Fiscal Court on Monday will vote on the appointment of former Daviess County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly to the Daviess County Public Library Board.
Mattingly was one of two names submitted by the Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives (KDLA) to current Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen to fill the unexpired term of Chris Gendek, who resigned in August. Dariush Shafa was the other name submitted by KDLA.
Castlen said he received the names at about 2:15 p.m. on September 12. The KDLA letter notes that as required by KRS 173, the board appointment is to be made by Castlen with the approval of the Fiscal Court.
At 11:51 a.m. on September 13, the agenda for Fiscal Court’s next meeting was released. One agenda item is the consideration to appoint Mattingly to the board, effective September 16, 2024, through September 13, 2026.
Castlen said he preferred to save his comments for the meeting, which will take place at noon on September 16 in the Blandford Lecture Hall inside the Humanities Building at Owensboro Community & Technical College. A live stream will be provided on the Daviess County Fiscal Court Facebook Page.
Though he’s waiting to comment, Castlen did share an email that DCPL Director Erin Waller sent to him and the County Commissioners just before 9 a.m. on September 13.
Waller simply noted she was aware KDLA has submitted two names to be considered to take Gendek’s board seat, and she attached the applications she received for Mattingly and Shafa.
Waller could not be reached Friday by Owensboro Times for comment. Mattingly and County Commissioners Larry Conder and Janie Marksberry said they would reserve comment until after the Fiscal Court meeting.
Commissioner Chris Castlen said Charlie Castlen let Fiscal Court know about the two nominees on September 12 after receiving the letter. Chris Castlen added that he knew Mattingly had applied for the position.
“I had mentioned before (we got the KDLA letter) that I thought Al would be a good person for that position,” Chris Castlen said.
While there was some contention among Commissioners during the last DCPL board appointment due to the constrained timeline, Chris Castlen said a few days’ notice is plenty of time because of how well he knows Mattingly.
“Knowing him, I’m confident with having him in that position,” Chris Castlen said. “If I didn’t know him, I’d say, ‘let’s, let’s review this person, I need to know more about them.’ But I’ve known him for many years, and have full confidence in him in that position.”
Castlen said he also knows Shafa and thinks would have supported his appointment as well.
This story may be updated if Owensboro Times can obtain additional comments.
