Aloft Hotel Update
Mayor George Bray provided a progress update for the Marriott Aloft hotel which is to be built at 519 North 3rd Street. The hotel has been designed with the plans submitted to the State for approval. The City is also waiting for final approval from the Corps of Engineers on the project. The hotel, a $15 million private investment, is proposed to have approximately 120 rooms. The groundbreaking is expected to be scheduled soon. 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.
Purchase of Property for New Paducah Police Department Headquarters
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a municipal order authorizing the purchase of the property located at 3047 Jackson Street from Midway Management, LLC. This property is across the street from Paxton Park Golf Course. The purchase of the property is contingent upon acceptable environmental testing results and other items outlined in the purchase agreement. This property is approximately eight acres and has been identified as an advantageous location to construct a new police department to replaced the current headquarters which does not meet the Police Department’s current and future needs.
911 Radio and Tower Project Update
Paducah Police Chief Brian Laird updated the Board on the 911 radio and tower project. In December 2023, the City and County approved agreements with Communications International to upgrade the 911 radio system to include equipment for towers, consoles, and portable radio units. This project includes approximately $7.67 million in system upgrades.
Chief Laird said accomplishments to date include two tower leases are now under contract, tower site inspections were completed in September, two new dispatch workstations have been installed, and the phone and radio recording systems have been upgraded. The next steps are to install antennas on the towers this month, install radio equipment and test in November, and train dispatchers and end users. Chief Laird said the tentative go-live for the system is in January or February 2026.
Remote Worker Incentive Program Revisions
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance to revise the existing Remote Worker Incentive Program. The City created the Remote Worker Incentive Program in 2021 leading to the relocation of 26 people to Paducah to date. Planning Department Executive Assistant Nancy Upchurch explained that this ordinance revision would expand the pool of eligible applicants to include self-employed remote workers which have been making up 19 percent of the applications but were not eligible. Upchurch said 125 self-employed people applied but were not eligible. The amendment also changes the incentive process from a reimbursement program for moving expenses and for the waiver of the first year of payroll taxes to a cash incentive program. The new incentive would be the payment of $5000 paid in two $2500 installments. The first payment would be when the remote worker establishes residency in Paducah with the second installment paid at the one-year anniversary of their relocation.
Presentation from Humane World for Animals Regarding Retail Dog/Cat Sales
Kentucky State Director for Humane World for Animals Todd Blevins addressed the Board to provide a proposal for the City of Paducah to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the retail sale of dogs and cats in pet stores and outdoor venues in Paducah. Blevins said more than 500 municipalities including six in Kentucky (Elizabethtown, Frankfort, Lexington, Louisville, Radcliff, and Campbell County) have passed similar measures. This proposed legislation would not impact home breeding operations and would not impact partnerships or adoption events between stores and local shelters/rescues. Blevins said that since 2020 and the adoption of legislation prohibiting retail sales in many communities, the number of commercial breeders licensed to sell to pet stores has dropped. This reduction has reduced the number of dogs suffering in some establishments that were puppy mills.
Boards and Commissions
- Reappointment of Jonathan Perkins and appointment of Tyler Sanderson and Bonnie Koblitz to the Tree Advisory Board.
- Appointment of Lisa Humphrey to the Board of Adjustment.
- Appointment of Jim Chapman to the Paducah Planning Commission.
Additional Meeting Information
- Mayor George Bray proclaimed October as City Government Month in Paducah and encouraged local officials, employees, and schools to educate students about their city government and to engage them in city services.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the amendment to the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Administrative Services Agreement for increased discounts on prescription drug coverage.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the purchase of P25 mobile and portable radios from Communications International.
- Municipal Order approved for an employment agreement to rehire retired police officer Travis Counts.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing a contract with Motorola to reprogram existing Paducah Police radios to operate on the new P25 radio system.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the purchase of one SUV for the Fire Department.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing a fleet maintenance service contract between the City of Paducah Fleet Division and the City of Wickliffe, Kentucky, with Paducah providing servicing Wickliffe’s city vehicles.
- Municipal Order approved accepting the Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $583,406 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This funding is due to Paducah’s selection as an entitlement community.
- Municipal Order approved accepting the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant in the amount of $51,818.
- Ordinance approved for a 10-year non-exclusive cable franchise with Ritter Communications. This ordinance repeals the previous telecommunications franchise with Ritter.
- Ordinance approved to repeal and replace Article IV, Chapter 34 Urban Renewal of the Paducah Code of Ordinances. Several years ago, the Urban Renewal and Community Development Agency (URCDA) and the Planning Commission were joined as two boards that utilized the same members. This action separates the boards with each having their own members.
- Ordinance introduced amending Code of Ordinances section 20-23 related to body piercing to mirror state law which permits someone who has completed bloodborne pathogen training and is registered with the local health department to perform body piercings.
- Ordinance introduced amending the City of Paducah budget since the City accepted the Community Development Block Grant funds for entitlement communities.
- The Board had a short discussion about the demolition of the building at North 3rd and Jefferson. The owner of this highly deteriorated building is paying for the building’s demolition and worked with the State on the demolition process.
- Due to scheduling conflicts, the regularly scheduled meetings for October 14 and October 28 are cancelled. There will be a called meeting on Tuesday, October 21. A called meeting for a personnel hearing will be October 3.
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