New panel to focus on city growth

Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 12:01 am

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — A western Kentucky city plans to have a panel determine whether it can make things easier for businesses looking to locate or expand in the area.
Owensboro Mayor Ron Payne told the Messenger-Inquirer (http://bit.ly/VTfEZt) that he’s heard several complaints from the business community and this is an attempt to see if there are problems and, if so, how best to address them.
“Ever since I’ve been mayor, I’ve heard complaints about problems with planning and zoning and other requirements, or difficulties dealing with City Hall, and given the amount of business activity we have and what I anticipate will occur, we want to make sure it is as easy as possible to do business,” Payne said  in calling for the appointment of a Commission on Business Development.
He said the group would talk to developers and business owners to see what kind of problems they have when they attempt to open or expand a business and determine whether issues really exist.
“That’s what I have difficulty with,” he said. “Are they real — or perceived? I don’t know. But there have been enough complaints to justify this commission.”

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