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.
Resolution in Memory of Robert Coleman
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a resolution in memory of Paducah’s longest-serving elected official, Robert Coleman. Coleman passed away November 20. He served a total of 31 years as City Commissioner with terms in the following years: 1974-1975, 1978-1991, and 1994-2008. The Board offered their condolences to the family of Robert Coleman and expressed their gratitude for his commitment and leadership in our community.
BUILD Grant Riverboat Landing Area Concept and Environmental Assessment Presentation
City Engineer Rick Murphy presented to the Paducah Board of Commissioner the concept drawings for the riverboat landing area which is part of the BUILD grant project. This project will be funded by the $10.4 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant that the City was notified in 2019 that it will be receiving from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Environmental Assessment process is underway with the final submittal of the document possible in April or May 2021. To provide your thoughts about the concepts and the riverfront improvements, comment through the form located in the middle of the webpage at BUILD Grant or by email buildgrantpaducahky.gov. The concepts are located on the webpage.
Forgivable Loan for Sprocket (vote Dec. 15)
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance to provide a 20-year forgivable loan in an amount up to $900,000 to Sprocket, Inc. The funds will be used to help build out the more than 8000 square feet of makerspace at 3121 Broadway. Sprocket is partnering with Cape Girardeau-based Codefi for a co-working and business start-up incubator to create high tech jobs and startup companies in Paducah. Codefi Co-founder Dr. James Stapleton embraces the growth of the digital sector and is thrilled with the location for Codefi at the Coke Plant. Stapleton said, “We want to provide resilient, high-paying occupations in this community.”
Attracting Remote Workers to Paducah-McCracken County
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a municipal order for an agreement between the City and the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau in the amount of $27,000 for marketing services through Lou Hammond Group. This is for a targeted marketing campaign to attract remote workers to relocate to Paducah to enjoy our quality of life. Paducah Power System and the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce are partners in this project and are contributing $3000 each toward the cost of the marketing services.
Agreement with Retail Strategies
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a municipal order for an agreement with Retail Strategies in the annual amount of $40,000 to provide retail economic development recruitment services, data, and training. This agreement would be for up to three years. Birmingham-based Retail Strategies partners with cities to assist local efforts in strategically recruiting retailers. Over a period of three years, Retail Strategies will provide retail economic development support in four ways.
- Customized, current research and analytics. In addition to demographic, lifestyle and retail industry trends, market trade areas will be identified and evaluated, GAP analysis preformed, and competition analysis performed as well as examination of future market growth and needs.
- Boots on the Ground Analysis. Retail Strategies physically sends a team to Paducah to catalog assets.
- Retail Recruitment. Retail Strategies will provide recruitment services, both with and independently of city staff. Using the local data they collect and analyze, their recruitment strategy team then initiates the process of working their leads, with a minimum of 30 retail prospects. Also, the Retail Strategies team attends the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) on Paducah’s behalf.
- Retail Academy. This is an educational course specifically targeted for rural communities. It can be completed in Birmingham or in Paducah with three to five city staff participating.
Industrial Development Authority Interlocal Cooperation Agreement and Ordinance Amendment (vote Dec. 15)
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced two ordinances related to the Industrial Development Authority (IDA).
- The Board introduced an ordinance to approve the interlocal cooperation agreement among the City of Paducah, McCracken County, Greater Paducah Economic Development (GPED), and IDA. This agreement repositions the IDA and its role regarding property ownership, maintenance, development, marketing, and management within the City and the County. This ordinance would make the IDA owner of certain publicly owned development sites within Paducah and McCracken County, including the Ohio River Triple Rail Megasite (formerly known as Riverport West) which is currently owned by GPED. This agreement also would forgive the repayment by GPED of the Phase II Note and the final Phase Note for the Ohio River Triple Rail Megasite. These notes total $911,375. The loans were approved by the City to assist GPED in 2007 and 2008 for the acquisition, development, and construction of the Megasite.
- The Board introduced an ordinance to amend Chapter 2 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances regarding the composition, qualifications of members, and terms of members for the IDA. This ordinance changes the number of members from six to seven; removes the restriction that members cannot hold any official office in the City or County; and brings the terms of members in line with the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement.
Quick Highlights
- Appointment of Maurie McGarvey to the Board of Ethics.
- Municipal order approved for the amendment to the interlocal agreement with McCracken County for fire and rescue services specifically for water emergencies. This amendment extends the geographical boundary for the response area to the Ballard County line on the Ohio River and the Marshall County line on the Tennessee River
- Municipal order approved for an agreement with Koa Hills Consulting in the amount of $95,200 to provide technical consulting services for the implementation of the human resources and payroll portion of the Tyler Technologies Munis Project.
- Municipal order approved to adopt the Paducah-McCracken County Emergency Operations Plan that was updated in July 2020.
- Ordinance approved for the closure of two alleys extending west of Northview Street onto the Paducah-McCracken County Joint Sewer Agency property located at 621 Northview Street. JSA requested the closure of the alleys.
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