Evansville City Council Brief

The Evansville City Council met Monday, Aug. 10, at 5:30 p.m. All nine members were present: Ben Trockman, Rita Taylor, Kendra Hatfield, Angela Koehler Lindsey, Mary Allen, Zac Heronemus, Paul Green, Jim Brinkmeyer and Courtney Johnson.

Council tables proposed drone ordinance

The City Council voted to table Ordinance G-2026-15, which would create new local regulations for drones and other unmanned aircraft systems.

The proposal would prohibit certain drone operations within 500 yards of or directly above the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival, Fireworks on the Ohio, and airports or heliports. It also includes restrictions related to controlled airspace around Evansville Regional Airport.

Violations could result in fines ranging from $150 to $500 per offense, and drones could be temporarily impounded in some circumstances.

During public comment, one resident described the ordinance as “unnecessarily broad.” Councilwoman Rita Taylor moved to table the proposal until the next council meeting, and the motion was approved.

Council approves funding for streets, heat relief and attendance initiative

Council members unanimously approved amended Ordinance F-2026-09, which authorized several transfers and additional appropriations across city government.

The ordinance included $2,449.63 from a CenterPoint Community Safety Grant for equipment needed to distribute and maintain 200 cooling kits for vulnerable residents during excessive heat.

Another $100,000 was allocated from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act Fund for an attendance initiative involving the City of Evansville, Evansville Promise Neighborhood and the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation. The program is designed to encourage consistent attendance and address chronic absenteeism among students in the Promise Neighborhood.

Students and families who meet attendance targets will be entered into a monthly lottery for a $300 housing-stability award to help with utility expenses. The EVSC Foundation will receive the grant funding.

Other appropriations included $343,777.56 for paving city streets, $200,000 to replace the roof at Hose House No. 1, $63,711 to equip a new snow truck, and $20,000 for the Next Level Trails Project.

The ordinance also included funding transfers for debt payments, Animal Control expenses and repairs at Fendrich Golf Course.

Next meeting

The next Evansville City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 24, at 5:30 p.m.

This brief was developed from meeting notes provided through the Community Power Network by Our Times Recorder Tess Bell.  Our Times Newspaper reviewed the information against available meeting documents and source materials.