Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) Community Development Advisor Bobbie Bryant presented the City of Paducah with an Enterprise Cities Award for the Pat & Jim Brockenborough Rotary Health Park. This award recognizes city projects or programs making a true impact in their communities. This is the second year in a row that Paducah has won for a project in the historic Fountain Avenue Neighborhood. This year’s award recognizes the work by the City of Paducah, various partner agencies, and volunteers in creating the Health Park located at 421 North 13th Street. In 2016, the Rotary Club of Paducah in addition to hundreds of volunteers constructed the Paducah Rotary Playground. In November 2016, the City contracted to construct Phase I which includes a 1/3 mile walking trail, the playground’s safety surface, a fitness area, the grading and resurfacing of the grassy lawn, lighting, landscaping, water fountains, and an expansion of the Community Garden. A ribbon cutting was held in August 2017. At the ribbon cutting celebration, it was announced that Mrs. Pat Brockenborough is donating $500,000 toward the construction of a restroom facility and splash pad for Phase II.
The Enterprise Cities Award program is sponsored by Collins & Company, Inc. The sponsor is providing $1000 for each winning program to help continue its success. Paducah received the award in addition to Bowling Green and Morgantown. Visit https://youtu.be/OaTTtIg1ktM to view a KLC video featuring all three Enterprise Cities Award winners.
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a resolution recognizing the partnership between the City of Paducah and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, a brigade of approximately 3300 soldiers. The
resolution encourages all municipalities and communities within, as well as schools, churches, organizations, and residents, to fully support the partnership efforts with the 101st Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade, its military members, and their families now and into the future as they continue to defend our democracy, our security, and our national values.
Commander of the 101st Airborne Division Col. Stanley Sliwinski said, “We believe this partnership is a great way to support the citizens of Paducah and for the citizens of Paducah to show their support of our soldiers.”
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a resolution in memory of Robert Lee Patterson. Patterson died October 8, 2017, at the age of 81. From 1985 to 1992, Patterson served as Paducah’s Police Chief. He was the first African-American Police Chief in the City of Paducah and the State of Kentucky. Chief Patterson was instrumental in starting the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program and the West Kentucky Narcotics Program. In the resolution, the Board of Commissioners offer their condolences to the family of Robert Lee Patterson and express their gratitude for his commitment and leadership in our community.
Robert Patterson Jr. said, “My day enjoyed what he did. He cared for people. That meant a lot to him. He wanted to set good examples for his family and the people he worked with.”
Paducah Police Chief Brandon Barnhill said, “Chief Patterson’s leadership and the example he provided to the department and community still resonates today. He was a great man.”
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance amending Section 2-327 of the Code of Ordinances. This amendment gives the Director of the 911 Communications Services Department the authority, with City Manager approval, to retain an independent, certified public accountant to audit any private commercial telephone service or system that provides local and 911 emergency service to subscribers. The audit would verify the accuracy of the collection, receipts and disbursement of fees in addition to the accuracy of the number of 911 subscribers. The City of Paducah suspects that some landline phone carriers are not accurately charging city customers the $2.50 per line fee and/or not accurately reporting the number of landlines in the city. The amendment also provides a penalty clause to those found in violation.
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance amending the FY2018 Budget. The budget amendment is necessary due to the following four items:
###