City Commission Meeting Highlights, September 6, 2016

Approve Contract with HDR Engineering, Inc. for Broadway/Jefferson Project

The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance to execute a contract with HDR Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $63,000 for engineering design services related to the Broadway/Jefferson Project.  The design services will study the conversion of those streets back to two-way from Fountain Avenue to Water Street and the addition of bike lanes on sections of Broadway and Jefferson.  Also, HDR will prepare a signing and marking plan for bidding in addition to signal warrant studies.  The warrant studies will look at specific intersections to see if they can be converted to four-way stop intersections.  Furthermore, there will be a study of 3rd and Jefferson to determine if that intersection needs a signal.  HDR also will assist the City in the preparation of a Transportation Alternative Program grant.  Prior to the vote, the Board asked for public comments regarding the project.  Mayor Gayle Kaler said, “We as a City will certainly have lots of input from our different constituents, pro and against.”  Several people provided comments about the study.  Those who are against the project are concerned about how delivery trucks, construction equipment, and loading/unloading in general will affect the traffic if Broadway and Jefferson are converted to two-way streets.  For more information about this project, visit http://paducahky.gov/broadway-jefferson-project.

 

Amend Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance

The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance amending sections of Paducah’s Alcohol and Beverage Control Ordinance (chapter 6) as a result of the passing of Senate Bill 11 into law during the 2016 legislative session.  One of the changes allows alcohol to be sold by the drink on Sundays from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. for hotels, motels, and restaurants with a non-quota 2 license.  Prior to this change, the hours were 1 until 10 p.m.  It also makes Sunday sales by the drink permissible for quota retail drink licenses that are considered to be athletic facilities and for distilleries that hold a non-quota 3 license.  Another change permits licensed distilleries to sell souvenir packages of distilled spirits produced by that distillery on Sundays from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.  Regarding training for servers to sell alcoholic beverages by the drink, the employee must complete the training within 30 days after beginning employment.  This is a change from the previous 60 days.

 

Agreement for 911 Services with Hendron and Lone Oak Fire Protection Districts

The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved ordinances for contracts for services between the City of Paducah 911 Communications Services Department and Hendron and Lone Oak Fire Protection Districts.  The dispatching services began August 1.  Each contract has a term of 18 months with an additional 18 month renewal clause.  Agreements with Concord, Reidland-Farley, and West McCracken were approved in July in addition to an agreement with McCracken County. 

 

Amendment to Solid Waste Agreement with Freedom Waste Service (vote Sept. 13)

The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance to amend the contract with Freedom Waste Service, LLC.  In January, the City entered into a ten year contract with Freedom for the transfer, transport, and disposal of municipal solid waste for the City.  The contract also has two five-year renewal clauses.  The agreement required that Freedom construct a transfer station site with operations to begin August 1.  However, due to rain delays and a change in the site location that Freedom was considering for the transfer station, the new date for operations to begin is estimated to be September 26.  Freedom has agreed to pay liquidated damages in the amount of $27,000 due to the delay.  Freedom is in the process of constructing a transfer station which will incorporate a drop-off area for recyclables at 400 State Street in Paducah. 

Prior to the agreement with Freedom, the City had an agreement with Republic Services which expired December 31, 2015.  In October 2015, the City accepted proposals from companies interested in providing solid waste services for Paducah.  The City received proposals from Freedom and Republic.  After reviewing the proposals, the City decided to award the contract to Freedom at a comparative annual cost savings of $200,000.  The City will pay Freedom a base fee of $34.95 per ton for solid waste and $40 per ton for recyclable materials. 

 

Quick Highlights

  • Mercy Regional EMS representatives presented Police Chief Brandon Barnhill and Fire Chief Steve Kyle with the American Heart Association Mission Lifeline EMS Performance Achievement Award.  This award recognizes the excellent care by first responders in treating heart attack patients within the first 90 minutes of an attack.
  • Municipal order approved authorizing the terms and conditions of an assistance agreement with the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority for a loan agreement for Paducah Water’s project to install 9000 linear feet of 24-inch ductile iron water main pipe from the treatment facility on North 8th Street to Kentucky Avenue.  This is a more than $4.5 million project.
  • Municipal order approved declaring the city-owned property at 1319 Park Avenue as surplus and authorizing the sale of the property to Brent Lindsey for $50.   
  • Municipal order approved declaring the city-owned property at 2519 Ohio Street as surplus and authorizing the sale of the property to Karolyn Brown for $500.  
  • Ordinance introduced (vote Sept. 13) to annex into the City parcels at 6125 Blandville Road and 1592 New Holt Road annexation.  Both of these parcels are owned by Trinity United Methodist Church.  The church requested the annexation.
  • Ordinance introduced (vote Sept. 13) to close a portion of North 29th Street between Trimble and Harrison Streets.  The Planning Commission held a public hearing on August 15 and recommends the street closure.
  • Ordinance introduced (vote Sept. 13) to close Yopp Street located between the floodwall and Wayne Sullivan Drive.  The Planning Commission held a public hearing on August 15 and recommends the street closure.
  • Ordinances introduced (vote Sept. 13) for the purchase of the following items:
    • Dumpsters in an amount not to exceed $70,000 from Municipal Equipment, Inc.
    • Solid waste roll out containers in an amount not to exceed $60,000 from Toter, LLC
    • Ten police pursuit rated SUVs for a total amount of $357,845 from Paducah Ford.
  • Ordinance introduced (vote Sept. 13) to accept the 2016 Port Security grant in the amount of $14,678.  The funds will be used by the Police Department to purchase security cameras for the floodwall area.  No local match is required.
  • Ordinance introduced (vote Sept. 13) to accept the 2016-2017 Highway Safety Grant award in the amount of $25,450.  The funds will be used by the Police Department to conduct traffic enforcement activities.  No local match is required.

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