Mayor’s Opening Comments – Popular Annual Financial Report
Mayor George Bray encouraged everyone to read the City’s Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) as part of the City’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency. This is the first year for the city to create this 12-page report that summarizes financial data in a user-friendly format to increase awareness and knowledge of Paducah’s operations. Recently, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Reporting Award to the City of Paducah for the PAFR. Stop by Paducah City Hall at 300 South 5th Street to pick up a copy of the PAFR, or read the document in the following link: Popular Annual Financial Report.
Adding Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Service as Payment Option
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance to add a new option for citizens and property owners to pay their real estate and property tax bills over the phone. This year, the City will be offering Interactive Voice Response (IVR) services that allow citizens/property owners to call a number at any time of day to pay their bill over the phone with a card or check without the need to speak to a finance agent. Services will be offered in English and Spanish. There will be an initial service fee of $0.50 per transaction in addition to e-check and credit card processing fees. There is also an online portal for the payment of tax bills, and bills can be paid by calling the City of Paducah Finance Department during normal business hours. The City of Paducah issues approximately 15,000 property tax/real estate bills annually.
Natural Gas Franchise Agreement with Atmos Energy
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance (4 to 1 vote with Commissioner Buz Smith voting no) for a franchise agreement between the City of Paducah and Atmos Energy. Kentucky’s Constitution (Sections 163 and 164) and Chapter 96 of KRS authorize cities to require public utilities, including providers of natural gas, to operate under franchise agreements and to grant them the right to use public right-of-way upon certain terms. The City issued a request for proposals for a non-exclusive natural gas franchise in March with Atmos Energy providing the only proposal. This agreement is for a 20-year non-exclusive franchise agreement. In return for the use of right-of-way space, Atmos will provide to the City 2 percent of revenues. For the community, the agreement also states that Atmos will repair any damage it creates “to any part of the public right-of-way and will restore, as nearly as practicable, such property to substantially its condition immediately prior to such damage.”
Contract for Services with Paxton Park Golf Commission
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a contract for services with the Paxton Park Golf Commission with the City providing $100,000 for facility operations. This past year, the City paved the parking lot. Mayor Bray said this golf course, which is owned by the City of Paducah, is a community asset. Learn more about the golf course by visiting Paxton Park Golf Course.
Additional Meeting Information
- Municipal Orders approved for the declaration and sale of surplus property at 817 South 5th Street and at 809 South 4th Street. Both of these lots are vacant with each purchaser planning to build a home on each lot.
- Municipal Orders approved for the purchase of the following equipment: one tractor, one finish mower, one ZTR mower, one street sweeper, and one wheel-loader.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing a Fleet Maintenance Service Agreement between Paducah’s Fleet Division and Livingston County EMS. Fleet will provide maintenance services to Livingston EMS’s vehicles at hourly rates.
- Municipal Order approved for a contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the purchase of tasers. The Board also approved a contract modification with Axon Enterprise for body-worn and in-car camera systems.
- Municipal Order approved for a contract with Flock Safety for license place readers (LPR). A pilot program started in 2022 with the Paducah Police Department receiving two LPR systems, and in 2023, the program expanded to a total of six systems. With this contract, the program is adding 15 systems for a total of 21 LPR systems.
- Municipal Order approved for an agreement with the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club for the use of the property at 2956 Park Avenue, the former army reserve center. In 2012, the property was deeded to the City of Paducah with conditions that prohibit the City from selling, leasing, assigning, or disposing of the premises except to another government agency. However, the property can be used as a recreational facility. In 2014, the City of Paducah entered into a Concession Agreement with the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club to allow them to use the property as a recreational space for children's programs and services. In 2018, the City adopted a new Concession Agreement. At this meeting, the City and Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club updated the Agreement with changes including an updated term ending in 2044.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the payment for the city portion of the Convention Center roof project.
- Ordinance approved closing 78,335 square feet of city-owned right-of-way between 2600 and 2621 Husbands Road and 2730 Husbands Road and 2585 John Puryear Drive and 185,805 square feet of property between 2600 and 2630 John Puryear Drive and the City of Paducah’s floodwall levee. The adjacent property owners requested this closure.
- Assistant City Manager Michelle Smolen highlighted an informational brochure that has been mailed to all city residents outlining the Public Works Department’s guidelines for garbage collection, yard waste collection, curbside recycling, and the Compost Facility.
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