City Commission Meeting Highlights

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

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Mourning the Loss of Inspections Director Joel Scarbrough

The City of Paducah is mourning the loss of Joel Scarbrough, Director of Inspections.  Scarbrough died yesterday at Western Baptist Hospital after a long illness.   Mayor Bill Paxton says, “Joel was fair; he was enthusiastic; he loved Paducah.  He wanted to make Paducah successful.”  Mayor Paxton adds, “Joel died way too soon.  We are going to miss his leadership.  We are going to miss his friendship.”  The Mayor and Commission and those in attendance then observed a moment of silence.  Scarbrough worked for the City of Paducah for nearly 24 years.  The visitation for Scarbrough will be 5:00 p.m. Wednesday at Milner & Orr Funeral Home with the funeral scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Thursday.  The Inspection Department will be closed Thursday afternoon.  City Manager Jeff Pederson has named Paducah Riverfront Development Authority Executive Director Steve Doolittle as Acting Director of Inspections during the transition period.  Les Fugate has been named Acting Chief Building Inspector. 

Mayor’s Award of Merit to Basil Drossos

Mayor Bill Paxton presented the Mayor’s Award of Merit, the highest honor to bestow on a citizen from the Mayor’s office, to Basil Drossos.  Mayor Paxton says, “I want to recognize Basil and say thank you for being a friend and supporter of Paducah.”  In receiving the award and referring to his wife, Drossos says, “We want to do everything we can to make this community the best in the State and the country.”  Drossos is a retired General Motors Corporation executive with 32 years of experience in the automotive industry and five years in commercial banking.  After deciding to retire to Paducah, Drossos has become extremely involved in several local boards and organizations.  He serves as chairman of the board of the Joint Sewer Agency and serves on the boards of the Barkley Regional Airport Authority, the Carson Center, the Lourdes Hospital Foundation, and PUPAU.  He is a member of advisory boards for the Paducah Symphony Orchestra and the UK School of Engineering Paducah Campus.  Drossos also has been working with the Greater Paducah Economic Development Council in producing videos to be used to attract potential clients.

Amend-Repeal Ordinances Prohibiting Firearms in Parks and the Skate Park (vote Sept. 13)

After being brought to the City of Paducah’s attention by a citizen, the City of Paducah’s current Parks and Recreation ordinances have language prohibiting firearms in the City parks and skatepark which is contrary to language in the Kentucky Revised Statutes.  The Mayor and Commissioners introduced an ordinance to remove the language prohibiting the open carry of firearms.  City Manager Jeff Pederson says, “The City has on the books presently ordinances that are, in fact, not in compliance with Kentucky code.  The effect of this ordinance is to bring the City in compliance with State code.”

Riverfront Development Annexation

The Mayor and Commissioners approved an ordinance to re-annex a portion of the Ohio River along Paducah’s riverfront.  The area of the river to be re-annexed totals 208.7 acres.  If Washington and Campbell Streets were extended to the river, the re-annexed area is between those streets and extends out to the thread of the river (approximate center line based on contour elevations on each bank).  The annexation would allow the City of Paducah to have jurisdiction over future riverfront development including a marina and facilities.   Historically, the boundary of the City of Paducah along the Ohio and Tennessee rivers extended to the low water line along the Illinois shore of the Ohio River and the low water line along Owens Island.  The boundary line was established by ordinance in 1871 and 1894.  However, in 1946 the City of Paducah de-annexed the river.  This ordinance is to re-annex a portion of the river along downtown Paducah.

Amendments to Zoning Ordinance Text

The Mayor and Commissioners approved an ordinance to amend the text in various sections of the zoning ordinance.  The Planning Commission held a public hearing regarding the proposed amendments and made a positive recommendation to make the following changes:

1. 1.      Remove the term “modular home” from the definition of “manufactured home”.  A modular home is constructed on-site room-by-room instead of being one piece that is delivered.  With this change, modular homes will be allowed in any zone where residential structures are allowed.
2. 2.      Add the Neighborhood Services Zone and the Neighborhood Commercial Corridor Zone to the list of City zones.  This change updates the list and makes it complete.
3. 3.      Update Section 126-71 regarding off-street parking and loading areas.  One change includes the size of required sight triangles (7 feet) for traffic visibility at points of ingress and ingress.  The other change brings the required handicapped parking spaces size in line with ADA standards.
4. 4.      To clarify the section of the ordinance defining the lot area required for two-family dwellings, the phrase “per unit” will be added.
5. 5.      In the Historical Zones section of the ordinance, the minimum lot area for a two-family dwelling will be added.
6. 6.      Allow residential development in the Highway Business District zone to encourage the development of mixed-use developments. 
7. 7.      Bring the material guidelines in the Neighborhood Commercial Corridor zone in line with the existing approved materials in the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood (Neighborhood Services Zone).  Currently, two sets of development guidelines exist regarding approved materials.

Quick Highlights:

• ·        Public Information Officer Pam Spencer spotlighted the new look and features on the City’s website www.paducahky.gov.
• ·        Boards and Commissions:  John Shadle reappointed to the Paducah Planning Commission; Joseph Benberry and Sarah Bynum-Roman reappointed to the Board of Adjustment; and Bob Wade appointed to the Paducah-McCracken County Urban Renewal and Community Development Agency.
• ·        Resolution approved designating City Engineer-Public Works Director Rick Murphy to be the City of Paducah’s official applicant agent to provide to the Kentucky and Federal Emergency Management Agencies all documentation as required in order to obtain federal and state financial assistance from the 2011 flooding.
• ·        Municipal order approved to apply for the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program through the Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $130,000 for the installation of permanent generators for fire stations #4 and 5.  A local catch match of $13,000 is required.
• ·        Ordinance approved to purchase approximately 1000 new solid waste roll-out containers, lids, and fittings from Ameri-Kart in an amount not to exceed $66,000.
• ·        Ordinance approved to purchase 22 commercial-use dumpsters, lids, and fittings utilizing the Kentucky state contract price for a total of $23,076.
• ·        Ordinance approved to award a contract to Kepman Construction in the amount of $68,759 for the rehabilitation of the interior of the home located at 333 North 16th Street in the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood. 
• ·        Ordinance approved to execute a funding agreement in the amount of $80,000 through the Kentucky Housing Corporation GAP Financing Pool.  The grant funding will be put toward building two new homes for low to moderate-income families in the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood.
• ·        Ordinance approved to enter into a contract for services with the National Quilt Museum in the amount of $22,255.
• ·        Ordinance introduced (vote Sept. 13) to accept the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety Grant in the amount of $45,793 to be used by the Paducah Police Department for approximately 1200 hours of traffic enforcement salary and overtime, fuel, training, and state sponsored conferences and meetings.  No local match is required.
• ·        Ordinance introduced (vote Sept. 13) to extend the lease with Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey for the city-owned property at 117 South First Street.  The lease will be extended for 10 years.  Seamen’s Church will pay the City the annual rate of $3 per square foot.

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