HomeMy WebLinkAboutHighlights2018-03-27
Pam Spencer, Public Information Officer
City of Paducah P.O. Box 2267 Paducah, Kentucky 42002
270/444-8669 Office 270/443-5058 Fax
Website: http://paducahky.gov Email: pspencer@paducahky.gov
City Commission Meeting Highlights
Tuesday, March 27, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall
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Note: Commissioner Richard Abraham was unable to attend this meeting.
Amend Smoking Ordinance (vote April 10)
Over the past few weeks several revisions have been made to the ordinance introduced January 9 to amend Paducah’s smoking
ban (Chapter 54, Article II, Division 2 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances). At this meeting, the Paducah Board of
Commissioners voted to withdraw that ordinance. The Board then introduced a new ordinance to amend Paducah’s smoking
ban. This version includes additional exceptions.
The ordinance continues the prohibition of smoking in enclosed public places and the amendment extends the prohibition to
all places of employment, whether public or private. The exceptions are private dwellings (unless the dwelling also is used as a
childcare facility, adult day care center, assisted living facility, hotel/motel guest room, or health care facility), private vehicles,
retail tobacco stores, designated workplaces pursuant to KRS 61.165, and private organizations or clubs.
The amendment to the current ordinance also would prohibit smoking in municipal and school-owned outdoor sports arenas
and amphitheaters, public or private owned outdoor playgrounds, shelters, swimming pools, and spray-grounds, and
municipally-owned outdoor public parks, playgrounds, trails, shelters, swimming pools, and spray-grounds, except outdoors at
Paxton Park Golf Course.
Mayor Brandi Harless says, “This is an evidence-based policy that has been proven to impact the health of communities across
the country.”
The definition of smoking is being amended to include the use of electronic or oral smoking devices. The definition of place of
employment in the amended ordinance means an enclosed area under the control of a public or private employer, including, but
not limited to, work areas, private offices, employee lounges, restrooms, conference rooms, meeting rooms, classrooms,
employee cafeterias, hallways, common area, construction sites, and temporary offices. A private residence is not a place of
employment unless it is used as a child care, adult day care, hotel/motel guest room, or health care facility.
Additionally, under this ordinance amendment, smoking is prohibited in City-owned vehicles. Plus, the city’s vehicles are
required to have one no-smoking sign.
Paducah adopted a smoking ban ordinance in 2006. Paducah’s existing ordinance prohibits the smoking of tobacco products
in buildings open to the public. Members of the McCracken County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy (ASAP) have been
working since 2016 to educate the community about amending the City’s ordinance to make it more of a comprehensive
smoke-free ordinance. Presentations by the group were given at the August 8, 2017, and December 19, 2017, City
Commission meetings.
Approve Contract for Pump Station #2 Construction (vote April 10)
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance authorizing a contract with Huffman Construction in the
amount of $4.947 million for the rehabilitation of Floodwall Pump Station #2. Bids were opened February 23 with two bids
received; Huffman provided the lowest evaluated bid. This bid amount was more than $400,000 lower than the engineer’s
construction estimate.
Floodwall Pump Station #2 located at 1416 North 6th Street is in critical need of rehabilitation. The rehabilitation of Pump
Station #2 includes the replacement of discharge pipes, the rehabilitation of various mechanical components of all seven
pumps and motors not previously repaired, and the replacement of the sluice gate. Pump Station #2 has the largest pumping
capacity of 313,000 gallons per minute. Since it’s the first station to be activated at a local river stage of 27.5 feet, it receives
the most wear-and-tear.
Pam Spencer, Public Information Officer
City of Paducah P.O. Box 2267 Paducah, Kentucky 42002
270/444-8669 Office 270/443-5058 Fax
Website: http://paducahky.gov Email: pspencer@paducahky.gov
Regarding funding for this project, the City has $1.4 million in grant funds which includes a $1 million Community
Development Block Grant and $400,000 from Delta Regional Authority. To fund the rest of the project, the City has applied
for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan through the Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet and Kentucky
Infrastructure Authority. The loan has a low interest rate.
The rehabilitation of Pump Station #2 also is part of the larger Floodwall Rehabilitation project currently underway with the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Floodwall Rehabilitation project includes rehabilitation of all pump stations, flap gates,
seal closures, gate wells, I-walls, toe drains, I-wall investigation, and a new Pump Station #14.
Ordinances Regarding E911 System (vote April 10)
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced three ordinances related to the significant upgrade of the capabilities and
equipment used by the E911 Communications Services Department.
1. Contract with Tyler Technologies/New World for the purchase and installation of a Computer Aided Dispatch
(CAD) system in the amount of $916,282. This upgrade project will take 12 to 18 months.
2. Contract with Equature for the purchase and installation of a Logging Recorder system in the amount of $261,699.
This is the hardware and software component of 911 that records all the communications center telephone
conversations and radio transmissions.
3. Contract with Xybix for the purchase and installation of dispatch workstation furniture in the amount of $69,018.30.
Opioid Crisis in Kentucky Presentation
President/Chief Executive Officer Terry Hudspeth of Four Rivers Behavioral Health and Elizabeth Fleming from the Center
for Specialized Addiction Services made a presentation to the Paducah Board of Commissioners regarding substance abuse
and the opioid crisis in western Kentucky. This is the second presentation in a series of presentations to the Board regarding
the opioid situation. Four Rivers Behavioral Health is the state designated community mental health center for the nine
counties in western Kentucky. Four Rivers see more than 13,000 citizens each year with approximately 8000 in McCracken
County. Of those McCracken County clients, 1700 have a substance use issue with the primary drugs of choice being
marijuana and alcohol in addition to meth and opiates. Hudspeth says, “Our numbers are close to the statewide average.”
Four Rivers provides several substance abuse services including the COR-12 program which is an opiate-specific, medically
assisted treatment program. For more information, call 270-442-7121 or visit www.4rbh.org.
At the March 13 meeting, Phillip Chang, M.D., chief medical officer at University of Kentucky HealthCare, talked about an
opioid stewardship program aimed at reducing inappropriate prescriptions for opioids.
Annexation of Properties at 1740 and 1770 New Holt Road
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance for the annexation of 1740 and 1770 New Holt Road which
total 3.9 acres. The property is contiguous to Paducah’s city limits. The annexation was requested by EMD Properties, LLC
with plans to construct a townhome subdivision. All property annexed into the City of Paducah receives an initial zoning of
R-1 Low Density Residential.
Quick Highlights
Mayor Brandi Harless presented a proclamation to proclaiming National Service Recognition Day on April 3 to
recognize the work by AmeriCorps and Senior Corps participants. Several members of the Retired Senior Volunteer
Program (RSVP) attended the meeting. In 2017, RSVP provided 20,000 hours of volunteer hours to the City. (see
attached picture)
Boards and Commissions:
Patrick Perry appointed to the Board of Adjustment
Bill Griggs and Mark Knecht reappointed to the Paducah Golf Commission.
Municipal order approved authorizing the Law Enforcement Protection Program grant application through the
Kentucky Office of Homeland Security. The grant request is for $13,209 which does not require a local match. If
awarded, the grant would be used to purchase 21 body armor vests.
Municipal order approved authorizing the application for the 2017-2018 Kentucky League of Cities Insurance
Services Workers’ Safety grant. The request is for $2015 which requires the City to match that amount. If awarded,
the funds would be used to send five members of the Parks & Recreation Department to training for the Certified
Pool/Spa Operator Certification Program and the Certified Playground Safety Inspector Certification Program.
Pam Spencer, Public Information Officer
City of Paducah P.O. Box 2267 Paducah, Kentucky 42002
270/444-8669 Office 270/443-5058 Fax
Website: http://paducahky.gov Email: pspencer@paducahky.gov
Funds also would be used to send a Human Resources Department employee to the KLC Risk and Safety
Conference.
Municipal order approved authorizing the purchase of a new Case DV45 Double Drum Roller from McKeel
Equipment for a total of $43,728.04. This purchase is through the Kentucky State Purchasing Contract.
Municipal order approving the sale of city-owned surplus property located at 2077 Broad Street to LaMarcus Harden
for $5 plus deed preparation and recording fees. Harden plans to put a manufactured home on the lot which has been
reviewed by the Planning Department.
Ordinance introduced (vote April 10) to approve the alley closure between South 31st Street and Maple Avenue. This
alley closure was requested by adjacent property owners. The Planning Commission held a public hearing February
19, 2018, and provided a positive recommendation to the City Commission for the closure.
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