Amend Agreement with Housing Authority of Paducah

In May 2009 the City of Paducah and the Housing Authority of Paducah entered into an agreement outlining the terms for a property swap.  The agreement was to transfer the Housing Authority’s property located at 14th Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive with the City’s property located next to the Parks Office on H.C. Mathis Drive.  The property swap was contingent on the Housing Authority’s agreement to demolish the 16 units located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.  However, the Housing Authority has been unable to obtain approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the expenditure of funds to demolish the units.  At the March 13 Commission meeting, the Commission introduced an ordinance that would eliminate the contingency that the Housing authority must raze the 16 units before the transfer of the property.  At this meeting the Commission did not approve the ordinance leaving the original agreement intact. 

Olivet Church Road Improvement Project Update

City Manager Jeff Pederson provided the Commission an update regarding the Olivet Church Road Improvement Project.  For several years, the City of Paducah, McCracken County, and the State of Kentucky have been working together to continue to make major improvements along Olivet Church Road (KY 998).  The City of Paducah has been the project administrator.  Planned improvements include the widening of Olivet Church Road from U.S. Highway 60 toward Cairo Road and the construction of a five-lane road running from Olivet Church Road through the west side of the Kentucky Oaks Mall parking lot to U.S. 60.   Pederson says, the McCracken Fiscal Court has indicated that it is no longer interested in constructing the five-lane road next to the mall.  Pederson recommends all parties meeting to discuss the project since the other section of Olivet Church Road that is planned for widening is not in the City limits.  It may not be necessary for the City to continue as the project administrator.

 Dog Park Public Fundraising Campaign

Mayor Pro Tem Gayle Kaler asked Recreation Superintendent Amie Clark to update the Commission regarding the amount raised so far by the public for the proposed dog park.  Clark says $16,760 has been raised by the public.  The City has challenged the community to raise $20,000 toward the construction of a dog park at Stuart Nelson Park.  The City will match that amount once the private fundraising reaches its goal.  The dog park will be on an approximately 7-acre tract of the park and is proposed to have fencing, parking, water, and agility obstacles.  Commissioners agreed that since the public fundraising is progressing quickly, the Parks Services Department can initiate the design process for the park.

Surplus Property

In May 2009, approximately 60 pieces of surplus property were posted on the City’s website available for purchase or transfer to individuals interested in acquiring them.  Since that time, nearly half of the parcels have been transferred with 37 parcels currently listed.  City Manager Jeff Pederson says within the next few weeks the Planning Department will be advertising the parcels in the newspaper to solicit bids with the hopes of transferring the final parcels.  The City acquired the properties through the years by donations, code enforcement, grants, and a variety of other reasons.  If you are interested in obtaining one of the property listings, contact the Planning Department at (270) 444-8690.  The address, lot dimensions, zoning information, and an aerial map for each piece of property are available on the City’s website at www.paducahky.gov.  Click ‘City Surplus Property’ on the left side of the homepage.

Pay and Compensation Study Presentation

Human Resources Director Cindy Medford and Victoria McGrath, PhD of McGrath Consulting Group provided the Commission with the executive report for the City of Paducah Classification and Compensation Study.  Paducah contracted with McGrath in 2011 to review and make recommendations for the city’s compensation and benefit system.  To complete the study, 85 city positions were compared with those in 18 other organizations.  McGrath has provided the City with recommended salary ranges and structures for the City’s positions in addition to recommendations regarding benefits, a merit program, and position and title changes.  Once in a final format, the document will be before the Commission for adoption.

Quick Highlights:

• Boards and Commissions:  Henry Barbour reappointed to Tree Advisory Board; John Gill reappointed to Paducah Golf Commission; Martha Argotte Thomas reappointed to Paducah Human Rights Commission; and Andrew Gates appointed to Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority.
• Municipal orders approved for the Section 8 Housing Program including the annual Administrative Plan and the Annual Plan for the Housing Choice Voucher Program.  A municipal order also was approved adopting the revisions to the Section 8 Housing Utility Allowances.  For the utility allowances effective May 1, Section 8 residents will notice a 10.5% increase in natural gas, 3.1% increase in sewer, 4.6% increase in propane, and a blended rate of 4.3% increase in electricity charges.
• Ordinance approved amending section 18-91 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances to conform to the National Electric Code regarding the use of metal clad cable. This method is more user-friendly and cost-effective for businesses and contractors.
• Ordinance approved to include Nursing Homes and any other similar principal permitted use approved by the Planning Commission in the Planned Office Park Zone (section 126-117 in the Paducah Code of Ordinances).
• Ordinance approved to authorize the Urban Renewal and Community Development Agency (URCDA) to act on behalf of the City Commission in approving expenditures not exceeding $50,000.  This authority would be used to approve construction contracts as part of the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood Revitalization Project.
• Ordinance approved establishing a Special Flood Hazard Development Permit.  This permit, with a $100 application fee and one year expiration time period, will be required of developers before beginning any work within a Special Flood Hazard Area as outlined in Article II of Chapter 50 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances.  The permit is available through the City’s Engineering-Public Works Department.
• Ordinance approved to approve four contracts for the Engineering-Public Works Department.  Bids were opened February 16 and evaluated.  These contracts are for calendar years 2012 and 2013.  A one-year renewal agreement also is available for all of the contracts listed below.
  • o   2012-2013 Concrete Program-Work includes the completion of concrete work including sidewalks, curbs and gutters, concrete entrances, and storm inlets.  Harper Construction, LLC submitted the lowest evaluated bid for its concrete unit prices and excavation hourly rates. 
  • o   2012-2013 Equipment Rental-Danny Cope and Sons Excavating submitted the lowest evaluated bid for the hourly equipment rates including operator.
  • o   2012-2013 Street Resurfacing Program—Jim Smith Contracting, LLC submitted the only bid.  Work mainly involves the bituminous resurfacing and milling of city streets.
  • o   2012-2013 Limestone Contract—Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel Company submitted the most responsive bid.
• Ordinance approved accepting the 2012 Kentucky League of Cities Safety Award in the amount of $5150 for the purchase of 63 vehicle backup warning sensors.  The City is required to equally match the grant amount.
• Ordinance introduced (vote April 10) to purchase 24 hand-held radios, 24 chargers, and 11 extra batteries for the Paducah Police Department using a grant in the mount of $60,000 from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security.  The majority of the department’s hand-held radios were purchased from 1993 to 1995.

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