To view the entire meeting, visit https://youtu.be/v8HWBEhXVJ4.
Stormwater/Roadway Projects Update
City Engineer Rick Murphy updated the Paducah Board of Commissioners on prominent stormwater/roadway improvement projects that are underway in Paducah by showing before and during construction pictures. All of these projects are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.
- Roadways – Several roads are being improved with new pavement and the addition of curbs and gutters including sections of South 6th Street, Caldwell Street, Husbands Street, 22nd Street near Elmwood Court, Brooks Stadium Drive, and South 25th Street. South 25th Street also includes the addition of sidewalks.
- Buckner Lane Bridge and Crooked Creek Mitigation Project – This project began in late May. This comprehensive project improves the two-lane section of Buckner Lane between Hansen Road and Pecan Drive and replaces the dilapidated Buckner Lane bridge over Crooked Creek near the intersection with Buckner Lake Circle. This project also includes the installation of a larger box culvert under Oakcrest Drive near the intersection with Buckner Lane. This project will improve stormwater conditions in the area by reducing the number of times Crooked Creek comes out of its banks due to severe storm events. Also, the drainage ditch adjacent to Buckner Lane is being improved by lining it with concrete to reduce overgrowth and to enhance stormwater flow by improved efficiency. The last phase of the project will be improving the Buckner Lane roadway by increasing the lane widths, adding four-foot wide shoulders, and paving.
ARPA Fund Allocation Discussion
City Manager Daron Jordan discussed the funding allocations for the approximately $6.55 million in American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds that the City of Paducah is receiving. The City has obligated $4 million of the $6.55 million to stormwater projects including the Buckner Lane Bridge and South 25th Street projects discussed earlier in the meeting. Additional committed projects include funding to the Industrial Development Authority ($98,928), ViWinTech ($172,000) to assist with the demolition of the former Residential Care Center, renovation of the Robert Cherry Civic Center ($1.8 million), playground equipment for Robert Coleman Park ($45,000), and emergency demolition services for a portion of the Katterjohn Building ($80,000). Improving the floodwall lighting ($45,000) is the latest project identified for ARPA funding. At this time, approximately $295,000 remains uncommitted.
Paducah Main Street Update
Planning Director Nic Hutchison and Paducah Main Street Chairman Jeff Canter provided an overview of Paducah Main Street successes this year including the appointment of a full nine-member board of downtown stakeholders. The board recently had a training retreat with Kentucky Main Street. Canter says 13 new businesses started in 2022 which created 40 new jobs. Furthermore, downtown saw the addition of 10 new residential units and more than $2 million in private investment. For 2023, the Paducah Main Street Board would like to focus on enhancing upper Broadway, between 3rd and 7th streets.
Commission Priorities Quarterly Report
Assistant City Manager Michelle Smolen updated the Board on the progress of the 10 priorities adopted following the February strategic planning retreat. The 10 priority items are listed below in no particular order:
911 Radio/Tower Upgrades and Operational Funding
Minority Inclusion
Downtown
Southside Enhancements
Housing
Beautification
Community Growth
Trails and Bike Paths Enhancements
Continue Efforts to Improve Operational Efficiencies
Protecting Key Historical and Cultural Resources
The list of City Commission Priorities also includes three continuous improvement action items: stormwater, city facilities, and the outdoor sports complex. Visit Commission Priorities for more information including the latest report.
Paducah Civic Beautification Board Annual Business Awards
In addition to the first ever Community Beautification Award presented to Boy Scouts Troop 1 Grace Episcopal Church, members of the Paducah Civic Beautification Board presented annual business awards to the following 12 businesses:
Downtown
- Barrel & Bond, 100 Broadway
- Paducah/McCracken County Health Center, 916 Kentucky Avenue
- Stella’s, 202 Broadway
- With Love From Kentucky, 106 Broadway
Lower Town - The 505, 505 Martin Luther King Jr Drive
Midtown
- Artisan Kitchen, 1704 Broadway
- Revolution H. Salon, 3107 Jackson St.
- LaBelle Plaza, 110 Lone Oak Road
- David Dean Massage Therapy, 111 Nahm Street
Mall Area
- The Gym, 3055 N. Friendship Rd., Unit 1
- Heart to Home Creations, 4746 Hansen Road
Southside - Bob’s Drive-In, 2429 Bridge Street
Boards and Commissions
- Appointment of Sheryl Chino, reappointment of Mark Whitlow and Andrew McGlenon, and joint reappointment of Tom Padgett, Alexandra Sherwood, and Bill Bartleman to the Paducah-McCracken County Convention Center Board.
- Appointment of Ashlea McMillan to the Creative & Cultural Council.
Additional Meeting Information
- Mayor Bray presented a proclamation to Paducah Main Street Chairman Jeff Canter proclaiming November 26 as Small Business Saturday to celebrate the contribution local small businesses make to our economy.
- Municipal order approved authorizing the application for a Kentucky Emergency Management grant requesting $100,000 toward an emergency generator for Fire Station 5.
- Approval of a municipal order to purchase solid waste dumpsters.
- Municipal order approved for a contract with Axon Enterprises, Inc. for an interview recording system for the Police Department.
- Emergency ordinance approved for Change Order No. 1 with Mike Goode Excavating to increase the payment for the partial demolition of the building at 1501 Broadway, also known as the Katterjohn Building. This action increases the payment to a not-to-exceed amount of $80,000 for the emergency demolition work that has been completed.
- Ordinance introduced to amend sections of Paducah’s Code of Ordinances related to Parks & Recreation including updating the list of current public parks.
- Ordinance introduced to amend Paducah’s transient room tax ordinance to reflect language in House Bill 8 which was passed during the 2022 legislative session. The bill remedies a long-standing transient room tax collection gap that omitted online travel companies such as Vrbo and Airbnb. The new language clarifies that the transient room tax applies to rent for a “suite, room, rooms, cabins, lodgings, campsites, or other accommodations charged by any hotel, motel, inn, tourist camp, tourist cabin, campgrounds, recreational vehicle parks, or any other place in which accommodations are regularly furnished to transients….” This ordinance will become effective January 1, 2023. The McCracken County Fiscal Court is adopting similar language for its transient tax ordinance.
- There will not be a City Commission meeting on November 22. Instead, there will be a Holiday Lighting Ceremony downtown. The community is invited to join the Paducah Board of Commissioner at 5 p.m. on Water Street by the large floodwall opening for music and the lighting of a new 20-foot tall Christmas tree.
- Beautiful Paducah announced today that the 2022 BBQ on the River event generated $407,406.95 for charity.
- Commissioner Carol Gault updated the board on Monday’s meeting of the 911 Communication Oversight Committee.
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