LETTER FROM MAYOR TERRY TO THOSE SERVING CITY BOARDS

08/21/2024

LETTER FROM MAYOR TERRY TO THOSE SERVING CITY BOARDS

by JOHNNY Kincaid

AUGUST 21. 2021

Between the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, there are 66 boards and commissions that give citizens the chance to serve and provide valuable input to help improve the quality of life. The boards and commissions work on specific areas such as parks, climate, homelessness, tourism, and more. The authority to place members on these boards is divided between several different authorities, including the Mayor, city council, and çounty commissioners., and County Council.

Currently, there are dozens of vacant seats on various boards, including six seats that Mayor Stephanie Terry has the authority to fill. A list of the boards and a link to the application can be found below: https://www.evansvillegov.org/egov/apps/services/index.egov?view=detail;id=17

Those who are appointed by the mayor serve at the mayor’s pleasure and can be removed from the board at any time.

Attached Below Is The Full Text Of the letter That Was Sent To Mayor Terry’s Appointees:

“On behalf of the entire Evansville community, I want to extend our deepest gratitude for your dedicated service as one of our City board and commission members. Your commitment and expertise contribute to the betterment of our city, and for that, we are truly thankful.

Since taking office in January, this administration has achieved several significant milestones that are vital for our community’s growth and prosperity. We have established the Mayor’s Education Roundtable and the Interfaith Council, fostering collaboration and inclusivity across educational and faith-based initiatives. The formation of a Blue-Ribbon Committee to evaluate the development approval process (es) at the city to create a more streamlined approach to development enhancing our city’s infrastructure, making it more efficient and accessible for growth.

We broke ground on The Vault on Main, which will feature 161 residential units with first-floor commercial space in the heart of Downtown, furthering efforts towards revitalizing our urban core. The unveiling of the River Vision initiative alongside E-REP and Sasaki reflected our commitment to enhancing our waterfront, creating a more vibrant and attractive cityscape. We established a Park Police Unit to ensure the safety and enjoyment of our public spaces.

The creation of the Forward Together Grant Fund with $500,000 and the allocation of $250,000 to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, bringing the total fund to $750,000 in 2024, demonstrate our dedication to supporting community initiatives and addressing housing affordability. Our collaboration with Evansville Regional Airport to reinstate the Chicago flight expands our connectivity and economic opportunities. Finally, accepting proposals for the use of $1.3 million in Opioid Settlement Funds signifies our proactive approach to addressing public health challenges and supporting recovery efforts in our community.

As a Mayor appointee to one of our city’s boards or commissions, you play a critical role in shaping the future of Evansville. Your work aligns with the administration’s priorities, which include Public Safety, Neighborhood Revitalization, Economic Development, Improving City Services, and Youth & Education. These areas are vital to our city’s growth and prosperity, and your contributions help us achieve our collective goals.

While there are varying term limits across administrations, it is essential to remember that you serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. We trust that you will make decisions with the administration’s priorities in mind, always aiming to enhance the quality of life for all Evansville residents.

Please keep the Mayor’s Office updated when issues or concerns arise, ensuring we can address them promptly and effectively. Should you find yourself unable to continue serving at any point, please do not hesitate to contact the Mayor’s Office at 812.436.4962 or via email at mayor@evansville.in.gov.

Thank you once again for your dedication to our city. Your service is invaluable, and we look forward to the positive impact your work will continue to have on Evansville.

Forward Together,

Mayor Terry”

Posey County Commissioners Break Ground on Western Bypass

08/21/2024

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POSEY COUNTY, Ind. (August 19, 2024) – Posey County officials broke ground today on the long-awaited Western Bypass, a major infrastructure project designed to significantly improve traffic flow and safety in Mt. Vernon by rerouting semi-truck traffic away from the downtown district. The Western Bypass aims to alleviate congestion, enhance roadway safety, and create new opportunities for economic growth and housing development in the region.

Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, along with local officials, attended the ceremony to commemorate this pivotal moment for Posey County. The project is a tribute to the late Carl Schmitz, a former Posey County commissioner who served from 2012 to 2021 and was instrumental in the project’s development.

“This is not just a great day for Posey County; it’s a game-changer,” said Bill Collins, president of the Posey County Board of Commissioners. “The Western Bypass will slash truck traffic through Mt. Vernon, paving the way for vibrant economic growth and much-needed housing.”

American Structurepoint provided the engineering for the project. Blankenberger Brothers were recently awarded the contract as the general contractor for the first of the two-phase project with a low bid of $6.98 million.

Ash Titzer, Vice President of Production and Midstream at CountryMark, highlighted the alignment of the Western Bypass with the company’s core values of reliability and improvement. “The new thoroughfare will allow us to reliably transport the essential needs of our business in and out of our facilities while improving the quality of place of the surrounding community,” he said.

Mt. Vernon Mayor Steve Loehr highlighted the project’s critical impact. “The Western Bypass, although being a continuation of the current Keck Bypass, is more critical in that it directly impacts our Western manufacturing facilities because of the easier access to the interstate system and the greater region. From the city’s perspective, taking hundreds of commercial vehicles off our streets will directly impact the life of our infrastructure and neighborhoods, which is a win-win for everyone,” Loehr said.

CenterPoint Energy Issues All-Source RFP Seeking Renewable, Thermal and Demand-Side Resources

08/21/2024

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CenterPoint Energy Issues All-Source RFP Seeking Renewable, Thermal, and Demand-Side Resources

Evansville, Ind. – Aug. 19, 2024 – CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) announced its Indiana-based electric utility business, CenterPoint Energy Indiana South, has issued an All-Source Request for Proposals (RFP) to meet the evolving energy needs of its 150,000 electric customers in southwestern Indiana.

“As we continue to transition our electric generation resources, we are focused on diversifying our energy portfolio to continue delivering safe, reliable and cost-effective service to our customers,” said Shane Bradford, CenterPoint’s Vice President, Indiana Electric. “This RFP allows us to explore a wide range of technologies that will contribute to our long-term generation strategy. We are also building on the insights gained from previous RFPs to better meet the needs of our customers and adapt to ever-evolving market conditions.”

The RFP seeks generation technologies capable of providing fully accredited capacity no later than March 1, 2028. Respondents are encouraged to submit proposals that include utility-scale solar, wind and storage projects (standalone or paired), thermal generation, load-modifying resources, demand-side resources and other innovative solutions.

Key Dates and Submission Details:

RFP Issued: August 15, 2024

Notice of Intent and Required Documents Due: August 28, 2024
Proposals Due: October 8, 2024

CenterPoint Energy has retained 1898 & Co., a division of Burns & McDonnell, to manage the RFP process and assist with the evaluation of all proposals. Proposals must be submitted via the RFP website http://CenterPoint2024ASRFP.rfpmanager.biz. All communications regarding the RFP should be directed to 1898 & Co. through the website or via email at CenterPointRFP@1898andco.com.

The 2024 RFP aligns with CenterPoint’s commitment to maintain a reliable and sustainable energy supply for its customers and supports its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).

E-REP STATEMENT OF ACTIVIES

08/21/2024

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LINK TO E-REP STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

E-REP Q2 Statement of Activities

BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS MEETING

08/21/2024

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BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS

REGULAR MEETING

KEVIN WINTERNHEIMER CHAMBERS

ROOM 301, CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2024

NOON

AGENDA

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. MEETING MEMORANDUM JULY 24, 2024, (AUGUST 7, 2024 NO QUORUM, MEETING

WAS CANCELED.

3. CONSENT AGENDA

a. Request Re: Approve and Execute Park Property Reserve Use Permit Application with Evansville

Vanderburgh Public Library for Day of the Dead Cultural Celebration at Westside Library

Park.- McDaniel

b. Request Re: Approve and Execute Park Property Use Permit Application with P.A.W.S for a

fundraiser event at Westside Library Park.- Bush

c. Request Re: Approve and Execute Programming Agreement for C.K. Newsome Community

Center with Carver Community Organization.-Crook

d. Request Re: Approve and Execute Contract with Ace Construction for fence repairs from storm

damage at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden.- Minar*

e. Request Re: Approve and Execute Contract with Randy’s Tree Service for hazardous tree

removal at Mesker Park Zoo &n Botanic Garden.-Minar*

f. Request Re: Permission to trade old 2001 John Deere 240 Skid Steer.- Minar*

g. Request Re: Permission to close early for Member Appreciation Night at Mesker Park

Zoo & Botanic Garden on November 15, 2024.- Minar*

*Recommendation from Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden Advisory Board.

4. OLD BUSINESS

N/A

5. NEW BUSINESS

a. Request Re: Approve and Execute Agreement with Hafer for design project management of

Centerpoint Energy Square.- Crook

b. Request Re: Permission to enclose the upstairs area for more office space at Wesselman Woods

the cost to renovate is $7800.00 -Garcia

c. Request Re: Approve removal of existing water fountain at the LST site and approve placement

of a Hydration Station.- Crook

d. Request Re: Open bids for 2024 paving projects at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden.-Minar*

e. Request Re: Any Other Business the Board Wishes to Consider and Public Comment.

6. REPORTS

Danielle Crook- Executive Director

7. ACCEPTANCE OF PAYROLL AND VENDOR CLAIMS

8. ADJOURN

ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATE DESTINY WELLS EARNS SIERRA CLUB ENDORSEMENT

08/21/2024

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ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATE DESTINY WELLS EARNS

SIERRA CLUB ENDORSEMENT

INDIANAPOLIS—Today Indiana Attorney General Candidate Destiny Wells announced the endorsement of the Hoosier Chapter of the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organizations in the United States with more than three million members and supporters. It was founded in 1892 by the conservationist John Muir. The Sierra Club has hundreds of thousands of members in chapters located throughout the United States.

“I’m thrilled to receive the endorsement of the Hoosier Chapter of the Sierra Club,” stated Destiny Wells. “Hoosiers advocating for a cleaner environment need every friend they can get in the Indiana Statehouse—under my leadership I will ensure the Indiana environment will have a voice in the Indiana Office of the Attorney General.”

“We are inspired to support Destiny Wells’ dedication to environmental outcomes across the State of Indiana, from the Falls of the Ohio, to the Hoosier National Forest, to Indiana Dunes State and National Parks,” stated Neil Goswami, Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter Political Chair and Executive Committee Member. “Our forests, wetlands, waterways, hills, valleys, knobs, and lowlands depend on engaged decision-makers at the Indiana Statehouse, ensuring sustainable energy solutions and equitable outcomes for all Hoosiers. We believe Destiny Wells, as Attorney General, will be a crucial advocate in these efforts.”

The Hoosier Chapter has more than 8,000 members. Local Sierra Club groups are active in different parts of the state, working on conservation-related issues, sponsoring outdoor activities, and educating members on issues. Indianapolis (Heartlands), southwest Indiana, Greater Columbus (Winding Waters), and Bloomington (Uplands) have active Sierra Club groups and networks.

INDIANAPOLIS—Today Indiana Attorney General Candidate Destiny Wells announced the endorsement of the Hoosier Chapter of the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organizations in the United States with more than three million members and supporters. It was founded in 1892 by the conservationist John Muir. The Sierra Club has hundreds of thousands of members in chapters located throughout the United States.

“I’m thrilled to receive the endorsement of the Hoosier Chapter of the Sierra Club,” stated Destiny Wells. “Hoosiers advocating for a cleaner environment need every friend they can get in the Indiana Statehouse—under my leadership I will ensure the Indiana environment will have a voice in the Indiana Office of the Attorney General.”

“We are inspired to support Destiny Wells’ dedication to environmental outcomes across the State of Indiana, from the Falls of the Ohio, to the Hoosier National Forest, to Indiana Dunes State and National Parks,” stated Neil Goswami, Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter Political Chair and Executive Committee Member. “Our forests, wetlands, waterways, hills, valleys, knobs, and lowlands depend on engaged decision-makers at the Indiana Statehouse, ensuring sustainable energy solutions and equitable outcomes for all Hoosiers. We believe Destiny Wells, as Attorney General, will be a crucial advocate in these efforts.”

The Hoosier Chapter has more than 8,000 members. Local Sierra Club groups are active in different parts of the state, working on conservation-related issues, sponsoring outdoor activities, and educating members on issues. Indianapolis (Heartlands), southwest Indiana, Greater Columbus (Winding Waters), and Bloomington (Uplands) have active Sierra Club groups and networks.

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

08/21/2024

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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.

THUNDERBOLTS SIGN FORWARD DEREK CONTESSA

08/21/2024

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Evansville, In.: The Evansville Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes are pleased to announce the signing of forward Derek Contessa for the 2024-25 season. The Thunderbolts begin the 2024-25 season at Ford Center on Friday, October 18th as they host the Knoxville Ice Bears.

Contessa joins the Thunderbolts following his rookie professional season with the Macon Mayhem in 2023-24, scoring 8 goals and 21 points in 48 games, and despite his 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame, showed discipline with only 22 penalty minutes. The Freehold, New Jersey native played four seasons of college hockey prior to turning pro, beginning with Sacred Heart University between 2019-2021, tallying 3 assists in 18 games, before moving on to Endicott College, where he scored 9 goals and 16 points in 36 games between 2021-2023. Contessa played two full seasons of American junior hockey prior to college, beginning in 2017-18 as a member of the Robertson Cup-winning Shreveport Mudbugs of the NAHL, scoring 4 goals and 17 points in 40 games, before playing his final junior season with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints, scoring 11 goals and 20 points in 62 games.

“I am ecstatic to be joining the Thunderbolts for this upcoming season,” replied Contessa when asked about his excitement on joining the Thunderbolts. Having played on the opposition at Ford Center previously with Macon, Contessa further added: “The fans in Ford Center create an incredible environment that is among the best in the league, I will be glad to have the fans’ support and to call Evansville home this season.”

USI kicks off 2024 regular season on the road Eagles on the road for five-straight to open season

08/20/2024

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer kicks off the 2024 season with a five-match road swing, beginning Thursday with a visit to Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. Match time is slated for 6 p.m. (CDT).

Following the stop at Butler, USI finishes the first week of action with a stopover at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, Sunday at 6 p.m. The remainder of the five-game road swing has the Screaming Eagles visiting the University of Wisconsin Green Bay August 29; the University of Evansville September 1; and Mercer University September 8.

Game coverage for 2024, including links to live stats and/or video streams, can be found on USIScreamingEagles.com.

The Eagles open the 2024 home slate September 14 when they host Bellarmine University at Strassweg Field for a 7 p.m. USI fans are able to attend Men’s Soccer 2024 home matches for free courtesy of a sponsorship from ProRehab.

USI Men’s Soccer Week 1 Notes:
USI goes 0-1-1 in preseason: The Screaming Eagles were 0-1-1 in the preseason, tying Campbellsville University in a scrimmage, 1-1, and falling to Bradley University in an exhibition match, 4-1. Junior forward Jaron Frye posted USI’s lone goal versus Campbellsville, while junior forward Jackson Mitchell broke up the shutout with a second half goal versus Bradley.

Eagles in 2024: USI was 2-12-3 overall in 2023, going 1-6-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference. In five total years of Division I action (1992-94, 2022-Present), the Eagles are 33-51-10.

Frye listed as OVC Player to Watch: USI senior forward Jaron Frye is listed as an OVC Player to Watch. Frye missed last season with an injury.

OVC Preseason Poll: USI was picked last in the OVC Preseason poll after going 1-6-3 in the league’s inaugural season.

Juan, Garcia, Hall top scoring returners: Senior midfielder Elmer Garcia is USI’s top returning scorer from 2024. Garcia had five points on two goals and one assist. Sophomore midfielder Pablo Juan and senior midfielder Garland Hall followed Garcia in the scoring column last year, tying for fourth with four points. Juan had four points on two goals, while Hall had a goal and two assists.

Butler in 2023: Butler University was 2-7-6 overall in 2023, going 1-3-4 in the Big East Conference. The 1-3-4 conference record placed the Bulldogs in fourth of the Big East’s Midwest Division.

USI vs. Butler: USI is playing Butler for the first time in the history of both men’s soccer programs.

Belmont in 2023: Belmont University was 8-7-3 overall last season, including a victory over USI, 4-0, at Strassweg Field. The Bruins also were 3-4-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference, tying for fifth.

USI vs. Belmont: USI trails the all-time series with Belmont, 0-2-0. The Bruins prevailed at home in 2022, 2-0, and at Strassweg Field in 2023, 4-0.

Belmont’s start to 2024: Before hosting USI on August 25, Belmont opens the 2024 campaign August 22, visiting Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Phillip named preseason all-conference, Aces picked to finish seventh

08/20/2024

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The Purple Aces begin the 2024 season Thursday evening at Bellarmine

ST. LOUIS – Fifth-year forward Kai Phillip is earning preseason honors heading into the University of Evansville men’s soccer team’s 2024 season.

After a breakout season in 2023 leading the Purple Aces on offense, Kai Phillip (Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago) has been named to the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason All-Conference Team as voted on by league head coaches. Phillip is one of 11 Valley players named preseason All-MVC and is UE’s only representative. In 2023 Phillip led Evansville in goals (10) and points (21) which was also good for third across the MVC.

The Aces were picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll with a total of 30 points. Missouri State was picked as the league’s top men’s soccer team with a trio of first-place votes and 74 points, edging Western Michigan’s 72 points and four first-place votes. UIC garnered a pair of first-place votes, finishing with 69 points for third. Bowling Green (51 points), Belmont (41 points), Northern Illinois (31 points), Drake (19 points) and Bradley (18 points) round out the rest of the poll.

UE returns all but a fifth of its roster for the 2024 season after coming a point shy of the MVC Tournament in 2023. With a team of 26 returners, Evansville looks to return to the postseason led by its top three goal scorers from 2023. Along with over 20 returners, the Aces add 14 newcomers with 10 freshmen; Marlon Amaya, Håkon Edstrøm, Dean Harper, Sean Hendrie, Conner Johnson, Michal Mroz, Brady Seaton, Austin Walter, Peyton Williams, Martin Wurschmidt and four transfers; Hugo Amo, Nacho Garcia, Sami Owusu, and Rylan Ross.

The 2024 season will be head coach Robbe Tarver’s first full season as Evansville’s head coach after removing the interim tag midway through 2023. In his first year at the helm, Tarver guided the Aces to four wins against a highly competitive schedule. Along with four wins, Tarver’s squad in 2023 had four draws, including handing MVC regular-season and tournament champions Western Michigan their only non-winning result in conference play.

Phillip returns for his final campaign with the Aces after leading UE offensively with 10 goals, 21 points, 36 shots, and 17 shots on goal. Along with Phillip, UE returns 2022 MVC Freshman of the Year Nacho Diaz Barragan after he was sidelined for the majority of last year with an injury, and its other two top goal scorers, sophomore winger Auden Engen Vik and senior midfielder Jose Vivas.