Senior center outlines relocation plans; fiscal court delays $300,000 payment decision

Representatives of the Paducah–McCracken County Senior Citizens appeared at the fiscal court May 12 to describe plans to relocate from an aging building to a property the nonprofit has under contract and to request county assistance for renovations.

David Traitman, identified in the meeting as a senior-center representative, said the current building on Mathis Drive has become costly to maintain and that the organization bought a vacant lot on Kentucky Avenue and has made an offer on a “beautiful” former school building with a large gymnasium and a commercial kitchen. "One of the main reasons...we need a commercial kitchen...that's been the one thing about the senior center that has held us up for purchasing buildings in the past," Traitman said.

Why it matters: the center operates meals programs and Meals on Wheels deliveries that the presenters said reach thousands of seniors annually. In the meeting presenters stated the senior center delivered about 60,000 homebound meals in 2024 and served over 20,000 congregate meals. Those figures formed part of the center’s case for capacity to serve the county’s older residents.

What the court discussed: commissioners and staff asked about building condition, parking and estimated renovation costs. Presenters said some portions of the school building would require substantial work; removing the oldest section could still leave about 40,000 square feet of usable space. Traitman said renovation bids for the Kentucky Avenue site had returned numbers higher than the group's budget estimates and that total project costs could be “north of $3 million” and perhaps higher. The county judge and commissioners asked for clarity on the closing status and funding sources; presenters said the Kentucky Avenue land purchase had closed, but the building purchase had not yet closed.

Funding request and court action: earlier in the meeting the fiscal court read an order to approve payment of $300,000 to Paducah–McCracken County Senior Citizens Inc. to help fund renovations. During discussion court members asked what should trigger payment and whether the commitment should wait for the nonprofit to close on the building. Commissioner discussion led to amending the pending action; the court voted to remove the payment from the agenda so the decision would await further confirmation. The transcript shows the county’s budget already includes $300,000 in the current year for the center, but commissioners said they wanted a definitive purchase closing or additional material facts before releasing county funds.

Services described: presenters emphasized the center’s Meals on Wheels routes (about 300 delivered meals per day countywide using eight drivers), congregate dining (80–150 daily attendees depending on the menu) and transportation services for medical appointments. The presenters noted that the center’s kitchen equipment is new and that some equipment would move with the center if they relocate.

Next steps: court members asked for a clear closing trigger and for additional financial details, including the project’s total cost, other funding commitments and city participation. The court’s action removed the $300,000 payment item from the agenda; commissioners said they would revisit assistance after the nonprofit provides clarifying materials and confirms the purchase or alternative plan.