awarded $125,000

Organization: United Methodist Youth Home

Awarded $14,000

Organization: Urban Seeds

Awarded $3,500

Ninth Round Funding Recipients:

Organization: Chemo Buddies – Evansville, Indiana

Awarded $15,000

Organization: Dubois-Pike-Warrick Economic Opportunity Committee – Jasper, Indiana

Awarded $7,000

Organization: Gibson County Fairgrounds Pavilion, Inc. – Princeton, Indiana

Awarded $7,800

Organization: Henager Family Museum – Buckskin, Indiana

Awarded $14,000

Donations to the fund may be made by credit card at covidresponsefund.com or by check at all Old National Bank and Heritage Federal Credit Union branches. Checks should be made payable to United Way of Southwestern Indiana and all donations should reference “COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region (or GERF)”  in the memo. Contributions may also be mailed to: United Way of Southwestern Indiana, 318 Main Street, Suite 504, Evansville, IN 47708. For stock or ACH transactions, please call 812-421-7476. 

Metropolitan Evansville Transit System (METS) will soon resume limited evening service.

Beginning Monday, October 12, METS will operate nine routes Monday through Saturday, from 6:15 a.m. to 12:15 a.m.

• Howell-Mary
• Stringtown-First
• Walnut-Lynch
• Lincoln
• Washington
• Covert
• Riverside
• East Connection
• Shoppers Shuttle

The transit will continue to operate the following Sunday routes from 6:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.

• Howell-Mary
• Stringtown
• Lincoln
• Covert/Riverside
• East Connection

“Our Reopen Evansville Task Force has been listening to those needing evening transportation,” said Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. “As we continue to reopen our community, providing safe public transportation is a priority.”

All METS bus operators and riders will still be required to wear masks and socially distance (six-feet apart).