[0:05] Good afternoon.
>> [snorts and clears throat]
[0:05] » Excuse me, good afternoon. I'd like to
call this meeting of the Davis County
[0:08] Fiscal Court to order. Today is August
27, 2026.
[0:14] Commissioner Castle, would you lead us
in the prayer and the pledge, please?
[0:16] Would you lead us in the prayer and the
pledge, please?
[0:19] » Yes. Please stand if you're able.
[0:23] I'd ask that you bow your head and pray
with me.
[0:26] God in heaven,
thank
[0:31] As we gather today, we pray for those
whose lives have been altered or changed
[0:36] by the power of nature.
The devastation that has occurred in
[0:40] places such as Nepal is a strong
reminder of how important each day is
[0:45] and how fragile our world can be.
It also reminds us that as we see those
[0:50] who rush to help their fellow people,
what we do for others matters.
[0:55] Please help those affected by this and
other devastating events to find
[0:59] strength in you and strength from the
support of your people.
[1:04] Please help us tonight as a community to
be supportive of and for one another and
[1:09] to follow in the way you're guiding us.
As Mother Teresa once said,
[1:14] "Love begins by taking care of the
closest ones, the ones at home."
[1:19] In your name we pray.
Amen.
[1:24] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America
[1:28] and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible, with
[1:34] liberty and justice for all.
[1:41] » Just for those For those who are
watching from home and those here in the
[1:46] audience, Commissioner Marksberry is
zooming or
[1:50] joining us remotely.
Go ahead.
[1:53] » One, consideration for presentation. A,
Friday after 5 Barrel Stave
[1:58] presentation.
[2:01] » I believe we have a couple folks with
the Friday after 5 here, so I'm going
[2:08] If you would introduce yourselves,
please.
[2:11] » Charlotte Newton, secretary.
>> Hannah Kohler, vice chairman.
[2:16] » Thank you for having us here.
>> Yes, ma'am.
[2:19] » Good afternoon, Judge Executive, County
Commissioners, and members of Daviess
[2:22] County Fiscal Court. On behalf of Friday
after 5 Board of Directors, Hannah
[2:27] Kohler and I, we would like to sincerely
thank you for your generous support of
[2:31] Friday after 5 and our mission to bring
our community together.
[2:35] Friday after 5 is so much more than just
a concert series. It's a celebration of
[2:39] our community, our local businesses, our
downtown, which is beautiful, and the
[2:44] people who call Owensboro Daviess County
home. Events like ours simply could not
[2:48] be possible without the support of
community partners such as yourself.
[2:53] Each week at Friday after 5, you may
have seen me on stage thanking our
[2:56] sponsors, our community partners, our
city, our county, and most importantly,
[3:01] our community. Your donation helps us
continue to provide that free
[3:05] entertainment and create an experience
that brings thousands of people downtown
[3:09] and showcase what makes our community so
special.
[3:13] Our first report show over 120,000
visitors so far, and as the reports keep
[3:19] coming in, we expect that to grow.
As a small token of our appreciation, we
[3:23] are honored to present you with this
Barrel Stave as a thank you for your
[3:26] investment in Friday after 5 and that
community.
[3:30] Thank you for believing in Friday after
5, for supporting our efforts, and for
[3:34] helping us continue this wonderful
tradition.
[3:37] We surely appreciate your partnership
and generosity as we wrap up our 30th
[3:41] season anniversary. Thank you.
>> Okay.
[4:27] » I do want to say thank you all for your
role in making Friday at 5:00 happen and
[4:32] and I understand what you mean when you
say you need the full support of the
[4:37] community to to be successful.
And I I know Friday at 5:00 is is a gem,
[4:45] I think.
And and to think that it's been 30 years
[4:49] now, it's hard to believe. So, thank you
all for your role.
[4:54] Uh any any other comments? Go ahead,
Commissioner.
[4:58] » You This year was
even with the weather was most of the
[5:03] time great.
But the lineups that you had and the
[5:06] work that was put in place
and how many of the volunteers showed up
[5:10] and what everyone did was an outstanding
year.
[5:14] Uh I'm never sure if there was any
better lineup or attendance that you had
[5:19] out there. So, kudos to all of you and
your forward, especially to Brad who's
[5:23] really stepped it up, I think.
Uh it is much appreciated how that has
[5:28] become a signature event of Owensboro
and Daviess County. It's appreciated.
[5:32] Thank you.
Amen.
[5:34] Commissioner, anything? Okay.
Commissioner Marksberry, anything? Okay.
[5:39] Thank you all. You don't need to stay
for the rest of the meeting unless you
[5:41] just want to. Thank you.
>> B. Treasurer's report for July of 2026.
[5:48] » Mr. Johnson.
>> As of July 31, 2026, total cash balance
[5:52] is $85,461,805.15
[5:56] for all funds. General fund balance is
$49,060,760.69
[6:03] minus operating reserve and restricted
funds cash for general fund operations
[6:07] is $38,611,562.60.
[6:13] All fund transfers from the general fund
and jail fund have been completed
[6:16] loading the other operating and debt
service funds for the year. I have
[6:20] nothing else to report.
>> Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Any questions or
[6:23] comments from the court? This is a
strictly a presentation, so we don't
[6:28] vote on it.
>> Two, consideration for approval. A,
[6:32] minutes of August 13, 2026 Davis County
Fiscal Court meeting.
[6:37] » Motion to approve.
>> Second.
[6:39] » Now a motion and second, we've all had
the minutes for
[6:42] a few days to review. Do I hear any
additions
[6:45] or
um
[6:47] additions or corrections?
Hearing none, all those in favor signify
[6:51] by saying aye.
>> Aye.
[6:53] » Aye.
>> B, all claims for all departments.
[6:57] » Motion to approve.
>> Second.
[6:58] » Now a motion and second, these are all
the bills due and payable by Davis
[7:02] County Fiscal Court. Are there any
questions for our
[7:05] treasurer?
Hearing none, all those in favor signify
[7:09] by saying aye.
>> Aye.
[7:10] » Aye.
>> C, second reading of KOC A. 111.09-2026,
[7:18] an ordinance relating to the adoption of
the 2026 Davis County tax rates.
[7:24] » Motion to approve.
>> Second.
[7:26] » Now a motion and second, Mr. Johnson.
>> Fiscal Court is proposing to keep the
[7:30] property tax rate the same as last year,
adopt the derivative rate for tangible
[7:34] [snorts] personal property, and leave
all other ad valorem rates the same. The
[7:39] proposed rates are real property at 12.2
cents per $100 of assessed value,
[7:44] tangible personal property at 12.92
cents per $100 of assessed value, and
[7:50] motor vehicles and watercraft at 17
cents per $100 of assessed value. All
[7:55] other classifications listed in the
ordinance are either derived from those
[7:59] read into the record or set by the
state. First reading was held in fiscal
[8:02] court session August 13th of 2026. This
is the second reading and adoption.
[8:07] » Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Any questions or
comments from the court?
[8:13] Any questions or comments from the
public?
[8:17] Hearing none, all those in favor signify
by saying I.
[8:20] » I.
>> Any opposed?
[8:22] » Yes.
>> Okay. Motion carries.
[8:26] » D. Second reading of KOC 921.693
10-2026,
[8:33] an ordinance amending KOC 921.685
02-2025,
[8:40] and KOC 921.689
01-2026,
[8:46] section 4.
>> Motion to approve.
[8:48] » Second.
>> Motion second. Chancellor, we normally
[8:51] have
Mr. Burley read the whereas clauses
[8:55] somewhere.
>> I will be happy to do that if you like,
[8:57] Judge.
>> Go ahead.
[8:58] » Um whereas March 6th uh 2025 Daviess
Fiscal Court adopted ordinance 921.685
[9:04] 2025 02-225
20225
[9:08] uh an ordinance amending the text in
article 8 of the Owensboro Metropolitan
[9:12] Zoning Ordinance and incorporate
incorporated that by reference February
[9:16] 29th of 2026,
Fiscal Court adopted uh
[9:20] ordinance 921.689
in 2026, which is 01 of 2025, ordinance
[9:26] number 1, which amended the
prior ordinance in section 4, and which
[9:31] we incorporated by reference. Now we're
determined that section 4 needs to be
[9:36] amended again to provide additional time
for research, review, and determine
[9:40] future application of that amendment.
That's what this ordinance is to do.
[9:45] Would place a moratorium until November
the 30th of 2026 to make the changes
[9:50] indicated.
>> Thank you. Thank you, counselor. Any
[9:54] questions or comments from the court?
Commissioner Kaundart.
[9:58] » Thank you, Judge. Just as a point of
clarification,
[10:01] one of the main reasons why the
extension of the moratorium was to make
[10:04] sure we got the necessary information
from OMPC, which they held their first
[10:09] read or one reading is all they needed
to have like 2 weeks ago today. And no
[10:14] public comments at all were made as in
in in that regard as far as I
[10:17] understand.
And so it looks as if
[10:20] we have potentially the transcript and
once that is given to everyone else, we
[10:25] can maybe move forward with the solar
ordinance and what it actually says and
[10:30] what the limitations are. So,
hopefully that can get done quickly
[10:33] enough and we'll get it in place.
>> The hope is that they can be completed
[10:37] in September.
>> Thank you, sir.
[10:39] » Commissioner Marksbury, do you have any
comments?
[10:42] » Yes, sir. I just wanted to say I just
hope this will be the last extension on
[10:46] this matter. Thank you.
>> As to
[10:49] Commissioner Kasten, anything? Anyone
from the public wish to speak to this
[10:54] This is
an extension of the moratorium.
[10:58] Hearing none, all those in favor signify
by saying I. I.
[11:01] » I.
>> Motion carries.
[11:04] » Second reading [clears throat] of KOC
A.110.02.11-2026,
[11:12] budget amendment number two.
>> Motion to approve.
[11:16] » Second.
>> In motion second, Mr. Johnson.
[11:18] » Yes, Judge. To recap, this amendment is
in light of two items. The county
[11:22] budgeted 4 million in the general fund
as originally appropriated in Kentucky
[11:26] House Bill 900 for the public safety
facility. This budget amendment accounts
[11:30] for the Kentucky Senate Bill 197
amendment that increased that figure by
[11:34] 620,000
for fiscal year 26-27
[11:39] and two resolutions 17-2026 and a county
city bridge improvement program funding
[11:44] agreement were approved in fiscal court
session July 16th of 2026 in the amount
[11:49] of $315,000
and that was for the replacement of the
[11:52] old Highway 54 bridge. This budget
amendment properly accounts for that
[11:57] unbudgeted project expense and state
reimbursement in the road fund. First
[12:01] reading was held in fiscal court session
8 13 of 2026. This is the second reading
[12:05] and adoption.
>> Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Any questions or
[12:08] comments from the court?
[12:11] Commissioner Marksberry, anything? Okay.
Any any questions or comments from the
[12:16] public?
Hearing none, all those in favor signify
[12:19] by saying I.
>> I.
[12:22] » F, sheriff's annual tax settlement for
tax year 2025.
[12:28] » Motion to approve.
>> Second.
[12:29] » I have a motion and second. Mr. Johnson.
>> I've received a presented copy of the
[12:33] sheriff's annual tax settlement for the
2025 tax period per KRS 134.192.
[12:40] The fiscal court must review, reconcile,
and approve the annual tax settlement of
[12:44] the sheriff prior to September 1 of any
given year before a certificate of
[12:48] quietus can be issued by the state upon
their reconciliation and review. The
[12:53] quietus issued by the state is required
before the sheriff is released of
[12:56] liability for collections of the prior
year and only at that time can his
[13:00] office begin working on the current
year's tax bills per statute. I've
[13:04] reviewed and reconciled the data found
it is in agreement with our financial
[13:07] records. No other taxing district has
made me aware of any inconsistencies
[13:11] with his figures, so I have no issues to
report.
[13:14] » Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Any questions or
comments from the court?
[13:19] Any questions or comments from the
public?
[13:21] Hearing none, all those in favor signify
by saying I.
[13:24] » I.
>> G, grant agreement for litter abatement
[13:29] program 2027.
>> Motion to approve.
[13:32] » Second.
>> Had a motion and second, Mr. Johnson.
[13:35] » This is the litter abatement program
grant funding that will offset our
[13:39] litter abatement expenses with our
contracted vendor. This funding must be
[13:43] used for direct expenses as defined in
401 KAR 4980 section 3 incurred during
[13:50] calendar year 2027 that are associated
with anti-litter control programs for
[13:55] litter cleanup on public roads as
provided in KRS 224 and to meet the
[14:01] requirements established in KRS 224.43
through section 345. The amount of grant
[14:07] funding that we are eligible to receive
will not be determined until November
[14:10] 2026.
This is an annual exercise and I see no
[14:14] issues, Judge.
>> Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Any questions or
[14:17] comments from the court?
[14:20] Any questions or comments from the
public?
[14:22] Hearing none, all those in favor signify
by saying aye.
[14:25] » Aye.
[14:28] » H, AmeriCorps partner agency agreement
benefiting the Homeless Coalition of
[14:33] Ohio Valley for fiscal year 26-27.
>> Motion to approve.
[14:38] » Second.
>> Had a motion and second, Mr. Johnson.
[14:42] » For the past several years, fiscal court
has sponsored the position of an
[14:45] AmeriCorps worker for the Homeless
Coalition of Ohio Valley or HCOV as the
[14:50] entity's agency funding. This worker is
housed at St. Benedict Shelter and is
[14:54] supervised by David Townsel on behalf of
HCOV. This program has proven beneficial
[15:00] for the coalition. It provides them an
employee at a total cost of $6,250.
[15:06] HCOV's application for agency funding
that included only this expense was
[15:12] approved and included in the fiscal year
2027 budget. The agreement is for the
[15:17] program year September 1 of 26 through
August 31 of 27. Fiscal court serves as
[15:22] the sponsoring fiscal agent, meaning the
agreement must be approved in order for
[15:26] the payment to be processed.
>> Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Any comments or
[15:30] questions from the court?
Any questions or comments from the
[15:34] public?
Hearing none, all those in favor signify
[15:37] by saying I.
>> I.
[15:39] » I.
>> I accept proposal by Jail Geek
[15:42] Incorporated for federal per diem rate
application and negotiation services for
[15:47] the Daviess County Detention Center.
>> What's your pleasure, Brooke?
[15:52] » Second.
>> I have a motion and a second, Mr.
[15:54] Johnson.
>> Currently, federal prisoners that are
[15:56] housed in the Daviess County Detention
Center are reimbursed at a per diem rate
[16:01] of $70 per prisoner per day via an
intergovernmental agreement that Daviess
[16:05] County holds with the United States
Marshals. In 2023, fiscal court
[16:11] utilized Summerall Law Firm PLLC to
negotiate our current rate of $70, which
[16:16] was up from $55.
Presented is a proposal by Jail Geek
[16:20] Incorporated, which is a company founded
by leadership from Summerall Law Firm
[16:24] PLLC, to assist in preparing and
submitting an application to the United
[16:29] States Marshals to negotiate a new per
diem rate for the upcoming rate cycle.
[16:34] The proposal is in the total amount of
$24,900.
[16:38] $4,950
of this figure is for additional
[16:41] services, including working with the
jailer and the Marshals Grants Officer
[16:45] to assist in addressing questions
regarding our application. Jailer
[16:49] Maglinger is not yet sure as to whether
or not he would need to exercise these
[16:52] additional services, but they would need
approval for him to move forward.
[16:56] Uh the jailer and his management staff
have reviewed the proposal and are
[16:59] recommending acceptance, and I see no
issues.
[17:02] » Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Any questions or
comments from the court?
[17:06] » No.
>> Any questions or comments from the
[17:08] public?
Hearing none, all those in favor signify
[17:12] by saying I.
>> I.
[17:13] » I.
>> I.
[17:15] » J, resolution 22-2026,
agreement regarding rural secondary flex
[17:21] program funds.
>> Motion to approve.
[17:25] » Second.
>> I have a motion second. Mr. Daugher.
[17:28] » Good evening. Good evening, Judge. This
is a program the flex program is a
[17:32] program that's held with the Kentucky's
KYTC's rural and municipal aid office.
[17:37] This These are funds that are set aside
for the paving of asphalt streets and uh
[17:42] in counties. Um
for the streets we have of Angler
[17:47] Avenue, Chris Barrow, Doe Run,
Fawndrive, Medlar Drive, Macon Avenue,
[17:51] and Sims Avenues.
These uh roads will be reimbursed by
[17:54] KYTC.
I would recommend approval.
[17:58] » Okay, thank you, Mr. Daugher. Any
questions or comments from the court?
[18:01] » No.
>> Any questions or comments from the
[18:04] public? Hearing none, all those in favor
signify by saying I.
[18:08] » I.
[18:13] » K, rate schedule for Daviess County
Fiscal Court.
[18:17] » Motion to approve.
>> Second.
[18:19] » I have a motion second. Mr. Johnson.
[18:25] » This is the rate schedule we update
annually.
[18:27] » Sturgeon. My apologies.
>> This is the rate schedule we update
[18:31] annually or as needed for goods and
services offered by Daviess County
[18:35] Fiscal Court that are subject to the
state sales tax. The only change from
[18:39] the last approved rate schedule, which
was approved April 30th, 2026, is the
[18:43] addition of archery fees for the 3D
archery course at the March Mattingly
[18:47] Target Shooting Range. All our other
ranges remain the same.
[18:51] » Thank you, Ms. Sturgeon. Any questions
or comments from the court?
[18:55] » No.
>> Commissioner Conder.
[18:57] » Uh curious question, Ms. Sturgeon. Do
you would you happen to know when uh
[19:01] they're going to be able to use the
facility?
[19:04] » At this time, they are not prepared for
that, but we will have the rates in
[19:08] place when they are ready.
>> Very good. Hopefully it gets done very
[19:12] quickly because I think there's going to
be a lot of people going to use what we
[19:16] are just now doing with the archery at
the gun club. Thank you, Judge.
[19:20] » Yes, sir. And I And I echo what you said
that uh
[19:24] I believe there's going to be tremendous
interest in it.
[19:28] Uh
anyone else?
[19:30] Anyone from the public wishes to
speak to this?
[19:34] Hearing none, all those in favor signify
by saying I.
[19:37] » I.
[19:40] » I'll award bid number 2627-07,
[19:45] two new full-size SUVs.
>> Motion to approve.
[19:50] » Second.
>> We have a motion and second, Ms.
[19:53] Sturgeon.
>> We received six bids and recommended
[19:56] award to the best evaluated bid
submitted by Bachman Auto Group for the
[19:59] provision of two new full-size SUVs in
the total amount of $110,618
[20:06] for the Davis County Detention Center.
This is a budget of replacement of two
[20:09] aging units currently in inventory.
Please note we are not recommending the
[20:13] lowest bid due to exceptions the
Detention Center management found
[20:16] unacceptable. Bachman Auto Group is a
known vendor. There are no exceptions to
[20:20] the specification, and I would recommend
approval.
[20:24] » Thank you, Ms. Sturgeon. Any questions
or comments from the court?
[20:27] » No.
>> Any questions or comments from the
[20:29] public? Hearing none, all those in favor
signify by saying I.
[20:33] » I.
>> Commissioner Marksberry, if you could
[20:36] just clarify I believe I didn't catch on
item C, that was the second reading of
[20:40] the tax rates. Did you vote yay or nay
on that?
[20:45] » I was voting You asked is anyone
opposed, and I said no because I did
[20:49] want to take the lower rate, which would
have been below the rate we are
[20:53] accepting. So, yes, I mentioned that at
the last meeting as well.
[20:56] » Correct. So, you You were voting
>> You said is anyone opposed, and I am
[20:59] opposed, so I said yes, but maybe I
should have said no. I apologize.
[21:03] » No, I I just want a clarification. Thank
Thank
[21:05] » Sure, thank you.
>> Next on the agenda.
[21:10] » And award RFQ number 2627-14
D6T dozer undercarriage replacement.
[21:18] » Motion to approve.
>> Second.
[21:20] » We got a motion and a second, Ms.
Sturgeon.
[21:22] » We received three quotes and recommend
award to the lowest and best evaluated
[21:25] quote submitted by Boyd and Sons for the
provision of a replacement undercarriage
[21:29] for the D6T dozer at the West Davis
County Landfill in the amount of
[21:33] $22,733.98.
[21:37] This is a budgeted routine replacement
of parts. Undercarriage replacement for
[21:41] landfill equipment is recommended every
4,000 hours and this unit is beyond that
[21:45] threshold. Boyd and Sons is a known
vendor. There were no exceptions to
[21:48] specification and I would recommend
approval.
[21:51] » Thank you, Ms. Sturgeon. Any questions
or comments from the court?
[21:55] Any questions or comments from the
public? Hearing none, all those in favor
[21:58] signify by saying aye.
>> Aye.
[22:01] » And award RFQ number 2627-16,
[22:06] four new 40-yd roll-off containers.
>> Motion to approve.
[22:12] » Second.
>> We got a motion and a second, Ms.
[22:14] Sturgeon.
>> We received three quotes and recommend
[22:17] award to the lowest and best evaluated
quote submitted by Wastequip for four
[22:20] new 40-yd roll-off containers for the
Davis County Solid Waste in the amount
[22:24] of $28,170.27.
[22:28] This is a budgeted addition of our
current inventory at the West Davis
[22:31] County Landfill by two units and the
budgeted replacement of two units at the
[22:34] Grimes Avenue Transfer Station due to
the due to the volatility of steel
[22:38] prices, this price may fluctuate
slightly prior to ordering. This expense
[22:43] will be offset by the Kentucky Pride
Grant, which was approved in fiscal
[22:46] court session May 14th, 2026 in the
amount of $13,735.12.
[22:53] An anticipated cost fiscal court is
between 15 and $17,000.
[22:57] Wastequip is a known vendor. There were
no exceptions to specification and I
[23:01] would recommend approval.
>> Thank you, Mr. Argenbright. Questions or
[23:05] comments from the court?
>> No.
[23:07] » Any questions or comments from the
public?
[23:11] All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I.
[23:15] » Oh, award RFQ number 2627-17,
11 sets of bunker gear.
[23:23] » Motion to approve.
>> Second.
[23:25] » Got a motion and second, Mr.
Argenbright.
[23:27] » We received three quotes and recommend
award to the lowest and best evaluated
[23:30] quote submitted by Atlantic Emergency
Solutions for 11 sets of bunker gear for
[23:34] the Davis County Fire Department in the
total amount of $35,149.54.
[23:41] These are seven budgeted replacements
and three new sets for additional
[23:45] employees to meet national standards.
This also replaces one additional set
[23:49] that is close to its the end of its
useful life. Atlantic Emergency
[23:53] Solutions is a known vendor. There were
no exceptions to the specifications and
[23:56] I would recommend approval.
>> Thank you, Mr. Argenbright. Questions or
[24:00] comments from the court?
>> No.
[24:03] » Any questions or comments from the
public?
[24:05] Hearing none, all those in favor signify
by saying I.
[24:08] » I.
>> P, hire Nathan Young as firefighter
[24:13] effective August 17, 2026.
>> Motion to approve.
[24:17] » Second.
>> Got a motion and second. Want to
[24:20] congratulate Mr. Young
um
[24:23] for being selected to be a fire
firefighter for the Davis County Fiscal
[24:26] Court
and thank him for uh agreeing to come to
[24:30] work for us. All those in favor signify
by saying I.
[24:33] » I.
>> Q, hire Cameron Thompson as firefighter
[24:38] effective August 26, 2026.
>> Motion to approve.
[24:43] » Second.
>> Got a motion and second. Want to again
[24:45] want to congratulate uh Cameron on his
hire and
[24:49] we wish him well and uh as a firefighter
and thank him for coming to work for us.
[24:53] All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I.
[24:58] » Our promote Jonathan Heath to lieutenant
effective August 30, 2026.
[25:04] » Motion to approve.
>> Second.
[25:05] » Got a motion and second. Want to
congratulate Mr. Heath on his promotion
[25:10] and thank him for his service to our
community. All those in favor signify by
[25:14] saying I.
>> I.
[25:17] » Ask accept [snorts] the retirement
resignation of Ronnie Bobo effective
[25:21] September 1, 2026.
>> Motion to approve.
[25:25] » Second.
>> Got a motion and second. Want to
[25:27] congratulate Ronnie on his um
retirement and wish him well and uh
[25:32] thank you for your service. Anyone else
wish to speak to that?
[25:36] All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I.
[25:38] » I.
>> Three, consideration for discussion. A,
[25:43] other business to be brought before the
Davis County Fiscal Court. There is none
[25:47] that I'm aware of.
B, public comments.
[25:51] » This is the part of our meeting where we
invite the public to come forward state
[25:54] to the I would even state your name and
address for the record. Speak to any
[25:57] item other than those that have been
covered on the agenda.
[26:01] » Good afternoon. My name is Cheryl Brown.
I live in the Downs subdivision in the
[26:05] county and I'm here representing the
Coalition for Inclusive Davis County.
[26:09] Yesterday we celebrated the 106th
anniversary of the women's right to vote
[26:13] at the Owensboro Museum of Science and
History sponsored by the AAUW, American
[26:18] Association of University Women.
The president of AAUW of Kentucky and
[26:23] the president of AAUW of Owensboro are
both founding members and on the
[26:27] steering committee of the Coalition for
Inclusive Davis County.
[26:32] AAUW of Owensboro published a document
highlighting women who broke barriers
[26:36] and changed history in Davis County. And
the first woman they featured was Mary
[26:40] Hale Dean.
Dean was the first president of of
[26:44] Owensboro's Women's Club in 1896.
She was also the first president of the
[26:49] Owensboro Carnegie Public Library Board
of Directors from 1914 to 1918.
[26:56] She and the Women's Club raised $3,200
in donations for a library. However, in
[27:01] 1911, the city refused to appropriate
funds for its operation.
[27:05] So, despite the lack of cooperation from
the city that Owensboro Women's Club
[27:09] opened the library in April of 1912 and
ran it with volunteers for 2 years.
[27:15] Her genealogy notebooks formed a basis
for the Daviess County Public Library
[27:18] Kentucky Room and its collection is a
name is named in her honor.
[27:23] At yesterday's AAUW event, one
presentation stood out and noted that
[27:28] women make up a larger share of voters
in Kentucky than men. 52.7% are female
[27:33] and 47.2%
are male.
[27:37] Yet, women are not represented at the
same level on boards, in leadership
[27:41] positions, or among elected officials.
And this brings us to the current state
[27:45] of affairs at our own public library.
A position is now open step on the
[27:50] library board with Rodney Ellis
finishing his term in September as
[27:53] library board treasurer.
Three individuals applied for that open
[27:57] position as reported at the library
board meeting last week on August 19th.
[28:02] Two were male, one was female.
All had a financial background.
[28:07] The library board chair quickly
nominated another male to be sent to
[28:12] fiscal court for consideration without
discussion or consideration of
[28:16] qualifications or experience of the
other applicants.
[28:20] And no discussion at all about the
female applicant other than mentioning
[28:24] her name. And my question would be, why?
The fiscal court has repeatedly turned
[28:29] down well-qualified female applicants
for the library board positions the last
[28:33] 2 years.
And let me state for the record, I do
[28:36] not personally know any of the three
applicants at all.
[28:40] However, it is concerning that a
well-qualified female applicant with a
[28:44] financial background and leadership
experience is once again being
[28:49] overlooked.
[28:52] For those watching this fiscal court
meeting and they may that may not be
[28:56] aware, several changes have been made by
the state Republican legislators to the
[29:01] library board process to ensure ensure
the judge exec has ultimate control of
[29:05] who is appointed to the public library
boards in Kentucky.
[29:09] The appointments made this past two
years by this fiscal court have been
[29:12] deliberate and directly aligned with
that ideology supported by a local and
[29:17] controversial far-right Moms for Liberty
group that supports censorship of public
[29:22] and school libraries.
The chair of that group wrote an
[29:25] editorial in the newspaper just today
that used the word ban four times in
[29:30] reference to books in the library.
Since January 243 books have now been
[29:36] removed from the children's and young
adult section of the Daviess County
[29:40] Public Library to the adult section
where access is made more difficult and
[29:44] questionable.
700 books have been reviewed by library
[29:48] staff to ensure policy compliance.
Think of the taxpayer dollars used for
[29:53] that task.
And the collection development policy
[29:56] has now been revised that specifies
books may not have any sexual content,
[30:02] sexual education, graphic violence, or
reference to suicide in the young adult
[30:07] section for ages 13 to 18.
These decisions are being led and made
[30:12] by a small group of individuals that do
not represent the majority of Daviess
[30:17] County citizens and the library board
surely does not currently represent
[30:21] represent its constituents nor the
diversity of the citizens of this
[30:25] county.
Midterm elections are in November.
[30:29] This issue is but one of the many
Daviess County will need to consider as
[30:34] we vote in the upcoming November
election.
[30:37] And I have to ask myself,
what would Mary D. Hill Dean and the
[30:41] women who broke through those barriers
before barriers before us, too.
[30:46] » Thank you.
Is there anyone else wish to speak to
[30:49] any item other than those items that
have been covered on the agenda?
[31:04] » Daniel Sosh, uh
Owensboro Drive, Owensboro. Um it's 20
[31:10] months into our medical marijuana
program. Owensboro Davis County citizens
[31:15] still don't have a
dispensary to get their medicine.
[31:18] I I find that disgraceful.
15 years. You You may not be able to see
[31:23] it, but it says team Kentucky. 15 years.
I I They call it lobbying. I just called
[31:29] it asking my representatives to do their
job. But after 15 years,
[31:34] now I I I don't have to worry about the
Gestapo or the KGB coming to take me
[31:38] away and put me in a for-profit cage.
But I still have to travel to another
[31:43] county to get my medicine.
No one on this this body never supported
[31:47] my calls. No one over at city hall
supports my calls. I just don't
[31:52] understand that. It makes no sense.
Other counties, they're growing. They
[31:56] have jobs. Th- This is the industry of
tomorrow, not not yesterday's tomorrow.
[32:02] Th- This is a clean energy. It does
nothing but help people. It It takes
[32:07] away You want to expand our jail. It It
relieves that that congestion there
[32:12] because these people shouldn't be in a
for-profit cage. And And I just can't
[32:16] understand why we 20 months in in one of
the fourth largest city and we don't
[32:21] have a dispensary. And it's only because
of peo- the powers that be don't want it
[32:26] here.
And I just don't understand that.
[32:29] I would like to someone give me an
answer to that some way.
[32:32] » Okay.
>> Thank you. I well, I've also like to
[32:35] point out that Kentucky is the worst in
America. They have the worst program and
[32:40] most restrictive.
And maybe while we don't have a
[32:44] dispensary here, Owensboro Davis County
thought that they should make it even
[32:48] worse. They put more restrictions
to make it even more harder on the
[32:53] patients and businessmen to open a
dispensary here. That makes no sense.
[32:58] That sounds like you're trying doing
everything you can to keep them out.
[33:02] I don't understand that. And I'd like a
an answer
[33:06] from somebody.
>> Thank you.
[33:09] Is there anyone else wish to speak to
any item that has not been covered on
[33:12] the agenda?
>> I'm sorry. I'm not my hearing aids are
[33:15] working.
>> I'm I'm not responding you. I'm I'm not
[33:17] responding. My My comments were not a
response to you. I'm asking if there's
[33:22] anyone else wants to speak. That's all
right.
[33:26] Is there anyone else wish to speak to
any item that is not been covered on the
[33:30] agenda?
>> See comments by Davis County Fiscal
[33:34] Court.
>> Commissioner Caster.
[33:37] » I don't have anything. Thanks, Judge.
>> Commissioner Conder.
[33:40] » Pass, Judge.
>> Commissioner Marksberry.
[33:45] » I don't have anything tonight. I just
wanted to thank you all for letting me
[33:48] zoom in though. I apologize I could not
be there in person.
[33:52] » Yes, ma'am.
I I just want to announce that tomorrow,
[33:55] Friday, August 28th is the 13th annual
Davis County Fire Department Christmas
[34:00] Wish Golf Scramble at Ben Hawes Golf
Course. Registration is beginning at
[34:05] 7:00 a.m. This year's tournament
celebrates the 50th anniversary of
[34:11] Christmas Wish.
Do you have anything else?
[34:15] Okay.
Without further business, this meeting
[34:19] is adjourned.
[34:28] » Commissioner Dean.
>> It's okay. They're going to put your
[34:31] picture in.
[34:36] Okay.