Owensboro area leaders make ‘State of Community’ addresses
OWENSBORO, Ky. (WFIE) – The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce hosted its Rooster Booster breakfast Thursday morning where city and county officials gave addresses about development.
County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly and Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson talked about last year’s accomplishments and what the area can expect moving forward.
Mayor Watson says a new apartment complex is coming to Owensboro with retailers on the first floor.
A new police training facility is coming in March, and the city’s first electric bus will be coming by the end of January.
Judge Mattingly says the county will be working to incorporate broadband into rural areas, more affordable daycare, expanded transportation county-wide, and more investment into the jail by offering community college classes to inmates.
Among surging COVID cases, Mattingly urged the community to take the pandemic seriously.
“I don’t care how many times my good friends on Facebook tell you that this is fake, it’s not fake,” Mattingly said. “We all know someone that has had COVID, we all know someone that has died from COVID. You can call it what you want, but it’s real.”
It was Mattingly’s final address to the county as judge-executive, and it was a pretty emotional day for him.
“Thank you for allowing me to serve our community for all these years,” he said while holding back tears.
Watson talked about city plans, which include a new apartment complex, a new police training facility coming in March, and the first electric bus coming later in January, as well as developments coming to the fire department by adding 1000 square feet.
“With tomorrow, we must continue to seek progress,” Mayor Watson said. “You’ve seen all the progress we made in one year through this talk, and with all the wonderful things that we’ve presented to you today, we must strive to do more, not for us, but for the next bunch.”
This was Judge Mattingly’s 12th address to the county. A new judge-executive will be elected this November.
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