Note: Commissioner Buz Smith was unable to attend this meeting.
Interlocal Agreement for Provision of Emergency 911 Services with McCracken County
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance authorizing an Interlocal Agreement for Provision of Emergency 911 Services with McCracken County. This agreement includes, but is not limited to, the following provisions:
- The Paducah Police Department retains management control of Paducah-McCracken County 911 Service with the Paducah Police Chief or designee as 911’s Criminal Justice Agency Director (CJA Director). All employees will be employed by the City of Paducah.
- The agreement creates a five-member citizen board called the Paducah-McCracken County 911 Board. Elected officials in addition to city and county staff are not to be members of this Board. Among other things, it will be responsible for adopting a recommended annual operating budget for 911 and presenting this recommendation to the City and County no later than April 1 each year.
- The agreement creates a Paducah-McCracken County 911 Service User Committee made up of Paducah’s Chief of Police or his/her designee, Paducah Fire Chief or his/her designee, McCracken County Sheriff or his/her designee, the Paducah-McCracken Office of Emergency Management Director or his/her designee, one member from each of the five County Fire Protection Districts, and one member from any other customer served by 911. This committee may make recommendations to the CJA Director.
- Funding is outlined in the agreement and shall be implemented through parcel fees imposed by ordinances approved by the City of Paducah and McCracken County, fees on wireless services, grants, user fees, and any other lawful source of revenue.
- Telephone landline fees are abolished by the City and County as part of this Interlocal Agreement.
- This Interlocal Agreement is for a period of five years. It automatically renews for an additional five years at the end of the initial term and any subsequent terms unless either party withdraws or terminates the agreement.
Medical Cannabis Discussion
In 2023, the Kentucky General Assembly passed Senate Bill 47 legalizing the use of medical cannabis and establishing a framework for state licensure of medical cannabis businesses such as dispensaries, cultivators, processors, and producers. As of January 1, 2025, for an individual to receive a medical cannabis card from the Cabinet of Health, the person must be a Kentucky resident, have a qualifying medical condition, and have no disqualifying felony. Medical cannabis cannot be transported into Kentucky; therefore, Kentucky businesses must grow, produce, test, and sell the cannabis all within Kentucky.
Licenses for businesses will be issued through the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services with license applications to be accepted as soon as July 1. There is a limited number of licenses and license types available in this initial application period through the state. Regarding dispensaries, 48 licenses will be issued across Kentucky with four licenses per region. McCracken County is in region 8 with four dispensary licenses for our region permitted by the State in this first phase with no more than one dispensary per county.
Local governments across the state are facing policy decisions regarding if and where these businesses can be located. At this meeting, the City Commission discussed seeking feedback from the community over the next two weeks but expects to approve a resolution in support of permitting medical cannabis businesses in Paducah at the next City Commission meeting. A later meeting would include zoning text amendments.
Learn more about Kentucky’s medical cannabis program and read a list of frequently asked questions.
2024 Spring Clean Up Day Recap
Public Works Director Chris Yarber provided an overview of the City-County Spring Clean Up Day held April 20. A total of 192 tons of garbage was collected along with thousands of pounds of household hazardous waste, batteries, and electronics. More than 13 tons of tires was collected. This year, 746 vehicles went through the line to drop off materials (56 percent were county residents). The Paducah Board of Commissioners also approved a Municipal Order authorizing a payment to Clean Earth, Inc. for the household hazardous waste and electronic waste collected at the event. A grant through the Kentucky Division of Waste Management funds a portion of the Spring Clean Up Day event.
Reasonable Accommodation for Recovery Homes
Earlier this year, the Kentucky General Assembly amended Kentucky Revised Statutes to require a recovery residence that provides on-site-clinical services or access to on-site clinical services to be certified through the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. After receiving a favorable recommendation from the Planning Commission at its May 6 meeting, the Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance at this meeting to add a new section to Paducah’s zoning code called Sec. 126-88 Reasonable Accommodation for Recovery Homes. The City’s code is in addition to the State process. It outlines an application process through the Planning Department. The new code section is to provide a streamlined approach for the approval of Recovery Homes, while protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
Additional Meeting Information
- Assistant Director of Recreation Taylor Morsching introduced new employees, Recreation Specialist Kennedy Kirks and Recreation Specialist Drake Stepter.
- Members of the Paducah Civic Beautification Board presented awards to the Dogwood Trail winners. Before the awards ceremony, the Paducah Ambassadors sang the Paducah Song.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the contract with Jim Smith Construction for the reconstruction and repaving of the Robert Cherry Civic Center parking lot. Once the contracted is executed, the project is to be completed in 30 days.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the agreement with Tennis Technologies, Inc. to resurface the Noble Park Tennis Courts.
- Municipal Order approved for revisions to the 2024 Annual Plan and Administrative Plan for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
- Municipal Order approved for a permanent drainage easement for property located at 2338 S. 25th Street.
- Municipal Order approved to terminate the residential infill agreement with EMD Properties, LLC for the LaBarri Subdivision off New Holt Road. This subdivision has been sold. The City also approved a Municipal Order for a residential infill agreement with the new owner, Willett Enterprises, Inc. This agreement reimburses the developer for ad valorem taxes up to nearly $198,000 for the cost of the installation of the public infrastructure.
- Municipal Order approved for an agreement with Kemper CPA group for financial statement auditor services for the City for fiscal years 2024 through 2026.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing a contract with Lake Assault Boats, LLC for the purchase of a multi-purpose fire and rescue boat for the Paducah Fire Department. A Port Security Program Grant is providing 75 percent of the cost of the boat.
- Ordinance approved closing the unimproved right-of-way on Colonial Drive and Deer Lick Place as requested by the adjacent property owners. These unimproved rights-of-way are part of the Woodlands Reserve development off of Pecan Drive. The developer is looking at configuring the property into two- to three-acre lots.
- Ordinance approved amending the budget for the 911 Radio Upgrade Project. This amendment moves money that was set aside for an increase in pension payments. These funds have been untouched for several years due to the stabilization of pension rates. The amendment is to move funds to the 911 project for the purchase of radios.
- Ordinance introduced to close a portion of an alley west of South 24th Street between Center Street and Seitz Street along with the closing of a section of alley west of South 24th Street between Seitz Street and Barnett Street as requested by the adjacent property owners.
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