The coats cost $34 each, which includes shipping. Firefighters with the Paducah Fire Department and IAFF Local 168 decided to participate in the program by donating funds this year which would purchase a coat for every first grade student at Morgan Elementary. They have met that initial goal, and now want the community’s help in achieving their next goal: to provide every first-grader in Paducah with a new coat. Their ultimate goal is to be able to provide a new coat to every elementary student in Paducah.
Carter said, “When a kid has a new coat, they have a lot of pride.”
To learn more about the program and to make a donation, visit www.iafflocal168.org.
OTHER CITY BUSINESS:
The mayor and commissioners approved an ordinance for a contract in an amount not to exceed $34,000 with RATIO Architects, Inc. and Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing, Inc. for planning and design services for the approximately six acres of land along the riverfront located between the parking area for the new hotel and Schultz Park. This city-owned section of land is the site of the former Executive Inn.
Paducah Riverfront Development Authority Executive Director Steve Doolittle said, “It’s a big, expansive site with a lot of opportunity to get it right.” The open area is a critical link between the hotel and convention center, the new riverfront park, Schultz Park, and the downtown area. One of the key components of the plan will be to determine the transportation component that will link vehicles and pedestrians through the former Executive Inn property.
The plan also will identify land use opportunities and their locations for the property in addition to documenting the existing utilities and their capacities and proposing interim and transitional uses for the property.
At the August 27 meeting of the Paducah Riverfront Development Authority, the PRDA Board approved moving forward with RATIO’s proposal with a positive recommendation for the City Commission. Doolittle says the process to create the plan should take approximately six weeks. The consultants are able to start working on the plan later this month.
The Mayor and Commissioners also approved a municipal order to apply for the Kentucky Transportation Alternatives Program for Federal Highway Administration funds that can be used for bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The grant request will be for $403,156, which requires a local match of $100,789, which would come from the city’s budget for fiscal year 2016.
If awarded, the grant will be used for an extension of the Greenway Trail (called Phase V) between Madison and Jefferson Streets. At the September 2 Commission meeting, Planning Director Steve Ervin discussed using this grant to upgrade Schultz Park along the riverfront.
If awarded, the grant will be used for the demolition of asphalt, erosion control, earthwork, drainage feature construction, curb and gutters, paving, sidewalks, landscaping, and lighting. Enhancing Schultz Park will provide for a cohesive design with the new riverfront park under construction.
City Engineer-Public Works Director Rick Murphy updated the Mayor and Commissioners on the Greenway Trail project. A 1.2 mile stretch of trail is under construction on the city’s floodwall levee between the skatepark at Noble Park and U.S. 45 behind the Smoke Shop. In July and August, crews worked to install the 52-foot long underpass at U.S. 45. Since then, crews have been working on the trail on either side of the underpass. The project is expected to be substantially complete by Friday, October 3.
Quick Highlights
Mayor Gayle Kaler presented a proclamation to Cynthia Byrd and Cheryl Bendick with the Daughters of the American Revolution proclaiming September 17-23 as Constitution Week to commemorate the 227th anniversary of the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. Mayor Kaler presented the Mayor’s Award of Merit, the highest honor issued by the Mayor’s office, to Glen Anderson. Anderson recently retired after 36 years of service to Paducah Water.
Mayor Kaler recognized the 30 students selected to serve on the Mayor’s Anti-Bullying Youth Council. The students will assist the Mayor’s Anti-Bullying Task Force in designing prevention and intervention recommendations and strategies to address bullying of school-age children in our community. The Task Force received 127 student applications to serve on the council.
Mayor Kaler recognized Sam Kern and Troop 4 for their work on Kern’s Eagle Scout Project. Kern and troop members rehabilitated the Noble Park Duck House.
Ordinance approved for a contract with Plante & Moran, PLLC in an amount of $70,840 for consulting services to assist with the creation and evaluation of a Request for Proposals for the upgrade or replacement of the City’s current Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. Examples of business management that our software currently utilizes include purchasing, code enforcement, land management, accounts receivable, payroll, building permits, and business licenses. IT Director Greg Mueller says, “ERP software touches all of our departments. It’s expensive and technologically complex.”
Ordinance approved accepting the 2009 Boating Infrastructure Grant in the amount of $910,000. The local match is $320,000. The funds will be used on the next phase of the Riverfront Project specifically for the 400-foot transient dock and its amenities for boaters including fuel and power. This action officially accepts the 2009 grant.
Ordinance introduced (vote Sept. 23) to renew the local jurisdiction HVAC program agreement between the City of Paducah and the State Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction. This is a contract that is up for renewal every three years.
Ordinance introduced (vote Sept. 23) for change order #4 with Bluegrass Uniforms for the Paducah Fire Department. This change order adds items that were not previously incorporated into the contract or have been changed due to product discontinuations.
Ordinance introduced (vote Sept. 23) for a contract between the City of Paducah and the Paducah Transit Authority with the City providing $215,000 for this fiscal year.
Ordinance introduced (vote Sept. 23) for a contract between the City of Paducah and the Paducah Junior College, Inc. with the City providing $125,000 for this fiscal year for the Community Scholarship Program. The program guarantees any Paducah or McCracken County student a scholarship for up to 60 hours of college credit at West Kentucky Community & Technical College provided that they enroll in the program in 8th grade and meet a set of behavior and academic standards.
Ordinance introduced (vote Sept. 23) for a contract between the City of Paducah and Barkley Regional Airport with the City providing $136,430 for this fiscal year to assist with general aviation and air carrier services.
Ordinance introduced (vote Sept. 23) to amend Section 2-442 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances governing the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority stating that all members shall reside within McCracken County. The amendment would be to delete the McCracken County residency requirement.
Paducah Riverfront Development Authority Executive Director Steve Doolittle says the design plans are about 50% complete for the new hotel adjacent to the Convention Center. The developers have completed negotiations with the Convention Center Corporation for the operation of the Convention Center. The CCC still needs to approve the operation plan. The developers also expect to close on their loan in the next six or seven weeks. Doolittle says the design is underway for the renovation of the former Showroom at the back of the Julian Carroll Convention Center.
