2010: State of the City

It’s a new year with a new to-do list at City Hall. What’s hot on the agenda? And how can we help?

Mayor Bill Paxton is keeping his eye on two key areas crucial to Paducah’s continued growth: Quality of Life and Economic Development.

First, here’s a quick recap of 2009’s big wins:

• Executive Inn purchase
• Five-year commitment from the American Quilter’s Society Quilt Show
• Close to 11,000 skaters at the Paducah Ice Rink
• Greenway Trail expansion
• Credit Bureau Systems, Thoroughbred Research Group and many other business expansions
• More efficient city government

For 2010? There’s even more exciting news:

• Starting Feb. 11, we’ll have United’s Skyways Airlines making two flights a day to Chicago (and from Chicago to Paducah).
• We’ll celebrate WKCTC’s Emerging Technology Center ribbon cutting at 2 p.m., March 30.
• With the Executive Inn in the city’s hands, work can begin on razing the building and attracting a developer to build a new hotel to better support the convention and expo centers — thereby making Paducah a great convention city again.
• Phase 1 of the Riverfront Development project will begin in the next month or so, transforming Shultz Park into a beautiful marina.
• Phase 2 of the Greenway Trail will begin as well, expanding the trail from Noble Park to the Executive Inn area.
• Work continues to expand both the Murray State and the Mid-Continent University campuses in Paducah, as well as providing continued support for WKCTC’s exciting programs including the Paducah School of Art.
• The Greater Paducah Economic Development Council, the Mayor/County Task Force and EntrePaducah continue to attract businesses as well to help local entrepreneurs start businesses from scratch.
• Cooperation continues between the city and county to address the merged government concept.

“The mayor’s office and the city commission are working extremely well together as we do whatever we can to benefit the entire community,” Mayor Paxton says. “We still have many challenges ahead. But I’m encouraged that with all of us working together — our city and county officials, staff and wonderful volunteers — we can continue to move McCracken County forward.”

Commissioners’ Top Three 2010 Priorities (And Favorite 2009 Accomplishment)

Commissioner Richard Abraham
Commissioner 2000-2002 and elected November 2008

1. I’d like to see stronger neighborhood associations and revitalization. When neighborhoods are proactive, when they have visionaries who don’t wait for someone to come in and direct things to happen, that’s especially important.
2. I’d like to see a better, more open dialogue between those of us on the commission and the citizens of Paducah. We have to be more plugged in with one another. Citizens need to be more informed about what we’re doing — and we want to have a dialogue with our citizens. Everyone is welcome to come to our meetings, each Tuesday evening at City Hall, and make their voices heard.
3. I’d like to see us land a hotel downtown. We’ve purchased the Executive Inn. We just need a developer to do the right thing with that space. Coupled with our Riverfront Development, that will be a significant benefit to Downtown and all of Paducah for years to come.

Favorite accomplishment of 2009: The collective effort of our local agencies and our citizens in response to the January 2009 ice storm. People were amazing. We were faced with an unbelievable task and all the debris to clean up. But everyone came together to help one another and to make our city beautiful again. We all got the job done.

Commissioner Carol Gault
Elected November 2008

1. Solidify Paducah’s position as the area’s regional business center through job creation and retention — and maintain our strong, local economy. Manufacturing jobs, river work, the medical field plus so many others make McCracken County strong. We must continue to capitalize on our strengths and focus on local labor as we maintain and educate our workforce. This coupled with treating Paducah as a top-notch tourist destination can only increase our entrepreneurial opportunities.
2. Work to find a qualified developer for a convention hotel. The impact convention dollars has on our community defines the need for such a developer.  Now that we have finally solved the ownership problem of the property adjacent to the Expo and Convention centers, it is my hope we can get on with the process of finding someone to fill this need, get a property up and going and get conventions back on the books very soon.
3. Work to get Community Garden(s) producing. At the end of the season last year, we began this project. Marked at the corner of 14th and Madison streets, the beginning of a Community Garden project is evident by the red water hydrants already installed! Such projects provide so many physical and social benefits to neighborhoods, it was time to get one going here. We are looking for people interested in plots, or a classroom garden. Paducah Parks Dept.’s Laurie Blount and Planning Director Steve Ervin have both been extremely helpful in the early stages of this project. Anyone interested should contact Laurie, 270.444.8508. It is our hope this garden will be just another contribution to a healthy and sustainable community.

Favorite 2009 Accomplishment: Wow! I think I am most proud of all the things we managed to accomplish. A new fire chief, a new police chief, neighborhood revitalization efforts, securing the AQS quilt show through 2014, utilizing the Economic Development resource fund for the purchase of the Executive Inn, plus so much more — it’s hard to select just one!

Commissioner Gayle Kaler
Elected November 2006

1. The Executive Inn — Liquidate and raze the hotel and secure a hotel developer by the end of the year.
2. Groundbreaking for Schulz Park — I’m excited by the prospects of a boat launch and transient boat dock.
3. Vibrant Downtown and Riverfront — As we move forward with our Downtown and Riverfront Development projects, we’ll see increased retention of our young population through business and job opportunities.

Favorite 2009 Accomplishment: I am most proud of the manner in which a new mix of city leaders has come together to make decisions for our city and community that will create a stronger, more exciting place to live and work.

Commissioner Gerald Watkins
Elected November 2006

1. To continue to work hard to land the coal to liquid plant for Paducah/McCracken County. It would be a $7.5 billion project, creating 2,000 construction jobs and, when fully operational, approximately 2,000 permanent good paying jobs. I have been to Washington D.C. with others to press for support for this project.  We have met with several lawmakers soliciting support. It looks good! Let’s hope and pray that it works.
2. To have a true 2+2 degree program for Paducah/McCracken County with Murray State University to provide four-year degrees for our residents. We need access to a four-year degree right here. MSU offers 77 different degrees on campus in Murray, we have seven offered here. I want all 77 for Paducah if there is demand. Dr. Randy Dunn has appointed me to his personal advisory committee to help secure funding and support for a 2+2.
3. To select the right developer to build a first-class hotel to anchor the Expo Center and the Julian Carroll Convention Center. We need it for the AQS and we will be able to bring in many other conventions to Paducah when it is finished.

Favorite 2009 Accomplishment: I led the effort to secure the Soccer Complex. This is 165 acres of beautiful land that we can develop into a first-rate soccer facility that will host large tournaments and provide a safe and professional location for our over 700 children who play soccer. We will eventually have additional baseball and softball fields available also.

It was my idea and I led the effort to secure the ice skating rink for our residents. The first two years saw 11,000 and 19,000 people participate. People drive from an hour in every direction to ice skate in Paducah. One day I would love to see a permanent year-round indoor ice skating rink. These are the types of things that attract employers to Paducah and McCracken County.