City paid for public forums in contentious redistricting process. They never happened

EVANSVILLE — The public was not given a chance to comment on plans for redistricting the city until a new map was already drawn, despite a contract promising public forums would occur.

The city's contract with Main Street Communications stated there would be at least two forums to gather public input prior to the creation of draft redistricting plans. The project's $25,000 fee was to be split into three payments, one of which was contingent on the completion of those forums.

Those forums did not happen, as both city and county officials have pointed out, but the contract was paid in full.

According to invoices obtained by the Courier & Press from the city controller's office through a Freedom of Information Act request, Main Street and its CEO and president David Heller billed the city for the total contract amount of $30,000.

An invoice dated Nov. 15, 2021, shows $15,000 for phase one of redistricting work completed and $5,000 for the software purchase of Maptitude. An invoice dated Oct. 25, 2022, shows $10,000 for redistricting work completed.

The city council approved the map in a 7-2 vote Oct. 24.

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The breakdown of those payments, as defined by the contract is: $15,000 upon execution of contract; $5,000 upon completion of the community outreach sessions; $5,000 upon submission of final maps; and $5,000 for the software.

Those community outreach sessions are defined further in the scope of work as "at least two public forums designed to foster public input into the redistricting process prior to the development of the draft redistricting plans."

Two public forums were also listed to be facilitated by Main Street Communications once plans were proposed. Two public hearings were held, in conjunction with the city council meetings where first and second reading took place. Heller was not present at either meeting.

When asked about that payment, city council president Zac Heronemus (D-Third Ward) said it was his understanding that the controller's office had paid the amount Main Street sent invoices for. Heronemus said during the process no one from city council came to him with any questions about the payments for the work.

The Courier & Press reached out to each of the other eight members of council, via their city council assigned email address, asking if there had been any discussion regarding the lack of public hearings. If so, had any concerns been voiced regarding the payment of that portion of the contract.

Missy Mosby, D-Second Ward, said she met frequently with voters in her ward about redistricting and held a joint meeting with neighborhood associations to talk about the redistricting proposals.

Mosby said she was not aware of which of the four public meetings, to be hosted by Main Street, were held as she was not tasked with organizing them.

Justin Elpers, R-Fifth Ward, said Main Street Communications has not honored its contract by facilitating the two public forums ahead of map creation.

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"I tried to convince my colleagues in our public meetings of the failure prior to adopting of the new map," he said.

Elpers has been vocal in his disagreement with the firm selected to carry out redistricting since the start. He and fellow Republican councilor Jonathan Weaver both said the firm selection and redistricting were partisan moves on the side of Democrats.

Weaver tasked the Vanderburgh County Surveyor, Linda Freeman, a Republican, to create an alternative option to Main Street's. It was not selected.

"If council would have passed the alternative map I would have pursued with my colleagues to request a refund from Main Street Communications since they failed to carry out their scope of work," Elpers said.

Elpers will not be on council in 2023, but will take a seat on the Vanderburgh County Commissioners after winning the election in November.

Weaver sent the Courier & Press comment shortly after publication Tuesday. He said he does not remember the payment for redistricting being discussed.

"Zac was unable and/or willing to share any information or confirm any of the Ward boundaries prior to the vote," he said.

The other city council members, Ben Trockman, D-First Ward, Alex Burton, D-Fourth Ward, Jim Brinkmeyer, D-Sixth Ward, Ron Beane, R-At Large, Kaitlin Moore, D-At Large, did not return requests for comment.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville City Council paid for public forums that never occurred