To view the entire meeting, visit https://youtu.be/tBT1vIgnokU.
Note: Commissioner David Guess was unable to attend this meeting.
Declaration of Local State of Emergency
Mayor George Bray is declaring a State of Emergency in Paducah related to COVID-19. Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in McCracken County and the fact that the county has returned to the red zone based on its number of positive daily COVID-19 cases, the State of Emergency directs the following effective August 11:
- All members of the general public and all state and city employees must be masked or wear facial coverings to enter and remain in City of Paducah office buildings, including City Hall.
- All employees may remove their masks within their workstations when appropriate social distancing from others can be maintained or where a protective COVID barrier is installed.
- It is strongly encouraged that all persons medically eligible to be vaccinated do so for their and all other's protection.
- It is suggested that all businesses encourage their employees and their customers to be vaccinated; and if they will not, require masks and social distancing.
City and County Partnerships on Three Major Projects
Over the past several weeks the City of Paducah and McCracken County have been discussing partnerships on three major projects. At this meeting, the Paducah Board of Commissioners moved forward with agreements.
- Paducah-McCracken County Athletic Complex: The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among the City, McCracken County Fiscal Court, and the McCracken County Sports Tourism Commission regarding the funding of Paducah-McCracken County Athletic Complex which is to be developed at the former Bluegrass Downs site and Stuart Nelson Park. In the MOU, the City and County commit to be equal partners in financing the design, development, construction, operation, and maintenance cost for the facility. Each government will provide $12.5 million toward the construction. The MOU also outlines how the remaining construction costs will be funded using City and County bonds, transient room tax funds, and the facility’s operating revenues.
- E-911 Partnership: The Board approved a MOU between the City and McCracken County for a partnership to upgrade the 911 Communication Services System and establish the Paducah/McCracken County Community 911 Communications Services System. In the MOU, the City and County agree to establish a joint oversight committee to make formal recommendations regarding the needed system upgrades, funding options, and governing structure with a completion date by February 1, 2022, to identify the funding method. Also, in the MOU the City and County agree to be equal partners in the capital expenditures to upgrade the equipment. The radio system for the 911 Center needs to be replaced. Over the past few years, there have been upgrades or replacements to the telephony, computer aided dispatch, and records management systems.
- Interlocal Agreement for Barkley Regional Airport Terminal Project: The Board introduced an ordinance for an interlocal cooperation agreement between the City, McCracken County, and Barkley Regional Airport Authority to support the Barkley Regional Airport Terminal Project. This new terminal project is expected to cost $42 million. The Airport is receiving federal and state funding along with fundraising efforts that will cover approximately 87% of the total cost. In this agreement, the City and County will evenly divide the local share of the project which is estimated to be $2.9 million each.
Remote Workers Incentive Program
The Board approved an ordinance providing the criteria for the Remote Workers Incentive Program. The Board discussed the Priority Action Item in June and provided feedback to Business Development Specialist Kathryn Byers. The goal is to attract to Paducah approximately 25 full-time remote workers from 100 miles or more outside Paducah by offering the following incentives:
- Up to $2,500 reimbursement for expenses associated with relocating to the City of Paducah. Eligible expenses include renter’s deposit, down payment on a home, rental of moving trucks or trailers, the hiring of professional movers, and/or the purchase of packing materials.
- Up to $70.00 per month reimbursement for 12 months for fees associated with provision of internet services to a residence located within the City of Paducah.
- Waiver of City of Paducah Payroll taxes for twelve (12) months.
- Community connections through tickets/passes and experiences to a variety of Paducah's cultural and educational institutions.
The City has budgeted $100,000 for the incentives and marketing with the goal to reach workers in the following cities: Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; and Louisville, Kentucky. To learn more, visit Remote Workers.
Community Policing Update
Police Chief Brian Laird presented several graphs showing crime statistics in Paducah over the past 20 years. Chief Laird said that Paducah remains a safe place to visit and live with overall crime significantly reduced over the past two decades. To be proactive, the Paducah Police Department focuses on several community policing efforts including the creation of a flex team that focuses on areas with higher calls/crime, partnerships with the community and other policing agencies, the creation of the School Resource Officer Program, and meetings with community faith leaders.
Amendments to the Paducah Code of Ordinances
The Board approved three ordinances amending three sections of the Paducah Code of Ordinances.
- Chapter 126 of the Zoning Ordinance is receiving various amendments including allowing cottage homes (also called tiny homes) with a minimum of 140 square feet in the B-1 Convenience & Service Zone and higher intensity zones. Another amendment to this chapter allows for short-term rentals (a room or dwelling that is rented less than 30 consecutive days) in certain zones.
- Chapter 126-87 of the Zoning Ordinance is being amended to allow food tents to operate within certain parameters, to allow mobile food vehicles to locate closer than 100 feet from a brick-and-mortar restaurant with permission, and to allow mobile food vehicles to operate in certain downtown areas within certain noise parameters.
- Chapter 46 of the Code of Ordinances is being amended to create a $50 fee for the fire department’s inspection of mobile food vehicles. Mobile food vehicles are required annually to pass a Paducah Fire Department inspection to operate in the City.
Additional Meeting Information
- Several new employees were introduced to the Board: Revenue Technician Angie Stanfield; Human Resources Generalist McKenzie Huskey; and 911 Telecommunicators Emilee Jones, Bryce Mansfield, and Sycilia Titsworth.
- Greater Paducah Economic Development President/CEO Bruce Wilcox updated the Board on recent economic development successes.
- Municipal order approved for a contract for services between Paxton Park and the City with the City providing $85,000 in support of the municipal golf course.
- Municipal order approved for the merger of the West McCracken Water District and Paducah Water. This merger will be beneficial for economic development especially in attracting a larger industrial customer to the Triple Rail Mega-Site on the western side of McCracken County.
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