Kentucky Housing Corporation HOME Grant for the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood

The Mayor and Commission approved a municipal order to apply for a HOME grant through the Kentucky Housing Corporation.  The grant request is for $308,000 which would be used to help construct seven new single-family homes in the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood.  The City’s match would be $84,000.  Planning Director Steve Ervin says, “We’ll have them designed locally to make sure they fit in the neighborhood.”  If awarded, the HOME grant and the City’s match would be used to buy down the cost of constructing the homes.  The remaining cost to construct the homes would be passed along to the new homeowners.  An estimate is that a $120,000 home would cost less than $70,000 for a qualified homeowner.  All homes will be sold to low to moderate-income families.  If awarded, this would be the second HOME grant within the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood.  The previous HOME grant led to the construction of seven new homes and the rehabilitation of two homes.

Zone Change for Bleich Road Development

The Mayor and Commission approved 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. 

Fire Marshal Greg Cherry Named Interim Director for Inspection Department

City Manager Jeff Pederson announced that effective Monday, February 20, Fire Marshal Greg Cherry will succeed Steve Doolittle as interim director of the Inspection Department.  Since the death of previous director, Joel Scarbrough, Doolittle has been interim director in addition to executive director of the Paducah Riverfront Development Authority (PRDA).  Pederson has been researching the organizational structure for inspection and code enforcement departments in other cities and found that in some cities, code enforcement is a division of the fire department.  Over the next several weeks with Cherry as interim director, Pederson will evaluate how this model could work within the City of Paducah.  If the model proves to be successful in increasing positive customer service experiences in addition to enhancing internal efficiency and productivity, Pederson will recommend a permanent change to the structure of the departments.

Quick Highlights:

• With a Certificate of Appreciation, Commissioner Richard Abraham recognized Pastor Anthony Walton and the congregation of Christ Temple Apostolic Church located at 523 North 12th Street.  Pastor Walton and the congregation have been instrumental in helping to improve the safety and change the culture of the surrounding neighborhood. 
• Proclamation:  Mayor Bill Paxton read a proclamation that proclaimed February 14 as Dr. John Cecil & Support Staff Day.
• Boards and Commissions:  Mark Whitlow reappointed to Board of Ethics; Darlene Mazzone and Landee Bryant appointed to the Paducah Renaissance Alliance Advisory Board; Joe Framptom and Joe Dempsey reappointed to Paducah Riverfront Development Authority; and Thomas Padgett appointed to Paducah-McCracken County Convention Center Corporation.
• Municipal order approved to apply for the Household Hazardous Waste Award Program through the Kentucky Division of Waste Management in the amount of $27,000.   If awarded, the grant would be used to help offset the costs for the 2013 Spring Clean Up Day.  The grant requires a match of $9000 which would be split between the City and County.
• Municipal order approved to apply for the Kentucky Division of Waste Management Kentucky Pride Recycling grant in the amount of $70,000 to purchase equipment for the GPSP-RecycleNow facility on North 8th Street.  The grant requires a cash match of $7725 each from the City and County and an in-kind donation of $7790 from Paducah Water.
• Ordinance approved to purchase, using the State contract, two new John Deere tractors for a total of $59,200.09 for the Parks Services Department.
• Ordinance approved 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.
• Ordinance introduced (vote Feb. 28) to approve a change order Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corporation for a fire rescue vehicle.  The change order increases the contract amount by $2118 which will increase the total contract cost to $151,578.
• Ordinance introduced (vote Feb. 28) for the Mayor to execute a Quitclaim Deed to BLP Development, LLC which releases all rights, title, and interest the City of Paducah would have to an undeveloped access road that fronts Hinkleville Road in the Conrad Heights subdivision.   
• Ordinance introduced (vote Feb. 28) for the purchase of 72 various sized dumpsters with lids and fittings utilizing the Kentucky state contract price from Municipal Equipment totaling $71,826.
• Ordinance introduced (vote Feb. 28) to execute an Encroachment Agreement with Neil and Ronna Ward allowing a 5 foot by 31 foot section of a structure that was unintentionally built on the right-of-way of the City’s undeveloped alley.  
• A discussion of Phase I for the sports complex on Sheehan Bridge Road will be discussed at next Tuesday’s Commission meeting.

###