Board approves street renaming, county animal control adoption and consolidated CDBG/HOME plan; several routine motions also pass

The Owensboro Board of Commissioners approved multiple items on May 20, 2025, including two ordinances on second reading, a municipal order for community development funding plans and several routine procedural motions.

Ordinances and municipal order - Ordinance 4‑2025 (second reading): The board approved renaming Taylor Avenue to Kamoff Way at the request of Owensboro Catholic High School to honor Charlie and Linda Kamoff. Roll call votes recorded in the transcript show unanimous approval by the five voting commissioners (Commissioner Sanford — yes; Commissioner Nesmith — yes; Mayor Thomas Hart Watson — yes; Commissioner Maglinger — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Glenn — yes).

- Ordinance 5‑2025 (second reading): The board approved repealing the prior city ordinance and adopting the countywide animal control ordinance (the county’s updated animal control rules). City staff explained the county ordinance addresses domesticated animal nuisances, animal cruelty, pet shops and kennel regulation, impoundment and related matters. Roll call votes recorded show unanimous approval.

- Municipal Order 11‑2025 (one reading): The commission approved the 2025–2029 consolidated plan and the 2025–2026 annual action plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership funds. The Year‑1 action plan proposes deploying $542,893 in CDBG funds and $273,553 in HOME funds for single‑family rehabilitation, emergency repairs, façade and demolition grants, and first‑time homebuyer assistance focused on the Monarch Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA). City staff said the investments are expected to leverage approximately $4,000,000 in private capital over five years; the plan was endorsed by the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Development.

Routine approvals and other action - Minutes: Approval of minutes from April 29 and May 6, 2025 was moved, seconded and adopted by voice vote.

- Appointments: The board approved multiple board appointments by voice vote, including neighborhood alliance appointments and an appointment (Curtis Maglinger) to fill an unexpired term on the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum Board through November 2026.

- Financial report: The board approved the April financial report (period ending 04/30/2025). Finance staff reported that April revenues were $8,085,405, $816,177 above budget for the month, driven by higher net profits, insurance license fees and interest income; year‑to‑date general fund revenues through April were $67,304,253 versus a budgeted $64,044,142 (a $3,260,111 positive variance). Staff noted a $523,000 transfer to TIF funds occurred earlier than typical timing and that net profits were about $2,000,000 over budget year‑to‑date.

- Personnel: The commission approved several personnel appointments (new hires and one change to regular status) including new hires effective June 2 for public works and police positions and a firefighter (Andrew Wilson) granted regular status effective May 28.

- Closed session motion: The board voted to enter closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(b) to discuss a proposed property acquisition; the motion carried and the mayor said no action would be taken that night.

All votes noted in the transcript carried; several votes were recorded by voice (aye) without roll‑call tallies. Where roll calls occurred, the transcript provides commissioner names and recorded “yes” votes as noted above.