Joint Sewer Agency Update on Consent Judgment Activities

In 2007, the Paducah McCracken County Joint Sewer Agency (JSA) entered into a Consent Judgment with the State Division of Water and received an Administrative Order from the Environmental Protection Agency to address combined sewer and sanitary sewer overflows.  JSA is responsible for the operation and maintenance of Paducah and McCracken County’s wastewater collection and treatment system.  Paducah is one of more than 770 communities in the United States with a combined sewer system.  The goal of the consent judgment is to improve collection systems and prevent untreated wastewater from flowing into streams and rivers.  John Hodges, JSA Executive Director, briefed the Commission on the latest JSA activities to satisfy the consent judgment.  One of the first requirements was an Early Action Plan and the completion of capital improvement projects.  The projects totaling $10.2 million were completed by June 2010.  A Sanitary Sewer Overflow Plan and Long Term Control Plan were submitted in 2010.  Several rehabilitation and extension projects that benefit the system are either in progress or in the planning stages including the Massac Creek Interceptor Project, New Holt/Holt, North Friendship Road Sanitary Sewer Extension Project, the Bridge Street Combined Sewer Separation Project, and the Wallace Park Subdivision Combined Sewer Separation Project.  JSA was formed in 1999.  JSA’s total projected revenue is $6.88 million with total operating costs projected at $4.23 million.  The agency’s current rate is $4.22 per 1000 gallons which is one of the lowest rates locally and statewide.  Mayor Bill Paxton praised the efforts by JSA in improving the sewer system and for looking at bringing sewer access to parts of the city and county that are likely to be developed in the near future.  Mayor Paxton says, “Paducah is in good shape going forward with a strong infrastructure.”    

Marketing of Barkley Regional Airport

Jackie Jones, Director of Marketing at Barkley Regional Airport, provided the Mayor and Commission with an overview of the marketing efforts between the Airport and the Paducah McCracken County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).   Jones says, “This partnership, this team approach, didn’t start yesterday, and we certainly want it to continue.”  Jones outlined the various ways the CVB assists the airport including providing content for newsletters and social media, providing a kiosk in the airport with photos and brochures, providing event information for a digital sign in the airport, donating funds for the plastic baggies required for passengers to carry liquids, gels, and aerosols, and featuring the airport on advertising in the Chicago market.  In February 2010, Barkley Regional Airport began offering United Express regional jet service provided by SkyWest.  With the change to United Express, Barkley Regional moved from offering 33-seat propeller planes to 50-seat jets with service to Chicago. 

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