Daviess County Fiscal Court is expected to review what do with the Panther Creek Park fire tower, which has been closed as they assess the safety of the structure. A petition has been filed to keep the tower up and accessible.
Resident Zac Ferrell presented the petition to Fiscal Court during their meeting Tuesday morning.
“The fire tower is a very iconic structure that is very rare to our area. To my knowledge there’s not another one within about 60 miles of right here,” Ferrell said. “So that’s a great amenity for people, for the residents of Daviess county to have a fully functional firetower.”
Ferrell said he has 147 physical signatures from park goers and 52 signatures on his online petition.
Mattingly said the tower was shut down for concern of public safety but as of now no decisions have been made.
“We’ll start looking at it, say probably after July 1 because the monies for an engineer to look at it will be involved in about $250,000 we put in there to enhance the safety of our parks,” Matting said.
In other business:
• The annual fireworks display held at Panther Creek Park will be held on Sept. 4.
• Fiscal Court congratulated Owensboro Catholic High’s Hope Ramming and Daviess County High’s Hunter Wimsatt for scoring a perfect score on the ACT.
• Commissioners proclaimed June 26-July 2 as amateur radio operators week.
• The treasurer’s report, according to County Treasurer Jim Hendrix, said the council had a cash balance of $54,823,359 at the end of May and a general balance of $21,000,662.
• Mattingly said the court will have guidance for the allocation of ARPA funds by August.
• Budget transfers for the end of the fiscal year go as follows: $13,600 to the general fund; $4,800 to the road fund; $183,400 to the solid waste operating fund.
• The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum was allocated a one-time payment of $25,000 to offset expenses for this year’s ROMP security services.
• An order of allowance was given to the Board of Assessment Appeals for $100 each for time spent and the state will reimburse half the cost.
• An agreement for the purchase and use of sports equipment with the City of Owensboro, Owensboro Health and Global Spectrum was made.
• Kandace Sturgeon is transferring positions to the Department of Public Works as Administrative Assistant June 28. Alfred McPherson and Trionna Greer were hired as Panther Creek Seasonal Attendants effective after pre-employment screening. David Johnson was reappointed to the RWRA Board through July 7, 2025.
The next meeting on June 30 at noon will be the last of the fiscal year, and the first meeting of the fiscal year will follow on July 1 at 5 p.m.
