The Paducah Board of Commissioners on Oct. 2 approved a package of routine items, accepted federal grants and adopted two ordinances during a single meeting where votes were recorded by roll call.

Consent agenda and municipal orders: The board approved minutes and multiple appointments to advisory boards and commissions. The consent agenda included municipal orders and contract approvals that commissioners recorded as approved by roll call: a municipal order authorizing purchase of radios and accessories from Communications International in the amount of $273,121.04 for the parks, engineering and public‑works departments; a municipal order authorizing a Motorola contract in the amount of $237,420.22 to reprogram existing police radios; a municipal order accepting Linwood Motors’ bid for one SUV for the fire department at $43,902; approval of a fleet‑maintenance agreement with the City of Wycliffe; and an employment agreement for Police Officer Travis Counts.

Grants and budget action: The board accepted a 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award to the city in the amount of $583,406 and authorized execution of grant documents. Commissioners also accepted a Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of $51,818 for the Paducah Fire Department. Later in the meeting the city clerk read a proposed budget amendment to reappropriate and increase CDBG revenues and expenditures by $583,406; that amendment was introduced for consideration as part of the meeting’s ordinance introductions.

Ordinances adopted: By roll call the board adopted an ordinance granting a nonexclusive 10‑year cable franchise to E. Ritter Communications LLC under chapter 22 (Cable Communications) of the Paducah Code of Ordinances. The board also adopted an ordinance repealing and replacing Article 6, Urban Renewal and Community Development Agency, of chapter 35 (Community Planning and Development) to create an Urban Renewal and Community Development Agency separate from the Paducah Planning Commission and to set its powers, composition and terms. Commissioners said appointments to the new agency were being finalized for a future meeting.

Ordinances introduced (first reading): The board introduced — and moved forward for future consideration — three ordinances: an amendment to chapter 20 (body piercing rules) to remove language in conflict with a Commonwealth statute; revisions to the remote‑workers incentive program to include self‑employed applicants and to pay the $5,000 incentive in two installments ($2,500 on establishing residency and $2,500 one year later); and an amendment to the city’s annual operating budget to reappropriate $583,406 in the CDBG fund consistent with the accepted grant.

Votes: Roll‑call votes recorded during the meeting show unanimous recorded support for the consent agenda, the property‑purchase municipal order and the two adopted ordinances. Individual motions were moved and seconded on the record; specific mover/second names were not provided in the transcript for every motion. The roll‑call pattern recorded “Aye” for Commissioner Henderson, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Thomas, Commissioner Wilson and Mayor George Peabrey for the items reported below.

Why it matters: The actions commit federal grant funds for community development projects, advance radio and communications work for city departments, and place the Urban Renewal and Community Development Agency on a separate legal footing for future appointments and activity. The cable franchise authorizes a 10‑year nonexclusive arrangement under local cable regulation.

Items approved (selected, amounts as stated in meeting):
- Radios and accessories (Communications International): $273,121.04 (parks, engineering, public works)
- Motorola contract to reprogram police radios: $237,420.22
- Linwood Motors bid for one SUV for Paducah Fire Department: $43,902
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award: $583,406
- FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG): $51,818