Vincennes Board of Works and City Council Meeting Wednesday, October 15th

The Vincennes City Council met in regular session Wednesday with all members present. Prior to the meeting, the council held public hearings for ordinance resolutions 9-2025 and 10-2025. Resolution 10-2025 would designate downtown building usage from 1^st to 6^th streets, facing Main St., as commercial use only. Resolution 9-2025 pertained to additional appropriation for the animal shelter, specifically the reallocation of $32,000 received via the “Best Friends Grant” back in to the shelter budget. Both resolutions passed 7-0.

During the regular meeting, the council heard the third reading on ordinance 10-2025 designating 1^st thru 6^th facing Main as commercial, first reading was held 8/25 with the second reading held on 9/28. With no-one speaking against the resolution during public hearing, the ordinance passed 7-0.

The council also passed ordinance 12-2025, approving the 2026 city budget in the amount of $22,602,057.

Salvation Army Captain Joey Gates addressed the council in regards to this years City vs. County Showdown, scheduled for Friday, December 12^th running from 11 a.m. To 7 p.m. The local Salvation Army currently serves over 6700 individuals throughout Knox County, almost 16% of the population.

First reading of ordinance 13-2025 addressing salary for 2026 budget, passed 7-0. This ordinance would set the maximum annual compensation amount for employees effective January 2026. City employees will see a raise in pay for the year.

Resolution 9-2025 was read an approved, reallocating $32,000 of grant money to the animal shelter, and the council approved a resolution to apply for a $750,000 grant to rehab the band shelter, and a resolution for an UEA application deadline waiver for 2024.

The council was also addressed by a representative of First City Sunrise, the local nonprofit who created/runs the emergency temporary shelter in Knox County; which is 100% donation funded. As of this month the shelter has been open for a full year. During that time they have interviewed 269 Knox County residents, 207 of those individuals have spent at least one night in the shelter; 113 of those have now gotten into permanent housing. The council agreed to provide financial help to First City Sunrise for the shelter in an amount to be determined, last year the council gave a $2000 grant.