To view the entire meeting, visit https://youtu.be/eXYZMyvmJyU.
CDBG Grant for Paducah-McCracken County Senior Center
This week, Mayor George Bray received a notice from the Kentucky Department for Local Government that the Paducah-McCracken County Senior Center has been selected to receive a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $1 million. At this meeting, the Paducah Board of Commissioners officially accepted the grant. In July, the City authorized applying for the grant on behalf of the Center. Senior Center Board Chairman David Troutman said that the Center is purchasing property at 16th and Kentucky for the construction of a new facility. This grant funding will help jumpstart a fundraising campaign. The first phase of the project includes the construction of an approximately 7000 square foot building that will house the dining area and kitchen.
In addition to the activities and transportation services, the Center provides meals for approximately 450 seniors through the meals-on-wheels program. The Center also serves lunch on-site to an average of 40 to 60 seniors each day during the week.
Katterjohn Building Emergency Safety Work
The Board approved an emergency ordinance to pay Mike Goode Excavating $60,000 for emergency demolition services at 1501 Broadway also known as the Katterjohn building. The demolition work for three areas of the privately-owned building identified by a third-party engineer as immediate safety threats began October 11. The areas of concern were the single-story section at the back of the building, the brick smoke stack adjacent to a secondary structure at the back of the property, and the front porch structure. At this time, the porch area still needs to be stabilized and a couple of areas at the back of the structure need to be secured.
Background: Evergreen Development, LLC took ownership of the building on May 7, 2021. Although the building was already in serious disrepair when that company purchased it, the structures on the property have further deteriorated. Graffiti, vagrancy, high grass, rubbish, and security have been constant issues with no less than 24 notices related to citations for nuisance and property maintenance violations, as well as notices of liens mailed to Evergreen Development. This year, the City has had to secure the building, mow the grounds, and abate rubbish. With a growing hole in the roof of the one-story structure and numerous reports of vagrants and children entering the property, the City hired Gardner Engineering Consultants to assess the property’s structural integrity. The City received the engineer’s opinion in September which stated that sections of the building required immediate demolition. This led to the building being condemned by the Paducah Fire Department with notices provided to Evergreen Development. On October 10, 2022, the City issued an Emergency Demolition order to prevent loss of life.
Illinois Central Railroad constructed the facility in the late 1800s to serve as a hospital. After a fire in 1917, the building was rebuilt and eventually was purchased by George Katterjohn in the 1950s to be used as leased office space. Building ownership has transferred several times since then.
Construction of Pickleball Courts at Noble Park
The Board approved a municipal order authorizing the City Manager to issue a request for proposals for the construction of eight pickleball courts across from the tennis courts at Noble Park. The courts would have fencing and shaded seating areas for the players and onlookers.
FEMA Grant Application for Stormwater Project
The Board approved a municipal order to apply for the FEMA DR-4663 Hazard Mitigation Grant in the amount of $975,000. This funding opportunity results from Kentucky receiving a Presidential Disaster Declaration as a result of storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides occurring between July 26 and August 11, 2022. The City is requesting funds for the 14th Street Relief Sewer Project to improve stormwater infrastructure and reduce the risk of future flooding. This project will reduce or eliminate flooding to 18 structures in an area around 26th Street and Kruger Street just east of Noble Park. This area, which is prone to flooding, currently is served by an undersized storm sewer.
New Playground Equipment for Robert Coleman Park
The Board authorized a municipal order for an agreement with GameTime for the purchase of playground equipment for Robert Coleman Park. The City has received a matching grant from GameTime which allows for the purchase of playground equipment at a 50% discount. The much-larger and inclusive playground equipment is for children ages 5 to 12.
Contract for Dredging Project
The Board approved a three-year construction contract with Dredge America, Inc. for hydraulic dredging of sediment downstream of the Transient Dock. The City has received a permit from the Kentucky Division of Water with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concurrence to perform a maximum of 60,000 cubic yards of dredging per year to maintain access to the docking area. As a result of the flooding and severe weather events in February 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency obligated more than $3.97 million in federal funds for Paducah’s dredging project which will cover 90 percent of the total project cost. The remaining amount is split between the State (4.8 percent) and City (5.2 percent).
Additional Meeting Information
- Mayor Bray proclaimed October as Long-Term Care Residents’ Rights Month. In the United States, there are 1.3 million individuals living in 15,600 nursing homes and more than 800,000 individuals living in 28,900 assisted living/residential care facilities. This proclamation celebrates these citizens, recognizes their rich individuality, and reaffirms their right to vote and participate politically, including the right to have a say in their care.
- Municipal order approved authorizing the City Manager to issue a request for qualifications for energy efficiency services for city facilities.
- Approval of a municipal order to apply for the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Grant requesting $12,474 for the Technology Department to establish a cybersecurity governance program.
- Municipal order approved for the purchase of a fire pumper truck.
- Municipal order approved for the FY23 contract for services between the City and Barkley Regional Airport with the City providing $120,000.
- Municipal order approved accepting the bid with Galls, LLC for the purchase of uniforms and gear for the Paducah Police Department.
- Ordinance approved for various text amendments to Section 126 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances related to zoning. These amendments were recommended by the Paducah Planning Commission. One of the noteworthy amendments regards the use of temporary signs. The text change limits the amount of time a temporary sign can be displayed. With the amendment (unless otherwise noted in Section 126), a temporary sign can be in place for a period not to exceed 67 consecutive days, at which time the sign must be removed or replaced with a different sign.
- Due to election day and holidays, the Paducah Board of Commissioners will have meetings on November 15 and 29 instead of the regularly scheduled November meeting dates.
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