August 27, 2024
Announcement Regarding Agreement with Weyland Ventures
At the end of the meeting, Mayor George Bray announced that the City is dissolving its agreement with Weyland Ventures, a mutual decision by both parties. (Please note that a news release with additional information will be distributed this evening.)
Proclamations and Recognitions
- Mayor George Bray presented a proclamation to Paducah Public Schools Director of Pupil Personnel Troy Brock proclaiming September as Attendance Awareness Month.
- Mayor Bray proclaimed September as City Government Month.
- Mayor Bray recognized Alpha Kappa Alpha for their service and contributions to the community.
Property Tax Levy Public Hearing and Ordinance Introduction
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance setting the City’s real estate and personal property tax rates for fiscal year 2025. A property tax levy public hearing was held prior to the ordinance introduction. The City’s real estate tax levy is proposed to be 26.4 cents per $100 assessed value, slightly higher than last year’s rate of 25.6 cents. This would be an increase of $8 on a home that is assessed for $100,000.
The City’s Compensating Rate, the rate that would keep the revenue at the same amount as last year, is 25.4 cents per $100 assessed value. Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) permits a city to adjust the rate upward no more than 4 percent of the compensating rate. Since the City’s proposed tax levy of 26.4 cents is higher than the compensating rate, a public hearing was required.
The Board also introduced an ordinance to collect the tax levies as proposed by the Paducah Independent School District. For many years, the City has collected the school’s taxes and passed along the funds to the district. The City does not set the school district’s rates. The school district is proposing its real estate tax levy to be 87.4 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Street Paving Program
Interim City Engineer Greg Guebert updated the Board on the street rehabilitation program. The City approved a multi-year contract in November 2021 with Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing (BFW) to perform pavement inspections on City streets using the PAVER software program This five-year contract provides an inspection of 20 percent of the streets each year and the development of street rehabilitation plans. Using the inspection data and the PAVER software, each segment of roadway is assigned a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) between 0 and 100 with 100 representing the best possible condition of a street. The PAVER system pinpoints streets in need of repair and identifies problems that lead to a street’s demise. The goal is for Paducah to have the street rehabilitation rate outpace the deterioration rate. Guebert also explained the factors that are considered in deciding which streets to pave including traffic impact, utility work, economic development or construction projects, subdivision and neighborhood rehabilitation projects, and budget.
In addition to the approximately $400,000 to $600,000 per year the City receives from the allocation of State gas tax funds, the City set aside approximately $2,000,000 for street rehabilitation this fiscal year. The amount the City has put toward street rehabilitation has been steadily increasing. For example, the amount allocated in fiscal year 2021 was $600,000. At the end of the presentation, Guebert showed the projected street rehabilitation plan for the next two years.
Paducah Power System Update
Paducah Power System Chief Executive Officer Dave Carroll and Chief Operating Officer Rick Windhorst provided an update on the public power provider’s activities. Paducah Power System (PPS) serves approximately 22,500 customers with a system of roughly 800 miles of distribution line. PPS owns 104 megawatts (MW) of power through Prairie State Generating Company in addition to a natural gas peaking plant on Schneidman Road capable of producing 108 MW of power. PPS also receives 15 MW of power from American Municipal Power hydropower plants and 2 ½ MW of hydropower from Southeastern Power Administration. By selling excess capacity and other rate-reducing efforts, PPS has been able to lower residential rates approximately 6 percent as compared to the 2014 rates. Carroll also discussed the power provider’s extremely high reliability, recent system upgrades, and ongoing projects including the Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan and the Fiber-to-the-Home Pilot Project.
Medical Cannabis Zoning Text Amendment
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance to amend Chapter 126 of Paducah’s Zoning Code to integrate the five types of medical cannabis land uses. In May, the Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a resolution in support of medical cannabis businesses locating in Paducah. This ordinance provides the zoning guidance for a medical cannabis cultivator, dispensary, processor, producer, and safety compliance facility. Please note that a medical cannabis dispensary cannot be located within 1000 feet of an existing school or daycare, cannot be located next to a residential structure, or within one mile of another medical cannabis dispensary.
In 2023, the Kentucky General Assembly passed Senate Bill 47 which was signed by Governor Beshear legalizing the use of medical cannabis in Kentucky effective January 1, 2025. The bill also established a framework for state licensure of medical cannabis businesses such as dispensaries, cultivators, processors, and producers. As of January 1, an individual who meets specific requirements can receive a medical cannabis card from the Cabinet of Health.
Since medical cannabis cannot be transported into the State, Kentucky businesses must grow, produce, test, and sell the cannabis all within Kentucky. Therefore, to be able to service medical cannabis card holders in January, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services filed additional regulations on how proposed businesses can become licensed in Kentucky. The Cabinet currently is accepting applications for cannabis business licenses with a limited number of licenses and license types available in the State’s initial application period. Learn more about Kentucky’s medical cannabis program and read a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
Boards and Commissions
- Reappointment of Bob Wade to the Paducah Planning Commission.
- Reappointment of Anthony Walton and appointment of Charley Gurley to the Paducah Human Rights Commission.
Additional Meeting Information
- Paducah Police Chief Brian Laird introduced two employees: Deflection Specialist Allison Blackwell and Deflection Officer Matthew Wentworth
- Municipal Order approved to purchase solid waste dumpsters.
- Municipal Order approved accepting a $3500 grant from the Kentucky Fire Commission to purchase personal protective equipment.
- Municipal Order approved accepting the donation of properties at 1128 North 13thStreet and 1104 Ellis Street.
- Municipal Order approved for the declaration and sale of surplus property at 1314 Oscar Cross Avenue.
- Municipal Order approved for Contract Modification #2 to the contract with HDR, Inc. for the BUILD grant project along the riverfront. This contract modification expands the project scope to include construction contract negotiations with Jim Smith Contracting, Inc. to identify cost-saving measures.
