Paducah commissioners approve consent items, oppose state centralized tax collection, authorize property purchases and veteran outreach grant

The Paducah Board of Commissioners on Feb. 11 approved its consent agenda, adopted a resolution opposing state legislation to centralize collection of local occupational fees, authorized the city to accept a $60,000 subaward to recruit military veterans, and approved the purchase of three properties for future housing development.

The consent agenda passed on a 5-0 roll call and included approval of minutes from Jan. 27 and Jan. 28 meetings; reappointments to the Brooks Stadium Commission and the Building Electrical Fire Codes Appeals Board; personnel actions; acceptance of a McCracken County Farm Bureau award of grain-bin rescue equipment for the fire department; and a municipal order declaring 1131 Tennessee Street surplus and authorizing transfer without compensation to Paducah Alliance of Neighbors for economic-development purposes.

The board then considered a resolution “opposing House Bill 253 and any other bills ... that provide for the mandated centralized collection of local occupational fees, taxes by the Commonwealth of Kentucky or other third parties.” Mayor Bridal and other commissioners said the measure would reduce local transparency and undermine home rule. The resolution passed on a 5-0 roll call (Commissioner Henderson — Aye; Commissioner Smith — Aye; Commissioner Thomas — Aye; Commissioner Wilson — Aye; Mayor Bridal — Aye).

The commission next approved a municipal order authorizing the mayor to execute a memorandum of understanding with Next Stop to receive a subaward under the Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities grant program administered by the Delta Regional Authority. The city will be subrecipient of $60,000 over three years ($20,000 per year) to hold intensive career-visit events aimed at assisting transitioning service members and veterans to explore employment and move to Paducah; the program’s stated goal is to recruit at least 25 individuals and their families during the three-year period. The motion passed on a 5-0 roll call (Henderson — Aye; Smith — Aye; Thomas — Aye; Wilson — Aye; Mayor Bridal — Aye).

Finally, the board approved a municipal order authorizing purchase of three parcels—1801 Guthrie Avenue; 7307 Goble Avenue; and 720 Joe Bridal Drive—for use consistent with the city’s housing priorities. City staff said the properties lie a few blocks from Albert Jones Park and include a church property acquired at a master-commissioner sale; the purchase was recommended to advance future housing development. The motion passed 5-0 (Henderson — Aye; Smith — Aye; Thomas — Aye; Wilson — Aye; Mayor Bridal — Aye).

Several ordinance introductions and first readings were announced during the meeting (including a proposed Third Street right-of-way closure for an Aloft Hotel development, a residential infill rebate agreement with Trails Inn Development LLC and a new gross-receipts license schedule for medical cannabis businesses), but those measures were introduced and set for later readings rather than adopted at this session.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: Approved (5-0). Items: minutes, reappointments, personnel actions, acceptance of grain-bin rescue equipment award, surplus property transfer of 1131 Tennessee Street to Paducah Alliance of Neighbors (transfer without compensation). - Resolution opposing House Bill 253 (centralized collection of local occupational fees): Approved (5-0). - Municipal order — MOU with Next Stop (Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities subaward, $60,000): Approved (5-0). Key detail: $60,000 over three years; events to recruit and host transitioning service members; target of at least 25 recruits. - Municipal order — Purchase of real property at 1801 Guthrie Ave, 7307 Goble Ave, 720 Joe Bridal Drive: Approved (5-0). Purpose: advance city housing initiatives; includes property purchased at master-commissioner sale.

What’s next: The introduced ordinances will return for additional readings on a future meeting agenda. The commission indicated staff will bring back implementing documents and further detail where required.