An open records dispute between city officials in Owensboro and the town's newspaper is headed to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. The Messenger-Inquirer reports that city commissioners voted Tuesday night to appeal a circuit judge's opinion that the city must release two internal investigations it opened last year against former police spokeswoman Marian Cosgrove.
Mayor Ron Payne told the newspaper that the city is comfortable with the expense of an appeal. Lawyers for the city have argued that the documents aren't subject to the open records law because the investigations ended when Cosgrove left and commissioners took no "final action."
Newspaper editor Matt Francis said the city's decision should cause residents to question the commitment officials have to transparency.
