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Paducah approves multiple contracts, adopts annexation, hears budget outlook and marks Mental Health Awareness Month
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Summary
The commission approved consent‑agenda contracts, a $59,400 Delve Health Consulting contract for the fire department, and a consensual annexation at 224 Brooker Road; the finance director presented FY26 revenue performance and FY27 projections, and staff announced a gold workplace Bell Seal and May mental‑health activities.
At its April 28 meeting the Paducah Board of Commissioners approved several routine and substantive items, adopted an annexation ordinance and received updates on the city budget and mental‑health initiatives.
Consent agenda and contract approvals: The board approved the consent agenda on a unanimous roll call. Items read by the clerk included approval of minutes (April 14, 2026), reappointments (Shirley Walker to Forest Hills Village board through 05/06/2028; Edward Box to the civil service commission through 05/13/2029), personnel actions and multiple municipal orders: a $51,000 contract with Municipal and Contractor Sealing Products for Pump Station 5 pipe lining, a change order (number 2) with Jim Smith Contracting for the Paducah Riverfront infrastructure improvement project ($41,974), a $75,000 audit contract with Terry Mercart LLP, contract modification number 6 to A & K Construction (reducing that construction contract by $119,800 to a revised total of $50,936,790.92), authorization to bid playground equipment for Cobb Park and shade canopies for Noble Park pool/tennis courts, a Kentucky Fire Commission grant application (up to $50,000) for a four‑story fire training drill tower, and a $51,076 payment to Mobile Communications of America for software.
Fire‑department mental‑health contract: Separately, the commission approved a municipal order to contract with Delve Health Consulting for psychological and organizational health support for the fire department in the amount of $59,400. Fire Chief described a 12‑month organizational health assessment, leadership development and ongoing cultural assessments. Clinical lead Dr. Jacobs said the work will include an organizational‑health assessment, individualized plans, leadership training and peer‑support elements.
Annexation: The commission adopted an ordinance for consensual annexation of a tract at 224 Brooker Road, approximately 0.371 acres, extending the city boundary; the motion passed on a unanimous roll call.
Budget outlook: Director of Finance Audra Kyle presented general‑fund revenue performance for fiscal 2026 and projections for fiscal 2027. She said property‑tax collections met a projected $6,700,000 as of March 31; business‑license collections were affected by federal filing timing and an inflationary adjustment to the gross‑receipts threshold; insurance‑premium tax collections remained essentially flat with a conservative $7,200,000 projection for FY27; and payroll withholding tax is projected at $20,900,000. Kyle presented a combined "big four" revenues projection for FY27 of just under $42,000,000 (an increase of about $1,400,000) and warned the growth rate will not keep pace with expenditure increases.
Mental Health Awareness Month and workplace recognition: Commissioners proclaimed May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month. City staff announced the city earned a national "Bell Seal" workplace recognition at the gold level with a score of 89. Staff outlined external messaging (City Hall lit in green, social media posts and news releases) and internal programming including trainings on returning to work after leave (May 6), stress management (May 15), shift work and work‑life balance (May 21), and a supervisor‑focused session on May 27 at City Hall. The city also plans outreach tied to the 988 crisis lifeline.
Executive session: The commission voted to move into a closed session to discuss proposed or pending litigation under KRS 61.810(1)(c); no immediate action was taken publicly after the vote.
