During a monthly work session, City Manager Nate Pagan presented a list of city projects that includes renovations to Fire Station #2 and the Owensboro Police Department training center, as well as a transient boat dock and revitalization of the Northwest area.
The renovations to the fire station include remodeling the daytime area, expanding the nighttime area, adding training space and equipping the station to be prepared for the expansion of the KY 54 corridor.
Bids were opened on Sept. 28 and the city chose Q&S Contracting for $784,800 — which is under the million-dollar budget the city has for this project.
City officials are weighing two options to house the firefighters during the renovations. Assistant City Manager Lelan Hancock said the city is trying to balance public safety and also be cost-effective.
Hancock said they are in the process of a new police training building at the gun range to replace the current modular police training classroom. The City accepted a bid from Lanham Brothers Contracting for $756,500 — which is also under their $900,000 budget for the project.
The project is estimated to finish in March of 2022 and Hancock assures it will not interfere with the training of new police officers.
Officials also discussed the transient boat dock that was proposed in August. The dock would accommodate boaters traveling on the Ohio River with the ability for overnight docking, fueling, electric, water and sewage facilities.
According to the a report, the engineer is currently updating the survey work and completing the first phase of the environmental study. The engineer is also moving forward with the completion of the overall design of the 500-foot dock facility. It is currently anticipated to be completed by December 2021.
Commissioners were also provided with an update on several projects including the revitalization of the Northwest area.
The city is currently taking suggestions for the new name of the neighborhood. Once a name has been decided, it will be used for signage within the neighborhood boundaries. They will also be beautification measures applied to 1st and 2nd streets within the NRSA.
Over the next four years, roughly $8 million in public and private funds will be used for revitalization.
