Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

It's a good haircut. Welcome to the board of commissioners regular meeting May the 5th. Thank you all for being here. At this time we'll have city clerk Beth Davis to please call the role. Commissioner Jeff Sanford here. Commissioner Sharon Nesmith here. Mayor Tom Watson here. Commissioner Curtis Maginger here. Mayor Pro Tim Bob Glenn here.

Okay. U next item on the agenda is invocation and a pledge. If you have hats on, please take them off and please pray with me. Heavenly Father, we come before you with a humble and contrite heart with colorblind with a colorblind merit-based philosophy, knowing full well that you can't undo the past, just live for the future. And where else would you rather be than right here, right now? It is a gift to be trusted to lead. And that is what we must do. We must always shoot for the moon. And if you miss, you're going to still be in the stars. And one of the greatest tragedy tragedies in life is that you get too old too soon and wise too late. So we ask for the blessings and for all those who keep us safe. police, fire, public works, all our staff. And may the peace of God which passes all understanding, let's keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and the love of God and of his son Jesus Christ. And may the blessings of God Almighty be amongst us and remain with us always. Amen.

So please stand for the pledge. Who's going to lead us? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

First presentation tonight, something called a cheer team. I'm not really sure what that is. They like cheerleaders or something. Burns Middle School cheer team attend that means stand up and everybody's got to bite that metal like they do on the TV. You know, Burns Middle School recently made history capturing its first ever national championship at the 2026 UCA National High School cheer cheerleading competition in Orlando, Florida. competing against 17 teams in the junior high non-tumble. Does that mean

you just jump up and down? You don't roll around or anything. All right, gotcha. Uh per um let's see, where was I? Delivered an outstanding performance, finishing first in both semi-finals and finals and winning their division by an impressive 5.7 points. What was the total you could get? 10.

Okay. This remarkable achievement reflects not only their talent, but also their dedication, teamwork, and school spirit. Their success is a proud moment for Burns Middle School and for the entire Orangeboro community. Let's hear it for them. Come on up. Turn around. That way I can pop you in the back of the head if you get out of line. There you go. Now you got to get me in the picture, too. There you go. Great. Good job.

Can y'all do like the rockets and do the mic? Yeah, she's got them on the Can you do like a little rockets or something?

Thank you. No, I read this. I didn't read that. It's in English, isn't it? Let's see. City of Owensboro Mayor's Award of Distinction. This is to certify that Burns Middle School cheer team has been awarded this certificate in recognition of outstanding achievement May 7th, 2026. Congratulations.

You have to stay for the rest of the meeting. Just be sure to thank your coaches and parents, too.

There you go. That a pass. Okay. Next item on the agenda is is a drinking water week. Um,

the reps are Tim Lines, Chriser, Ashton Warren, Dr. Tom Addex, Brian Harris, anybody else? I didn't see you hiding nowhere. Y'all supposed to come up now. Wasn't my fault I weren't on the list. She's last minute. She's last minute.

On down then. This a proclamation by the city of Orangeboro. All our employees, all our retirees, and all the citizens. Whereas access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water is essential to the health, well-being, and economic vitality of our community. And whereas the Orangeboro Municipal Utilities has proudly served the Orangeboro community for over Anybody want to guess? Keep going. Keep going. Keep going. 125 years. Wow. That's pretty good. I didn't know I wasn't even here then.

Whereas dedicated water professionals work around the clock to ensure the delivery of safe and dependable water through the maintenance, monitoring and improvement of critical infrastructure. And whereas American Waterworks Association and its members across North America recognize drinking water week as an opportunity to highlight the importance of water, celebrate the professionals who deliver it and encourage water conservation and stewardship. And whereas the city of Orangeboro is committed to supporting efforts that protect our water resources and promote public awareness of the value of safe drinking. Therefore, I Thomas Hart Watson, mayor of the city of Orangeboro, do proclaim May 3 through 9 as 2026 as drinking water week in Orangeboro, Kentucky, and encourage all residents to recognize the essential role of clean drinking water and the importance of protecting this vital resource. Signed and sealed this 5th day of May, 2026. All right, there we are. Now, you can slide back in the middle now. Where's my little buddy?

Yeah, I gota have somebody else with gray hair here.

Thank you. Thank you. See you.

All right, baby. Good see. have another proclamation to present to OPD. Who's here on behalf of OPD? Come on, state. Come on up, fellas. How you doing, man?

It's getting old. Okay. Proclamation from the city of Orangeboro. Whereas the members of the Orangeboro Police Department serve this community with professionalism, courage, and dedication, working each day to protect the safety and well-being being of our residents. And whereas law enforcement officers play a vital role in strengthening neighborhoods, building community trust, and responding to the challenges that arise in service to others. And whereas National Police Week provides an opportunity to recognize the invaluable contributions of law enforcement officers in Orangeboro and across the nation. Whereas this observance also honors those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty as well as the families who support them in their service. Whereas May 15 is designated police officers memorial day a day set aside to remember and pay tribute to the following officers and their endearing legacy. Therefore, I, Thomas Art Watson, mayor of the city of Orangeboro, to proclaim May 11th through the 16th as National Police Week in Orangeboro, Kentucky, and encourage all citizens to join in honoring the service, sacrifice, and commitment of the men and women of the Orangeboro Police Department and law enforcement agencies nationwide. There you go. Anybody welcome to speak at the mic if they'd like. Come on.

They got a gun and everything. You afraid to get on the mic.

Thank you. Of course. We thank you all for recognizing this and I think it's really fitting that one of our brand new officers who's on the street with his training officer right now was able to join us here tonight. He came through our academy um is now starting out his career and I'm on the twilight side of my career. So I think it's very very fitting that we're bookmarked on both sides. So thank you all for recognizing that. Thanks.

Okay. Next item on the agenda will be consider approval of minutes a dated April 21 and April 28th, 2026. I'll make a motion to approve. Could I have a second, please? Second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, indicate by saying I. I. All oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. Item 5B, consider board appointments Historic Preservation Board. Reappoint Aaron Kaiser to a three-year term effective May 19th, 2026. I'll make a motion to approve this appointment. Could I have a second? Second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor indicate by saying I. I. I.

Motion approve. Item six be the ordinance. Roll call vote. Boss. Ordinance 8-2026 an ordinance annexing to the city of Owensboro certain unincorporated territory in the county of Davis adjoining the present boundary line of the city being property located at the end of Hunter Ridge and Summer Valley Lane. Hunter Ridge Subdivision phase three containing a total of 55.578 acres more or less at the request of Hunter Ridge Estates LLC read for approval on second reading this fifth day of May 2026. Thank you. I make a motion to approve. Could I have a second? Second. City Manager, please.

Yes, mayor. This is Excuse me. This is second reading of an ordinance annexing approximately 55 and a half acres. Property that we're annexing under this ordinance is an expansion of the Hunter Ridge subdivision. The existing homes in that neighborhood are all in the city currently. This is a consensual annexation. So, the developer of the subdivision has requested that we annex the property and then we'll consider a standard annexation incentive later in this meeting. Thank you. Okay. I'll make a motion to approve. I have a second. Second. Any discussion? Roll call. Commissioner Sanford. Yes, Commissioner Nesmith. Yes, Mayor Watson.

Yes, Commissioner Mager. Yes, Mayor Pro Tim Glenn. Yes. Thank you. Item 6B, please. Ordinance 9-2026, an ordinance changing the name of Lagoon Lane to Bertoi Way, read for approval on second reading this 5th day of May, 2026. Okay. I'll entertain a motion. Some move. I have a second. Second. City manager, please.

Yes. Last year, Ms. Conan, who now owns Ragu, announced a large investment and expansion of their local facility. As part of that project, the company will use Lagoon Lane for some of their access for truck traffic to their property in addition to their existing access or entrance on Ragu Drive. Uh, Lagoon is immediately east of their property and it's really the old bypass rightway kind of between Ragu and the RWR plant back there. Uh, the company asked if we would consider renaming Lagoon. So accordingly, this is second reading of an ordinance changing the name of Lagoon Lane to Berolei way. Bertolei is one of the lines that they produce here in addition to the main Ragu product. So that's why they requested this and we're happy to accommodate their uh request based on their large expansion and long-term investment in our community.

Any further discussion? They do. You have something I thought you um they produce a million bottles of that Bertelli stuff. It's amazing. It's a good day. A day. Anyone? It's amazing. It's the best smell in town. It really is when they rent vent it. Oh, it's good. Okay. Roll call, please. Mayor Pro Tim Glenn, yes. Commissioner Mager, yes. Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Nesmith, yes. Commissioner Sanford, thank you. Yes. Approved. Item seven, please.

Municipal order 15-2026. a municipal order authorizing and directing the mayor to execute a memorandum of agreement with Hunter Ridge Estates LLC providing for the consensual annexation of unincorporated property located in Davis County at the end of Hunter Ridge and Summer Valley Lane, Hunter Ridge Subdivision phase three containing a total of 55.578 acres more or less and further providing that the city shall reimburse Hunter Ridge Estates LLC 100% of the total ad balorum excluding school tax, net profits, and general fund occupational tax revenues derived from the property over designated 5-year periods read for approval on one reading this fifth day of May, 2026.

You I'll make a motion to approve. Could I have a second? Second. City manager, please. Yes, sir. Mayor, this municipal order approves our standard annexation incentive for the Hunters Bridge expansion that annexation that you approved just moments ago. This is our standard incentive that we do relatively often for developments like this, which is a five-year incremental tax rebate to the developer to reimburse for their costs. Thank you. Any further discussion? We rolling. All in favor indicate saying I. I. All oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. Item 7B.

Municipal order 16-2026. A municipal order approving the 2026 2027 annual action plan for community development block grant and home investment partnership funds. Read for approval on one reading this fifth day of May 2026. Entertain to approve. Motion to approve. Thank you. Second, please. Second.

City manager. The Citizens Advisory Group on Community Development recently approved the city's 2026 2027 annual action plan which focuses on addressing affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and economic development. It is a targeted emphasis in the Monarch neighborhood revitalization strategy area where low-income households, aging housing, and cost burden housing are significant challenges. Using $566,000 in CDBG funds and $281,000 in federal home funds, the city will continue to support housing rehabilitation, new construction, down payment assistance, commercial facade improvements, and infrastructure upgrades, home ownership, and promote long-term community stability. This municipal order approves the 2026 2027 annual action plan as recommended by the citizens advisory group on community development and consistent with our past programs in these areas.

Thank you. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor indicate by saying I. I. All oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. Item 7 C please. Municipal order 17-2026. A municipal order approving the community catalyst grant programs targeted for the Monarch neighborhood revitalization strategy area with the potential to expand to other eligible areas. Read for approval on one reading this fifth day of May 2026. Thank you. I'll make a motion to approve. Could I have a second, please? Second. City manager.

Yes. In addition to the various federally funded programs included in the annual action plan which you just approved for the last several years we've supplemented and enhanced those options by offering locally funded programs we call community catalyst grants. These grants have been used to improve the condition of housing in the strategic areas like Monarch and previously in the northwest and others in which we are operating. This municipal order approves continuing those community catalyst grants in the Monarch area. Uh relatedly the budget meeting last week there was discussion about expanding some of these community callous grants beyond the target area. This MO border allows the programs to be expanded outside of the target area if and when you choose to provide funding to do so. So essentially it will provide the regulatory approval to expand the programs but no funding is attached at this time. So if you like to expand those in the future we just have to go back and appropriate funds through a subsequent budget amendment for that purpose.

Okie dokie. Any other discussion? Uh, Commissioner Sanford.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh, I just want to say on on this, I think this is we all know there's a shortage of housing and it's nationwide and I think something like this and taking it citywide is a very good idea and I appreciate you putting that on there, Nate, and all the other I think everybody's kind of on the same page. But, you know, rehab housing, taking houses that are already there and letting the entrepreneurs go out and redo these houses. And most of the houses that get redone are generally for firsttime home buyers and low-income families. And what's so cool about that is the stabilization of children that live in a decent house is very, very important to our community. So, I I think this is wonderful and I and there's so many properties that we see around our city that are blighted that need help. And there's people out there who'll do these things. And it's it's a pride for the neighborhoods that they're in because once one house gets fixed up, other people in the neighborhood start to fix their houses up. Even if they're not in the program, they may start uh taking care of the outside a little bit and landscaping or doing whatever. But, uh, I I think this is this is a no-brainer and and it's a way for us to help, um, uh, close the gap on the shortage of housing and, uh, I think it's a a great idea. That's all, mayor. Thank you.

You're welcome. Any other discussion? Hearing none. All in favor indicate by saying I. I.

All oppose. Motion carries. Item 7D, please. Municipal Order 18-2026, a municipal order authorizing and directing the mayor to execute an application for an office of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention fiscal year 25 opioid affected youth initiative program grant through the US Department of Justice in the amount of $750,000 and authorizing and directing the funds to be dispersed to volunteers of America Midstates, Inc. and authorizing and directing the mayor to execute an agreement with volunteers of America Midstates, Inc. concerning the funds. Read for approval on one reading this 5th day of May, 2026.

Okay. I'll make a motion to approve this. Could I have a second, please? Second. City manager, please.

Yes, Mayor. This Florida approves a grant application on behalf of Freedom House Owensboro, which is the Volunteers of America or VA facility soon to open on Frederick Street there at the old Browning Furniture area. Uh the application is for up to $750,000 over three years to serve approximately 105 youth and 55 families including pregnant and postpartum women by delivering coordinated prevention, intervention and treatment services for those impo impacted by opioid and other substance abuse disorders across our community. The city is merely a pass through grant or it's merely a pass through for this grant application and so as such we have no obligation or commitment. So these are not local dollars. They are uh federal grant dollars that we're applying for. They're not eligible to apply directly. So, we do this fairly often where we'll apply for agencies on their behalf and just act as a facilitator or pass through for the funds.

I went to one of those meetings in Louisville and to listen to this young lady was with child and no husband and trying to get off drugs. It was very impactful. I'll tell you that. So, these BOA folks are they're good folks. So, okay. Any other discussion? I got one question for a city manager. Um, so how many uh families or or you know, do we have any idea how many units or how many clients will be served by this facility? U commissioner, just what I read in my comments and I actually just lost the document. I think it was 105 uh is what it was referenced in the grant application.

Okay. And just for the public, because I've had a lot of people email and text me about this, does this violate our moratorum on group homes? Uh, no sir, it does not. This was started well before the moratorium was put in place. So, it is opening now. So, construction started, you know, what 18 to 24 months ago probably. And that moratorum, I think, was put in place in November. So, they were well uh well in advance of the moratorum. All right. Thank you both. Thank you, mayor. Good. I have a question. Yes, ma'am. So, uh, the grant, we still don't have an idea whether it's going to be approved or not. So, we're competing with other communities for this this do these dollars, right?

That's correct. This is a grant application. Okay. All right. I want to make sure I understood. Thank you. You got to know somebody in the grant business. Let's see if I can maybe I'll offer a free hotel room. Okay. Any other comments? Hearing none. All in favor indicate by saying I. I. All oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. City manager items. You want me to read these? Are you going to uh No, sir. I will. That's a little toy not working right now.

Computer's a little slow today, unfortunately. Uh, yes. So, first we have the following personnel appointments for a new hire. Tracing Campbell, a probationary full-time non-Ivil service appointment to firefighter with the fire department effective May 18th. There is a note there with various contingencies, but Trac has subsequently passed all of his pre-employment screenings. That is no longer a qualified appointment. Probationary full-time non-Ivil service promotional appointments of Steven Casey and Chad Gilbert as sergeants with the police department effective May 17th. And regular full-time non-ivil service appointments of Stson Brown as maintenance equipment operator with the street department effective May 4th. Scott Johnson, firefighter with fire department effective May 8th. and Jared Gray, road worker with the street department effective May 17th.

Thank you. I'll make a motion to approve. Could I have a second, please? Second. Any further discussion? None. All in favor, indicate by saying I. All oppose. Motion carries. See the manager comments? Uh, just one. In addition to the various acknowledgements earlier, this is also professional municipal clerk's week. So, I'd like to take a second to briefly acknowledge Beth Davis and her efforts and Her leadership is important and underappreciated. So, just wanted to acknowledge her. Mayor, that's it. Would you like to say something to the folks? No, thank you. I already have. Yes, she's the boss. Okay. Where are we? Am I voting? No, sir.

Number nine, communication from elected officials. Commissioner Sampler. Uh just very broadly, it's a uh graduation season. So I just wanted to kind of uh say congratulations to all the people graduating from colleges and uh high school and middle school, grade school. Um, man, congratulations to all the parents that all the hard work getting these kids through school, getting all the bills paid and running around and doing all the things you got to do to get these kiddo brought up and get them to get them to all their practices and bands and all the dance teams, cheerleading, all the things I might do. But, uh, it's, uh, it's something to be proud of is raising kids and getting them in the right spots. That's it, Mayor.

Thank you, Commissioner Glenn. Just two items. Uh there have been a number of complaints from citizens at neighborhood alliances about uh people speeding down streets, specifically Nenah Drive and the Bon Harbor neighborhood and Martin Way in Ottabon Acres. I would just say where there's not much we can do in terms of signage because we have the uniform traffic control. Uh but I would say that you should think about your own family and children and slow down to whatever the speed limit is. The other is it's Mother's Day uh this weekend and I think each and every one of us should take a moment to uh if our mothers are still alive, make sure we honor them. If you had somebody that fulfilled that role as you grew up, recognize them. There are too many young people who do not have responsible parents in the home. And so when a mom stands up or grandma stands up and raises a child, they do incredible work. So Mother's Day is such a special day. Be sure to celebrate it. And if your mother has passed as mine has, just take time to remember all the good she did in your life and all the good she did in everyone else's life. That's it.

Mine was awful good at whipping me with that tag on switch. Was it a willow tree? It was a willow tree, man. That thing had a whip on it. And uh and I'd say to my wife, Barbara, great mother and have a we'll make sure she has a good Mother's Day. Uh, third Mag Glinger. Thank you, Mayor. Oh, thank you, Mayor. Want to wish everyone a happy Mother's Day and my mother also. And, uh, think we've got barbecue and barrels this weekend. So, want to say a special thank you to all of our public works, our special event team, and first responders. Everybody have a great time this weekend. Thank you, Mayor. You're welcome.

My turn.

Your turn. Well, that's why I wore the barbecue and barrels shirt. Uh there is a lot of things that are going on this weekend and but there's some new things. Uh, obviously the um the backyard cooks are coming back and there's going to be probably at least I'm going to use 50 50 plus and if you haven't gone that that's on Saturday morning around 10:00 and uh these families come in from like Louisiana other places of course locally a lot and uh they I've had anything from um smoked baloney to uh venison to just amazing ing foods. Uh, and it's also fun because of the uh just the family atmosphere that happens. Uh, so that's one of the um the and that again keep that in mind. Saturday morning 10:00 um it is usually when it starts and it runs for a couple of hours and into the afternoon. Also, the backyard cooks are moving just a little bit. They're still going to be on Second Street and they're going to go the the let's see I got to get my streets right. the locust between the convention center and the Hampton Inn. They're going to go down that street and around the back to the back side of the hotel. So, it's just a little bit different, but it'll give you another vision to go down uh to do that. The other thing that is different this year, uh we've always had arts and crafts. It's hard to get uh artists to want to come down to the river because they're going to have to I've seen them have to catch things as it blows off their uh their displays and that type thing. The convention center uh has sponsored a an event that is similar to what they do in the fall uh craft craft Kentucky. So, arts and crafts vendors will be in the convention center. It is free admission and I'm just going to use a number of 50 plus maybe 60 plus different people. So,

please go in there and so they'll encourage them to come back. Um the um the the halfp pot uh is still going on. That is a raffle and a lot of people we're obviously not com we're not even close to the competition for our neighbors across the river. However, we that have pot. I just want people to know that that is also used for other nonprofit items. Um we are uh partnering up with the Owensboro Museum of Science and History and uh they'll be selling in front of their booth and then there'll be several booths down through there. And then the other nice thing about it is if you actually have the winning ticket um you get half of what that money is. Uh, and I know the first year we did it, I don't have the I don't have the dollars in front of me and I don't see Tim where you can go flash me how much that is, but um if you if you have um if you want to support a good cause and some good causes and also maybe have a chance of winning, you know, somewhere between $5,000 up the last time it was that I know it's given out, it was like $7,000 for the winner. So, um there's just lots of things going on, but don't forget the main thing is um yes, we don't have the big pits anymore, unfortunately. But that doesn't mean we don't have the same food. Those uh church teams that are still participating, they cook the food back at the parish because they've already got those pits set up and they bring that same food down and they actually literally sell out of it and it's amazing how much. So, so please support them. And is it going to rain on barbecue festival? Of course, it's supposed to in it. I mean, that's what we do. However, um, according right now, it's not going to rain out anything. So, please come down and support it and and just walk around. Lots of entertainment. Uh, there is a Chase Matthews that is uh the entertainment in front of on

Saturday night with the um in front of the convention center. Um, I learned new things as I get older. So, I've always heard about a mosh pit, but what I haven't heard is that you can pay uh for this particular mosh pit, it's $25 a person. You you get to stand up stand up right in front of the stage for whatever the two or three hours and for for your $25 and they sold out like right away like 400 tickets already. So, obviously Chase Matthews is is someone that's going to be great. So, just doing that because it is a tradition. Yes, things had to change, but at least all the community and all the volunteers that still helped make that happen. Um, and then I'm I'm sorry I'm a little wordy tonight, but it's just, you know, different. I also made the opportunity to go see the um soft opening of Maui's, the theme park out at the that's taking place out at Town Square Mall, the old mall. And um when I walked in um I was just amazed. I was you're not expecting it. And of course, you go in there think you're going to see, you know, J C Penies and Macy's, that type thing. But you go in there and it's this huge area. Um there were uh this was a late Sat uh probably late Sunday afternoon. And uh there was probably I'm going to estimate around 200 people in there. Um lots of moms and dads, but probably 150 kids. And it was amazing the different ages. Um they're and of course they're going to this is their soft opening. they're going to keep um adding to some things. Um I was just impressed by not only just the quality of of everything that's there. Um you know, you've got but just the fun on the faces like um if you were like seven or eight years old and you wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle, you could sit on this motorcycle and you had the road in front of you. And if you all have kids, you all know what I'm talking about. And

they were literally just having a ball. Uh, one of the um, one of the kids I watched, they were in like a square tube and then they had a a tube that would push up these I call them sponge balls and the whole purpose was push them up because they're going to fall back down on your head. And the whole goal was you stood over and picked them up and stuffed them back in there as fast you could. Um, talked to a lot of families, Evansville, Henderson already very excited that that we were doing this. Uh, so it it was just fun. It was fun to see all the families there and the kids and the opportunity for um to have something indoors that we could offer. So, uh big thanks to everybody that made that happen and the uh the Hutton Hatton family that has done this. They are out of Lexington. The brothers are. So, just had to give a shout out there because it was it was fun. And and no, I didn't I didn't ride anything. Uh, I did want to drive the um the go-karts, but I don't know. I have a lead foot, so I didn't want to get in trouble. Uh, and they do have a couple different golf courses, so I am I think I can manage the mini golf course. So, just encourage everybody to give it a try and and watch for specials and things when they do open up. I'm through. Sorry. It was great. I can't help it. I was excited. It was fun. It's different. And

that's a great weekend. I was out there when they very first cleared it out to be what it was going to be. And I was amazed how big the place is. I know. It just takes your It's unreal how big that mall is. And And Tony Joerger is kind of heading that up and and it is going to it is going to take close the spot where everybody says, you know, that age group doesn't have any place to do anything to do or places to go. So, it's pretty impressive. My turn. Your turn.

Okay. Next item on the agenda is open public forum. Members of the audience may address the board of commissioners on any matter of public concern that was not on the agenda. Comments are limited to issues within the scope and responsibility of the commission. Commission meetings are held to conduct city business for the benefit of Orangeboro citizens and taxpayers. The meetings are not intended to serve as a public forums for candidates who are campaigning for public office. Political office political candidates will not be allowed to use the commission meeting to promote his or her candidacy for public office. This time, anyone who wishes to address the city commission, please make their way to the podium to be recognized. Speakers must state their name and their accurate address for the clerk's record and limit the remarks to three minutes or less. This item is not on the agenda. No response is required from the staff or the board of commissioners. The mayor reserves the right to extend the time of the speaker. So, I want to speak.

I knew you was here for something. Yep. Well, uh, my name is Charles Bonioani. I reside at 2403 Biddle Road. Um, not originally from Owensboro, Kentucky. We moved here in in the mid 90s from a big city, Los Angeles.

Okay. I uh understand uh how cities change. Uh Owensboro has changed a great deal since the mid 90s, as I'm sure all of you can can agree. Um, my my presence here is because I'm seeing things happen in the city that perhaps you all don't see, at least in my neighborhood. Uh, things aren't getting better. Um, although I have nothing but praise for the OPD. Most officers I spoke to are very good people. I have prior law enforcement uh with the Los Angeles Police Department. So, I know I see good cops. They're good. They're good police officers for the most part. um doesn't mean that there's not room for improvement. And uh in in my particular area, I live on a corner house and uh my Ring camera points out at that stop sign and I monitor it. I'm a truck driver, 35 years. I watch it routinely and 90% of the people don't even stop for the stop sign. They just run right through it. Not not even forget the speeding because most of the people up and down that road do nothing less than 4550 some even 60 plus believe it or not nor there's a Kentucky revised statute about noise that's not supposed to be I don't have the exact statute but I looked it up um that there's people with modified mufflers and I mean not just mufflers but music okay my house is a fairly large flat house and we have people that go by our house where it is actually so loud that I could my windows in the back of my home are shaking. So there obviously needs to be more

enforcement by the police department on noise ordinance. That's right off the bat. But the reason why I came here for is littering. Now, we have in our in our area, we have quite a bit of people that are out and about walking the neighborhood. That's great. Uh trying to lose weight, trying to get healthy. I applaud them. No questions asked. I have cameras 360 around my house. My kids think I'm a little bit paranoid. I don't care. I like to know what's going on at my house at all times. I see people routinely toss garbage into my yard. Okay. I go almost every day to pick up garbage in my yard. Okay. I've as I've talked I spoke to a couple of the commissioners here. I'm requesting the city because it is a bit of an expense and I don't believe I should be responsible for flipping the bill on this. Um I haven't got I got the pictures but I didn't send them to some of the commissioners. I said I'm I will get them to you. But I think the city should install give these people a chance to throw their trash away the right way with not just a plastic trash can, but like a park trash can since I get probably get a hundred people a day. No kidding. I haven't counted them, but it's quite a bit of foot traffic up and down Ellis. Just put one out. I'll I'll show you the pictures the commissioners that I spoke to. Just put I'll empty it. I don't mind emptying the trash. You the city doesn't have to service it, but get one of those sturdy park trash cans that's like concrete so nobody can mess with it and I'll empty it. I don't have a problem. But it's it's quite a nuisance. In fact, the gentleman across on my on Ella's side picked up two trash cans full of trash. And I heard rumors. I don't know. I I looked at my cameras. I didn't see anything, but there was some homeless

person that the police chased out of there sleeping in the in the brush. I like the brush because it gives us kind of a little bit of a privacy from my neighbor. So, I'm not saying anything about that, but he kind of has he's took it on his behalf to kind of clean up. So, we're trying to clean up the neighborhood, but we need the city's help. Um the sign signage and and trash can would be a great great deal, but we also need law enforcement. Um I'm working with I'm trying to get with the with the city and get the proper people's signatures to move my fence, which was when the original owners or the owners prior to me built the fence, they left an easement open. Now, that easement is no longer valid and it's not being used. So, I'm trying to get my fence back there because we had an issue with a lot of rentals in the area, literally next door to me, was running drugs. Okay. Being a former police officer, I understand. I see the symptoms. I know what it's about. That my that easement back there was like a walk up window for drug dealers. See a guy go out with a backpack. 20 minutes later he turns around and comes back. See a guy come over here. Come in. Come out. Drugs. Being from Los Angeles. I understand what drugs do to to a community. You want rot. You want You don't You do not want Owensboro to become Los Angeles. We love Owensboro. We consider this our home. But it's like I spoke to one of them. It's the broken window theory. You got to nip it in the bud.

So that's Thank you for your comments. I'm sorry. Thank you for your Oh, no problem. Thank you for your time.

You're feeling generous on the time today. I see. I love to see that myself. Everyone should know me, but I'll do it anyway. Glender Wright 711 Jed Place, Owensboro, Kentucky 42301. I will start with a positive today. I would like to give recognition to Owensboro Parks and Rex um for their free yoga and tai chi. Um I was really excited to see that come across my Facebook personally. Um I do private yoga or I do private boxing and powerlifting and so I'm really into Tai Chi and so I'm excited to see that I can kind of do that without having to come out of my pocket. So I'll start there and then I'd like to move on. Unfortunately I was in Alaska so I missed the um surprise budget meeting. Um, I do tend to come to every meeting. So, I would like to cover a few things um that were not on this agenda, but that was covered at the budget meeting. Um, I was surprised to hear about the covered shelters. I know that um Harley Medaf went out and did a video whenever it was wintertime and the conditions were atrocious. And I had people reach out whenever I was on the human relations commission and say that due to the lack of the city clearing the the areas and there being very limited cover shelters that they couldn't physically do it with their disabilities because they weren't covered off. So I would love to see the city put covered shelters at a majority of the stops. I think that's what's appropriate. I think if we have $1.5 million for an outdoor pickle ball court, which I only personally know rich people like my friends who play that, but you know, we could cover from my estimations from that $10,000 figure that was given out 150 covered shelters. That's a the pickle ball courts could have got us 150 covered shelters. So, I would like to see the city start prioritizing some of our most vulnerable. Not everyone's as blessed as me um to move about their life. The other thing I'd like to cover is I noticed that we are only giving money to the corporate nonprofits in

town. I did not hear anything about giving money to Breaking the Cycle, which is a local nonprofit. I didn't hear anything about giving money to Borrowed Hearts, which I personally love because I was a foster youth in Owensboro, Kentucky, and I know there's a big need for a lot of different things here. So once again, I would like the city to consider maybe giving the $20,000 that you all are going to give to Owensboro Times to maybe some of our local nonprofits so that they can continue to do the good work and not just the corporate nonprofits that exist. Two specifically that were named as being the only entities receiving city money. Um and then the last thing I'd like to do is I would like to request the city to consider um doing a one-year long task force centered on homeless. And I would love to run it with my education. Um, everyone was really confused about what solutions were out there, even though I came two weeks ago and read off a bunch of solutions that we could do. So, if the city is unavailable to take an in-depth look, I know I've reached out to about 10 other um higher level people in Owensboro that would be willing to give their time for free as well to really focus in on the homeless issue. So, I didn't receive any emails from any commissioner um upon my request to, you know, give that out for free. So, I'm hoping with a public call out and me saying I would love a task force that you all will seriously consider that because a lot of Owens Burians have commented on a lot of public spectrums on social media saying homelessness is their number one concern. So, I would hope that the city would start taking those concerns seriously.

Anyone else? Okay. Well, I'll make a motion to adjourn. Could I have a second, please? Second. Thank you. All in favor indicate by saying I. We are journ. Thanks staff for being here.