Note: Due to the COVID-19 situation and the need to maintain social distancing, the meeting was not open to the public. All members of the Paducah Board of Commissioners participated by video conferencing
Small Business Relief Fund Update
Mayor Brandi Harless thanked the donors to the Small Business Relief Fund with the most recent donations announced of $5000 from the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, $5000 from A&K Construction, and $2500 from Greater Paducah Economic Development. With those commitments, more than $52,000 has been raised by the community which will be matched dollar for dollar by the City of Paducah up to $100,000. Last Friday, $2000 checks were distributed for the first round of businesses. The second round is expected to be distributed in mid-May. To see the list of Round 1 business recipients and a Frequently Asked Questions document.
This Program is a partnership among the City of Paducah, West Kentucky Community & Technical College, and the Community Foundation of West Kentucky. The Small Business Relief Fund application period was April 1 through April 10 with 305 applications received. If you would like to donate to the Small Business Relief Fund, contact the Community Foundation at https://cfwestky.org/ or call 270-442-8622.
Approval of Contract with Jim Smith Contracting, LLC for South 24th Street Bridge Rehab Project (vote May 12)
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance for a contract in the amount of $299,726.50 with Jim Smith Contracting, LLC for the South 24th Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project. This bridge, over Cross Creek, is located on South 24th Street between Center Street and Seitz Street not far from Brooks Stadium. Once the contractor receives the notice to proceed, this is a 120 consecutive calendar day project. Part of the time will be to order the new bridge decking with the construction to occur in July to August. City Engineer Rick Murphy said, “With all of the flooding over the years and especially in 2018, the bridge has sustained some damage to the beams.” Murphy says this bridge is more than 50 years old with a 14-ton weight limit. The project will replace the bridge decking and make the bridge wider to allow for sidewalks. The City has received $192,000 in FEMA funding for the project based upon the Major Disaster Declaration from the 2018 flooding and severe weather events that occurred February 21, 2018 through March 21, 2018. The State is providing $30,721 with the remaining construction cost, design, and inspection to be funded by the City and MAP funds from the State’s gas tax. The estimated total project cost including the design and construction is a little more than $338,000.
Beltline Electric Company Resolution
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a resolution in support of Beltline Electric Company. Beltline is set to go before the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) Board on June 30 regarding a recent expansion. Beltline Electric has invested $1.2 million in a 35,000 square foot building expansion and created 15 new full-time jobs. The expansion project started in 2016. To help support Beltline, the City may grant a rebate on 1 percent of the payroll tax for up to five years with an additional rebate to be approved by the State through KEDFA. Business Development Specialist Kathryn Byers said, “Beltline has been serving the Paducah area since 1957. They are a great piece of our economic life in Paducah so we want to make sure we recognize their expansion.”
Transfer of Property to Midtown Alliance of Neighbors
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a municipal order authorizing the transfer of property located at 1400 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and 501 North 14th Street to Midtown Alliance of Neighbors for the construction of single-family homes. This area has been platted for eight lots with three new homes scheduled for construction this year. This 1.1-acre area is adjacent to the Pat & Jim Brockenborough Rotary Health Park. The City acquired the property in 2009 from the Housing Authority of Paducah. This project will benefit the Midtown Alliance of Neighbors as the non-profit organization works to achieve Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) status with the Kentucky Housing Corporation. This project will help demonstrate that Midtown Alliance has the capacity to develop affordable housing for the community.
Quick Highlights
- Municipal order approved authorizing the application for the FY2020 Certified Local Government grant in the amount of $22,500 through the Kentucky Heritage Council. This grant requires a match of $15,000 of which $14,250 will be satisfied by City of Paducah staff time. If awarded, these funds will be used to survey the Northside Neighborhood and potentially nominate an area to the National Register of Historic Places which would make the rehabilitation of buildings eligible for state and/or federal tax credits.
- Municipal order approved to submit a grant application for $34,145.75 for the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Grant Program through the Department of Justice. The funds will be used to purchase an unmanned aerial system (UAS). This drone will be used to enhance surveillance and response capabilities of the Police Department. No local match is required.
- Municipal order approved to apply for the FY2020 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. The grant request is $13,094.65 which would be used to purchase five hand-held radios for the Police Department.
- Ordinance approved to change the zoning of the three lots at 1128 Broadway, 1140 Broadway, and 1143 Kentucky Avenue from General Business Zone (B-3) to Heavy Industrial Zone (M-2). The plan is to construct a climate-controlled storage facility on the lots which total 3.23 acres.
- Ordinance approved to correct grammatical errors and clarify language in Chapter 106-65 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances regarding business licenses.
- Ordinance approved authorizing a professional services agreement with Kroll Associates in the amount of $45,000 for IT security protection including threat alert response and remediation support for 300 City of Paducah computers and devices. This is a one-year contract that will automatically renew unless either party provides a written notice of termination.
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