Ordinance to Create Main Street Department and Advisory Board

The Mayor and Commission approved an ordinance to abolish the current Paducah Renaissance Alliance (PRA) ordinance and create a city department called Main Street with an advisory board to be known as Paducah Renaissance Alliance.  Since the creation of Paducah Renaissance Alliance in 2008, the City has been working to determine the best structure for promoting, developing, and enhancing downtown and LowerTown.  With the approval of this ordinance, the four-member staff at PRA becomes the Main Street department which will report, in the same fashion as other City departments, to the City Manager.  The Main Street Department will use the National Main Street 4-Point approach which includes the components of design, economic restructuring, promotion, and organization.  The Main Street Department will continue to use the logo and PRA name in marketing.   The nine-member PRA board will function as an advisory board to provide input on Main Street mission promotions, program review, and visionary planning.   

Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for FY2011

Finance Director Jonathan Perkins and Robert Robertson and Ben Teer with Williams, Williams & Lentz provided an overview of the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) which includes the City Audit.  The report is for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011.  The audit found that the City is compliant in its financial reporting.  Referring to the transparency of the CAFR, City Manager Jeff Pederson says, “The CAFR is an elective thing.  The city does not have to prepare it.  It’s a purposeful intention to go above and beyond.”  Mayor Bill Paxton says, “I think this City Commission is extremely proud of the job our Finance Department does.”  The entire CAFR report and previous audits dating back to 2002 can be found on the City’s website, www.paducahky.gov.   For 20 consecutive years, the City has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). 

Dogwood Trail Partnership with Boy Scouts Troop 1

Ro Morse, Dabney Haugh, and Henry Barbour provided the Commission with information regarding the Civic Beautification Board’s plans for the 48th Annual Dogwood Trail Celebration.  Neighborhoods are invited to submit by tomorrow (January 25) their interest in being included on the Dogwood Trail map by calling 270-519-1321.  The trail map compiled by the Paducah-McCracken County Convention & Visitors Bureau will highlight the neighborhoods that plan to spotlight their dogwoods and other landscaping.   Morse says, “We will bring the trail to them.  There will be signs, and they will be on the map.”  The theme of this year’s trail is "Let's Light Up Paducah and Salute Our Troops".  This year's trail will honor American troops by partnering with Boy Scouts Troop 1 and their flag fundraiser program.  For anyone who participates in the Boy Scout Troop 1 flag program and agrees to spotlight the American flag, Troop 1 will place a flag in their yard on the first day of the official Dogwood Trail Celebration and members of Troop 1 will return to retire the flag later that week.  For more information about Troop 1's flag fundraiser (which costs $50 for the Dogwood Trail week and six designated holidays), visit www.troop1paducah.com.  A dogwood tree sale is scheduled for April 14 at the downtown gazebo and at Keiler Park. 

Zone Change for Bleich Road Development (vote February 14)

The Mayor and Commission introduced an ordinance to change the zoning of the property located at 156 Bleich Road from R-1 (Low Density Residential Zone) to HBD (Highway Business District).  On January 11, the Paducah Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommends the zone change.  In December 2011, the City Commission approved an ordinance to annex the 3.5 acre property.  The property owner, Mike Falconite, requested the annexation.  Currently a 14,000 square foot mixed-use center (Bluegrass Commons) is under construction on the site with two additional structures planned. 

Quick Highlights:

• Boards and Commissions:  Gayle Kaler reappointed and William Joseph Miller appointed to Airport Board; Raymond McLennan and Jeff Pederson reappointed to Electric Plant Board; Bob Hoppmann and Kim Rust reappointed to Paducah-McCracken County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• City Manager Jeff Pederson and Ray McClennan of the Electric Plant Board briefly discussed the benefits of Paducah Power System’s partnership in the Prairie State Energy Campus.  Many coal-fired plants are concerned about maintaining compliance with the EPA’s regulations.  McClennan is confident in the new technology being implemented at Prairie State.  McClennan says, “We meet all the laws for present and future compliance”
• Municipal order approved for a one-year lease agreement with James Marine, Inc.  James Marine leases the city-owned property on the river side of the floodwall between Kentucky Avenue and Washington Street.  In the lease agreement, James Marine will pay the City of Paducah $225 per month.  James Marine has leased the property since 1985.
• Ordinance introduced (vote Feb. 14) to purchase, using the State contract, two new John Deere tractors for a total of $59,200.09 for the Parks Services Department.
• Ordinance introduced (vote Feb. 14) for a contract with JSC Terminal, LLC (doing business as MidWest Terminal) for the City of Paducah’s fuel supply for calendar years 2012-2013.

###