Note: Due to the COVID-19 situation and the need to maintain social distancing, all members of the Paducah Board of Commissioners participated by video and/or audio conferencing.
To view the entire meeting, visit https://youtu.be/oN4DNG0v8jk.
Presentation by Representative Randy Bridges and Senator Danny Carroll
Kentucky State legislators Senator Danny Carroll and Representative Randy Bridges attended the Paducah Board of Commissioners meeting to provide updates on the recent eight days of the current legislative session. Sen. Carroll said legislation has been passed regarding declarations of emergency and parameters of authority. Sen. Carroll also discussed immediate issues including unemployment insurance, the State’s budget, utility assistance, infrastructure, the new airport terminal for Barkley Regional Airport, and the pension system. Rep. Bridges echoed Sen. Carroll’s comments and added that the State’s budget is tight with many unknowns created by the pandemic. There are 22 days left in the current session.
Agreement with Paducah Public Schools for School Resource Officers
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a municipal order for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Paducah and the Paducah Independent School District. In 2020, the City received a grant through the Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program to fund the majority of the cost to hire up to three Paducah Police Officers who will serve as School Resource Officers at the high school, middle school, and elementary schools.
Police Chief Brian Laird said, “Superintendent Shively and I have discussed this. We think this is a really good opportunity for a partnership between the City and the School System. But it also gives us the opportunity as a police department to provide good services for our schools. There’s a level of safety and security that’s out there.”
Chief Laird also emphasized that the main goal is to build stronger relationships between the police department and local youth.
Commissioner Raynarldo Henderson said, “I’m trusting as you move forward in the hiring of these three people that they will have a passion for young people.”
Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Wilson added, “I also look at is as recruiting for new officers. When they see you [police officers] and begin to build that relationship and trust, they may want to serve our community in this role.”
These officers are in addition to the current school resource officer at Paducah Tilghman. The MOU, which expires in 2025, was approved by the Paducah Board of Education on January 11.
Quick Highlights
- Appointment of Randy DeHart, P.E. to the Commissioners of Water Works
- Appointment of Mike Sims to the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority Board
- Municipal order approved for the purchase of rollout containers, lids, and replacement parts from Toter, Inc.
- Municipal order approved for an updated Pay and Position Schedule for the current fiscal year.
- Ordinance approved for the consensual annexation of 5540 Cairo Road. ChemStation has requested the annexation of a little more than 11 acres west of I-24 exit 3 for their industrial cleaning business.
- Ordinance approved for a professional services contract in the amount of $266,250 with HDR Engineering, Inc. for the dredging project downstream of the boat dock. This is to prepare the permits that will be submitted the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the Kentucky Division of Water for the project. The project is funded in part through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Funds. FEMA will provide funding for 87% of the project cost.
- Ordinance approved for a professional services agreement with HDR Engineering in the amount of $79,550 for the floodwall flap gate replacement project.
- Ordinance approved for a reimbursement agreement with the Paducah-McCracken County Joint Sewer Agency (JSA) for video pipe inspection for the floodwall. The U.S. Corps of Engineers requires the City to perform video inspection of gravity lines traversing the floodwall. JSA has an agreement with Robinson Pipe Cleaning Services for cleaning and video inspection services. The City will reimburse JSA for expenditures related to the video inspection.
- Ordinance approved for the closure of two alleys at 133 Broadway and 111 North Water Street that cross the city-owned lot at 2nd and Broadway. The closures are in preparation for the City Block project.
- The Paducah Board of Commissioners will hold a Strategic Planning session on February 5-6.
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