City Approves Alcohol Ordinance, Vehicle Purchases

At Tuesday night's Paducah City Commission meeting, ordinances were approved to amend part of the city's alcoholic beverage ordinance and purchase new Police and Fire Department vehicles.



The amended sections of Chapter 6 of the Paducah Code of ordinances makes them compliant with recent changes in state laws. One change allows the sale of alcohol by the drink in businesses that seat at least 50 people and collect at least 50 percent of their income from food sales. The previous law required seating for 100 people. The city also requires a form to be signed acknowledging the requirements that must be met by an Alcohol Beverage Control applicant. They must also have a business license and a certificate of occupancy.



Another ordinance was approved to execute a contract with Linwood Motors for the purchase of eleven new vehicles for the Police Department and Fire Prevention Division in the total amount of $320,748. Four bids were received for this purchase, with Linwood being the only responsive bid. These funds were budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2015 fleet plan.



The commissioners also introduced an ordinance for an interlocal cooperation agreement between the City of Paducah and the City of Murray, to promote joint drug investigations. This agreement will provide Murray and Paducah officers all police powers while working in each other’s jurisdiction, which allows them to provide each other with additional manpower if neededs. The agreement is for one year and is renewable annually unless either city desires to terminate the agreement. Final vote on this ordinance is December 9.



Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention Greg Cherry updated the commissioners on the plan for firefighters to conduct courtesy surveys at businesses starting in January. Firefighters will prearrange with a business or building owner for a visit so that they can tour the facility and become more familiar with its layout, alarm system, sprinkler system, and other safety items. The firefighters also will point out any safety issues that should be addressed. Cherry says, “This will be a nice way to get them [the business] in compliance without enforcement behind it.”



The Commissioners introduced an ordinance for a contract between the McCracken and Paducah Geographic Information System (MAP-GIS) consortium members and the GIS software vendor Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. The three-year contract with ESRI allows each agency access to ESRI’s computer mapping system software. The contract cost is $60,000 per year which will be divided among the consortium based on the number of software licenses each member holds. The contract is from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2017. MAP-GIS was created in 1999 and includes the following members: City of Paducah, McCracken County, Paducah Water, Paducah Power System, E-911, and the Joint Sewer Agency. The public can view the MAP-GIS system by visiting www.paducahky.gov and clicking the link on the left side of the homepage. Final vote on this ordinance is December 9.



The commissioners introduced an ordinance to create a project account to hold proceeds from the termination of the Oak Grove Cemetery Trust Fund. Since the mid-1980s funds have been captured by collecting 20 percent of the proceeds from the sale of a grave or crypt. The funds are to be used only for the general care, maintenance, and embellishment of Oak Grove Cemetery. Those funds have been held in a Perpetual Care and Maintenance Trust Fund which was originally created in an agreement with Peoples First National Bank & Trust Company of which the Community Foundation of West Kentucky was serving as the successor trustee. The fund was required by state law until 2008. In October, the McCracken County Circuit Court granted an order to terminate the trust fund, and this ordinance allows the money to be transferred to a designated city account for the cemetery. The collection of 20 percent of the proceeds from the sale of a grave or crypt will continue and be placed in the city account for the care and maintenance of the cemetery.

 



Other Quick Highlights:



- Municipal order approved to submit a grant application to the Department of Homeland Security. The City is requesting a $238,420 Assistance to Firefighters Grant that if awarded would be used to purchase 24 self-contained breathing apparatus and a mobile training apparatus. The grant requires a 10 percent match from the City.

   

- Ordinance approved for the final revised budget ordinance for Fiscal Year 2014 (previous fiscal year). This ordinance reflects all the budget adjustments throughout that fiscal year and any adjustments required by the independent financial auditors.  The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) will include the original budget, the revised final budget, and expenditures for that fiscal year.

    

- Ordinance introduced (vote Dec. 9) to accept the bid from Gall’s Inc. for the purchase of police uniforms and accessories for an amount not to exceed $80,000 per calendar year. This is a two-year contract effective January 1, 2015. Three companies submitted bids.

    

- City Manager Pederson says progress is being made on the hotel project with the closing of the loan expected in December. The bank loan has been approved; however, the official closing has not occurred yet.

    

- Parks Services Director Mark Thompson invited everyone to take part in the upcoming activities:

    Christmas in the Park Lighting Ceremony, Friday, November 28 at 5:30 pm at Noble Park

    Dickens of a Christmas Small Business Saturday, November 29, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm in downtown Paducah

    Christmas in the Park can collection by the Commissioners and Directors will be Tuesday, December 2

    Candy Cane Hunt, 1:00 pm on December 6 on Carson Center lawn

    Ugly Christmas Sweater Fun Run, 4:30 pm on December 6 along Broadway

    Christmas Parade, 5:00 pm on December 6.



Note: Mayor Pro-Tem Sandra Wilson presided over the meeting, since Mayor Gayle Kaler could not attend. Some information provided by Public Information Officer Pam Spencer.