HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-06-13-CalledAUGUST 6, 2013
At a Called Meeting of the Board of Commissioners, held on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, at 4:45
p.m., for the City Commission to meet at the P and Harrison Street floodwall opening on the
river side, Mayor Kaler presided, and upon call of the roll by the City Clerk, the following
answered to their names: Commissioners"Gault, Rhodes, and Mayor Kaler (3). Commissioner
Abraham and Wilson were absent (2).
MOTION
R & F CALLED MEETING NOTICE
Commissioner Gault offered motion, seconded by Commissioner Rhodes, that the Notice of
Called Meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Paducah for 4:45 p.m., Tuesday,
August 6, be received and filed.
Adopted on call of the roll, yeas, Commissioners Rhodes, Wilson and Mayor Kaler (3).
The City Commission met to attend an briefing conducted by Rick Murphy, City
Engineer, to answer any questions the Board of Commission may have concerning the need for
additional monies for the Riverfront project.
Pam Spencer, Public Information Officer, reports in her highlights as follows:
City Commission Meeting Highlights
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Funding for Riverfront Redevelopment Proiect
The Mayor and Commissioners approved a municipal order to transfer $265,000 from the
General Fund Reserve to the Riverfront Redevelopment Project account to cover
additional work required to install the steel piles or guide structures that will be used to
support a future gangway. Commissioner Allan Rhodes voted against the municipal
order and would like to use the City's grant funds to finish the landmass into a park but
not complete items such as a marina services building, gangway, and transient dock.
ffPrior to the vote, the City Commission held a called meeting at the riverfront so that City
Engineer -Public Works Director Rick Murphy could explain the project and the need for
additional funds. This phase of the riverfront project involves the construction of a large
breakwater, also known as the bump -out or landmass, along Paducah's riverfront. In late
May, MAC Construction & Excavation, Inc. began installing the approximately 316,000
tons of stone fill into the Ohio River. Once the fill is in place, it will need to settle for
nine to 12 months before further work can commence. The project also includes the
installation of 12 guide structures/pilings to support a gangway that will be constructed in
late 2014 or early 2015. The contractor informed the City on July 25 that due to soil
conditions of the Ohio River riverbed, the guide structures need to be driven deeper,
approximately 10 to 15 additional feet, into the riverbed. Murphy says, "If we don't
drive the pilings deeper, then our structure would be compromised in the future. It would
sink over time." Murphy adds, "Soil science is not a complete science. It's an
estimation." The additional funding is for the additional labor that it will take to extend
the length of the guide structures and drive them into the riverbed. The City hopes the
final amount will be less than the $265,000 that is being transferred. The 36 -inch
diameter steel pilings will be three feet taller than the floodwall and will allow the
gangway to rise and fall with the level of the Ohio River. The dock, gangway, marina
services building, and park amenities will be constructed in the next phases of the project.
Currently, the contractor has started installing the first four guide structures/pilings and
has offloaded approximately 150,000 tons of rock for the landmass. The landmass and
pilings project in addition to the boat launch project under way at 6a' and Burnett will be
J finished this fall. The Mayor and Commissioners Abraham, Gault, and Wilson voiced
their support of the riverfront project as planned. Commissioner Abraham says, "Why
are we developing the riverfront? It is to create activity downtown. The ripple effect
could be quite substantial for downtown businesses." Commissioner Wilson says, "We
are a river city. I've always felt our riverfront is underdeveloped and underutilized. I'm
excited about this project. I want to see our riverfront developed like other
communities."
Since 2008, the City has invested $1.26 million for the engineering design, legal fees, and
mussel relocation costs. The majority of this phase of the riverfront project is funded by
AUGUST 6, 2013
a $2.97 million Neighborhood Initiative Project Grant by the Department of Housing and
Urban Development. The grant funds are to be used on this project only. Proceeds from
the June 4 auction of the city -owned property on Sheehan Bridge Road also will be used
for this project. This first phase, including the additional estimated funds needed for the
guide structures, totals approximately $4.75 million. For more information about the
Riverfront Redevelopment Project, visit www.paducahky_gov.
Motion was made and carried to adjourn.
ADOPTED: August 27, 2013
City Clerk
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