Daviess County Fiscal Court approves multiple grants, contracts and bid awards

Daviess County Fiscal Court approved a package of resolutions, grant applications, contract awards and surplus declarations during its March 20, 2025 meeting.

The court approved a second reading of an amendment to Article 18 of the Owensboro Metropolitan Zoning Ordinance (KOC 9-21.68603). County Treasurer Mr. Johnson told the court the amendment had been heard and recommended by the Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Commission and that the official record had been filed for the court’s consideration. The court adopted the amendment by voice vote.

The court approved Resolution No. 4-2025 to participate in the state program that reimburses counties for transporting nonpublic school students; county staff said the anticipated budgeted expense is $300,000 and the state will reimburse eligible costs after reconciliation.

Two Kentucky Office of Homeland Security Law Enforcement Protection Program (LEPP) grant applications were approved for the Daviess County Detention Center: one request for taser units and accessories (requested grant funds $87,748.80 against total cost $108,021.45) and one body-armor grant for 30 vests (requested grant funds $20,100). County staff said any award will be followed by a memorandum of agreement from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security that will return to the court for final approval.

The court authorized termination actions related to industrial revenue bonds issued to Scott Paper Company after staff said the bonds are paid in full; the resolution authorizes county officials to execute documents to transfer the affected property to Kimberly-Clark, identified by staff as Scott Paper’s successor in interest.

A grant agreement with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development was approved for the Stanley Park lighting component of a Land and Water Conservation Fund project. County staff said the county previously applied for assistance for the project’s $145,808 local match and that the grant will cover up to $138,865 of that local match.

The court declared two former federal surplus Humvee vehicles surplus and authorized disposal by electronic auction; the sheriff’s office told the court it had no use for the units and county staff said the vehicles are free of federal program restrictions.

The court awarded multiple public bids: a walking-floor trailer to Vomac Truck Sales and Service ($110,900), two fifth-wheel road tractors also to Vomac ($309,058), a replacement restroom at Yellow Creek Park to Massaro and West Construction LLC ($392,500), and picnic shelters at Yellow Creek Park and Panther Creek Park each to Massaro and West Construction LLC ($152,500 each). Procurement staff said the recommended vendors were “known vendors” and that lower bids were rejected where submissions contained exceptions to specifications.

Other approved items included a contract with the Davis County Audubon Society to install a pollinator plot on the greenbelt near the lake (Audubon to maintain the plot), annual contracts for the county’s Independence Day fireworks and stage/entertainment services with Star Pyro and the Eric Group, and consent to an assignment of gas-rights financing tied to Owensboro RNG, the landfill gas-to-pipeline project; county staff said that consent has no fiscal impact on county government.

Several routine personnel and hiring actions were approved, including the promotion of a public works employee to construction foreman and the hiring of seasonal park attendants. The court also approved various other routine claims, minutes and departmental items.

Votes were taken by voice; actions were recorded as approved by the court unless otherwise noted on the record.