Priority Action Item - City Facilities

Objective - City Facilities

city facilities iconFocus on upgrading City facilities to improve functionality and efficiency. Begin planning for new public safety facilities.

Note: This was a 2021 City Commission Priority. In 2022, city facilities became an item listed for continued focused improvement but returned as a Commission Priority in 2023.

Lead Departments

Engineering
Finance
Fire Department
Police Department
Public Works

City Facilities Priority Details

Expectations and Tactics
  • Prioritize and implement maintenance projects from the facilities maintenance plan.
  • Develop a capital improvement plan with facility maintenance and new buildings to inform funding needs and budget planning.
  • Continue funding long-term capital improvement fund.
Accomplishments - 2021 to present

Facilities Improvement Trust Fund and Funding  The City Manager’s Office and Finance prepared an administrative guideline for the creation of the City Facility Improvement Trust Fund. In FY2022, the City allocated $800,000 to initiate the fund and provided an additional $300,000 in FY2023 achieving the goal of having $1.1 million to begin facilities maintenance projects. The departments would reimburse the facilities maintenance fund beginning in FY24.  

Facilities Plan Implementation  The City Manager’s Office, Public Works, and Engineering are working on a facilities improvement implementation plan based on the needs identified in the 2020 Facilities Study. They are prioritizing the 269 improvement items in the study by safety, functionality, and aesthetics. Current projects include the City Hall basement and sewer upgrades, Fire Stations 2 exterior improvements, Fire Station 4 apron and sewer improvements, and Fire Station 5 flooring. Upcoming facilities projects under consideration include the Allie Morgan building and the Paducah Recreation Center.

Parks & Recreation Facility  The building located at 1400 H.C. Mathis Drive currently houses the Parks & Recreation Department and the Senior Center. It's an expensive building to maintain in its current state with utility costs around $100,000 per year. The Senior Center is reviewing options that would be more economical for its operations including the construction of a new facility. The City has met with the PADD office to discuss CDBG grant opportunities with the City applying and receiving a CDBG grant on behalf of the Senior Center.

Robert Cherry Civic Center

  • 2020 - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City closed the Robert Cherry Civic Center located at 2701 Park Avenue in 2020. It has remained closed since that time. 
  • 2021 - The Paducah Board of Commissioners discussed at its June 22, 2021, meeting the future of the 9377 square foot facility. Since it operates at an annual loss of more than $35,000, the City is looking at repurposing it to house the Parks & Recreation Department and provide a community banquet hall.
  • 2021 - Peck Flannery Gream Warren (PFGW) completed a feasibility study on the building which was used to create a RFP due September 8, 2021, from architectural and design firms for the project.
  • 2021 - In September 2021, the Board authorized the City Manager to enter into negotiations with PFGW for the engineering design to renovate the Civic Center with the Board approving the contract with PFGW in October.
  • 2022 - In January 2022, PFGW met with stakeholders to gather input on community civic center needs to inform the design of the banquet space.
  • 2022 - After hearing from PFGW in February and March, the Board approved a motion at its March 22, 2022, meeting to move forward with the option that uses the existing building footprint with no increase in square footage.  This option uses approximately three-quarters of the existing building footprint to provide assembly, kitchen, and storage space with a seating capacity for 160 to 256 people at rectangular tables depending upon the table configuration and dance floor space.  The remaining building square footage is designed to provide office and reception space for the Parks & Recreation Department.  It will take nearly four to five months to prepare the construction documents and receive bids.  The construction phase is estimated to take 12 to 16 months.
  • 2022 - At the March 2022 meeting, the Board agreed to set aside $1.8 million of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the project. The City of Paducah is receiving $6.439 million in ARPA funding and already has set aside $4 million for stormwater projects. 
  • 2022 - Due to a collision of a truck into the building in September 2022, the construction documents were reworked to account for the structural damage.  At the December 15 City Commission Meeting, the Board authorized the City Manager to issue a request for bids for the renovation project to include repairing the structural damage and the interior renovations. 
  • 2023 - After issuing a request for bids, on March 28, the City accepted the bid from Midstates Construction. This work will repair the facility following the September 2022 traffic crash, rehabilitate the community center area, and provide office space for the relocation of the Parks & Recreation Department’s administrative employees. After the notice to proceed is issued, the expectation is for the project to be completed in mid-December.

Commission Priorities

Read all Commission Priorities and Continuous Improvement Items including each action item's objective, key departments, and expectations by visiting Commission Priorities.