City Commission Meeting Highlights

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

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Noble Park Swimming Pool Renovations

Parks Services Department Director Mark Thompson briefed the Mayor and Commission on a plan to renovate the Noble Park swimming pool and concession area.  This topic was introduced during the budget workshop held in June.  Thompson outlined the renovations that are needed to enhance the concession area and extend the life of the pool including a new filtration system which includes pumps, filters, and piping.  Thompson says during the summer the pool loses approximately 5000 gallons per day due to leaks in the piping.  The pool structure itself is in good shape.  However, the buildings to house the electrical components and the chemicals need to be replaced.  Regarding the concession area, Thompson says the current facility is limited with a poor layout.  Currently, the concession area is not equipped to cook food such as hamburgers and hot dogs.  The first step for the renovations would be to complete the design and engineering scope of work that includes a code review, an existing conditions assessment, a preliminary engineering report, design and permitting, bidding and procurement, and construction administration services.  Thompson estimates the fees for design and engineering to total $98,700. Thompson estimates the cost to renovate the pool and the concession area between $700,000 and $800,000.  Thompson recommends starting the design and engineering work this December with the actual pool rehabilitation to start next August after the pool closes for the summer season.  The funds for renovations would be allocated from the Investment Fund.  City Manager Jeff Pederson expects the City to issue a bond for the renovation work and other projects.  An average of 400 visitors per day enjoy the Noble Park pool during the summer.  Commissioner Richard Abraham says, “We need to find out exactly what we need to do and find the funds to get it done.  We need to fix the pool and make sure it’s done right.”  Commissioner Gerald Watkins characterizes the pool as a lifesaver for many people due to the hot summers that Paducah often endures.

Paducah Recreation Center Grand Opening—No Ice Rink this Winter

On Saturday, October 29, the public is invited to the grand opening for the Paducah Recreation Center located at 1527 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.  The grand opening celebration will be held at 4:30 p.m. with the Fountain Avenue Fall Festival following from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m.   This summer the City finalized the purchase of the Recreation Center which is the former  Margaret Hank Memorial Cumberland Presbyterian Church Life Center Building  The building includes a gymnasium, meeting rooms, kitchen, stage, and restrooms.  Thompson says, “I think it’s going to be a real bonus to this community like we haven’t had before.  It’s going to serve Paducah year round for years to come.” The air-conditioned facility will host classes, sports leagues, educational seminars, programming for senior citizens, and various special events.  With the acquisition of the Paducah Recreation Center and after some upgrades including a new gym floor (installation began today), the City will no longer lease the Jetton Gym.  

The decision to purchase the Paducah Recreation Center and offer year round programming resulted in the tough decision not to offer the Paducah Ice Rink.  For the past three years, the City has rented an ice skating rink that was located in the downtown parking lot next to the restrooms.  Thompson says, “It was a popular activity and maybe someday we’ll be able to do it again.  I think most people understand that the city has a limited amount of funds, and we sometimes have to choose one program over another.”  Commissioner Watkins says, “We want to do so much.  We’d like to do everything, but we can’t.  However, I’d love to see a permanent year round ice skating rink in Paducah someday.”

Summary from Monday’s Convention Center Corporation Meeting

City Manager Jeff Pederson attended Monday’s called meeting of the Convention Center Corporation (CCC).  Pederson briefed the Mayor and Commission about the meeting including the discussion about looking at options for a management model for the Julian Carroll Convention Center and the Expo Center in the wake of the dismissal of the executive director, J. Patrick Kerr.  Pederson also says the CCC is considering an outside agency or agencies to do an interview review and make recommendations for policy changes and asset recovery.  To achieve these items the CCC may ask the City and County for funding assistance.  The CCC has a meeting scheduled for Monday to further discuss the options.  Mayor Paxton says, “I think we need to have more input that we did.  We are going to do everything we can to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.”  Mayor Paxton adds, “We are going to move forward, keep the convention centers open, and search for a hotelier.  We are going to survive this and be better for it than we were before.”  Pederson emphasizes that the bookkeeping for the convention centers was by an outside service arranged by the CCC and that the City of Paducah Finance Department did not oversee the convention centers’ funds. 

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