City of Paducah Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget Ordinance (vote June 25)
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance to adopt the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 City of Paducah Budget, a balanced budget. The City’s fiscal year runs from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. In addition to meetings among the City Manager, Department Directors, and the Finance Department, the Paducah Board of Commissioners participated in a budget workshop on May 15.
Mayor Brandi Harless thanked City Manager Jim Arndt, Finance Director Jonathan Perkins, and the city team for their hard work putting together this balanced budget. Mayor Harless said, “Thank you for your hard work. This is a tough one with the pension issue.”
The majority of the operating expenses for the City of Paducah are funded through the General Fund which is outlined to have $35,973,950 in expenditures during the upcoming fiscal year. This is a 1.8 percent increase as compared to Fiscal Year 2018-2019’s General Fund expenditures of $35,343,845. The budget ordinance also outlines the City’s 22 funds which cover operations, capital outlays, and the State-mandated 12 percent increase in pension contributions.
The Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget Book will be placed on the City of Paducah website within the next few weeks.
Bob Leeper Bridge Project Funding
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance moving $80,000 from the General Fund Reserve to the Bob Leeper Bridge Project. This pedestrian bridge over Perkins Creek just northwest of the Stuart Nelson ball fields would link the City’s Greenway Trail to the McCracken County Trail System. The project is funded in part by a $100,000 Recreation Trails grant in addition to a commitment of $30,000 from the McCracken County Fiscal Court. Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership (FRNP) has committed to donating $30,000. Furthermore, two of FRNP’s subcontractors, Veolia and Geosyntec, are providing $5,000 each. The project is estimated to cost $250,000. This proposed bridge would be approximately 110 feet long and 10 feet wide. It would follow an abandoned rail bed of the Chicago, St. Louis, and New Orleans Railroad Company.
Budget Amendment for Floodwall Project (vote June 25)
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance to transfer $750,000 from the General Fund Reserve for the Ohio River Shoreline Reconstruction Project (the floodwall project). The City and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have an agreement on this more than $32 million project with the City responsible for 35 percent of the cost through a combination of in-kind and cash contributions. The cash contribution must be 5 percent of the total authorized project cost. This $750,000 is a portion of the required cash match which will be paid to the Corps.
Seamen’s Church Institute Sublease Ordinances (vote June 25)
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced two ordinances related to the sublease agreements for Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey, Inc. Seamen’s Church leases the property located at 129 South Water Street from the City of Paducah and operates its Center for Maritime Education, a maritime training school and simulator facility. The first ordinance introduction is for Seamen’s Church to sublease a portion of its unused space to The Waterways Journal. The second ordinance is for Seamen’s Church to sublease unused space to the American Bureau of Shipping.
Quick Highlights:
- Parks & Recreation Director Mark Thompson introduced LaMiira Askew who was recently hired as Administrative Assistant II in the Parks Department.
- Assistant City Manager Michelle Smolen introduced Harrison Fry. Fry is an intern serving in the City Manager’s office this summer. He is working on his MPA at Murray State University.
- Mayor Harless presented a proclamation to Susan Baier proclaiming June 22 as Lemonade Saturday in recognition of the educational event to teach kids how to start, own, and operate a business. Approximately 20 lemonade stands will be operational in various businesses around the Paducah area on that day from 9 a.m. until noon.
- Mayor Harless recognized the participants of her Intern and Pathfinders programs.
- Nancy Hughes provided information about the mission of Out Paducah.
- American Municipal Power Director of Marketing Harry Phillips provided a $2500 scholarship check to Paducah Tilghman graduate Kate Rogers.
- Paducah-McCracken County Joint Sewer Agency (JSA) Executive Director John Hodges gave a presentation about JSA’s annual rate adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index for Utilities. The rate adjustment is less than two percent. He also discussed the 15 million gallon wastewater facility under construction on North 8th Street.
- Municipal Orders approved authorizing the sale of the following city-owned surplus properties:
- 2901 Virginia Street for $350. Paducah Habitat for Humanity plans to build a home on the property.
- 625 North 6th Street for $500. New property owner plans to build a home on the property.
- 1737 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive for $400. New property owner owns the adjacent property.
- 440 Kinkead Street for $350. New property owner plans to use the property for gardening and fruit trees.
- 2106 Yeiser Street for $1500. New property owner owns the adjacent property.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application on behalf of Center Point Recovery Center requesting $200,000 for personnel expenses. The City of Paducah is not required to match any of the funds. If awarded, a project administration fee in the amount of $2500 will be paid to the City.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing an amendment to the professional services agreement with Gardner Engineering & Construction for the Kresge Demolition Project. The building located at 318 Broadway had deteriorated to the point requiring demolition earlier this year. The original agreement with Gardner was $32,000. This municipal order adds $8,942.62 to the contract due to additional engineering work required on the project.
- Municipal Order approved accepting the Household Hazardous Waste grant through the Kentucky Division of Waste Management in the amount of $25,500 to fund the annual Spring Clean Up Day. The required match of $6375 will be divided equally between the city and county.
- Ordinance introduced (vote June 25) to amend Paducah Code of Ordinances Section 2-660 related to the Small Purchase Plan. This amendment is to match the change in KRS 45A.385 approved this year through House Bill 26 which increases the cap from $20,000 to $30,000 for which the City may use its small purchases procedures.
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