A resolution regarding Daviess County’s Confederate monument will undoubtedly be the highlight of Thursday’s Fiscal Court meeting.
There are technically two resolutions on the agenda for the meeting. Resolution #18-2020 was presented more than a month ago, but Fiscal Court voted 3-1 to postpone any decision at that time.
That resolution included a proposal to allow the monument to be relocated — if commissioners voted to remove it from the courthouse lawn — to a piece of land owned by the Kentucky Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. However, the DOC has since withdrawn that offer.
Judge-Executive Al Mattingly said that renders the resolution moot, but it must still be presented again just so it can be voted down.
In its place, Resolution #20-2020 will be discussed. Mattingly declined to comment on the details of the resolution prior to the meeting. He has previously said Fiscal Court could decide simply on whether or not to move the statue, then come back at a later date to decide where the new location may be if they vote in favor of removal.
At least three votes are needed to approve the resolution. While a vote is expected, commissioners could decided to postpone it again.
The meeting will be open to essential personnel only but made available to the public via the Daviess County Fiscal Court’s Facebook live page. Citizens may post questions and/or comments directly to this Facebook live page, submit them by calling or texting 270-929-1010, or by emailing [email protected].
While no one will be allowed inside, a big crowd is expected on the courthouse lawn. Advocates both for and against the removal of the statue have held rallies and used online petitions to demonstrate to commissioners how the community feels.
“We thank them for that, but the problem is we don’t govern by petition,” Mattingly said. “What myself and the commissioners try to do is take all the input that we can — and we’ve had considerable — and try to look at all the facts, and then we try to make a good decision that’s in the best interest of the community as a whole, not necessarily in the best interest of those who scream loud enough or present us with the most names on a petition.”
Also on the agenda is an update on the REAL ID office after Fiscal Court previously approved a lease agreement to secure a regional site in Daviess County.
It will be located in the north wing of the Daviess County Operations Center. The Parks & Recreation department and Emergency Management Agency will relocate downtown to the former RiverPark Eyecare building.
“Our next move is to hire an architect to design the new space,” he said. “Once we have that design, we’ll be able to move ahead with the bid documents.”
The full agenda for Thursday’s meeting is as follows:
