Officials with Daviess County Fiscal Court say the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) will open a permanent office in Owensboro for the issuance of Real IDs in the near future.
The news comes after months of uncertainty, as state officials released an initial list of REAL ID sites across Kentucky that didn’t include Owensboro.
However, an Owensboro location is expected to open in the next few months — most likely during May or June — according to David Smith, Director of Legislative Services for Daviess County Fiscal Court. Smith said the location for a REAL ID office has not been determined yet.
“We are working with the state, and we’re very interested in setting up a permanent location in the area that’s fully staffed,” Smith said. “KYTC is really working hard on this with us.”
According to a statement released on Jan. 22 by Gov. Andy Beshear’s office, KYTC is working extensively to make sure all Kentuckians have access to REAL ID sites before the Oct. 1 deadline.
The release announced that Sarah Jackson of Frankfort will serve as the new REAL ID project manager. Smith believes the state’s appointment of a new project manager will help streamline the process of getting a REAL ID office in Daviess County.
The REAL ID office will likely have two to three full-time staff members, Smith said, and the hiring process will begin as soon as a location is selected.
“With the change of administration, people don’t know what to do until they get a new boss,” Smith said. “For about a month there, it was no-man’s-land [regarding REAL ID offices]. Since then, Beshear’s administration has been pushing hard to make it happen.”
Both Smith and Judge-Executive Al Mattingly have been working closely with KYTC and other state leaders to express the importance of Kentucky’s fourth-largest city having a permanent REAL ID office. Smith mentioned Monday that the lack of a permanent site could have a negative economic impact on entities such as the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport.
According to Chris Sharp, KYTC administrative section supervisor, the Owensboro location would not officially open until more staff is hired after a location is determined. However, he is confident there will be a local REAL ID office in the near future.
“We’re working on it,” Sharp said. “We’ve got the equipment, but we don’t have the staff to equip it yet. We definitely will (will have one soon). It’s happening.”
Owensboro Times reached out to Naitore Djignenou, KYTC executive director of the office of public affairs, but was unable to make contact.
