Pancreatic Cancer Month Proclamation

Mayor Bill Paxton presented a proclamation to Carol Foreman with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network proclaiming November as “Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month”.  Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States.  In 2011 in the U.S., an estimated 44,030 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 37,660 will die from the disease.  Joel Scarbrough, City of Paducah Inspection Director, lost his 29 month battle with the cancer on August 22.  Unfortunately for many battling pancreatic cancer, when symptoms present themselves, it is usually too late for an optimistic diagnosis.  Foreman says, “Everyone diagnosed with any type of cancer needs a chance to fight.”  Foreman says there are no early detection tools for pancreatic cancer.  Visit www.pancan.org for more information.   

Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

Public Information Officer Pam Spencer spotlighted the latest award achieved by the City of Paducah. The City has received its 20th consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).  The City achieved the award based on the information the City submits in its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).  Kentucky cities are required by Kentucky Revised Statutes to undergo an audit; however, part of the information found in the CAFR is voluntary.  This award is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.  City Manager Jeff Pederson says, “This is an extremely important award and a high mark for our finance office as the custodians of public dollars.”  Nine years worth of CAFRs can be found on the City’s website www.paducahky.gov.  

Property Tax Levy Ordinance

The Mayor and Commissioners approved an ordinance to set the real estate and personal property taxes for fiscal year 2012.  A public hearing regarding the tax rate was held October 11.  The City’s real estate tax levy will remain at 25 cents per $100 assessed value.  That rate is the same as the rate set for fiscal years 2008 through 2011.  Since FY1995, the City’s real estate tax rate has dropped from 43.8 cents to 25 cents per $100 assessed value.  The ordinance also outlines the levies decided by the Paducah Independent School System and the Paducah Junior College.  Compared to last year, the tax rate will remain the same for the Paducah Junior College (1.8 cents per $100 assessed value).  The Paducah Independent School District is increasing its rate to 74.7 cents per $100 assessed value.  This is an increase of 3.6 cents or slightly more than 5%.  For budget planning by a homeowner, a home assessed at $100,000 in the City of Paducah and in the Paducah Independent School District will generate a property tax bill of $1015.  Paducah residents will notice a higher property tax bill this year due to the increase in the tax rate by the Paducah Independent School System.   

MOU with EntrePaducah for Small Business Incentive Plan

On September 13, EntrePaducah Executive Director Terry Reeves briefed the Mayor and Commissioners on a proposed plan to provide incentives to encourage start-up businesses in targeted markets.  The plan was developed by EntrePaducah staff, City Manager Jeff Pederson, and City Commissioner Carol Gault.  At this Commission meeting, the Mayor and Commission approved an ordinance for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the City and EntrePaducah for the incentive plan.  In the incentive plan, the City will provide an initial budget of $45,000 to EntrePaducah for the remainder of the current fiscal year.  After this fiscal year, the City will provide $60,000 annually.  For a business to be eligible for the Small Business Incentive Plan through EntrePaducah, among other things, it must open a locally-owned business headquartered in Paducah, complete a business plan and submit a development proposal to EntrePaducah, and create four full-time jobs within 12 months of operation.  The maximum incentive that a qualified business client could receive would be $10,000.  The incentive funds would be allocated as matches to what the entrepreneur contributes.  Reeves says the plan has a good return on investment since there is the potential for the incentive plan to create at least 24 full-time jobs per year. 

100 Best Communities for Young People Award (vote November 8)

The Mayor and Commission introduced an ordinance to accept the $2500 grant award from the American’s Promise Alliance for the City’s achievement in being named 2011 100 Best Communities for Young People.  The Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club assisted in the application process.  The Mayor and Commission will provide the grant funding to Oscar Cross which will be used to fund two youth programs.  The programs are Date Smart and Passport to Manhood.  Date Smart provides boys and girls ages 13 to 18 with guidance on achieving safe and healthy relationships free of violence and abuse.  Oscar Cross staff also would receive instruction on helping the teens and their families connect with local resources to prevent dating, sexual, or domestic violence.  Passport to Manhood is an interactive program that teaches responsibility to boys ages 11 to 14.  The boys would participate in the 60 to 90 minute session each week for 14 weeks.

Quick Highlights:

• Maurie McGarvey, Chair of Paducah Renaissance Alliance, says PRA is hoping to hire an executive director and have the person in place by December.  Several candidates are being interviewed this week.  At tonight’s Commission meeting, the Mayor and Commissioners approved the hiring of the events promotion manager and the arts and culture communications manager for PRA.  Those two employees will start in December; hopefully in conjunction with a new executive director.
• In response to a question posed to Commissioner Gayle Kaler about the disposal of hazardous waste, Ronnie Rathman, Training Officer with the Paducah Fire Department, provided some information about disposal.  Several local stores collect used motor oil.  For paint, the recommendation is to open the lid and let the paint harden.  Once it has dried completely, the paint can be placed in the trash.  Regarding other items, such as antifreeze, visit the Kentucky Division of Waste Management’s website at www.waste.ky.gov for disposal recommendations.
• Municipal order approved to name Human Resources Director Cindy Medford as the Title VI and Section 504 Coordinator.
• Municipal order approved to transfer 1440 square feet of city-owned property located behind fire station #4 (3189 Jackson Street) to the Paducah Independent School District.
• Municipal order approved to grant a water line easement and temporary construction easement to Hendron Water District for a water line extension project along Elmdale Road at the intersection of Farwood Drive.
• Municipal order approved to certify that all City of Paducah maintained bridges with weight limits of 18 tons or less are posted in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards.  There are 13 bridges maintained by the City.  However, the only bridge with the capacity requirement is the bridge located on South 24th Street, which has a posted weight limit of 14 tons. 
• Ordinance approved for an agreement with the Kentucky Department of Local Government to accept a community development block grant award on behalf of the Four Rivers Behavioral Health Center Point Recovery Center. 
• Ordinance approved to adopt FEMA floodplain management measures and a revised flood damage prevention ordinance.  The adoption of these measures allows the City to remain in compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program.  This ordinance approves the revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) that were completed in May.  These maps replace the FIRM maps from 1982.  Note: the update in the maps is not related to the flooding earlier this year. 
• Ordinance approved to adopt the final revised budget ordinance for the prior fiscal year, 2010-2011.  The revised ordinance reflects all adjustments made throughout that fiscal year and any adjustments required by the independent financial auditors.  The City’s CAFR contains the original budget ordinance, the final budget, and the expenditures for the year.
• Ordinance introduced (vote Nov. 8) for the fourth amendment to the Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement with Sprint/Nextel and Motorola for the 800 MHz rebanding.
• Ordinance introduced (vote Nov. 8) for the purchase of a 2012 Ford F250 truck in the amount of $39,540 under the state contract for use by the EPW-Floodwall Division.
• Ordinance introduced (vote Nov. 8) for a contract between the City of Paducah and Peel & Holland pertaining to the administration of the City’s health insurance.  The consulting service fee is $65,000 with an additional fee of $200 per hour with a minimum retainer of $5000 if additional services are requested.
• City Manager Jeff Pederson says a draft settlement agreement regarding the petition of the Riverfront Development Project and the mussels found in the Ohio River will be placed before the petitioners this week. 

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