Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Flood Management Communication topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Island Creek residents press Paducah commissioners over floodgate closures, request robocall alerts
Summary
At the June 24 Paducah Board of Commissioners meeting, Island Creek-area residents said city floodgates were closed without adequate notice during spring high-water events and asked the city to meet with residents and establish emergency robocalls; residents estimated personal damages and urged clearer floodwall management.
Island Creek-area residents told the Paducah Board of Commissioners on June 24 that a city employee had closed floodgates without notifying affected residents, and they asked the city to meet with neighborhood representatives and to set up an emergency robocall system.
At the meeting, resident Joe Burkhad said he met with city staff the previous day and that the city’s flood superintendent — identified in public comments as Keith Riley — had, in Burkhad’s recounting, asserted unilateral control over decisions to close the Hudson Road floodgate. “What I’m up here to discuss is Mister Riley’s involvement in floodwall management,” Burkhad said. He told commissioners he was concerned that those gate decisions were made without broader oversight.
The topic matters to island-plain residents because other speakers said they suffered property losses when the gates were closed. Resident William Joyce said the April flooding cost him about $75,000 in combined equipment, house and livestock damage and that residents need better emergency notification. Joyce told the commission he had discussed setting up 9-1-1-driven robocalls with county officials and estimated about 250 residents would need to be included in such a system, which could reach roughly 1,000 phone numbers in the area.
Burkhad said he had asked during his meeting with city staff who gave instructions for gate closures and that he was told the superintendent acted on his own judgment; Burkhad also said he had questioned the timing of a March closure during a dry period. Joyce raised a related concern about a large log jam on Clarks River near Reedland Ball Field and said he and county officials planned to mark landmarks for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consider removing the obstruction.
City Manager Darren (last name not specified at meeting) told residents the city had met with several residents and staff and said he would follow up on scheduling a meeting between city officials and Island Creek residents to continue the conversation. The manager’s office earlier arranged a meeting between residents and engineering staff, according to public comments.
No formal action was taken by the commission on June 24. Commissioners and staff did not vote on changes to flood operations at the meeting; residents requested a meeting and communication improvements. Commissioners did not dispute the callers’ request for further conversation and the city manager indicated staff would continue follow-up.
Residents who spoke asked for two near-term steps: a public meeting between Island Creek residents and city officials to review floodgate decision-making, and a robocall/notification plan to alert residents when gates are closed. The commission did not set a timeline at the meeting.
The commission meeting record shows the city intends to continue discussion with Island Creek residents and staff to determine next steps and potential operational or communication changes.
