Called Meeting of Paducah Board of Commissioners with McCracken County Fiscal Court
Parks Master Plan Presentation
The Paducah Board of Commissioners and the McCracken County Fiscal Court held a joint meeting to hear the latest on the completion of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan. Both elected bodies met in April and June to discuss the plan’s preliminary results. At this meeting, Pat Hoagland with Brandstetter/Carroll, Inc. provided a summary of the process and final results. The 11-month process has included input from a Steering Committee and about 2600 contacts with city and county citizens ranging from mailed surveys to face-to-face input. Regarding the Steering Committee’s input, the top 10 priorities are
- Improve ADA accessibility at all parks;
- Redevelop Stuart Nelson Park;
- Build the Indoor Recreation and Aquatic Center;
- Improve site security at all parks;
- Provide more restroom facilities;
- Improve Riverfront Plaza/Schultz Park;
- Replace the McCracken County Soccer Complex;
- Redevelop Midtown Golf Course as a neighborhood park;
- Replace playground components; and
- Provide shade at playgrounds.
Hoagland said, “Think of this as the most positive service you provide for your citizens, parks and recreation, which helps people to enjoy their lives, which helps businesses want to come to Paducah-McCracken County. It helps people stay healthy. It gives them lifelong skills in sportsmanship, teamwork - all the things that help you in your entire life.”
Called Meeting of Paducah Board of Commissioners at 5:30 p.m.
2019 Christmas Parade Winners
The Paducah Parks & Recreation Department presented trophies to the 2019 Christmas Parade winners. The winners are as follows:
Themed Float Division:
1st Place Dippin Dots
2nd Place Highland Cumberland Pres. Church
3rd Place Paducah Power
4th Place BFW Engineering
5th Place Cub Scout Pack 2018
Religious Float Division:
1st Place Broadway Church of Christ
2nd Place West KY Christian Alliance
3rd Place Trinity United Methodist
Non-float Division:
1st Place MelRhea Balloons
2nd Place AMPA
3rd Place Goodwin Farms
School Float Division: 1st Place McNabb
Drill Team Division:
1st Place SAB
2nd Place Center Stage
3rd Place Paducah Quick Step Cloggers
Band Division:
1st Place MCHS
2nd Place PTHS
2019 Community Spirit Award goes to Ingram Barge Company. This is a new award given a parade entry that best portrays community spirit.
Ordinance to Establish a Creative & Cultural Council
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance to establish the Paducah Creative & Cultural Council as part of Chapter 2 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances. This is one of the What’s Important Now (WIN) initiatives in the City’s Strategic Plan for enhancing arts and culture in Paducah. This ordinance creates the Council which will be composed of five Paducah citizens appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the Board. In addition to the five citizens, the Planning Director, Neighborhood Project Planner, and the Grants Administrator will serve on the Council. The ordinance says the Council will meet no less than quarterly. The roles and functions of the Council will be as follows:
- Acting as a resource for local artists and organizations.
- Undertaking initiatives that support the creative economy and the arts and culture ecosystem of Paducah.
- Uniting and connecting local partners to address community needs and make the community more healthy, vibrant and equitable.
- Recognizing, promoting and encouraging creative industry growth.
- Identifying funding and grant opportunities for local artists and arts & cultural organizations and assisting with the acquisition of said funding and grants.
- Coordinating efforts between agencies and individual artists and educating the public regarding community arts opportunities.
- Assisting with the installation of public art in neighborhoods, public places, and commercial corridors.
- Performing assessments on the state of arts and culture in Paducah.
If you are a Paducah citizen interested in serving on the Creative & Cultural Council, submit an application and a resume or biography. The application can be found at Boards and Commissions or contact the City Clerk’s office at 270-444-8506 for more information.
Contract for Services with Midtown Alliance of Neighbors
Municipal order approved for a contract for services with Midtown Alliance of Neighbors with the City providing $140,000. The contract is through June 30, 2020. The funds will be used by Midtown to hire a full-time construction manager and a full-time staff person to handle records and financial management as Midtown works to renovate and construct safe and affordable housing. Midtown is working to meet the eligibility requirements to become a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) as designated by the State. Midtown Alliance of Neighbors is a 501(c)(3) organization that was founded in 2008. Between July 1, 2018, and June 30 of this year, the organization provided safety, security, accessibility, maintenance, or weatherization repairs to 27 low-income families. Plus during that one-year timeframe, the organization completed emergency repairs for 14 disabled, elderly, and/or low-income households. If Midtown is successful in becoming a CHDO, it will allow the organization to more easily secure state funding as it works to increase and improve affordable housing in Paducah.
Ordinance to Amend Chapter 42 of Paducah’s Code Related to Junk Cars
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance amending Chapter 42 of Paducah’s Code of Ordinances related to abandoned, junk, and inoperable vehicles. The goals are to eliminate damaged and inoperable vehicles that may be damaging the environment through the leaking of fluids and to beautify the City by removing vehicles causing blight. The amendments include clear definitions for apparently abandoned, apparently inoperable, and junk vehicles. The amendments also include a section about vehicle owners who comply with the removal of a junk vehicle within the specified timeframe. It also outlines the circumstances and procedure in which a junk motor vehicle would be towed at the owner’s expense. If a junk vehicle is removed within 30 days of a violation notice, it is considered to be in compliance with the ordinance with no fine. If the junk vehicle is not removed within 30 days, the owner will receive a $100 fine. After 60 days, the vehicle is subject to being towed at the owner’s expense.
Quick Highlights
- The following new employees were introduced to the Board: Human Resources Director Stefanie Suazo and Records Clerks Sabrina Miller and Mary Farrell.
- Municipal order approved for the declaration and sale of surplus of property at 164 Clements Street to James Hardin for $350. Hardin owns the property adjacent to this lot.
- Ordinance approved for budget amendment to move General Fund Reserve Funds in the amount of $687,900 to the Ohio River Reconstruction Project (floodwall reconstruction project). This $31.2 million reconstruction project is funded 65 percent federally with the remaining 35 percent to be funded by the City. A portion of the total project funding must be in cash from the City. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is requesting the remaining cash payment of $687,900 to be submitted.
- Ordinance approved for Change Order No. 1 with Evrard Strang Construction Company for a contract increase of $16,951.32 for the spray pad and restroom project at the Pat & Jim Brockenborough Rotary Health Park. This change order brings the total contract to $531,951.32. Pat Brockenborough provided a generous donation of $500,000 for this project.
- Ordinance approved releasing the promissory note for the Paxton Park Municipal Golf Course. In 2014, the City provided the golf course a $225,000 loan for facility improvements.
- Ordinance approved accepting property from P&L Railroad located near Adams, Jackson, and Tennessee streets.
- Ordinance approved authorizing a contract in the amount of $43,824.80 with Commonwealth Economics for professional services for the TIF project. This contract is to continue the work in the development of a TIF district in Paducah. The City has received preliminary approval by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority with the assistance of Commonwealth Economics. Commonwealth will assist the City through the final TIF review process by the State. This contract is an expense for which the City would be able to receive reimbursement once the TIF has successfully received State approval.
- Ordinance approved to consolidate the Urban Renewal & Community Development Agency (URCDA) with the Paducah Planning Commission. The consolidation will increase the efficiency of property transfers and redevelopment projects since the Planning Commission routinely meets twice per month.
- Ordinance introduced (vote January 14) for Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $5000 for the Parks & Recreation Master Plan. This change order was due to expanding the statistically valid survey to include McCracken County citizens outside of the Paducah city limits. This change order brings the total contract with Bacon, Farmer, Workman Engineering & Testing, Inc. to $107,500.
- Ordinance introduced (vote January 14) for the repealing and replacing of Chapter 22 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances related to Cable Communications. This chapter is being updated and modernized to reflect current technology and changes to State and Federal laws.
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