City Commission Meeting Highlights - January 12, 2021

Date of Release: 
January 12, 2021

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/WiZheQcPVKs.

 

Termination of Design Agreement for Indoor Recreation and Aquatic Center

The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a municipal order to terminate the professional design and construction management agreement with Lose and Associates, Inc. for the Indoor Recreation and Aquatic Center.  The City entered into the agreement in August 2019 with the agreement paused in August 2020.  Each member of the Board stated that this is not the best timing for the project. 

 

Alcoholic Beverage License Renewal Waiver

The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an emergency ordinance to waive the 2021 renewal fees that are due January 31, 2021, for certain alcohol license types.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Executive Orders from the Governor’s office, many businesses were required to either close or operate at a diminished capacity with restaurants and bars seeing a substantial financial impact.  The Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has allowed for a 12-month fee waiver for certain license types.  This action by the City of Paducah mirrors the State’s action and provides a benefit to the businesses totaling approximately $97,000.  In Paducah, 108 business which have a total of 201 licenses (some businesses have more than one license) will benefit from the renewal waiver.

Mayor George P. Bray said, “Restaurants are an important part of our economy.  That segment of our economy has been affected greatly, much more than other segments of the economy, with the pandemic.  From my standpoint, this is a recognition of a) what those businesses have gone through and b) how important they are to our economy and the fabric of Paducah.”

Each business still is required to submit to the Paducah Finance Department a copy of its 2022 State Alcoholic Beverage License on or before January 31, 2021, in order to receive its local Alcoholic Beverage License.  Businesses also need to have a current business license and be up-to-date on payroll taxes and property taxes in order to receive their local alcohol license.  This waiver is only for businesses that are renewing their annual license.  New applications must still make a payment.

The renewal fees for the following alcohol license types that are due January 31, 2021, are waived entirely for 2021:

Brewer’s License
Caterer’s License
Extended Hours Supplemental License
Microbrewery License
NQ-1 Retail Drink License
NQ-2 Retail Drink License
NQ-3 Retail Drink License
NQ-4 Retail Malt Beverage Drink License
Qualified Historic Site License
Quota Retail Drink License
Special Sunday Retail Drink License
Supplemental Bar License

For more information, including a list of frequently asked questions and the list of alcohol license types that are not being waived, visit Alcoholic Beverage Control.

 

Quick Highlights

  • Boards and Commissions:
    • Appointment of Commissioner David Guess and reappointment of Jimmy Rex Smith II and Howard Finley to the Brooks Stadium Commission.
    • Appointment of Commissioner David Guess and reappointment of Eddie Barker to the Commissioners of Water Works.
    • Reappointment of Commissioner Sandra Wilson to the Electric Plant Board.
    • Appointment of Commissioner Raynarldo Henderson to the Municipal Housing Commission.
    • Appointment of Commissioner Carol Gault to the Paducah-McCracken County Joint Sewer Agency.
    • Appointment of Mayor George Bray to the Paducah Monument Committee.
    • Appointment of Melinda Winchester to the Code Enforcement Board.
    • Reappointment of Commissioner Sandra Wilson to the Paducah Riverfront Development Advisory Board.
  • Motion approved to appoint Commissioner Sandra Wilson as Mayor Pro Tem. Commissioner Wilson received the highest number of votes in last November’s City Commission election.
  • Municipal order approved for a contract with Kemper CPA Group, LLP for the preparation of the city’s financial audits and related reports for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.  The contract is for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 with a total amount not to exceed $168,700.
  • Municipal order approved to apply for the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grant in the amount of $50,000.  If awarded, the funds would be used for repairs and renovations to the Hotel Metropolitan.  Matching funds are not required for this grant application.
  • Municipal order approved for an extension until March 31 to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
  • Ordinance approved for Change Order No. 1 to the contract with Jim Smith Contracting, LLC for the Greenway Trail Phase V project which has been completed along the riverfront.  This ordinance increases the final contract by $37,585.10.  This change order was due to the discovery of large concrete deposits beneath the construction site which led to the need to raise the project area and import additional fill and soil.
  • Ordinance introduced (vote at a future meeting) 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 introduced (vote at a future meeting) for a contract for professional services 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 introduced (vote at a future meeting) for a professional services agreement with HDR Engineering in the amount of $79,550 for the floodwall flap gate replacement project.
  • Ordinance introduced (vote at a future meeting) 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 introduced (vote at a future meeting) 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.

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