To view the entire meeting, visit https://youtu.be/yNefqgaYVxk.
Note: The May 24 meeting will be held at 5 p.m. at the Paducah Recreation Center located at 1527 Martin Luther King Junior Drive.
Mayor George Bray’s Opening Remarks
Mayor Bray reiterated the importance of the public-private partnership between ViWinTech and the City. Yesterday, the City and ViWinTech announced that ViWinTech ownership had purchased the former Residential Care Center on Paducah’s Southside. This dilapidated building on Irvin Cobb Drive will be demolished with ViWinTech then using the property to expand its operations.
Request for Proposals Agreement for 911 Upgrade
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a municipal order authorizing a contract amendment with Federal Engineering, Inc. The City retained Federal Engineering in 2016 for assistance in the planning, design, and implementation of upgrades to the E-911 Center, a division of the Paducah Police Department that contracts with user groups including McCracken County for dispatching services. Since that time, upgrades have been made to the records management, telephony, and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system. The radio system which includes the radio infrastructure, radios, and antenna sites is the next major component to be upgraded. To address infrastructure in addition to 911 governance and funding, the City and County created the 911 Communication Oversight Committee which has been meeting since January of this year. The committee recommends moving forward with a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the procurement of a six-tower 911 radio system. With this amendment, Federal Engineering will prepare the RFP, review the proposals, and conduct contract negotiations. The City and McCracken County are partnering in this endeavor with the County reimbursing the City for half of the cost of this contract amendment. Learn more about the work of the 911 Communication Oversight Committee at 911 Priority.
Construction Contract for South 25th Street Improvement Project
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance for a construction contract with Central Paving Company for the South 25th Street Improvement Project. Once Central Paving receives a notice to proceed, this is a 180 consecutive calendar day project that will improve South 25th Street from Jackson Street to Alabama Street. Also included is the installation of sidewalks on the west side of South 25th Street. The City is using $1.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds in addition to $650,000 the City received from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in 2019 for the project. This project will also improve Brooks Stadium Drive with the work on that roadway to begin once the Paducah Chiefs Baseball Club’s season concludes.
Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Workshop
The Board and City Manager Daron Jordan discussed the fiscal year 2023 budget which will be introduced May 24 with approval in June. The City’s fiscal year begins July 1. Jordan explained that the fiscal year 2023 General Fund budget of $43.3 million is a 7 percent increase over the current year’s budget but less than the 8.5 percent national inflation rate. Jordan said this shows fiscal responsibility since this budget also includes mandated pension obligations and competitive wages. Jordan added that to balance the budget it required a transfer of approximately $2.5 million from reserves. The Board then discussed items included in the Investment Fund, a separate fund from the General Fund, that focuses on economic development, community development, debt service, grant-in-aid funding, and capital improvement. The budget includes funding increases for items including street paving and city facility improvements/maintenance. There was discussion on several funding recipients including Sprocket, Community Scholarship Program, and Industrial Development Authority (IDA). The construction of eight pickleball courts at Noble Park also was discussed. After design and construction bidding, the expectation is that the pickleball courts could be built this fall.
Paducah Diversity Advocacy Board Presentation
Dorothea Davis, co-founder of the Paducah Diversity Advocacy Board (PDAB), presented an update to the Board of Commissioners regarding PDAB which began meeting in May 2021. This 7-member advisory board has priority areas including public engagement and city practices such as hiring a diverse workforce. Davis said the board is working to understand the community, embrace differences, and face the issue of racism head-on with the ultimate goal of a safe, respected, and connected community. Davis said next steps for the board are to create a community diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) statement and actively support DEI programs.
Additional Meeting Information
- The Paducah Civic Beautification Board recognized the Dogwood Trail winners. To see the list of winners and learn more about the Dogwood Trail, visit Dogwood Trail.
- The Board appointed Carol Young and John Durbin and reappointed Karami Underwood to the Paducah-McCracken County Senior Citizens Board.
- The Board appointed Jonas Neihoff to the Barkley Regional Airport Authority.
- Municipal order approved to submit a grant application requesting $6804 from the 2022 Federal Bulletproof Vest Partnership for the purchase of body armor vests.
- Municipal orders approved for Fleet Maintenance Service Agreements between the City of Paducah Fleet Division and the Burna Fire District and the Mayfield-Graves County Ambulance Service. Fleet will provide maintenance services to each agency’s vehicles at hourly rates.
- Municipal orders approved for the purchase of property at 3179 Jackson Street and 3181 Jackson Street. These parcels are in close proximity to the Jackson Street fire station.
- Ordinance introduced for the consensual annexation of 5470 Old Highway 60.
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