HomeMy WebLinkAboutHighlights2018-12-17
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
Called City Commission Meeting Highlights
Monday, December 17, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall
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Plaques of Appreciation for Commissioner Allan
Rhodes, Jr. and Commissioner Sarah Stewart Holland
Mayor Brandi Harless presented Commissioner Sarah
Stewart Holland and Commissioner Allan Rhodes, Jr.
plaques of appreciation for their service as City
Commissioners and their dedication to the Paducah
community. Rhodes began serving the citizens of Paducah
in January 2013 with Holland serving since January 2017.
Each Commissioner, the Mayor, and the City Manager
voiced their gratitude to Commissioner Holland and
Commissioner Rhodes for their service to Paducah.
Mayor Harless thanked Commissioner Holland for her
service and their journey together. “I have so appreciated
your being a part of my first term.”
Commissioner Richard Abraham acknowledged
Commissioner Holland’s passion and insight. “That
passion is something that comes through.”
Mentioning the curbside recycling program, comprehensive smoke-free ordinance, the fairness ordinance, and the hiring of a
new city manager, Commissioner Holland said, “I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past two years.” She
encourages people to keep stepping up to serve this community.
Mayor Harless thanked Commissioner Rhodes for encouraging her to run for Mayor. “I wouldn’t be sitting in this seat if it
wasn’t for you believing in me.” City Manager Jim Arndt thanked
Commissioner Rhodes for his friendship and the opportunity to gain the
knowledge and context about the community issues. Commissioners
Wilson, Holland, and Abraham thanked Commissioner Rhodes for his
honest and frank discussions. Commissioner Abraham said, “When you
communicate like that, you can find out a lot of things and solve a lot of
them.”
Commissioner Rhodes ended his service by providing two suggestions for
the community. He wants people to curb their negativity. “Don’t waste
your negative energy. Take it in a positive direction.” He also encouraged
the public to trust the local government.
Approval of Employment Agreement with Brian Laird to Serve as
Paducah Police Chief
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an employment agreement
with Brian Laird to serve as chief of the Paducah Police Department. The
agreement is effective January 1, 2019. Laird said, “I appreciate the Mayor
and Commission and the faith you have put in me to lead this department.
We have a great department.”
Current Paducah Police Chief, Brandon Barnhill, announced in October
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
that he would be retiring with an effective retirement date of December 31.
Laird has been serving as assistant police chief since May 2018. He began his law enforcement career with the Paducah Police
Department in 2001. During his career, he has served and supervised in all divisions of the department as a Patrolman,
Detective, Sergeant, Captain, and since May as Assistant Chief over the Support Services Division. He also serves as
Commander of Specialized Units which includes SWAT, Bomb Squad, K-9, and the Crisis Negotiation Team. Laird holds a
Bachelor of Science degree from Murray State University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Louisville.
Adoption of City of Paducah Mission Statement and Organizational Values
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a Municipal Order adopting a new Mission Statement and Organizational
Values for the City of Paducah. Over the past few weeks, the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, and Public Information
Officer drafted the Mission Statement and Values, presented them to the Leadership Team for input, discussed the drafts with
various members of the community, and presented them to the Middle Management Team as a focus group for feedback.
The City Manager is working on a rollout of the information to the organization with employee meetings scheduled for
January 28, 2019. Using the feedback, the recommended Mission Statement and Organizational Values are as follows:
Mission Statement: To be the best city in the world.
Organizational Values:
Solution-driven: We believe in proactively working together to discover innovative solutions that meet our current
and future needs.
Customer Experience: We believe in providing excellent service delivery for both our internal and external customers
through a welcoming and respectful environment.
Every Person Matters: We believe that every member of Team Paducah is critically important as we strive to
accomplish our mission, and every person that chooses to live, work, and play in our City matters.
Action-oriented: We believe Paducah leads through responsiveness, positive forward momentum, and a thirst to
always improve.
Fiscal Responsibility: We believe in the prudent stewardship of public funds.
Personal Accountability: We believe in holding each other accountable to insure our core values are intentionally
fulfilled as we strive to carry out our mission.
Approve Professional Services Agreement for Demolition Bid Package for 318 Broadway
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an agreement in the amount of $32,000 with Gardner Engineering &
Construction for professional services associated with the determination of a scope of work and the development of a
demolition bid package for the building a 318 Broadway, also known as the Kresge Building. After a foreclosure process, the
City of Paducah purchased the building for less than $400. Due to the condition of the building and to protect the
neighboring structures, the City will be soliciting bids for a qualified demolition contractor in 2019.
Quick Highlights
Municipal Order approved to adopt the Jackson Purchase Regional Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation
Plan Update. This plan is the official plan for the City of Paducah along with Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton,
Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken Counties.
Municipal Order approved to submit an application to the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency
Management Agency for the FY2018 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant. The grant request is for $63,683.25 which
requires a local match of $3,351.75. If awarded, the funds would be used to purchase arson investigation equipment
and smoke and carbon dioxide detectors.
Municipal Order approved authorizing a $28,943.94 payment to Concord Fire District. In October 2018, the City
annexed nearly 70 acres of property located between Harris Road and Highway 998 (Olivet Church Road). Since the
annexation reduced the size of Concord Fire District, Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 75.020 outlines a process for
the City to pay the fire district a one-time payment based upon the property values in the district and the amount of
the district’s outstanding debt.
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