At its Sept. 2 meeting, the Owensboro City Commission approved a slate of appointments and personnel actions, approved cost-of-living adjustments for two closed legacy pension plans, received a first reading of a budget amendment ordinance and voted to enter a closed session to discuss a business proposal.

Appointments: City Clerk Beth Davis read several appointments and reappointments. The Commission approved the nominations, including the Owensboro City Utility Commission appointment of Kyle Odd to fill an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2025 and to a subsequent three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2026; reappointment of Landon Tong to a three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2026; ratification of Marty Thorpe and an appointment of Chief James Howard to one-year terms effective Jan. 1, 2026; reappointments to neighborhood and planning boards; and the reappointment of Ted Johnston to the ambulance contracting authority. The commission voted to approve the slate (vote counts not specified).

Pensions: The commission read and approved Municipal Order 28-2025, granting a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for eligible annuitants in the closed Owensboro Police and Firefighters Retirement Fund; the city manager said that plan has 18 remaining annuitants and that the increase was recommended by the plan’s board. The commission also approved Municipal Order 29-2025, a 2.8% COLA for eligible annuitants under the closed city employees pension fund (including former OMU employees); the city manager said that plan has 10 remaining members and is financially sound at no cost to the city.

Budget ordinance (first reading): The clerk read Ordinance 20-2025 (first reading), an amendment to the fiscal-year budget to carry forward appropriations, accept several grant awards and appropriate funds for capital projects and a land purchase. The city manager said the amendment incorporates recent grant awards, including one to offset the cost of adding an additional police officer so the city can add the position at reduced cost. The ordinance was read on first reading; no final vote on the ordinance was recorded at this meeting.

Financials and personnel: Angela Wanninger presented the October financial report. She said October actual revenues were $11,665,381 versus budgeted revenues of $9,792,051, a positive variance of $1,873,330; four-month revenues were $26,914,803 versus budgeted $25,721,000 (variance $1,193,803), driven primarily by higher insurance premium license fees and property taxes. She told the commission that 6% of the insurance premium tax goes to the general fund and 4% to downtown revitalization debt service. The commission approved the financial report for audit. The commission also approved several personnel actions, including probationary and regular appointments in transit and police effective in December.

Closed session: Mayor Tom Watson moved to enter closed session under '61.811 (g)' to discuss a specific proposal with representatives of a business entity; the motion was seconded and passed. The mayor said there would be no business following the closed session.

Votes: Multiple motions recorded at the meeting carried; where vote tallies were not read aloud the minutes record the outcomes as 'motion carries' but do not provide individual votes.