Report to the Board of Directors
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First Quarter 2009
 First Quarter 2009 ReportFile Size: 40K |
A divisive few months
To a great extent, the first quarter has been characterized by public outcry over the insurance tax increase adopted by city and county governments to finance the public project components of the downtown master plan. Tax increases are almost always controversial, but had officials taken time to communicate with the public, explain the options and their rationale in making various recommendations, the tone surely would have been more civil.
Several weeks after the vote, County Commissioner Bruce Kunze took the initiative to host a public meeting at the Masonville Fire Department to explain the plan, reasons for his support of the tax increase and more. Some in attendance were not convinced, but the dialogue was respectful and healthy.
Prior to that meeting, rhetoric has been so hostile that several officials have been threatened and do not plan to run for reelection. Opponents of the tax increase may run as a slate to “take back our city and county government.” The brouhaha underscores the cynicism and distrust that exists between the public and officials elected to serve them.
Nonetheless, the downtown plan (and tax increase to finance it) appears to have considerable support. The plan was endorsed by numerous community organizations and not one organization has come out against it.
Meanwhile, many other activities have been occurring at the foundation and through citizen initiatives we support.
Second Quarter 2009
| Second Quarter 2009 Report File Size: 68K |
Two commercial centers
Despite the national recession and a 9.7 percent unemployment rate in Daviess County, two centers of commercial activity suggest a bullish outlook for our community:
- In the downtown area, work is well underway on the riverbank stabilization- park improvement.
- By the end of August, up to 10 developers are expected to submit proposals for a downtown hotel to accompany a new convention center. Local officials have asked the state to donate the state building (the selected hotel site), but state leaders are trying to make a transfer of Ben Hawes State Park to the city and/or county a condition of the deal.
- A traffic study is underway that will determine the options for rerouting truck traffic and converting Second Street and Veteran’s Boulevard to a more pedestrian-friendly area.
- The city is acquiring property north of the courthouse for a plaza that will link the riverfront with the courthouse lawn and accommodate a farmer’s market, arts and crafts, etc.
- The arts academy concept, perceived as a collaborative effort of local high schools and colleges, has been well-received and several meetings have already been held to bring together a conceptual goal.
- The Executive Inn contents are being auctioned off and demolition will begin soon. Now that the property is owned by city government, work has begun on a master plan for the 17.5 riverfront acres contiguous to the downtown.
In late June, planners held several days of meetings with stakeholder groups. On October 3, We the People plans a public workshop to examine and select a preference from three-to-four master plan options for the Executive Inn property.
In the suburban area where the by-pass intersects Highway 54, the following projects are planned or under construction:
- a new Courtyard by Marriott
- a new Atmos Energy headquarters
- a new US Bank mortgage headquarters
- misc. restaurants and retail outlets
The Gateway Commons project, the controversial tax increment financing (TIF) project proposed by Gulfstream Development, will likely move forward without the public projects (arena, convention center, etc.) originally proposed.
The Highway 54 area has been the leading location of residential developments for several decades. This growth area was endorsed by the Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Commission since most alternative areas were subject to flooding and drainage problems. It should not be surprising that commercial development has followed the residential concentration.
The traffic count along Highway 54 is now higher than the count in the south Frederica area. Consequently, rather than attempt to obstruct market forces, participants in the We the People Town Meeting did not oppose suburban expansion; they want high standards of planning and design.
Owensboro Medical Health System (OMHS) is charging ahead with plans for a new hospital off the by-pass near Highway 54 despite growing concern over costs, infrastructure, location, accessibility and more.
OMU timing adds fuel to the fire
Owensboro Municipal Utilities recently proposed a 27 percent increase in electric rates. City officials, sensing public outrage, approved a 14.6 percent interim increase pending the outcome of a study to determine the need for a permanent increase.
Even though this was the first increase in 17 years, opposition was intense, particularly on the heels of the unpopular insurance tax increase to finance the downtown master plan.
Citizens Committee objects to firing of the OCTC president
The Citizens Committee on Education (CCE) recently issued a public statement objecting to the reassignment (firing) of Paula Gastenveld, president of Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC). The statement pointed to Gastenveld’s strong support among the faculty. In particular, the CCE objected to the KCTCS process that did not allow the OCTC advisory board to have a role in the decision.
As a former co-chair, I am an ex-officio member of the CCE. I did not sign the statement because the information I received about Dr. Gastenveld’s job performance, support from faculty and staff, and the circumstances of the firing were inconsistent with the statement. The process may indeed be flawed and local advisory boards deserve a substantive role, but both sides of personnel matters should be examined carefully before coming to judgment, and it is difficult to obtain personnel information when it is confidential.
Officials increasingly want to demonstrate openness and transparency
Recent investigative news stories published by the Lexington Herald-Leader on excessive spending by the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) and the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo), in addition to previous abuses of the Lexington airport board and public library board, have underscored the need for more openness and transparency in government, quasi-public organizations.
Officials at every level don’t always agree on a definition of openness and transparency, but there appears to be increasing interest on the part of elected and appointed officials to demonstrate that they are accountable and have nothing to hide.
In light of the KLC practices, at the July 7 City Commission meeting, Mayor Ron Payne will recommend the city not renew their $14,000 annual membership. Local officials appear to be willing to sign an openness and transparency pledge, although some tweaking of the language has been required.