In his State of the City address Thursday, Mayor Tom Watson said that 2023 has potential due to the successes of 2022.
For starters, the general fund had an increased balance of $2.4 million, while the city’s long-term debt decreased by $9.9 million in the 2022 Fiscal Year.
Watson noted the major projects that were in the early stages and are expected to move forward this year, such as an indoor sports complex and a transient boat dock. (Both of the projects are on hold until the City Commission approved bonding them.)
“By this time next year, work will be underway for our new indoor sports complex anticipated to open in December 2024. The 88,000-square-foot facility will house a turf court, five basketball courts, common areas, a kitchen and meeting rooms and offices. Therefore, we’ll be able to compete with other communities with our great indoor sports facility,” Watson said.
Other significant projects he highlighted included the Churchill Downs gaming facility that will be built in Towne Square Mall, the Northwest Revitalization efforts, upgrades and additions to Moneta Sleet Jr. Park, and the York Neighborhood drainage project, and resurfacing/reconstruction of tennis courts across the city.
Watson said that over the past year, ensuring the fire and police departments were equipped with the best resources was a priority — as evidenced by the renovation of Fire Station 2 and the police training facility.
The police training facility saw the addition of several classrooms. Police officers were also given body cameras to use during their shifts.
The fire station renovation included providing a larger living area, workout space, and an extra locker room. The department also received Advanced Life Support Response Certification, so the firefighters are able to perform advanced care during medical emergencies.
Work at the fire department is not finished yet, Watson said. Fire Station 3 is in the early stages of a renovation and will be modeled after the upgraded Station 2. There are also plans to build a training center that will localize the majority of training for the department.
Looking ahead, the Mayor plans to continue utilizing major corporate developers like the Owensboro Riverport Authority to continue to push the city further. He also looks to welcome other major corporations to the community such as Big Rivers Electric Corp. and Bell Bank, which combined are expected to bring in an estimated $100 million to the local economy.
As the city continues to develop economically, Watson said developments in the housing market have also been on an upswing, and the City has annexed three new subdivisions — Pebblewood, Farmview, and Heatherstone.
As a final unveiling, the mayor announced the new wayfinding signs for the city that will direct the community and visitors to favorite staple attractions.
“2023 will be a big year for the city of Owensboro with the completion of several projects and expanding the amenities we already had,” Watson said. “It makes it easy to head into a year with optimism when we come out of the year with several highlights.”
