[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6656802,"mediaKeyId","5116034-6fabca1ff8014f9dc769d7670b3194e6","parentId",5116034,"title","Owensboro commissioners approve minutes and personnel appointments","audioSeconds",100,"startMs",3490000,"endMs",3590000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5116034-6fabca1ff8014f9dc769d7670b3194e6&start=3490&end=3590","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5116034-6fabca1ff8014f9dc769d7670b3194e6/thumbnail_3490000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6656802/Owensboro-City/Daviess-County/Kentucky/Owensboro-commissioners-approve-minutes-and-personnel-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656802-2f89ae12f8fd5ccb99c3815705b80424/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186590&Signature=LrPPIBXaW6YnPUQBR2~F2TKX-f4mKtujsz6hOjNC83lusZTwHwGl4MHk~h~HTfsSjDditEbm3-N8xcdWe5eE9Ek0z3GpSKgu99PeGI8N2cxU~VpseaTmXQg0ETXl8EZlYCf2IMklk3WcCeJwNhLcGbZKWeqmKnLxtDhLCGzoEQyi5dq5c2drV9vBzXS7lO7qaN2M1JfIgJaq6-ksHdegXHLwBYwmxxnbaaCQmbxWNanayJrdcEXP1dZltvk-x~W1Eyas9olpZZRiW6ixrBbKl01Fx4dKvfrTQXsBmrLcrhJACfGguj9jc2mXbo7ZvG6S8AuYlGHyHLqGb5UB7Abkkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Owensboro, KY","date","2025-07-01T23:11:18.937Z","article","The Owensboro City Commission approved the minutes from its June 17, 2025 meeting and confirmed a set of personnel appointments and status changes during the meeting.

The commission president moved to approve the minutes dated 06/17/2025; a commissioner seconded the motion and the chair called the voice vote. \"Hearing none, all in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. All opposed? Motion carries,\" the chair said.

City manager items included new-hire and promotional probationary appointments and confirmations of regular status after probation. Appointments announced by staff include:

- Megan Knox, probationary full-time, non-civil-service appointment to recreation specialist, Parks and Recreation, effective July 14.
- Britney Klotzbach, probationary full-time promotional appointment to recreational facilities manager, Parks and Recreation, effective July 13.
- Kevin Lang, probationary full-time promotional appointment to sergeant, Police Department, effective July 13.
- Susan Craiggo, regular full-time, non-civil-service appointment to Clerk Typus, Personnel Department, effective July 1.
- Miranda Zunan, regular full-time, non-civil-service appointment to telecommunicator, Central Dispatch, effective July 1.

A commissioner moved to approve the appointments, the motion was seconded and the chair stated the motion carried by voice vote: \"Any other discussion? Hearing none, all in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. All opposed? Motion carries.\"

The transcript records the motions and that they were approved by voice vote; it does not include a roll-call tally or individual votes in the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Owensboro Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - July 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Owensboro City Commission approved minutes from June 17, 2025, and several personnel appointments and status changes during the meeting; motions passed by voice vote with no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript.","taxTitle","Owensboro City, Daviess County, Kentucky","taxId",5709,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6656807,"Residents urge Owensboro commissioners to allow backyard hens with rules",50,3980000,4030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5116034-6fabca1ff8014f9dc769d7670b3194e6&start=3980&end=4030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5116034-6fabca1ff8014f9dc769d7670b3194e6/thumbnail_3980000.jpg","/articles/6656807/Owensboro-City/Daviess-County/Kentucky/Residents-urge-Owensboro-commissioners-to-allow-backyard-hens-with-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656807-20a5febb190aeb6e5f81df631d54d8ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186589&Signature=W0GAA4LigqgxPtS4SPz0Z0OfwgY3eoMulaCkfXCigh9GuAy~mFYT914rJ2kFXI4GgMXonKKAQAjFcVd7tvtU8cQHNxrv0KHVoyNDycIHZyrA7V1SObgqXIJ4120QoLQ6i4ntJ3IR92hD~5Eso5u4MGlofBS2XkwcSVFnKj~2XJ8Yf6Bt9UlOs45BFcVYO2VCneiu-uRvKHQWcPozm9RFq5AzKSe3MvZf0y-ZGU5mvlUVXkGUGzpMuyn9YRCfMo9ROieZUez75MFnP9AB6sD3hzgRJNfDTWm3CnMnZSVMHpscOc0VONpRnzZJvZhb0X2T7XqL2xbu1tDXT4TDUFNTcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two Owensboro residents used the commission's open public forum to ask city officials to adopt rules allowing backyard hens in residential neighborhoods.

\"Hens, not roosters, are pretty quiet, cleaner than many dogs, and produce a lot less waste,\" said Isabelle Burkett, who gave her address and told commissioners she has spoken to the body previously. Burkett asked for limits such as a cap of four to six hens, no roosters, setback requirements for coops, enclosed clean living spaces and a registration or permitting requirement with animal-control inspections.

\"We're not asking for a free-for-all. We're asking for just a thoughtful ordinance that supports families, teaches kids responsibilities, and promotes food security, and respects our neighbors,\" Burkett said.

Another speaker, Shelby Eads, also spoke in favor of backyard hens. \"They offer families fresh, nutritious eggs right from their own yard, free from worms and antibiotics,\" Eads said. She added that hens help reduce food waste and provide natural fertilizer for gardens, and described them as \"quiet, clean, when properly cared for, and a practical step towards greater food security and sustainability in our community.\"

Burkett and Eads cited examples from other Kentucky cities that allow backyard hens and recommended local rules to address neighborhood concerns about noise, odor and property values. The speakers did not propose specific ordinance language; both requested the commission consider a regulated approach that would include setbacks, coop standards and permitting.

No action was taken during the meeting; city staff and commissioners did not announce a next step on the topic during the forum.","Two residents urged the Owensboro City Commission during open public forum to adopt an ordinance allowing backyard hens (no roosters), citing food security, education for children and examples from other Kentucky cities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6656811,"Owensboro Municipal Utilities to move into MISO, signs transitional contracts with Big Rivers and NextEra",1632,1605000,3237000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5116034-6fabca1ff8014f9dc769d7670b3194e6&start=1605&end=3237","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5116034-6fabca1ff8014f9dc769d7670b3194e6/thumbnail_1605000.jpg","/articles/6656811/Owensboro-City/Daviess-County/Kentucky/Owensboro-Municipal-Utilities-to-move-into-MISO-signs-transitional-contracts-with-Big-Rivers-and-NextEra","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656811-f30e5d9b578a053129b4a59af782f296/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186589&Signature=gv8cEs9s7xeqGJoKRfY~gprs~dH7zYxQW~vvqnb4~mtOc35HawK2xUm-LHqiKJYqHD08cu9sBwFVTf3H0nNzOuz6YMWTqXwM0YViy2cmxUI6oqiPRyPyZj~4BNvp9EYcTEo0Y9Neq-JTyADJ7SPtVfZG3qM3gY17JkfbSV-tRLGScX7ptEgyuA4xGT-TialW4bUWquYZIdQKCvGEd9ek5yD~BCkuYVh5uWkWqkDOl6qb-NfNMDnwIwHMTHW4AGY~zW7ZvPNdUMODInJ-uMAvgfzj4Wk6F5hdnUB73uALDzByhbJQOAjj91hEkw4d6xPVPz4SFRZk-x3NW-uy9dADIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Owensboro Municipal Utilities officials told the Owensboro City Commission that the utility will migrate its power supply from the LG&E and KU control area into the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) market, with a transition beginning in early 2027 and a long-term supply contract with NextEra Energy starting June 1, 2027.

\"We are in the process of making some significant changes to the way we provide power to the city here in about 2 years,\" Tim Lyons, general manager of Owensboro Municipal Utilities, said during the presentation. Lyons said OMU's contract with Big Rivers Electric expires Dec. 31, 2026, and that OMU expects to be a MISO market participant effective March 1, 2027, with a short-term Big Rivers supply contract running Jan. 1\u000027May 31, 2027 to assist the migration.

Lyons said OMU conducted an integrated resource planning process beginning in 2022 and issued a request for proposals in 2023 seeking capacity and energy options, including combined-cycle natural gas, and examined economics, risk and flexibility. \"Throughout the evaluation process ... it was apparent that ... it would be beneficial for Owensboro Municipal to move from the LG and E system to the MISO system,\" he said.

Lyons said OMU has arranged for Big Rivers to purchase certain transmission assets from LG&E so that OMU can establish an interconnection into MISO. \"OME agrees to move into MISO upon the closing sale of the assets, and we are proposing the closing date of the sale will be March 1 of 20 27,\" Lyons said.

OMU also announced a long-term power supply agreement with NextEra Energy through 2034. \"With NextEra Energy Marketing as OMU's energy provider, we provide extensive knowledge and operational experience,\" Jack Sullivan, senior director of originations for NextEra, said. Sullivan described NextEra as an experienced wholesale-market participant and said NextEra serves public power customers in the MISO footprint.

Officials outlined timing and customer impacts. Lyons said the short-term Big Rivers agreement covers service during January and February 2027 while OMU completes migration steps, and that OMU expects to begin participating fully in MISO on March 1, 2027. The NextEra contract is scheduled to begin June 1, 2027.

OMU officials warned customers that power prices have been increasing nationally and said part of the utility\u000027s planning assumes some rate pressure. Lyons cited an example projection in which residential rates move from about 13.4 cents per kilowatt-hour to roughly 15 cents in the next 12 months. He said OMU plans a two-step approach: an Energy Cost Adjustment (ECA) change in the fall followed by a cost-of-service review and potential base rate adjustment in spring.

OMU described expected benefits from joining MISO: broader access to capacity and energy sources, greater transmission planning and flexibility, the ability to tap competitive wholesale resources and options for integrating renewables. Lyons said OMU\u000027s goals are to preserve reliability and manage overall costs for customers.

The presentation also summarized OMU\u000027s recent infrastructure funding awards and operational statistics: OMU serves about 27,000 electric customers, more than 26,000 water customers and is approaching 6,000 telecommunications customers; it cited approximately $4 million in city/county/state funds for Hillcrest area water improvements, about $1.3 million for a river port waterline upgrade, roughly $1 million for an economic development waterline upgrade, $1.7 million for a transmission tower replacement and near-90% funding for a $600,000 reconductoring project. Lyons said the combined electric and water projects total \"over $8,000,000 in funds.\" He also noted awards such as the American Public Power Association RP3 platinum status and American Water Works Association recognitions.

Commissioners asked about infrastructure capacity for future large industrial customers and cybersecurity and grid reliability. Lyons said OMU believes it has distribution capability for roughly 20\u000020to\u00002030 megawatts of growth and that partnering with a larger market participant and access to MISO\u000027s transmission planning improves reliability. Lyons said if a very large customer sought on-site generation, OMU would explore options with potential partners.

Lyons and Sullivan fielded questions about rate impacts, grid resilience and how flexible contracts would accommodate local growth. Lyons said OMU intends to use contract flexibility to support commercial and industrial development and to mitigate customer impacts where possible.

Lyons closed by reiterating the timeline: a short-term Big Rivers contract Jan. 1\u000027May 31, 2027, MISO market entry on March 1, 2027, and the NextEra contract beginning June 1, 2027. He and a NextEra representative remained available for questions after the presentation.","Owensboro Municipal Utilities (OMU) outlined a multiyear plan to leave LG&E\u000026KU's control area and join the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), including a short-term contract with Big Rivers Electric and a long-term supply agreement with NextEra Energy beginning June 1, 2027.","actionData","errors"]

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Owensboro commissioners approve minutes and personnel appointments

Residents urge Owensboro commissioners to allow backyard hens with rules

Owensboro Municipal Utilities to move into MISO, signs transitional contracts with Big Rivers and NextEra