KLC Achievement Recognition
Rita Dotson who serves as Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) President and Mayor of Benton, Kentucky, recognized City employees who completed education levels through KLC’s City Officials Training Center, a voluntary education program. The training center offers four tiers of recognition based on the number of training hours participants complete in city government and ethics. Employees recognized include
- City Manager Daron Jordan who received a Certified Municipal Officer Award. Jordan is among the first city officials to reach this top tier. The Certified Municipal Official award is the highest level of achievement requiring 135 hours of approved courses, two hours of open meetings and open records training, and one hour of ethics.
- Assistant City Clerk Claudia Meeks who received the Level III Master of City Governance and Level II Excellence in City Governance awards.
- Fire Chief Steve Kyle and Controller Audra Kyle with each receiving the Level I Achievement in City Governance award.
Presentation by Marriott Aloft Representatives about Hotel for 519 North 3rd Street
Vincent Troisi representing National Hospitality, LLC discussed plans for the construction of a Marriott Aloft hotel on the property at 519 North 3rd Street. The hotel, a $15 million private investment, is proposed to have four stories, 120 rooms, a lobby or rooftop bar, an indoor swimming pool, outdoor green space, gym space, and a conference room. Troisi said that groundbreaking is expected next spring. He added that they will attempt to incorporate the large tree on the lot into the design plans.
The Aloft brand includes more than 230 hotels across 33 countries. Aloft is described as having an open and airy atmosphere with “spaces that are vibrant, comfortable, and connected.”
In September, the City authorized a development agreement with National Hospitality for the hotel construction on the city-owned property. This property is adjacent to the Holiday Inn Paducah Riverfront and within walking distance to the Paducah Convention Center complex in downtown Paducah. The City purchased this property in 2015 which previously housed a nursing home and hospital. As part of the development agreement, the City will convey the property to the developer. If the developer defaults, the city would be able to regain ownership of the property.
Approval of Construction Contract for Riverfront Infrastructure (BUILD Grant) Project
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a municipal order for a construction contract with Jim Smith Contracting, Inc. for the Paducah Riverfront Infrastructure Improvement Project. This project will improve the riverfront area of downtown Paducah with a project scope that includes a riverboat excursion pier, transportation enhancements, and improvements to the river side of the floodwall in the general area between the Convention Center and Broadway. Mobilization on the project will begin shortly after the contractor receives the notice to proceed with the project construction expected to take 18 to 24 months.
In 2019, the City received notification that it would be receiving a $10.4 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant administered through the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to improve the riverfront. In June 2024, the City accepted a $3.5 million appropriation for the project outlined in House Bill 1 as approved during Kentucky’s legislative session.
This summer, the project was placed out to bid with bids opened on July 16. One contractor, Jim Smith Contracting, submitted a valid bid in the amount of $26.15 million. In August, the City received approval from MARAD to discuss cost-saving measures with Jim Smith Contracting.
At this meeting, the City approved a contract with Jim Smith in the amount of $20,413,644.86. To reduce the bid by more than $5.7 million while keeping the project’s scope intact, the project’s most significant cost-saving measure is the reduction of the excursion pier’s length by 200 feet. The pier’s width also is being reduced by five feet from a 25-foot wide dock to a 20-foot wide dock.
2025 General Obligation Bond Discussion
City Manager Daron Jordan and the Paducah Board of Commissioners discussed issuing a General Obligation Bond(s) in 2025 totaling $27 million to provide funds for two important projects: Paducah Sports Park and Riverfront Infrastructure Improvement Project (BUILD Grant).
The Paducah Sports Park is a City, County, and McCracken County Sports Tourism partnership that will total approximately $70 million to construct. The City and McCracken County are splitting the costs of the project. However, 80 percent of the bed tax funds collected by the McCracken County Sports Tourism Commission are available for debt payments. The City already has pledged $12.5 million from previous bond funds. This upcoming bond would provide an additional $22.5 million for the project. The City expects to receive about a half million dollars from the bed tax to be used on the City’s bond.
The remaining $4.5 million of this upcoming $27 million bond would be used for the Riverfront Infrastructure (BUILD Grant) project. The City expects to be able to use Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds to fund a portion of the debt payment.
Paducah Civic Beautification Board’s Annual Business Awards
The Paducah Civic Beautification Board recognized 12 local businesses with annual business awards.
Southside
- X-Man’s BBQ, 1535 Broad Street
- Maria’s Authentic Street Tacos Restaurant, 2516 Bridge Street
Midtown
- Moosie’s Grub Shack, 1019 Broadway
- MW Hair Studio, 1806 Kentucky Avenue
- Chroma Salon, 1200 Broadway
- Eye Center of Paducah, 2301 Kentucky Avenue
Lone Oak
- Scooter’s Coffee, 2130 Lone Oak Road
- Evergreens, 4677 Alben Barkley Drive
Mall Area
- Logan’s Roadhouse, 5137 Hinkleville Road
- Buzz Donut & Coffee Company, 4790 Village Square Drive
Downtown
- The Cork Room, 225 Broadway
- Olsen & Oliver, PLLC, 806 Clark Street
Additional Meeting Information
- Municipal Order approved for an amendment to the Tyler Technologies CAD contract.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the contract with Equature for 911 recording hardware and software.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing Paducah Water to accept the Cleaner Water Program Grant Assistance Award.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing a subordination agreement with Independence Bank for 3141 Broadway.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the FY2025 contract with Sprocket, Inc. with the City providing $100,000.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the City Manager to reject all proposals for the Robert Coleman Sprayground Project.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the Fire Department to apply for a $3250 Thermal Imager Grant through the Kentucky Fire Commission.
- Ordinance introduced amending Chapter 2 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances related to the Fire Department to update ordinance language conflicting with the IAFF Local 168 contract.
- Ordinance introduced amending Chapter 46 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances related to how the City identifies and assigns addresses. This change would require a property owner to use the address that is assigned.
- Ordinance introduced amending Chapter 78 of the Code of Ordinances related to personnel to add Veterans Day – November 11 as a city-recognized holiday beginning in 2025.
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