HomeMy WebLinkAboutHighlights2022-05-24
Communications Manager Pam Spencer
City of Paducah P.O. Box 2267 Paducah, Kentucky 42002
Phone: 270-444-8669 Website: http://paducahky.gov Email: pspencer@paducahky.gov
City Commission Meeting Highlights
Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at 5 p.m. at Paducah Recreation Center
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To view the entire meeting, visit https://youtu.be/WWVRrTazxI0.
Mayor George Bray’s Opening Remarks
Mayor Bray reiterated the importance of the work underway by the 911 Communication Oversight Committee and the sense
of urgency in addressing the issue of the radio infrastructure that has reached its end of life along with the determination of a
funding structure. The Committee has been meeting since January.
Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Message and Ordinance
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced the fiscal year 2023 budget ordinance with the approval set for June. The
City’s fiscal year begins July 1. City Manager Daron Jordan provided a few highlights of the budget and thanked the Board of
Commissioners and the City team for keeping the budget below the current inflation rate of approximately 8.5 percent.
The total of all City funds is $96.7 million with $43.28 million incorporated in the General Fund, the City’s main
operating fund.
In the General Fund, approximately $24 million is dedicated to public safety, the City’s police and fire departments.
More than $1 million from the General Fund is used to cover the funding shortfall in 911 since the funds from
landlines and cellphones do not cover the operational expenses.
The Investment Fund is $5.8 million which includes debt payments, economic development, community
development, and grant-in-aid funding.
To balance the budget, it required $2.5 million to be used from the reserve fund. However, this budget does set aside
10 percent toward the reserve fund.
All state mandated pension obligations are funded.
For employees, a 3 percent cost-of-living wage increase is included.
Hiring of Chief Technology Director
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an employment agreement effective June 30 with Eric Stuber as Chief
Technology Director. This position has been vacant since February. Stuber, a Paducah native, is a previous employee of the
City and has been in the technology field for over twenty years.
Construction Contract for South 25th Street Improvement Project
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance for a construction contract with Central Paving Company for
the South 25th Street Improvement Project. Once Central Paving receives a notice to proceed, this is a 180 consecutive
calendar day project that will improve South 25th Street from Jackson Street to Alabama Street. Also included is the
installation of sidewalks on the west side of South 25th Street. The City is using $1.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act
funds in addition to $650,000 the City received from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in 2019 for the project. This
project will also improve Brooks Stadium Drive with the work on that roadway to begin once the Paducah Chiefs Baseball
Club’s season concludes.
Agreement with the City of Mayfield for Building Inspection Services
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance for an interlocal cooperation agreement between the City of
Paducah and the City of Mayfield for Paducah to provide building inspection services. The December 10, 2021, tornado
resulted in extensive damage or destruction to more than 700 structures in Mayfield with an additional 400 structures receiving
minor damage. The repair and/or replacement of these structures will require significant involvement of Mayfield’s Office of
Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement to ensure building code compliance. This ordinance provides assistance to
Mayfield with building inspection and plan review in order to facilitate the replacement and repair of the damaged structures.
BUILD Grant Programmatic Agreement
Communications Manager Pam Spencer
City of Paducah P.O. Box 2267 Paducah, Kentucky 42002
Phone: 270-444-8669 Website: http://paducahky.gov Email: pspencer@paducahky.gov
The Board approved a municipal order for a programmatic agreement between U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime
Administration (MARAD), Kentucky State Historic Preservation Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Osage Nation, and
the City of Paducah for the BUILD grant. The City was notified in 2019 of a $10.4 million Better Utilizing Investments to
Leverage Development (BUILD) grant to improve the riverfront. Since the notification, the City has been working to
complete the project’s environmental assessment. This agreement, which is required in order to release the grant funding,
ensures any effects on historic properties will be addressed during project design and construction.
The BUILD grant is a package of transformative projects for Paducah’s downtown and riverfront. The projects include
A new dock structure and excursion landing plaza to be located just downstream of the foot of Broadway;
Improved bike and pedestrian linkages through the improvements of three intersections, the addition of wayfinding,
and creation of a multi-use path; and
Improvements near the transient boat dock (former Executive Inn site) to include green space and seating.
Dredging Project Downstream of Boat Dock
The Board introduced an ordinance for a contract modification with HDR, Inc. regarding the project to address the build-up
of sediment in the Ohio River downstream from the transient boat dock. The City has received the necessary permits from
the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the Kentucky Division of Water for this dredging project which allows up to 60,000 cubic
yards of sediment to be dredged per year using deep water disposal. This contract modification with HDR is to add
engineering drawings and specifications, bidding administration, project inspection, monitoring, administration, and reporting.
Dredging is anticipated to begin either this fall or next spring depending upon the river conditions. The project is funded in
part through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Funds. FEMA will fund 90% of the project
cost with the State providing 4.8% and 5.2% as the City’s responsibility.
Approval of Municipal Orders for the following grants:
Accept the 2021 U.S. Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant in the amount of $8,098.38.
Apply for the 2022 Kentucky Office of Homeland Security Grant requesting $862,000. If awarded, the funds would
be for a new Police Department Mobile Command Vehicle.
Apply for the 2022 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Port Security Grant requesting $34,577 to replace/update
cameras along the riverfront.
Accept the 2022 Brownfields Assessment Grant in the amount of $500,000 which will be used to inventory sites and
conduct Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments and develop cleanup plans.
Apply for the Land and Water Conservation Grant requesting $100,000 to replace Keiler Park’s playground
equipment.
Additional Meeting Information
Municipal order approved for a one-year agreement with Wise Staffing to hire seasonal and temporary city staff.
Ordinance approved for the consensual annexation of 5470 Old Highway 60.
Ordinance introduced to repeal and replace Chapter 108 (Telecommunications) of the Code of Ordinances which was
originally adopted in 1998. Law changes and telecommunications advances have led to the need to completely update
this chapter. Also, Paducah has been approached by telecommunication companies interested in using the rights-of-
way in Paducah. The City is required to publicly bid all franchises for the use of its rights-of-way. This ordinance will
govern the process and requirements for bidding and entering into non-exclusive franchise agreements. Stakeholder
feedback was incorporated into this ordinance.
Ordinance introduced to reset the interest rate for the 2015 Industrial Revenue Bond for the Holiday Inn Paducah
Riverfront hotel project.
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